September 12th, 1814
A view from above from the British side.
You can see the disposition of troops in this map.
The most famous part of the battle. The 5th Maryland Volunteers stood up to the British volley after volley. They were the last Americans to leave the field, and left it in relatively good order.
Here are the forces that were gathering just a few kilometres away from the battle of North Point. There were 20 000 militia with 100 cannons in defensive positions at Hampstead Hill. Definitely more than the 3600 British that remained after North Point could handle. The British goal in the Chesapeake had been to destroy shipping, infrastructure that supported the war effort and cause havoc. In that regard it had been successful. The British had beaten two armies, burned down the Americans capital. This force made about 30 successful raids as well. Their lack of success in the Chesapeake was that they could not take Fort McHenry or get to Baltimore to burn the American fleet and harbour. The British marched back to their ships to head to New Orleans, their greatest loss of the war. The same force captured Fort Bowyer in Georgia after their loss of New Orleans, in the last battle of the war.
1 Man = 15
2 Guns = 3
British / Canadian Scenario Rules
Victory Conditions; The British have to rout the Americans.
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.
Colonel Arthur Brook (44th Foot) (Average)
1st (Light) Brigade
Colonel William Thornton (Average)
85th (Bucks Volunteers) Regiment of Light Infantry (845 men) x30 and X30 (Veteran)
+1 morale
Can refuse a flank
+1 to shooting in line
*Up to 50% of each unit can skirmish
Light Companies 4th, 21st, 44th (214 men) X15 (Veteran)
(Aprox. 65men from 4th, 88men from 21st, 61men from 44th)
+1 morale
Can refuse a flank
+1 to shooting in line
*Entire formation can skirmish
2nd Brigade
Unknown Command (Average)
*Arthur Brook had been in charge, but was the senior commander after Ross was killed.
4th (King's Own) Regiment of Foot (630-63 men) x36 (Veteran)
+1 morale
Can refuse a flank
+1 to shooting in line
44th Foot (East Essex) Regiment of Foot (610-61 men) x36 (Line)
+1 to shooting in line
Provisional Marine Battalion (Total 405 men) X30 (Line)
Royal Marines Ships Company (80 men)
2nd Colonial Marines (90men) *these were former slaves
Naval Landing Party (235 men)
*Counts as Light Infantry
+1 melee
+1 melee
+1 to shooting in line
Can deploy up to 50% as skirmishers
3rd Brigade
Colonel Patterson (Average)
21st(Royal North British Fusiliers) Regiment of Foot (884-88 men) x48 (Line)
+1 to shooting in line
2nd Battalion Royal Marines (687 men) x40 (Elite)
*Counts as Light Infantry
+1 to shooting
+1 morale
+1 melee
Can refuse a flank
+1 to shooting in line
Can form open order
Artillery
Total 4 Guns, Royal Marine Rocket Section; 473 Artillerymen and 56 Miners and Sappers
Royal Foot Artillery (4 6 Pounders) X3 Guns
+1 Morale
Royal Marines Rocket Section 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)
American Army Scenario Rules
Victory Conditions; The Americans have to hold up the British for 10 turns.
1. Linear Tactics; Line units in the same brigade have to have the same formation except to go around terrain and other units.
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.
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. Cover; The fence visible in the map above in which the American troops took position provide -2 to be hit and +1 morale. Troops in the forest get -1 to be hit and +1 morale.
American Order of Battle
Brigadier General John Stricker (Average)
3rd Maryland Brigade
Brigadier General John Stricker (Average)
5th Maryland Volunteers 550 men x36 (2nd Line)
-1 morale
-round down half casualties
6th Maryland Militia 620 men x40 (Conscript)
-1 morale
-1 melee
-2 firing modifier
27th Maryland Militia 500 men x30 (Conscript)
-1 morale
-1 melee
-2 firing modifier
39th Maryland Militia 450 men x30 (Conscript)
-1 morale
-1 melee
-2 firing modifier
51st Maryland Militia 700 men x48 (Conscript)
-1 morale
-1 melee
-2 firing modifier
1st Maryland Rifles 140 men x9 (Second Line)
*Chosen Men
Union Jagers (German Unit), Fell's Point Rifles, Baltimore Sharpshooters
-1 morale
Artillery
1st Maryland Artillery (4 X 4 pounders) 3 Cannons (Conscript) *Centre
-1 morale
-1 melee
-1 firing modifier
-1 morale
-1 melee
-1 firing modifier
Cavalry *Independent Unit
Lieutenant Colonel James Blays
5th Maryland Cavalry (140 men Total) (Enthusiastic Conscripts) X10
Baltimore Hussars (50 men), Independent Light Dragoons (35men), Maryland Chasseurs (35men), Fells Point Light Dragoons (20 men) *estimates
-1 morale
-1 melee
looks like a great scenario - will have to add it to our list fir when our group has got all their 1812 figures painted! I like the look of the Maryland volunteer infantry - might have to paint up some of those....!
ReplyDeleteThanks, I painted up Old Glory ones a while back and have been inaccurately using them for generic American volunteer units. They are on the larger side of the Old Glory range (bigger than25mm). Knuckleduster also makes them as well.
DeleteMost interesting summary and scenario of perhaps the most 'amazing' campaign in that strange, 'forgotten' conflict. I only learned when I began reading out it in some detail that this lead to the writing of the 'Star Spangled Banner'. I reckon that most people would guess the War of Independence as the source of that anthem.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to reading and seeing how the scenario goes/went.
Thanks, Ross's army was there to burn and destroy, so although they did not take Baltimore they had overall been very successful. The Americans stopped them at Baltimore, but this army had burned their capital and raided the shoreline for months. Baltimore was the biggest prize in the area (because of the port), so it definitely hurt the British to not destroy the shipping there.
DeleteI recently read about half of "A Subaltern in America: Comprising the narrative of the British Army at Baltimore, Washington etc. During the late war." Which was a fantastic read! Your summery of these events is spot on and well done. As a fifer, I am curious about what the maryland militia corps would have looked like. As far as I have seen, there are very few accounts detailing fife and drum corps during the war of 1812, but if you know of any sources that might have info on that I would love any help I can get. Thank you so much, I love what I have seen on this site and I have learned a bunch about the war of 1812, I hope to learn a lot more in the future!
ReplyDeletewhoah this blog is wonderful i love reading your posts. Keep up the great work! You know, a lot of people are hunting around for this info, you can help them greatly. mexican war service files
ReplyDeleteThanks for this great resource for 1812 wargaming.
ReplyDelete