AWI: Lexington and Concord 19th April 1775 (6mm). Turns 9 - 16

 TURN 9

Barrett has second thoughts and realises that he could be quickly destroyed by the Grenadiers. He decides to pull back to the Punkatasset Hill and defend the North bridge. Better to wait for reinforcements before fully engaging the British force.

The Grenadiers continue to advance albeit slowly! The lead light infantry unit approaches Concord.

Pierce orders his minutemen to occupy the woods at Merriam's corner and engage any British they find.

Continued -

TURN 10

Barrett spreads his line out to maximise firepower.

British Light infantry begin to search Concord for stores. They find one stash and begin loading it.

Light infantry exchange fire in the woods with Pierce's Minutemen. The greater number of minutemen have the better of the exchanges leaving the light infantry shaken with heavier casualties.

Green arrives with the last of the American reinforcements. He makes good progress moving through Lexington to the delight of the locals.

TURN 11

Smith moves his Grenadiers towards North bridge intending to engage Barrett's companies.

Pitcairn withdraws his shaken light infantry from the woods having served their purpose in screening the main British force. A good movement command roll is countered by a poor rally roll leaving the infantry still shaken.

Green continues to enjoy good command rolls with another 3 activations. His snaking column approach Merriam's Corner.

TURN 12

A shattering volley from the Grenadiers destroy one of Barrett's companies and forces another to withdraw disordered and shaken.

From Barrett's viewpoint this really does not look good!

Green moves his troops off the road intending to fully occupy all the woods around Merriam's Corner.

TURN 13

The lone Concord company engages the two Grenadier units giving a good account of themselves but are disordered by return fire.

In Concord another stores stash is found and loading begins.

TURN 14

The Lincoln company had moved forward to fire a volley on the Grenadiers causing casualties only to find itself back where it started having again become shaken and disordered. The Concord company was also now shaken giving Barrett and increasing headache!

Green has fully deployed his regiment in the woods covering Merriam's corner and enabling him to use significant firepower along the road.

A spoiler to Green's plans are the arrival of British reinforcements along with their overall commander, Percy. The artillery section deploys on the high ground with the infantry moving quickly through Lexington.

TURN 15

Barrett rallies the Concord company who inflict casualties on the Grenadiers although it is disordered by return fire. It survives though with no further casualties from the combined fire of the two Grenadier units.

The third and final stash of stores is found and the light infantry are hurried to load up quickly. Concern is growing with the arrival of more American reinforcements now occupying their escape route.

Seeing the mass of redcoats moving through Lexington, Green amends his plans. Leaving two of his companies in the woods, now facing the direction of Percy, he leads another out to engage Smith's force as quickly as possible. He orders Pierce to do likewise but he fails his command roll!

Percy has another excellent command rolls allowing his brigade to make good progress deploying across the fields adjacent to Lexington.

TURN 16

Barrett narrowly escapes death in his endeavours to support the Concord company who continue to exchange fire with the Grenadiers successfully causing the nearest unit to become shaken.

Pierce gets his act together and moves his force out of the woods. The Acton and Bedford companies pour enfilading fire towards the light infantry without success allowing the latter to relocate behind a stone wall and fire back. Neither side score any hits.

Green hurries me along but not nearly fast enough!

Yet more good dice rolls from Percy sees his brigade continued to make good progress deploying.