The Battle of Montreal 1813; A What If? Scenario and Order of Battle

The Battle of Montreal; A What If? Scenario

November 14th, 1813

What if the Battle of Crysler's Farm did not Happen?

Montreal looking East in 1812. The battle will take part on the fields visible in this painting, between the mountain and the walls of Montreal.

A map of Montreal from 1750's, the top of the map faces West. Montreal was by the largest centre in Canada with 16 000 people. It would have been more developed by 1812.

Isle of Montreal 1824

A zoomed in version of the 1824 map. The battle will take place here.

The historical route of Wilkinsin's flotilla. At number 19 you can see where the Americans crossed back into New York. They were a day or two from Montreal.

Another map of the Island of Montreal. The American flotilla probably intended to land somewhere on the shore of Lake St. Louis. The flotilla was 2 days from Montreal when a much smaller force caught up with them and routed half their army at Crysler's Farm. The American troops fled back onto the New York side of the St. Lawrence River after the battle.

The Americans were caught unprepared, were missing some of their best leaders and a lot of their best troops. The British commander, Colonel Morrison, had been ordered to return to Kingston, he ignored the order based on circumstances, and attacked and routed an American force three times his size.

What if... Morrison had stopped following the American force? If Crysler's Farm had not happened (or even been lost), the Americans had a clear path to Montreal. The British and French were prepared, and a larger battle would have ensued.

A bigger "What if?" Could include Wade Hampton's army which the French force defeated at Chateauguay. I don't think it is realistic to include them, because Chateaguay was fairly small but it was enough to turn them back. 

The Battle of Montreal
November 14th, 1813

American Scenario Rule

1. Linear Tactics; Whole brigades have to have the same formation except to go around terrain and other units.

 

2. Buck and Ball; American Regulars used “Buck and Ball”; a round shot with 3 buck shots, they get +1 to hit at close range.

 

3. Ammunition Problems; American troops carried less ammunition than their British counter parts, and had logistical problems becoming resupplied during battles. Any American infantry unit which rolls a double one for their shooting roll in any turn but their first turn is at half ammunition (inflicts half casualties). A unit will be at full ammunition that does not move or fire for one turn.

 

4. Chosen Men; Up to 12 men maybe deployed as Chosen Men (Rifles). They roll 2D6 per 4 figures. They can form part of the skirmish screen or operate independently. They do not need to stay within 18 inches of close order units. This unit has a range of 17 inches.

American Order of Battle
Overall Command; Major General James Wilkinson (poor)

*These numbers are based on Donald Graves' order of battle from "Fields of Glory". They have been adjusted down 20% based on the sickness and desertion rates reported in the book during this campaign. The first number for each unit is the number of troops, the second my number of models I am representing them with (at 1 = 15); in many cases I am combining similar small units in the same brigade.

Total American Forces
5190 Infantry

390 Cavalry

24 Field Guns

18 Seige Guns

1st Brigade; 1030 men

2nd in Command; Brigadier General John Boyd (Average)

*Backup Command;  Colonel Isaac Coles (Average)

5th Regiment; 420 men X 30 (2nd Line)

-1 morale

*Round down half casualties at long range only

12th Regiment; 300 men X 36 (includes 13th) (2nd Line)

-1 morale

*Round down half casualties at long range only

13th Regiment; 310 men  (2nd Line)

3rd Artillery Regiment; 3 X 12 pounders; 2 Guns (Line)



2nd Brigade; 960 men
Command; Brigadier General Jacob Brown (Average)

6th Regiment; 300 men X 30 + 9 skirmishers (includes 15th) (Line) 

+1 to shooting at close range

15th Regiment; 300 men (Line) 

22nd Regiment; 360 men X 24 (2nd Line)  

-1 morale

*Round down half casualties at long range only

Light Artillery Regiment; Line 4 X 6 pounders; 2 Guns (Line)



3rd Brigade; 1100 men
Command; Brigadier General Leonard Covington (Average)

9th Regiment; 360 men X 24 (2nd Line)

-1 morale

*Round down half casualties at long range only

16th Regiment; 300 men X 24 (Line) 

+1 to shooting at close range

25th Regiment; 440 men X 24 +6 skirmishers (2nd Line) 

-1 morale

*Round down half casualties at long range only

Light Artillery Regiment; 4 X 6 Pounders; 2 Guns (Line)



4th Brigade; 1050 men
Command; Brigadier General Robert Swartout (Average)

11th Regiment; 360 men X 36  (includes 14th) (2nd Line)

-1 morale

*Round down half casualties at long range only

14th Regiment; 210 men (2nd Line)

21st Regiment; 480 men X 30 +6 skirmishers (2nd Line) 

-1 morale

*Round down half casualties at long range only

2nd Regiment of Foot Artillery; 3 X 12 Pounders; 2 Guns (Line)




Reserve or Elite Brigade; 980 men
Command; Brigadier General Alexander Macomb (Excellent)

3rd Regiment of Artillery (Light Infantry); 300 men X 24 (Line)
*The 3rd Regiment of Artillery and the Light Artillery each had a battalion that fought as infantry, they were considered elite by the Americans. Colonel Winfield Scott in command.

+1 to shooting at close range

*Up to half of this unit can skirmish

20th Regiment / Virginian Volunteers; 200 men X 30 (includes Albany volunteers) (Second Line)

-1 morale

*Round down half casualties at long range only

1st Rifle Regiment; 240 men X 9 (Line)

*this whole formation can skirmish

1st Rifle Regiment; 240 men X 9 (Line)

Chosen Men (Rifles). They roll 2D6 per 4 figures. They can form part of the skirmish screen or operate independently. They do not need to stay within 18 inches of close order units. This unit has a range of 17 inches.

Albany Volunteers (NY); 240 men  (Second Line)

Light Artillery Regiment; 4 X 6 Pounders; 2 Guns (Line)



Cavalry Brigade; 390 men
Command; Major T. Woodward (Average)

1st Light Dragoons; 210 men X 14 (2nd Line)

-1 morale

2nd Light Dragoons; 180 men X 12 (2nd Line)

-1 morale

Artillery Reserves; 
*Not Deployed in this Scenario

Siege Artillery; Heavy Guns X 14 Cannons in Reserve; 8 Guns (Line)

British / Canadian Scenario Rules

1. British Infantry Shooting Bonus; British / Canadian infantry get +1 to shooting rolls when in line. Militia and Indians do not get this bonus.

 

2. Chosen Men; Up to 12 men maybe deployed as Chosen Men (Rifles). They roll 2D6 per 4 figures. They can form part of the skirmish screen or operate independently. They do not need to stay within 18 inches of close order units. This unit has a range of 17 inches.

British Canadian Order of Battle
Command; Sir George Prevost (Average)
Although I can find which units were in Montreal but I have had to invent their brigade structure. I'm confident the real army was similar in organization and numbers.  

Total British and Canadian Forces

Total Infantry; 6550 men (EST)

Cavalry; 250 men

Artillery; 15 Guns

*Pierre Burton gives the number of defenders at 6000 regulars plus several thousand militia. 

1st Brigade; 1050 men

Command; Unknown (Average)

1st Royal Marines Regiment; 450 men X 30 (Veteran)

+1 morale

+1 to shooting in line

+1 to melee

*Can form open order

*Can refuse a flank

2nd Royal Marines Regiment; 400 men X 24 (Veteran)

+1 morale

+1 to shooting in line

+1 to melee

*Can form open order

*Can refuse a flank

Converged Light Infantry; 200 men X 18 (Line)

+1 to shooting in line

*this whole formation can skirmish

Royal Marines Rocket Battery; 2 Sections X 2 Models (Veteran)

+1 morale



2nd Brigade; 1800 men
Command;  Unknown (Average)

13th Regiment; 500 men X 36 (Line)

+1 to shooting in line

De Meuron Regiment; 500 men X 36 (Line)  

+1 to shooting in line

103rd Regiment; 800 men X 30 and X 24 (Second Line) 

+1 to shooting in line

-1 morale
*Round down half casualties


3rd Brigade; 1800 men

Command; Unknown (Average)

1st Select Embodied Militia Regiment; 600 men X 40 (2nd Line)

*The SEM units were not militia at all. These were permanent French Canadian provincial regulars. By 1814 I would rate them as line. 

-1 morale

+1 to shooting in line

*Round down half casualties

3rd Select Embodied Militia Regiment; 600 men Line X 40 men (2nd Line) 

-1 morale

+1 to shooting in line

*Round down half casualties

4th Select Embodied Militia Regiment; 600 men X 40 (2nd Line) 

-1 morale

+1 to shooting in line

*Round down half casualties

4th Brigade; 980 men

Command;  Unknown (Average)

Rural Sedentary Militia Regiments Flank Coys; 360 men X 24 (2nd Line)

-1 morale

*Round down half casualties

*Up to 50% can deploy as skirmishers (2nd Rate: 2d6 per 8)

Montreal Uniformed Militia Regiments Flank Coys; 320 men X 24 (2nd Line)

-1 morale

*Round down half casualties

*Up to 50% can deploy as skirmishers (2nd Rate: 2d6 per 8)

Mohawks; 300 men X 24 (2nd Line)

Classed as an open order horde

Move up to half and fire

Can change direction freely

Cannot be unformed (they are already)

Move normally through difficult terrain

Can only charge the front of close order units if they are unformed or faltering

-2 open order modifier

May evade as skirmishers

Ignore brigade morale

If routed immediately disperse

0 Open order melee modifier

Fire as conscripts (-2_with just the front rank of figures

May deploy entirely as skirmishers; 2nd Rate Skirmishers (Roll 2D6 per 8 figures)

Light Brigade; 900 men
Command;  Unknown (Average)

2 Coys Frontier Light Infantry; 120 men X 30 (Includes 5th SEM) (Second Line)

*Uniformed as Canadian Voltigeurs

+1 to shooting in line

-1 morale

*Round down half casualties

*Up to 50% can deploy as skirmishers 

6 Coys 5th Select Embodied Militia; 360 men (Second Line)
*This unit of SEM was established as light infantry

Select Embodied Militia Flank Companies; 240 men X 18 (Line)

+1 to shooting in line
*this whole formation can skirmish

Canadian Voyageurs; 180 men X 12 (Line)
Chosen Men (Rifles). They roll 2D6 per 4 figures. They can form part of the skirmish screen or operate independently. They do not need to stay within 18 inches of close order units. This unit has a range of 17 inches.

Cavalry; 250 men
Command;  Unknown (Average)
1 Squadron 19th Light Dragoons; 140 men X 10 (Line)

+1 to melee (superior mounts)

1Troop Royal Montreal LD / 2 Troops Canadian LD; 160 men X 10 (2nd Line)

-1 to morale

Artillery; 
Command;  Unknown (Average)
Royal Foot Artillery; 6 X 6 Pounders; 3 Guns (Veteran)

+1 morale

Royal Marine Artillery; 4 X 6 Pounder Guns, 2 X 5.5 inchHowitzers;  3 Guns (Veteran)

+1 morale 

Royal Marine Artillery; 2 X 8 Inch Howitzers;  1 Gun (Veteran)

+1 morale

Incorporated Montreal Artillery 1 X 6 Pounders; 1 Gun (Second Line)

-1 morale

Reserve; 1960 men

*defending the walls of Montreal

Command; Unknown (Average)

7th Select Embodied Militia Regiment; 500 men X 36 (2nd Line)
*Unlike the 1st through 6th SEM the 7th and 8th were created for the defence of Montreal in the fall of 1813. They were disbanded afterwards. 

-1 morale

+1 to shooting in line

*Round down half casualties

8th Select Embodied Militia Regiment; 500 men Line X 36 men (2nd Line) 

-1 morale

+1 to shooting in line

*Round down half casualties

1st British Montreal Militia Regiment; 320 men X 24 (Conscript) 

*Uniformed as British Infantry

-1 morale

-1 to shooting

-1 to melee

2nd French Montreal Militia Regiment; 320 men X 24 (Conscript) 

*Uniformed as British Infantry

-1 morale

-1 to shooting

-1 to melee

3rd French Montreal Militia Regiment; 320 men X 24  (Conscript) 

*Uniformed as British Infantry

-1 morale

-1 to shooting

-1 to melee

Montreal Militia Artillery 4 X 6; 2 Guns (Second Line)

-1 morale