Historical Background
After the short fight at Concord’s North Bridge that saw the British Light Infantrymen lose a few soldiers and rout away from Provincial Colonel Barrett’s force of 400 or so Minutemen and militia, the British mull their situation. Lt Col Francis Smith, commander of the provisional unit of 800 or so Grenadiers and Light Infantry, is forced to wait for the return of a few companies of “light bobs” that were sent to search for hidden military supplies at Colonel Barrett’s farm some three miles away. But the waiting sees the ranks of his opposition swell as Minutemen and militia continue to flood into the area from surrounding towns.
Finally the missing companies show up, unmolested by the Americans who watch them from the heights on the ridge above the town. After a short rest, Smith orders his light infantry up onto that ridge as flank guards and forms up the Grenadiers on the road along with a few horse drawn wagons filled with wounded. Royal Marines are sent to be the rear guard and the long march back to Boston and safety begins.
For about a mile, all is quiet until the van of the column reaches Meriam’s Corner where there is a road coming from the north and a small bridge. The flanking light infantry come down from the ridge to get over the little bridge just in front of the Grenadiers, leaving the northern flank unprotected. At the same time, four reinforcing Minuteman companies come down the northern road and fan out in a line around the Meriam house – some 80 yards from the British line of march. Other American companies lurk further up the road as, emboldened by their numbers, the Minutemen open fire on the British as they cross the little span.
It is 17 miles back to Boston, and Lt Col Smith is about to get an idea of what is in store for him up ahead.
The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn and you are in command. The rest is history?
Battle Notes
Continental Army
• Commander: Barrett
• 4 Command Cards & 4 Combat Cards
British Army
• Commander: Smith
• 4 Command Cards & 2 Combat Cards
• Move first
Victory
Based on number of British units still with 3 or more blocks exited off eastern road hex:
- 8 Decisive British Victory
- 6 Major British Victory
- 4 Marginal British Victory
- Less than 4 Continental Victory
Special Rules
- Grenadiers must stay within one hex of the Boston road at all times, Light Infantry within 2 hexes of the road.
- Lt Col Smith is restricted to road hexes. Maj Pitcairn is free to move wherever within two hexes of the main road as per the Light Infantry above.
- Units using road movement can add a single hex only to their normal movement – not the two allowed in the rules – to reflect marching under fire. (Combat Cards may override this limitation.)
- British units retreat towards the West (left). American units can retreat toward the nearest edge away from the British.
- British units can exit the board from the next to last hex on the road, they do not have to exit starting from the last edge road hex as specified in the rules.
- The stream is not fordable to British units.
- The Provincial units in the game represent Minutemen units that were better equipped and trained than their militia counterparts. They have all the movement and combat traits of light infantry, but the firepower, retreat distance and rally limitations of Provincials:
Minutemen (Continental Provincials)
Movement: 1 and combat, 2 no combat
Battle: (2), 2, 1
Morale: Retreat 2 hexes for each flag
Rally Check: -1 die
Minutemen Notes
- Ranged combat dice are not reduced when unit moves
- May ignore 1 flag when on forest hex
- Sabers rolls score hits only when battling back
- May retire and rally (toward the nearest edge away from the British) when attacked in melee.