002 Bunker Hill (17 June 1775)

Details
Written by: Alessandro Crespi
Category: Boston Campaign (1774-1776)
Hits: 7471
Victory Results:
 27 %
Record a victory for BOTTOM ARMY  73 %
Total plays 45 - Last reported by toganalper on 2025-01-07 20:39:34

Historical Background

In the early stages of the American Revolutionary War, General Gage, the British commander in chief in Boston, planned to seize the Charlestown peninsula, but before he could act, on the night of 16th June 1775, Continental troops occupied Breed’s Hill and Bunker Hill and began to build a redoubt on Breed’s Hill. The next day, the presence of the Continental troops was observed by His Majesty’s Ship Lively, which opened fire on the position. With Major General Howe in command, plans were hurriedly put in motion to attack the Continental troops. Howe landed his forces on the southern shore of the peninsular and at once directed his light infantry to attack the section of Continental line along the Mystic River. The light infantry column was repelled with heavy casualties. The General then ordered a frontal assault on the redoubt with the main body of troops. It was also repulsed with significant British casualties. The third attack finally succeeded in capturing the redoubt and the colonists retreated to Cambridge over Bunker Hill, leaving the British in control of the Peninsula.
The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn and you are in command. The rest is history?

Empty Board

Battle Notes

Continental Army

• Commander: Prescott
• 5 Command Cards & 3 Combat Cards

British Army

• Commander: Howe
• 5 Command Cards & 3 Combat Cards
• Move First

Victory

6 Victory Banners

Special Rules

• Opening Cannonade rules are in effect. The British player, during the opening cannonade and when playing a Bombard Command card, may fire the ship “Lively” and attack with 1 die against a unit on Breed’s hill or on a unit in Charlestown.
• The British player gains 1 Temporary Victory Banner, at the start of his turn, when there is no Continental units occupying a section of the battlefield.
• The British player gains 1 Temporary Victory Banner, at the start of his turn, for each Breed’s hill hex occupied.

Additional Explanation: A hex with a dotted line is considered as a center section hex for purposes of determining whether there are no Continental units occupying a section of the battlefield. (French and More Expansion, see Page 8)

Q: Is ranged fire from the “Lively” considered artillery fire for terrain effects purposes?
A: NO. HOWEVER, UNLIKE FOR OTHER RANGED FIRE, TERRAIN PROVIDES NO PROTECTION AGAINST RANGED FIRE FROM THE “LIVELY”. (RB)

Q: Does the “Lively” fire with two additional dice when a Bombard Command Card is played?
A: NO, IT FIRES WITH 1 DIE AS THE SPECIAL RULE FOR THE SCENARIO INDICATES.

Q: Does the “Lively” need a Line of Sight to fire?
A: NO, IT CAN FIRE AGAINST ANY HEX OF BREED’S HILL OR CHARLESTOWN AS THE SPECIAL RULE FOR THE SCENARIO INDICATES.

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Posts in discussion: 002 Bunker Hill (17 June 1775)
ozzie replied the topic:
#774
1 year 5 days ago
A 6-3 win to the British with Breed's Hill being assaulted and taken. Unlucky for the Americans, but they could not draw a Right Flank to save their lives. The centre and American left saw little action except for a lucky rifle units shot that broke the outside British Light Infantry unit whilst at full strength. A tough day out for the Breed's Hill defenders with the Americans desperately using any card they had to move anything on the right flank. Further disappointment in that the Americans held a fistful of useful Combat cards that could not be played without ordering the right flank units.
ozzie replied the topic:
#773
1 year 6 days ago
We played as a 2-a-side figure-based version of the game. A 6-2 win for the Americans. Seemed unlikely as the militia in the central redoubt broke and ran after its first casualty, the rifles started falling back and the British stormed into the central redoubts. The British sent a frontal assault at Breed's Hill but these were repulsed with heavy losses. Unluckily for the British assault on Breeds Hill, the Americans held a fistful of Right Flank cards plus a useful Line Volley and some shooting bonuses from their Combat Cards. Aided by the supporting Rifles in Charlestown the British Regulars and Light Infantry were smashed and running. My team mate on the American right was on fire! The tradeoff was the sacrifice of my troops on the American left and centre who were fleeing their redoubts, fences and stone walls in numbers, taking heavy casualties but not breaking. A mix of British Grenadiers and Regulars swarmed over the redoubts and fences whilst my American survivors all now sat on the base-edge reforming into a mutually supporting mass. Some concerted shooting (and lucky dice!) finished off a Grenadier unit but many of my units were down to 1 block. Luckily, the Boys from Breeds Hill just wiped the floor on the American right and victory was ours. Unluckily for the British, their right flank of 2 Light Infantry units and artillery only received one move for the game, which probably spared the American left from being wiped out. Great game.
Riclev replied the topic:
#758
1 year 6 months ago
Another routine win for the British. They shied away from the rifles in Charleston and the light artillery on Breed's Hill, instead shifting units to the right to assault the militia behind the walls and fences. After eventually getting the right cards and burning through the combat cards the grenadiers and light infantry swept all before them for a 6-1 victory.

I have played this scenario several times against different players and have never seen an American victory. But it's a challenge I will continue to relish until finally the British are defeated!
mirkobruner replied the topic:
#284
4 years 9 months ago
In the Boxed Game for the Continental Army, General Stark is also deployed behind the Stone wall in the right section. Not here. He should be added.
For the Opening Cannonade rule it is not clear if the attack of the Lively must be added to the normal Opening Cannonade of the Artillery, but I suppose yes.
Regards,
Mi®ko
ozzie replied the topic:
#270
5 years 2 months ago
A 6-2 win to the British but closer than it looked and only taking 3 hexes on Breed's Hill won it. The British light infantry launched bayonet attacks on turn 1. They succeeded in chasing the rifles from Charlestown and destroying half their number whilst the light infantry attack on the right wing resulted in heavy casualties to the Americans (both reduced by half) but the light infantry repulsed and eventually driven to the base edge and, in fact, were lucky to survive several rout tests.
The British regulars advanced enmasse led by their generals and eventually took the American redoubts on Breed's Hill and held it. 3 British regular units were reduced to single bases by the time victory was secured but they had managed to withdraw these into support positions to protect them.
An enjoyable scenario to play mainly because the British must attack and the Americans just need to shoot, reinforce from the base edge units if they can and just hold on for as long as possible.
ozzie replied the topic:
#183
6 years 5 months ago
This scenario is not as one-sided as it looks. A superb start by the Americans racing to a 4-0 result by decimating the British light infantry attacks and then beating back an all-out attack of the British Regulars. At this stage it wasn't looking too good for the British. The British managed to rout the Riflemen holding Charlestown to relieve pressure on their right flank plus damage the American artillery. The British looked a bit out of sorts though by this stage and the non-British players were wondering what the British had left up their sleeve. What was up the British sleeve was the "At the Quick Step" card and the grenadiers with General Abercrombie marched straight to the central fence line held by Militia. The Americans were unable to respond in their turn and the grenadiers just tore the Militia apart followed within 2 more turns by the Americans behind the stone wall and the Militia and Riflemen in the centre redoubts. The 4-0 quickly changed to a 4-6 and the British won but not without a mauling. Just another day out for the Grenadiers!
Mark-McG replied the topic:
#164
6 years 7 months ago
reads to me like just 1 die
Hawkmoon replied the topic:
#162
6 years 7 months ago
Hi everyone,

I have a question about the ship which can make artillery fires upon the town and Bunker Hill :

It is said in the description of the scenario that it fires at one dice and be activated by Bombardment card (and during opening cannonnade);

So, does the ship has 2 extra dices when playing Bombardment ?
sduke12 replied the topic:
#133
6 years 11 months ago
Sorry, it was two victories for the Continentals, not the Brits.
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