The Battle of Plattsburgh, September 11th, 1814; Order of Battle and Scenario Rules
Updated and Corrected April 9th, 2017
*Note that since the land battle of Plattsburgh was called off, this is a "What if?" scenario. What if the British had started their attacks earlier?
Updated and Corrected April 9th, 2017
*Note that since the land battle of Plattsburgh was called off, this is a "What if?" scenario. What if the British had started their attacks earlier?
I had errors in my original version of this scenario. All maps I have found which show troop movements do not show the main British attack which took place 4km upriver. Also, in "Land of the Free" they made a similar error. The first and third brigade as well as two cannons were crossing at Pike's Ford when the attack was called off. They would have appeared behind the American forts.
This map is from the Plattsburgh Museum, it shows British attempting to cross the river near the mouth of the river. They did attempt it, but the current was to strong. It does not show the main British attack, but it does show most of the troops' positions. The three forts had about half of their guns facing forwards, the other half covered the rear angles of the forts, they did not however, seem to cover the ends of the forts.
Here is a complete map without showing troop movements. The first and third British brigades were crossing at Pike's Ford when the attack was called off. The second brigade was preparing to attack the Lower Bridge when the attack was called off.
*Rounded Up
British / Canadian Scenario Rules
Victory Conditions; The British have to capture the 3 forts before George Downie's fleet arrives. If the forts are captured, the British are assumed to shell the anchored American fleet from shore.
1. British Infantry Shooting in Line Bonus; British / Canadian infantry get +1 to shooting rolls when in line. Militia and Indians do not get this bonus.
2. Crossing the River; The Americans took the boards off of both bridges as they withdrew. A unit which does not move at the edge of a bridge can fix half of a bridge a turn (figures from the unit not touching the bridge can still shoot). The British had repaired the lower bridge (at the mouth of the river) right before the battle so it does not need boards added.
3. Artillery Defence; All British artillery starts deployed behind earthworks. Gives them -2 to be hit.
British Army; Left Division
Lieutenant General Sir George Prevost (Poor)
1st Brigade *Crossed At the Pike's Ford, Deployed at the Treeline Behind the American Forts
Major-General F.P. Robinson (Average)
The 1st Brigade Starts in Column, the Converged Light Infantry can Start in Any Formation
Converged Light Infantry x27 (Veteran) *Starts with D3 Casualties
1st Brigade Light Companies (230 men)
Includes 88th and 39th Light Cos.
3rd Brigade Light Companies (308 men) (Veteran)
*All British lights were converged into battalions for the campaign
+1 morale
Can refuse a flank
+1 to shooting in line
*Up to 50% can skirmish
Can form open order
27th (Inniskilling) 3rd Bat. (505 men) x24 (Line)
+1 to shooting in line
76th Regiment of Foot (550 men) x30 (Line)
+1 to shooting in line
3rd Brigade *Crossed At the Pike's Ford, Deployed at the Treeline Behind the American Forts
Major-General Manley Power (Excellent)
The 3rd Brigade Starts in Column
3rd (The Buffs) Foot (766 men) x40 (Veteran)
+1 morale
Can refuse a flank
+1 to shooting in line
5th (Northumberland) Foot (836 men) x42 (Veteran)
+1 morale
Can refuse a flank
+1 to shooting in line
27th (Inniskilling) Foot 1st Bat. (455 men) x24 (Veteran)
+1 morale
Can refuse a flank
+1 to shooting in line
58th (Rutlandshire) Foot (714 men) x36 (Line)
+1 to shooting in line
Captain Green; Royal Artillery Section (Veteran) x1 6 Pound Guns
*This section accompanied the brigades crossing the ford.
2 6 Pounders
+1 Morale
2nd Brigade *Was to Attack Lower Bridge
*The Lower Bridge Starts repaired.
*The Upper Bridge can be repaired if a unit moves up to it for two turns.
Major-General Thomas Brisbane (Excellent)
This brigade and the two independent units can start at either bridge or deployed in line to shoot at the units across the river.
2nd Brigade Light Companies (158 men) x9 (Veteran)
+1 morale
Can refuse a flank
+1 to shooting in line
*Entire formation can skirmish
Can form open order
8th (King's) Foot (450 men) x24 (Veteran)
+1 morale
Can refuse a flank
+1 to shooting in line
13th (1st Somersetshire) Foot (750 men) x36 (Line)
+1 to shooting in line
49th (Hertfordshire) Foot (270 men) x30 (Line)
De Meuron's Regiment (315 men)
+1 to shooting in line
Independent Unit *Technically Part of Second Brigade
Major Heriot (Average)
*Chooses its own "Hidden Strategy" (See 2nd Brigade Above)
Canadian Voltigeurs (600 men) x48 (Veteran)
Canadian Chasseurs (360 men)
+1 morale
Can refuse a flank
+1 to shooting in line
Can Form Open Order
Up to Half the Unit can Skirmish
2 Batteries Across From Lower Bridge (At the River Mouth)
Major John Sinclair Artillery Commander (Average)
Includes Captain Henry Jackson's Battery
*Artillery Commander Deployed
Royal Artillery Seige Battery (3 Cannons) x3 24 Pound Guns (Veteran)
Royal Artillery Seige Battery (3 24 pounders)
+1 Morale
Royal Marine Artillery (Rocket Detachment) X1 Rocket (Veteran)
+1 Morale
Rocket Rules
Range of 48 inches, must have line of sight, may fire overhead
Roll 2 D6
12 Direct and devastating hit. Six casualties. Consult double six table
11 – 9 Target unit lose 1 casulty and falters BUA’s set alight.
8-4 Miss
3 The nearest friendly unit to the rocket battery is hit by stray rockets and loses two casulties.
2 Rockets double back and strike ammunition. Rocket battery completely destroyed. (Rout)
3 Batteries Opposite the Forts
*Starts with Artillery Commander
Maj. William Gordon's Comp. (6 Guns and Rocket Section) (Veteran) x3 6 Pound Guns
*2 Mortars, 1 Howitzer, 3 Cannons (probably 6 Pounders)
+1 Morale
Royal Marine Artillery (Rocket Detachment) X1 Rocket (Veteran)
+1 Morale
Rocket Rules
Range of 48 inches, must have line of sight, may fire overhead.
Roll 2 D6
12 Direct and devastating hit. Six casualties. Consult double six table
11 – 9 Target unit lose 1 casulty and falters BUA’s set alight.
8-4 Miss
3 The nearest friendly unit to the rocket battery is hit by stray rockets and loses two casulties.
2 Rockets double back and strike ammunition. Rocket battery completely destroyed. (Rout)
Cavalry *Independent Unit
Lieutenant Colonel John O Neil (Average)
Starts deployed to the rear of the British positions.
19th Light Dragoons (266 men 2 squadrons) x14 (Line)
Protecting Road Back to Quebec *Not Present at Plattsburgh
Part of First Brigade
88th (Connaught Rangers) Foot (540 men) x30 (Veteran)
*At Champlain (Except Light Co.)
This Irish unit was also known as the "Devil's Own" for being undisciplined but also excellent with the bayonet
+1 melee
+1 morale
Can refuse a flank
+1 to shooting in line
39th (Dorsetshire) Foot (540 men) x30 (Veteran)
*At Chazy (Except Light Co.)
+1 morale
Can refuse a flank
+1 to shooting in line
18 Pounder Battery (6 18 Pounders) x2 18 Pound Guns (Veterans)
*At Chazy Landing
+1 Morale
6 Pounder Battery (5 6 pounders, 1 5.5 inch how.) (Veteran) x2 6 Pound Guns
*At Chazy with 39th
+1 Morale
American Scenario Rules
Victory Conditions; The Americans have to keep the British from capturing their forts and turning their own guns on the anchored American fleet awaiting the British fleet.
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. *For this scenario, units in forts or blockhouses do not have "Ammunition Problems".
4. Chosen Men; Up to 12 men may be 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.
5. Fort Defence; Each Fort has 24 models plus 3 or 4 cannons. The extra troops listed in the army list are combined in a unit outside the forts. Troops moving through the earthworks require ladders to climb the sides of forts and move at half speed charging through the earthworks (all British units are assumed to have ladders). Troops attempting to break a gate roll a D6 each turn they are touching the gate; on a 4,5 or 6 they have taken a hit point off the gate. A gate has two hit points, after that it is removed. Units defending forts and blockhouses get +2 morale, and -2 target modifier (General De Brigade Rules). Troops defending earthworks get +4 to melee, if defending a charge through a broken gate they get +1 to melee. Troops charging defensive positions receive no charging bonus. Up to 12 fort defenders can shoot out of any one side of the fort. If no cannons are in position to fire at oncoming troops, one cannon can be moved to the undefended side.
Forts can't be damaged by cannon fire.
*British Brigades can use "Sapper Rules" pg 120 in General de Brigade Rules
American Army
Brigadier-General Alexander Macomb (Excellent)
Main Bridge (Right Brigade)
Major J. Sproull 13th Infantry (Average)
*The Americans constructed breastworks to the right and left of the main bridge (just wide enough for these units). Counts as cover, -2 to hit for the two line units and gun.
13th Regiment (200) x24 (Line)
15th (50), 29th (100), and 6th (80)
+1 to shooting at close range
3rd Vermont Regiment (400 men) x24 (Conscript)
-1 morale
-1 melee
-2 firing modifier
Light Artillery (2 6 Pounders) 1 Gun (Line)
*Counts as Horse Artillery
Militia Rifles x6 (Enthusiastic Conscripts)
NY Volunteers Aiken's and Flagg's Teenage Volunteers (20 men)
Farnsworth's Vermont Volunteer Rifles (96 men)
*At the Stone Mill, beside main bridge
-1 melee
-2nd Rate Skirmishers
*This Whole Formation can Skirmish
The Forts
*These were not forts but earthworks with ditches around them. The largest, Fort Moreau, had 4 buildings inside. Guns were set up individually with space for infantry between. Each fort counts as a brigade with average command. The guns for the first two had half facing forward, the other facing backwards. Fort Scott had more of its guns facing the water I suggest that each brigade commander takes a fort to control. Each fort counts as their own brigade.
Fort Moreau *Estimate 100m by 60m
Col. Melancton Smith
6th and 29th (800 men) x24 (Line)
+1 to shooting at close range
Artillery Corps (4 Guns forward, 4 Back) 4 24 Pound Guns Forward (Line)
2 X 24 Pounders Facing Forward 2 X 1 24 Pounders Facing to the Rear
Fort Brown *Estimate 80m by 50m
Lt.Col. H. Storrs
30th and 31st (700 men) x24 (Second Line)
-1 morale
*Round down half casualties at long range only
Artillery Corps (4 Guns forward, 4 Back) 4 18 Pounders (Line)
2 X 24 Pounders Facing Forward 2 X 1 24 Pounders Facing to the Rear
Fort Scott *Estimate 40m by 40m
Lt.Col. T. Vinson
33rd and 34th (550 men) x24 (Second Line)
-1 morale
*Round down half casualties at long range only
Artillery Corps (6 24 Pounders) 3 24 Pound Guns (Line)
1 X 24 Pounder Facing Forward, 2 X 24 Pounders Facing the Water
Blockhouses (Centre Brigade)
Major-General Benjaminn Mooers (Average)
1st Vermont Regiment (896 men) x40 (Conscript)
*In Reserve in the Area of the Blockhouses
-1 morale
-1 melee
-2 firing modifier
Blockhouses
*Counts as part of Right Brigade but Independent Units. Units in block houses are -4 to hit by shooting. If their doors are broken troops inside get +1 to melee. They get +2 to morale.
Lt-Col. Daniel Appling, 1st Rifle Battalion (Average)
*Their well known previous commander, Major Benjamin Forsyth had died months before
Left Blockhouse
1st Rifles (150 men) X9 (Veteran)
*Chosen Men; 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.
*Chosen Men; 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.
Right Blockhouse
Light Artillerymen Invalids (estimate 50 men) x6 (Line)
4th Rifles Invalids (estimate 50 men)
*This unit can't leave the blockhouse except to retreat. Their numbers are not part of the lists of "effectives"
*Entire formation can skirmish
At the Upper Bridge / Behind the Forts (Left Brigade)
Major General Samuel Strong (Average)
Line Detachments Outside Forts x30 (Second Line)
*Part of Fort Numbers
-1 morale
*Round down half casualties at long range only
New York Militia (340) x36 (Conscript)
2nd Vermont Regiment (460 men) (Conscript)
-1 morale
-1 melee
-2 firing modifier
New York Militia (340 men) x36 (Conscript) *Starts with D3 Casualties
4th Vermont Regiment (400 men) (Conscript)
*This includes the 300 New York and Vermont Militia that had Harassed the First and Third Brigades From Pike's Ford to the Fort
*This includes the 300 New York and Vermont Militia that had Harassed the First and Third Brigades From Pike's Ford to the Fort
-1 morale
-1 melee
-2 firing modifier
Light Artillery (1 4 Pounder) 1 Gun (Line) *Starts Limbered
*This gun was part of the harassing force
*Counts as Horse Artillery
Cavalry *Independent Unit, Starts behind the Forts
*Not counted as part of troops present but definitely in the vicinity.
Average Command
7th New York Dragoons (133 men) x7 (Conscript)
-1 Morale
-1 Melee
Invalids / Sick
Invalids (803 men) x40 noncombatants or manned defences and guns
Light Artillery, Light Dragoons, 4th, 5th, 10th, 12th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 45th
*Regular Army Sick and Wounded; Evacuated to the Rear or to Crab Island where they Manned Cannons. Others were not on the lists as "able bodied" but took part in the defence.
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