009 Cowpens (17 January 1781)

Historical Background
Major General Nathanael Green, commander...

009 Cowpens (17 January 1781)

A 7-4 win to the British. The first 2 rounds of British fire saw two American Rifles and a Militia unit each take a hit and then rout from the field. The Americans were taking sustained damage but then played two Rally cards in succession and put most of their damaged units on their right flank back to full strength and the British turn to suffer with 2 Regular units and a Highland unit being shot to pieces and routing. The British right and centre advanced and delivered two Line Volleys which left the American centre and left reeling with a Provincial unit and General Triolett fleeing the field. A bayonet attack from the British Lights and some Regulars decimated the damaged American centre and broke multiple units plus General Picken. Historically, this American army had its back to a river so on this result history was reversed and the Americans would have been destroyed and Tarleton regarded as a hero. A well balanced scenario and the game mechanisms played out very well.

A 7-3 win to the Americans. The long rifles fired, damaged the British artillery and retired. The British advanced and shot and surprisingly routed a long rifle unit. The Americans retired all the militia and light infantry with a Steal a March card and formed a solid battle line across the hills. The British advanced on the left pushing the highlanders and some regulars forward. An all-out assault saw the Americans lose a couple of units but the British lost both Highlanders, a general carried away in rout and both units standing next to him. The 16th Dragoons tried a mounted charge which caused damage but did not throw the victorious American right back. The Dragoons were fired upon and lost 2 bases. A long shot from a rifle unit caused a retreat and the Dragoons were reduced to 1 base as they retreated and then failed the rout test. 7-3 and the British left was entirely wiped out.

A 7-3 win for the British. The battle was mainly fought at a distance. The Americans advanced their right flank into the woods but did not withdraw the centre, which got shot up, and the British raced into a 6-0 lead. Eventually the Highlanders with supporting regulars closed with the American right but the Americans had some devastating melee cards in their hand of 12 combat cards and both Highland units and General MacArthur were killed. So the British used Steal a March to close with the American left and the next turn eliminated a cavalry unit for victory.