Tarleton’s Blunder!

Part Two of the Battle of Camden

The remorseless Brish pincer movement didn’t dent the Americans’ confidence. Volley after volley tore through the redcoats. The Maryland continentals were prooving more than a match for their loyalist adversaries.

Horatio Gates even had the audacity to order the elite Delaware continentals from the reserve into a flanking manoeuvre.

Cornwallis’ plan to attack both flanks whilst raking the American militia with cannon fire was faltering. With some lucky dice rolls, the American batteries were tearing great gaps in the lines of redcoats……

In the actual battle, Webster’s brigade had sliced through all opposition but Paul found it hard going. Instead of the bayonet, Webster relied upon the disciplined musketry of the British infantry but the Americans held. Switching back to the right of the American position, the elite Delaware Continentals put the British Legion to flight and then rolled up the Volunteers of Ireland.

At moments like this, heroes are born. The Highlanders may be stalled but Banastre Tarleton was intent on renewing the British attack. The dice game him three moves and in Black Powder that is a long way, from one flank to the other, circumnavigating the artillery park and American flanking fire. The charge took the Men of Delaware by surprise but still they held on!

The elite Delaware continentals are caught by the Devil on horseback!

The cautious American commander refuses to help the struggling Delaware regiment. However, the elite infantry obviously didn’t need any help. Tarleton’s feared riders had to fall back and then when another charge was ordered, they blundered and raced off to the the edge of the battlefield.

The collapse of the Crown forces !

It had been a brilliant afternoon’s game. Paul was an absolute gentleman and the scenario faultless. Let’s hope that Tarleton can redeem himself in later games! Thanks for reading – next report on last weekend’s Spring Skirmish, Flames of War competition.

However controversial, British heroes must not be forgotten, Tarleton or Alexander Blackman!