| 106
LITTLE COHONES HERALD: COUNT DE MONEY KILLED ON MAIN ST DESPITE SHERIFF'S EFFORT |
| 08/21/08 BRITISH ROYALTY KILLED IN TOWN
- American West |
The scion of a wealthy, old line British family, and renowned big game hunter and marksman, Count De Money(Dick White) arrived in town last night to have a go at the buffalo, and perhaps to visit the much reputed Bertha,s Palace of Exotic Delights. Cess Poole and his Outhouse gang (Jerry Chaskes & Mitch Abrams) arrived soon after! Sheriff Richard "2-Dicks" Richards (Rick Bryant) had his hands full - trying to keep the Count from being kidnapped, protecting the army payroll that came into the Little Cohones RR station this morning and the new church recently built in the Mexican quarter, reputed to have a lot of new gold items used in celebrating the mass. The payroll was protected by the army (Doug Ozelius) and the church has the new pastor, Father Paine In Diaz (Bill Pritchard) a former bandito and quick with his two six-shooters for its protection. The dawn saw much of the outhouse gang surrounding the sherrif's office, perhaps to stop the lawmen in their tracks and have the town to themselves. Sheriff "2-Dicks" was up to the task, however and he and his deputy shot down the intruders, including Cess Poole, for the loss of one man seriously wounded. The Count, on hearing gunfire, became involved and stayed so during the entire fracas - his law-abiding spirit would cost him his life. The Outhouse gang members under the command of Buffalo Chip Brown (Mitch Abrams) stole the gold from the church as Father In Diaz had obviously spent too much time sampling the new wine shipment and was not able to stop them, bringing down only one bad guy. It was in their getaway that they shot down the Count. The army managed to cross town to help stop the bandits but unhappily, one got away with part of the loot.
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| 105
German's make a strong defense. |
| 8/14/2008 Advance to LeFiere
- World War II |
I stood next to the Platoon leader as we looked in the distance; more hedgerows. Our job to root out the Jerrys as we pushed into the open spaces of France. Our job to take hill and dale and maybe die in the trying. Next to me was the sniper team. Now they could come in handy and do it at long range . . . if this close-in terrain would let us get them at long range.
The Platoon leader had told us the mission - take the two storied stone building and move through this position to link up with other American forces a few miles from here. Not too bad given we had two squads and the CO had sent a team with a .30 Cal medium machinegun. In case we ran into armoured vehicles he also sent a bazooka team. I heard one of them go off and heard my ears ring for a hour.
The plan was easy, all units moved to take the building except 2Lt Bill's men would move to the north and take the main road - faster and spread them out better. We moved out, 1Lt. Doug leading but saw no Krauts. Then we waited at a hedgerow. I saw Sergeant Jerry with his machinegun team going through the field. That equipment looked heavy and they were huffing and puffing but the Germans will be puffing when that gun goes off. Next to him I saw 2Lt Bryant bring his squad on line and move through the field. Nothing in their way - maybe it would be a slow day with no Germans this side of Le Fiere.
Things were going fine. Guys started to get lazy and then a light machinegun directed by a Squad Leader Chris opened up on 2Lt Bryant's men. One man ran for it - I don't know who and I didn't see where. Another was a dead before he hit the ground. 2Lt Bryant kept his head and moved his men ahead. He knew the fire was coming from the second floor of the building and started to fire up at it. No one was hit but support elements were moving up to get in effective range.
No one could see much. The crops in the field were limiting what we could see and the hedgerows limited our field of vision. I could see 1Lt Doug getting frustrated. It was a frustrating situation - you believe the enemy is there but cannot bring fire on them. He started us forward - then thought he could support the attack and then realized he was what was keeping everything together. In the end we watched our sniper take a shot at the light machinegun. He missed - not our day.
In the meantime, the machinegun was wreaking havoc on 2Lt Bryant's men. Another few fell as the machinegun got the range, some to wounds but most with bullet holes through them. But just as I thought they were goners, Sergeant Jerry came to his aid. The .30 cal opened up on the top floor. No one was hit that I could see but that got their attention. They stopped the damage to 2Lt Bryant's men and started shooting at Sergeant Jerry's boys. I saw Ernie Stark get hit in the arm. He ran to the other side of the hedgerow where the Germans couldn't see him. That must have gotten Sergeant Jerry's team riled because you could hear the .30cal hum. I saw a lot of smoke up on the second story as Willy Goff kept pouring it into the upper story. After a while, there was no reply from our machinegun fire. Sergeant Jerry had to pull Willy off the gun to stop him from firing.
On my right 2Lt Bill's men met no resistance and moved down the main road. All hell was breaking loose on our side and it was a walk in the park for 2Lt Bill. Then, 2Lt Bill almost bought the farm as a sniper just missed him. His whole platoon dove for cover and scrambled through a hedgerow. Some fun for the platoon now. Lt Bill kept his men going and except for Harry Osbourne made it through to link up with the Americans from the next company. Harry never made it past the next field as a sniper's bullet found him.
Meanwhile, 2Lt Bryant moved his men forward. With the machinegun gone and the house in site things were picking up. Right then the whole world opened up with machinepistols, submachineguns and grenades and rifles blazing. Lt Bryant's men were decimated in the ambush and Lt Bryant, bleeding from an ear tried to restore order. A medic came to aid him and he would have no part of that, not when his men were being cut up. He rallied the remnants when others would have run and moved his men forward. He was followed by Sergeant Jerry who moved his men toward the ambush site. No really, I wouldn't have believed it either but he sure did.
It appeared that some of the Germans were moving away, although from where I was it could have been reinforcements coming in. About this time 2Lt Bryant moved past the hedgerow and occupied an orchard. He flanked the ambushing group of Germans and because the Germans saw no way out charged them and hand to hand combat ensued. Reggy Thomas told me later that 2Lt Bryant's men men fought like tigers but the Germans outnumbered them and were led by Oberleutnant White. It was too much for them tired as they were and they quickly perished. He was lucky to get to safety to tell the tale. The rest of the platoon did not survive the action and was taken off the company roster. Maybe the remnants will be broken up to other platoons within the company.
With that both sides had had enough and waited for reinforcements.
Afterward: This was the first game our gaming group has played of Arc of Fire. There were four American leaders and three German. The action was quick and fierce due in large part to the bocage and the fields which limited sighting to just 4 inches. I tried to use only a few different types of troops to make it easier for everyone for a first go around. The short sighting distance led to an infantry only conflict. In retrospect, this might not have been the best plan as it led to frustration on the part of some participants in not being able to fire at groups of men that normally would be seen but for the high crop fields.
The Americans were to capture the stone house and exit soldiers off the board in 8 turns. They probably would not have captured the house but certainly would have gotten the 2nd squad off the board. The Germans moved the 1st Rifle team from the trench in the middle of the board to help ambush 2nd LT Bryant's men and then rush them to try to interdict the 2nd American squad. This was too much for one squad and Asst Squad Leader Ricky could not pull this off. It demonstrates the ability of forces moving on the battlefield and seemingly being at the right place at the right time. With a truck or carrier at hand it might have been possible for Ricky to interdict his forces between the 2nd squad and the board edge.
Additionally, the Germans by controlling the house and killing 8 US solders (amount of soldiers killed were not told to the participating commanders) earned a decisive victory. That with the 11 soldiers the American exited the board earned the Germans a marginal victory - but a victory nonetheless.
Finally, it should be mentioned that the Americans did not have a 60mm mortar team with the HE rounds and 4 smoke rounds. Instead, they received two variable attachments instead of one. In effect, they received a bazooka team which had no real effect on the game but made it easier to control the play of the game as for a first game we did not have to deal with smoke and collateral damage from indirect fire.
My thanks to the participants of the game who "braved on" even when I was trying to remember portions of the rules.
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| 104
Yorkists Fail to decisively defeat Lancastrians |
| 8/7/2008 First St. Albans.
- War of Roses |
As I gazed over at the town of St. Albans it appeared there were clouds of dust heading toward the town. I went back to tending the cows and when next I looked back there were banners and the glint of helmeted and armored men. I was close enough to hear the sound but not enough to make out their words as others from the town itself came out of the gates.
The sight unfolded with the Yorkist columns advancing into two portions but linked together so that they were almost one host. Yet each was commanded by one of their own, on the right the Duke Jerald of York and on the left the Earl Jerry of Warwick. The defenders of the Lancastrian cause, who where led by King Douglas Henry himself, felt secure with a ditch around the good town of St. Albans. Also, representing the Lancastrian side was Duke Richard of Somerset. They presented themselves to their opponents and on the near side to where my cows were pasturing began shooting arrows. Each side, of themselves, did the same to the other for what seemed a long time but after a while King Henry’s archers bid a hasty retreat. I heard dreadful screams as some were not able to retire. The Duke of York’s men continued nonetheless firing as new groups of archers and men at arms arrived on the scene, having come from the town.
On the far side I saw a whole host of arrows shot by the Yorkist group of three archers and though you might think I have not been watching the cows but have spent time at the local tavern by my word I heard a head splitting sound as devilish machines threw large balls into the air. They fell with fiendish malice upon first a group of longbowman and then a group of knights. Both groups saw their maker quite swiftly. Still, the Yorkists did not move past the trench. They stayed awaiting more targets until none would venture near them.
Then with a loud yell two groups of Men at Arms moved down the main thoroughfare toward the town. In their way were longbowmen and these started to retire as I can imagine they did not feel compelled to meet axes with mere bows. They moved backward and then stopped. Shooting at the Men at Arms, and doing much damage, but finally they were joined into battle and after a short time . . . ran. There was much shouting and some of the Men at Arms tried to run after the longbowmen but could not catch them. This was especially so when a group of knights met the axemen in combat. Being evenly match they spilled blood but neither could gain an advantage.
On the far left a group of Yorkists ventured over the trench and the disorganization was apparent, even from this distance. Another group of Lancastrian knights charged them but many were cut down by deadly bowfire. This enraged the leader, Douglas of Stafford, to no small degree and standing on a fallen body shouted (at least that is what I heard a day later over a mug of mead), “Those who would fall have fallen, those who would run are Yorkists, and they stand there. At which time he pointed his sword at a column of disorganized Yorkists and though outnumbered 3:1 charged in a frenzied state of mind and pushed them back further into the trench.
At this point, a horn blew and the Lancastrian cause for that day was done. Many were left on the field but most were able to make their way through the town and would pick up the cause on another day. The body of Douglas of Stafford in full plate would be found the next day pieced with many wounds but heroic to the end.
The leaders on both sides were able to hold their heads high with newfound zeal for their cause, each side accounting itself well. Of importance, none of the cows that I was tending were slain by the armies as I moved them over meadow far away from St. Albans.
Afterward: This was the first battle of Medieval Warfare that our club has run. The Battle of 1st St. Albans in May 22, 1455 was a good one and although it seemed unbalanced (especially on the left) where Yorkist bowfire dominated, there are some things that could be done to mitigate this. Later games will find the tactical solutions to such situations. A fun time was had by all and everyone said they would venture into this time period once again. That's good as 1st St. Albans was only the first of many battles in the War of the Roses.
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| 103
The American army successfully raids Iroquois village. |
| 7/31/2008 Continentals defeat Indians.
- American War of Independence |
Generals Foster and Ozeleus marched on an Iroquois encampment intent on its destruction. As they movrd forward there was not an indian to be seen. Soon an ambush was sprung and one of Ozeleus' regiments was sent rushing to the rear, a broken mass. That attack was thrown back by the remaining units and the advance continued. Foster assaulted the village but was thrown back while another of his battalions was ambushed and forced to fall back. The rout of several indian war parties followed and the indians and their British allies withdrew, leaving the village to its firey fate.
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| 102
French forces manage to bush back Austro/Prussian attack. |
| 7/17/2008 Prussians & Austrians battle French
- Napeolonic |
Marshall Chasse was charged with defending the river crossing against advancing Prussians and Austrians. He was to be reinforced with a Brigade of the Guard supported by Guard Cavalry if the bridge held. Field Marshall Bryant commanded the Prussians and advanced steadily on Chasse’s right. Marshall Ozelius commanded the Austrian main body and advanced in the center. General Pritchard commanded the Austrian Advance Guard which was charged with threatening Chasse’s left. The battle lasted two days. On the first day, Bryant and Ozelius made satisfactory advances against the French while Pritchard was engaged while trying to deploy. Unfortunately the bridge held, paving the way for the Guard to intervene in the outcome of the battle. On the second day, the guard decisively defeated General Pritchard. Bryant left the field to attend to pressing business at home, and Ozelius defected to the French. The Prussian high command sent Marshall Von Dik to command the Prussians and the Austrian main body. Von Dik was soundly defeated in Melee by the French line under Ozelius. The Allies withdrew from the field leaving the French in control of the river crossing.
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| 101
Barons Oz and Foster are defeated. |
| 7/10/2008 Clash of Barons
- War of Roses |
Raider Barons Foley and Breen pounced on their weaker neighbor Baron Oz. While Baron Foley was absent from the battle line moving his archers out of the rough ground, Baron Oz seized the initiative and attacked. To his chagrin, he was met by Foley's veteran armored spears who repulsed the attack with a minor victory. At the same time, Baron Breen crossed the hedge and successfully attacked Oz's left wing. At this time, Baron Oz elected to leave the field with honor, and the raiders were left with a minor victory.
Meanwhile to the East, Raider Barons Bryant and Abrams attacked Baron Foster who was ensconced in a maze of hedges that badly hindered his movements. The attackers were able to mount an overwhelming attack with longbows that drove Baron Foster from the field. There is a rumor in the kingdom that the attackers used a witches brew of nefarious practices and blatent disregard for the rules of war to eke out the victory. Baron Foster promises dire revenge.
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| 100
British drive off French attack. |
| 6/26/2008 Naval Action at Martinique.
- Age Of Sail |
A large British force consisting of two Indiamen (26), six Transports and one Bomb Ketch (8) under Commodore Bryant were screened by four frigates, Phoebe(36), Psyche(36), Hermione(36) and Concord(36) under Vice Admiral Breen and four ships of the line, Spencer(74), Bedford(74), Royal Oak(74) and Formidable(80) under Admiral Foster. The only French naval presence was two small frigates, Iris(32) and Gentile(32) cowering in the harbor under the guns of Fort Royal.
The landings were well underway when a French fleet came over the horizon. Five ships of the line, Bourgogne(74), Conquerant(74),Indomptable(80), Fantastique(64) and Provence(64) under Admiral Abrams and three frigates, Justice(40), Venus(40), and Regeneree(36) under Admira; La Blanque. Admiral Foster moved to engage the Ships of the line and Vice Admiral Breen maneuvered to keep La Blanque's frigates from attacking the transports. As the ships closed to combat. the two French frigates sallied from the harbor.
In a wild melee the Royal Oak captured the Conqueant and the Formidable captured the Fantastique. The Provence and the Bougogne were much cut up aloft. However, the Indomptable(80) broke through to attack the transports causing one to strike and sinking another. She was hotly pursued by the Royal Oak and the Bedford who caused her to draw off. Spencer engaged the Provence and Formidable engaged the Bourgogne causing both damaged ships to strike.
The large French frigates had held their attack and were finally engaged by the Hermione, Psyche and Phoebe who had interposed themselves between the French and the transports. Concord(36) moved to engage the French 32's. Ultimately Concord and Iris grounded and Concord was dismasted. The damaged Genlile(32) went on to engage the Indiaman,Princess of Wales(26).
In so far as the British had by this time landed 70% of their troops and supplies and the Indomptable and Gentile were pressed by the Royal Oak and Bedford, the remaining French ships drew off leaving the British to complete their landing. Since the French had lost 4 ships of the line and a frigate before drawing off, the British claim a victory.
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| 99
Though reinforced, the weak US forces were unable to hold their position at Wong |
| 06/19/08 US FORCES UNABLE TO FEND OFF CHINESE ATTACK
- Other |
The Chinese attack came all across the front, with J. Chaskes attacking hill 308 from the NE. At first Jerry was able to advance very swiftly as his opponent, Doug Ozelius used Fabian tactics until he could retreat no further. The US resistance stiffened as the Chinese found minefields in their way,and several large "explosions" were heard to come from Chaskes HQ but in the end, Chinese air support and the lack of US air finally pushed the US off the hill. Jerry swung to his right, threatening to roll up the US positions in Wong-si.
To the West, Dick White moved aggresively against Mitch Abrams, using the elite Chinese Engineer Assault Platoon supported by a pair of tanks to take the RR Station Bunker by storm. Several of Mitch's support units were initially out of position to provide a good defense against White's attack and trying to move units into position caused quite a few casualties among them. Mitch was rotated home on family leave and Dick Bryant took over his positions. Though destroying a Chinese tank, Bryant did no better than Mitch. At this point the US reserve arrived on the field (red arrows on map). Initially the units under Ozelius' command caused Jerry to pull back to retain the objectives already gained and Dick Bryant was able to advance somewhat in the center. However missed communication on the part of Bryant resulted in ineffective placement of the reserves coming into Wong-si. Ozelius decided that it was better to retreat and fight another day.
Click here to view Battle Map
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| 98
Count Toulouse repulses Anglo-Spanish Attack on La Cochinillo.
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| 5/29/2008 The Battle of La Cochinillo, Spain 1809
- Napeolonic |
French forces in and around La Cochinillo, lead by the notorious Count Toulouse and "Hold that Hill" Abrams, fought a valiant holding action against the combined efforts of British General Lord "Little Mac" Bryant and his sidekick, Generalissimo "El Guapo" Chaskes. Without a Frenchman in sight, the Anglo-Iberian forces quickly advanced across the river of death to the base of a ridge that separated the allies from their objective, the town of La Cochinillo. On the allied left, El Guapo crossed through a farm and began charging up the heights with his Grenadier battalions against the French right flank. All the while, El Guapo seized the initiative with his cavalry and charged upon the French cavalry. As a hot knife through butter, (and many lucky die rolls) El Guapo broke the French cavalry causing mayhem throughout the French right flank. However, Marshal Abrams was clever enough to place enough force in reserve to hold the town. On the allied right, Lord Bryant scaled the hills only to find a determined French force ready to counterattack. Waiting on the allied right flank was the Count's cavalry which struck Little Mac while advancing infantry down the hill. The allied right flank began to crumble. However, in the center, Lord Bryant's KGL troops were advancing steadily toward their objective, destroying the cream of the French artillery and sweeping on to victory. As night came on, however, the armies found themselves in a great pinwheel action. La Cochinillo was saved....or was it?
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| 97
Clash of steel exhausts both sides |
| 5/'21/2008 Dukes duke it out to a draw
- War of Roses |
In a battle that was was more one of melee than of missile fire and lasted two days, Duke Breen had the early advantage. But Duke Breen exited the field over night due to imbibing in bad water and Duke White took over. On the left, Baron Ozilius and Baron Abrams' attack drew the enemy toward them but the enemy left was still strong under Baron Chaskes. On the right, Great Duke Bryant invited the attack of Baron Chaskes by feigning timidity. In the ensuing melee Chaskes was dreadfully wounded after destroying an archer unit but did not give up the field. Both sides then withdrew to recover as night fell. The sun rose to an empty battle field but for the dead and the crows and Great Duke Bryant's soiled breeches.
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