British Grenadiers #2 - American Revolutionary War

 

Back to some of the units I have already painted but hadn't been able to post yet!

Tjhese are Brigade Games Figures, and are drawn form the second group of my British regulars.  

Three figures each from the 64th (Black facings), 52nd (Buff),  9th (Yellow), and Guards (Dark Blue). 

The flag with the Grenade emblem is from the Guards, by Adolfo Ramos. 

When e’er we are commanded
To storm the palisades
Our leaders march with fuses,
And we with hand grenades;
We throw them from the glacis
About the enemies’ ears
Sing tow, row row row , row row row
For the British Grenadiers!

Battle of Brandywine at Historicon

I ran my Brandywine, September 11, 1777, scenario Saturday afternoon and evening at Historicon this year, using Field of Battle 3rd edition rules, by Brent Oman. .

The Americans are defending the line of the Brandywine and its 6 fords, trying to slow or stop Howes advance upon Philadelphia from the Southwest. 

While fighting took place at all f the Fords (including an ambush by Morgan's Rifles, Howe dispatched a flanking force which made an early arrival on the Birmingham road. British players were Jim, Ted, and Jeff; Adam had to bow out at the last minute due to feeling unwell, but we had a replacement player. On the Patriot side were Chris V, .Paul, Mike, and 2 Matts!

Action at the Southernmost ford, Pye's Ford, which is fronted by a clif!

The American rifles and artillery have really disrupted the British attack at Chad's Ford; meanwhile, the American reserves march North to counter the British flanking march

Heavy fighting at Brinten and James' Fords. 

The British have broken across the Northernmost Ford, Wistar Ford, and the flanking attack has reached Birmingham. 

Simcoe's Rangers

We had to call the action after 4 hours, because I had just an hour to reset the troops for game 2. I would have loved to have played another hour!

Game 2 saw a lot of old friends, especially on the British side - Milton, Ken, Tim, Thomas Newhart, and on the British side, Thomas' dad, Alex Newhart, Connall, Steve, and Gary. 

For these two games I tried quite a bit of pregame planning, giving the players their choice of side in advance, and considerable latitude to determine where their forces would be deployed, and who would command them. The Patriots, led by Gary "Washington", adopted a plan to concentrate their troops in the South, and plkanning to establish a strong defensive position on Chad's ridge. 

They figured that the British would be unable to defeat them before nightfall

The British had fair success crossing the Brandywine in the North, but the Americans were expecting Howe's flank march. "Rommel, you magnificent bastard, I read your book!" The Americans are seen above pulling back from Birmingham ridge to Chad's ridge. 

Farther and son battled it out across the Brandywine at Pye's Ford. 

The British flanking force and the columns crossing at Brinten and Wistar Fords are closing on the Patriot position, but the clock is running out on Howe's attempt to defeat Washington; doubtless he will slip away in the night to fight another day!

Battle of Brandywine River, September 11, 1777  - Scenario

The Brandywine is 6+ feet deep except at the fords (where it is still at least 3-4 feet deep. It may ONLY be crossed at the five designated fords. To cross, a unit must stop on contact with the edge of the ford. It takes a full MOVE segment to cross to the other side, and the unit must be March or Skirmish formation.. If in combat with a unit on the opposing bank, the enemy will get the benefit of the Superior Position modifier.

March formation can only be used for movement along roads or across fords. Units may always expend a MOVE segment to change into or out of Column for such purposes, ONLY.

Artillery may only expend MOVE segments to limber and/or unlimber on Won – Even MOVE actions. It may of course limber or unlimber on a LEADERSHIP card as per the usual rules.

American Infantry may not initiate Melee on a Won – Even MOVE, but British and Hessian infantry in Line may do so.

Hills are class 2 terrain, except Rocky Hill, which is class 4 terrain (impassable cliff face) where it fronts the Brandywine River, and Class 3 terrain elsewhere.

Woods are Class 3 terrain, except the Orchard, which is Class 2. ALL American troops treat woods as though they were Light Infantry (as do British Light Infantry and Hessian Feldjagers) – Class 2 counts as class I, and Class 3 as class 2. Conversely Cavalry and Artillery treat Class 3 woods as impassible, and Class 2 woods as class 3. Visibility into Class 2 woods is 4”, 2” into Class 3 woods.

Buildings and fences/walls are all class 2 terrain for movement and cover; stop on contact unless acting on a Won – Even MOVE, in which case no penalty.

Fields are purely decorative and have no effect upon play.

Regardless of the LD rolls, the British player will go first on the first initiative of the game.

The game ends at the end of the initiative in which the British play their 7^th MOVE card (The game will start with a fre British MOVE), and the first imnitiative will go to the British as well regardless of the LD rolls.

Victory Conditions:

If the British exit any un-routed units from the Eastern end of the tables along the Middle or Great Post roads it will be at least a minor British victory. (addded after the games).

If the British fail Army Morale it is a Major Victory for the Americans; Decisive if the Americans have more Morale Points than they started with. If neither side fails Army Morale it is a minor victory for the Americans. I the Americans fail Army Morale it is a minor victory for the British; Major if they have more Morale points than they started with at the end of the game.

British briefing and forces:

General Sir William Howe: After landing your army at the apex of Chesapeake Bay (transport courtesy of the Royal Navy and your Brother, Admiral Richard Howe), you have moved North and to the West of the Delaware River to threaten the Rebel capitol at Philadelphia. In so doing, the Rebels will feel morally obligated the Rebels to make a stand before you reach that city, lest the morale of their cause collapse. General Washington and his rag – tag “army” has taken up defensive positions along the Brandywine river. He hopes your army will bloody itself attempting to force the position. But there may be other options...

You must assign at least one command to attack at least 3 of the Fords (you can attack all 5 if desired, and with as many more commands as desired). Such commands may start on the table up to 6” on, but no closer than 4” any of the Fords.

You may designate up to 3 commands as a flanking force, to arrive later from the North via the Birmingham Road. Such a force will not arrive until at least the second MOVE card, and possibly later.

TURN D 10 roll to enter

2 7+

3 4+

4 Automatic

Any remaining commands can be designated as Reserve, and may enter from the East via the roads to Chad's, Brinten's and/or Jones's Ford on any MOVE card starting with the first, and Pyle's or Wister's Ford on any MOVE card after the first.

Lieutenant General William Howe LD 10

Average Sequence Deck

Major General Charles Cornwallis LD 10

Wing Commander

Lieutenant General Wilhelm von Knyphausen LD 10

Wing Commander

Major General Charles Grey LD 10

3^rd British Brigade 1000

52^nd Foot D 6 C 10

Orange Rangers D 4 C 8

King's Royal Regiment of New York D 4 C 10

64^th Foot D 6 C 8

6# Foot Battery D 6 C 10

Brigadier General James Agnew LD 8

4^th British Brigade 1400

21^st Foot D 6 C 12

24^th Foot D6 C10

47^th Foot C 6 D10

62^nd Foot D 6 C 10

6# Battery D 6 C 10

Brigadier Edward Mathews LD 8

British Guards Brigade 1000

Guards #1 D 8 C 12+1

Guards #2 (9^th Foot) D 8 C 12+1

Colonel Sir Robert Abercrombie LD 10

British Light Infantry Brigade 1300

Light Infantry #1 D 6 C 8

Light Infantry #2 D 6 C 10

Colonel Henry Monckton LD 10

British Grenadier Brigade 1400

1^st Grenadier Battalion D 8 C 12+1

2^nd Grenadier Battalion D 8 C 12+1

Ferguson LD 8

42^nd Highlanders D 8 C 12

71^st Highlanders D 8 C 12

Queen's Rangers (Rifles) D 6 C 10

16^th Light Dragoons D 6 C 10

Brigadier General “Smith” LD 10

First British Brigade 1400 [Hessians]

Von Lossberg Fusiliers D 6 C 10

Von Knyphaussen Fusiliers D 6 C 10

Von Ditforth Fusiliers D 6 C 10

Erbprinz Fusiliers D 6 C 10

3# Gun D 6 C 10

Major General James Grant LD 12+1

2^nd British Brigade 1300

5^th Foot D 6 C 10

30^th Foot D 6 C 10

Foot Battery D 6 C 12

16^th Light Dragoons D 6 C 10

Major General Johann von Stirn LD12+1

Hessian Brigade 2200

Von Donop Musketeers D 6 C 10

Von Trumbach Musketeers D 6 C 8

Von Wutginau Musketeers D 6 D 8

Leib Musketeers D 6 C 10

Feldjagers ® D 8 C 12

6# Gun D 6 C 8

Colonel Karl von Donop LD 12

Hessian Grenadier Brigade 1300

Grenadier #1 D 8 C 12+1
Grenadier #2 D 8 C 12

Grenadier Von Rall D 8 C 12

American brirefing and forces:

Having revived the sagging spirits of the Patriot cause with timely victories at Trenton and Princeton this past winter, the enlistments of most of the army expired, with the few remaining troops wintering in Morristown, NJ. In July of 177, the bulk of the British army departed new York by ship, Their destination was uncertain, but a plan to attack and seize the capitol of your new nation at Philadelphia was suspected. This indeed proved to be the case, , with the British making a long voyage all the way down to the mouth of Chesapeake Bay, and then sailing all the way up to it's apex. They are now marching Northeast towards Philadelphia. You have managed to recruit a force roughly equal in size to that of General Howe's army. While the men have gained some valuable experience in various skirmishes with the enemy in New Jersey, the majority of them are untested in battle, and certainly no match for them in a one on one fight in the open field. However, honor, the Continental Congress, and the morale of the Patriot cause all require that some attempt be made to prevent Howe from just marching straight in to Philadelphia. You have taken up defensive positions along the Brandywine River, which can only be crossed at a limited number of Fords. You expect Howe to make the most direct approach to Philadelphia, along the grandly named Great Post Road (in reality a one cart wide dirt road), crossing at Chads and/or Brinten's Fords. However, prudence dictates that the other Fords must be guarded to some degree as well.

You may deploy your forces anywhere East of the Brandywine River and South of Birmingham Ridge, except that up to 2 commands each may be deployed within the 12” East of James and Wister's Fords, respectively

Notwithstanding the above,you may place any or all of your Rifle units hidden in ambush in any woods at the start of the game. Write down their location(s) and give it the GM.

The Redoubt on Chads' ridge is Class 3 terrain; it can target both Chads' and Brinten's Fords..

Add the “Sniper” card to the British deck.

Lieutenant General George Washington LD 10

Major General Nathaniel Green LD 10

2500 Virginians Good Leadership

Pennsylvania Continentals D 6 C 10

Maryland Continentals D 6 C 10

2^nd Virginia Continentals D 6 C 10

Rhode Island Continentals D 6 C 10

Easton PA Continentals D 6 C 12

1^st Virginia Continentals D 6 C 10

Brigadier General “Mad”Anthony Wayne LD12+1

2000 Pennsylvanians

2^nd New Hampshire D 6 C 12

1^st Connecticut D 6 C 10

Seth Warner – Green Mtn D 6 C 10

Massachusetts Militia D 4 C 8

3# Gun D 6 C 8

Major General John Sullivan LD 8

1800 Maryland/Delaware

3^rd New York D6 C 10

Congress Owen Regiment D 6 C 10

NY Militia D4 C 12

6# Battery D6 C 12+1

Brigadier William Maxwell LD 10

1000 Light Infantry (includes 200 local Chester Co Militia)

1^st PA Rifles (R, only 2 UI) D 8 C 12

2^nd PA Rifles (R, only 2 UI) D 8 C 12

1^st Virginia Rifles (R, only 2 UI) D 8 C 12

2^nd Virginia Rifles (R, only 2 UI) D 8 C 12

Major General Adam Stephens LD ??

(good Leadership but often drunk) 2100 Virginians

Virginia Continentals D 6 C 10

Pennsylvania Continentals D 6 C 10

New York Continentals D 6 C 10

Connecticut Continentals D 6 C 10

Major General William Alexander (Lord Stirling) LD 10

1400 New Jersey troops Good Leadership

Sherbourne's Additional Continental Regiment D 6 C 10

Massachusetts Continentals D 6 C 10

New Jersey Continentals D 6 C 10

6# Gun D 6 C 8

Brigadier General Francis Nash LD 10

1000 North Carolina

North Carolina Rgt D 6 C 10

South Carolina Rgt D 6 C 8

Brigadier General John Armstrong LD 8

1000 Pennsylvania Militia

Patriot Militia #1 DD 4 C 8

Patriot Militia #2 DD 4 C 8

Casimir Pulaski LD 8

600 Light Dragoons

1^st Light Dragoons D 4 C 10

3^rd Light Dragoons D 4 C 12

Militia Cavalry D 4 C 12

Hessian Grenadier Regiment Von Rall, American Revolutionary War

 Unlike the other Grenadiers in the Hessian army of this time, the Von Rall regiment was composed solely of Grenadiers.

Its origins date back to 1703. The jacket had ponceau (bright red) cuffs and collar, but no lapels.

The buttons and metal on the miters were brass. 

The cloith backing of the miter was dark blue with white stripes; the rea band on the miter was red piped white, rather than metal colored as in most other Grenadier miters.

These are Brigade Games figures with a flag from Flags of War; as a regiment, it had its own flags and design

The Regiment fought at the battles of Long Island, White Plains, Fort Washington, and Trenton. Subsequent actions were Brandywine, Monmouth, Savannah, Stone Ferry, and the Siege of Savannah. 

Kings Royal Regiment of New York, American Revolutionary War

From the Journal of the American Revolution: April 8, 2025by Stuart Lyall Manson:

In 1776, the Declaration of Independence charted a new autonomous path for thirteen of Britain’s North American colonies. One of the document’s many allegations was that British authorities had “excited domestic insurrections amongst us.”[1] While its context largely pointed towards Native Americans, another inspiration for this grievance may have been the embodying of Loyalist regiments in 1775 and 1776. Eventually thousands of colonists joined these military units to preserve the North American portion of the British Empire. Two weeks before the enactment of the Declaration of Independence, one of these Loyalist regiments was formed under extraordinary circumstances: The King’s Royal Regiment of New York commanded by Sir John Johnson.

Ironically, the unit was founded not in the colony of New York, but rather in Québec, also commonly referred to as Canada. In the early summer of 1776, Québec Gov. Guy Carleton was completing the colony’s liberation from a Rebel army. The year before, a force under generals Richard Montgomery and Benedict Arnold had invaded Quebec, conquering the settled areas up to the walls of the City of Québec. In the spring of 1776 a British relief force arrived, which ousted the occupiers in an ensuing campaign.At the tail end of this operation, Carleton unexpectedly encountered New York resident Sir John Jonston and 200 of his refugee neighbors near Montréal.

Johnson was a large landowner in the Mohawk River area in the colony of New York, and more importantly, a notorious Loyalist. He and his weary group had just escaped a grim situation in central New York, whose Loyalist and Rebel factions were hurtling towards civil war. Soon after meeting Johnson near Montréal, Carleton wrote to Secretary of State for the Colonies, George Germain, relaying intelligence conveyed by the refugee Loyalist leader: “He represents to me that there are considerable numbers of people, in the part of the country he comes from, who remain steadily attached to His Majesty’s Government and who would take up arms in its defence had they sufficient protection . . . in the meantime they suffer all the miseries that the persecuting spirit of the rebels is able to inflict upon them.”

The specific date of the genesis of the King’s Royal Regiment of New York—the date of Carleton’s commission to Johnson—is commonly cited on the regimental muster rolls as June 19, 1776. Several months later, Johnson referred to the regiment as “a force sufficient for me to stand upon my legs and look my enemies in the face.” This was a natural reaction to the political volatility that Johnson and his Loyalist friends had experienced with their numerically-superior rebellious neighbors back in the Mohawk River area of New York. There is much more fascinating information about the formation of the Regiment in the linked article, which can be downloaded as a free PDF. 

From Wikipedia article on the Regiment:  The regiment served with distinction throughout the war, launching raids and relief missions into the Province of New York. In the summer of 1777, the regiment was present at the siege of Fort Stanwix during the expedition of Brigadier General Barry St. Leger, and saw action at the Battle of Oriskany. Along with their Iroquois (Haudenosaunee)allies and other provincial regiments such as Butler's Rangers, the regiment took part in a series of raids, mostly in the  large-scale raid on the Schoharie and Mohawk valleys that culminated in the Battle of Klock's Field.

The regiment eventually comprised two battalions. The first battalion was disbanded in 1783 and the second in 1784. Members of the regiment were granted land and settled along the St. Laurence River and the north shore of  Lake Ontario.

The earlier uniform of the regiment is uncertain (and, of course, ALL of the options may have been worn by various individuals!). For sure they wore green coats; the British plan was for most loyalists units to have green coats, mostly with white facings, and brown leather gaiters. The source I used indicated buff belts, so that's how they appear here.

Wikipedia says green faced red, with buff vests and pants (and they are so illustrated in the PDF from the JAR as well); their-enactment unit below has them in green faced dark blue. Circa 1779, like most Loyalist units they transitioned to Red coats, in this case faced with dark blue. The figures are by Perry with a recycled King's color from a British regiment by Adolfo Ramos. 

Properly, the unit should be wearing caps as do these Canadian re-enactors. There is much more information about "The King's Royal Yorkers" on their website.

1st Virginia Regiment in Hunting Shirts - American Revolutionaey War

The flag certainly marks this outfit as the 1st Virginia regiment.

The 1st Regiment was authorized on August 21, 1775 in the Virginia State Troops as the First Virginia Regiment. It was organized on October 21, 1775 at Williamsburg as a provincial defense unit composed of six musket and two rifle companies under the command of Patrick Henry. Each company was to consist of 68 enlisted men, with officers to include a captain, lieutenant and ensign (second lieutenant). Six of the companies were armed with muskets, and two with rifles.

For my own reasons, I have chosen to depict them in hunting shirts; there isn't any evidence for this although not impossible in the early war years. 

There was definitely a Maryland regiment recorded as wearing hunting shirts died black, though. These are Brigade Games figures; the flag was made from images on the internet. 

The regiment was adopted on November 1, 1775 into the Continental Army. Eventually, its regulation uniform would be dark blue coats faced red, as  Virginia Continental regiment. 

It was assigned on February 27, 1776 to the Southern Department, but then reassigned to the Main Continental Army on July 29, 1776. It formed part of  Lord Stirling's Brigade from October 1776 until May 1777, when it became part of the first Virginia Brigade. 

In May 1779i t was consolidated with the 9th Virginia regiment to form a new 1st Virginia Regiment of 9 companies. In December, 1779, the regiment was transferred to the Southern Department. 

The regiment was captured by the British in the 2nd siege of Charleston on May 12, 1780. 

Kings Orange Rangers, American Revolutionary War

The King’s Orange Rangers regiment was formed in late 1776 by William Bayard of New York and commanded by his son, Lieutenant Colonel John Bayard. 

The regiment was plagued by problems throughout its existence including an outbreak of smallpox, lack of morale and discipline, infighting between officers, and even a shipwreck. The regiment was moved from the British encampment in the Manhattan area in the fall of 1778 to Halifax, Nova Scotia; this was likely a strategic move to combat internal conflicts and desertions within the regiment. 

Raid on Liverpool (Nova Scotia, 1780)

The most dramatic privateer raid occurred on September 13, 1780. Two American privateers, the Surprize under Cpt. Benjamin Cole, and the Delight, under Cpt. Lane, unloaded nearly 70 men at Ballast Cove shortly after midnight. By 4am they had captured the fort and taken Howard, two other officers, and all but six of the KOR garrison as prisoners. Perkins called out the militia, engineered the capture of Cole, and negotiated with Lane for the recovery of the fort and the release of the prisoners. Within a few hours "every thing [was] restored to its former Situation without any Blood Shed." Liverpool was not bothered by privateers for the remainder of the war. Most of Howard's company was ordered back to Halifax in mid-1781, but owing to appeals by the town's leaders, a detachment of 20 men under Lt. McLeod remained for the duration. 

[this, the preceding, and the following from Wikipedia article on the unit]

Port Williams (1781)

At Port Williams, Nova Scotia, the threat of American privateer attacks had subsided. In the spring of 1781, Major Samuel Bayard was ordered to take a detachment of Rangers overland from Halifax to Port Hughes in Nova Scotia to overawe local Planters who were planning to erect a Liberty Pole and thereby break with the King. There they fixed bayonets and "with bright weapons glittering, colours flying and drums beating, they marched up Church Street and back to Town Plot, where the barracks stood." This show of force brought the locals back in line. 

The King's Orange Rangers were to be stationed in Nova Scotia for the remainder of the war, at which time the members dispersed and were resettled. Only a few individuals chose to go to the land that had been assigned to the regiment in New Brunswick at the end of the war.

Obviously, I chose this unit for its interesting uniform (which was only issued in 1780)!

The flag is speculative and modified from that of another unit. 

The figures are by Perry. The history of the unit is a reminder that, by it's conclusion, the American Revolutionary War had become a worldwide conflict, involving North America, the Caribbean, India, and more, with the British fighting not only the Americans, but the French, Spanish, and Dutch, plus of course drawing a large number of contracted soldiers from various minor German states. 

This unit has at least one Canadian re-enactment group - lots of photos on their FB page.

Some more Canadian re-enactors, probably from a different group, at the citadel in Halifax, Nova Scotia.