MAJOR BATTLE FOR NEW ORLEANS

BACKDROP

As part of my Dominion campaign, an American army comprising twenty four military units launched an expedition to retake New Orleans from the French. Aware that they were likely to be attacked in the new year, the garrison had been reinforced to thirteen units. In artillery, the Americans could field seven pieces of mixed caliber, while the French could muster five, with a further one operating from a gunboat.(There was a second, but the crew were serving on land.) This must be one of my largest battles fought in the campaign.

STATE OF THE GAME

MOVE ONE commenced with the American howitzers opening up on the French ships in the harbour. No hits. But a field gun did hit a building, which caught alight. The French replied with two heavy guns and the gunboat on the American howitzer battery, with two hits on the crew. MOVE TWO saw the rival guns seeking to knock each other out, with the French having particular success, an American battery being reduced to half strength and the survivors scarpering for cover. MOVE THREE allowed the Americans to make serious progress towards New Orleans, there was a price to pay by the French for concentrating on enemy guns. And they too had also lost a field gun! Only one American unit, light cavalry, had been broken, and the skirmishing screens were doing their job.

And four photos from the French view.

MOVE FOUR was not good for the French, the American guns were throwing six's and they took their toll. MOVE FIVE had the Americans only a short distance from the city, and in overwhelming numbers. French small arms and gatlings broke a cavalry unit, and the panic spread to an infantry battalion. 

MOVE SIX the Americans were now pushing at the highways into the city. The California Hussars made a gallant charge on the naval barricade, only to receive a volley (two six's) which brought down half their unit, and they routed. This was a bloody round. MOVE SEVEN obliged casualties to be removed so as to allow further movement. An American battalion was rallied, but another had been broken while also attempting to charge the naval barricade. The following shows the horde now attacking that position.

MOVE EIGHT saw little actual movement, the Americans preferring to rely on small arms. MOVE NINE continued on this theme. But a fluke occurred on the American right, their two skirmishing units put an end to a French gun crew and routed a battalion, but they in turn broke from accurate fire from one of the houses, and routed. MOVE TEN the French were now retiring in the hope that several battalions would still obey orders if kept out of range of American small arms, several battalions were near 50% down. The exception was the Cuirassiers, a last gamble. MOVE ELEVEN the cuirassiers charged (which gets priority over standard movement). It was a beautiful move, the American battalion held and fired, but ineffective, the Cuirassiers in column sliced through taking out three for no losses. In shock, this battalion scattered, as did another nearby, already under half strength. The impetus allowed the cavalry to hit and melee another battalion, but without impetus. Despite inflicting heavier casualties on the 'Marines', the cavalry were down to half strength, but held on for another round of melee. MOVE TWELVE was all about the cuirassiers, all other action was now irrelevant. In this second round of melee, the cuirassiers won again, and inflicted two casualties. However, during these engagements, another skirmishing unit was permitted to fire on the melee, and as long as they only inflict one casualty per move, it is on the enemy...... they shot the last cuirassier! (The staff officer does not count). In the adjacent fighting, the naval battalion finally broke. The French had been defeated, but the Americans were in no position to restrict the harbour evacuation as there was now two gunboats with full gun crews.

NUMBERS INVOLVED The French numbered 110, with 5 staff/extras. They suffered 41 casualties, 69 escaping by boat, of which 15 were no longer obeying orders. As this includes the brave naval battalion, I don't think they will get reprimanded.). The Americans mustered 187, with 8 staff and signals. They lost 54, with a further 44 routing. I did enjoy this game. And the cuirassiers finally showed their worth after some previous poor showings, they effectively broke three battalions. And I could not help rooting for them (an American expression) in that final melee, and to be wiped out by some skirmishers with a lucky shot is a bit unsporting? 

MGB

PS. If all goes well with our postal deliveries, I'm expecting a useful addition to my French collection!

STATE OF THE DOMINION CAMPAIGN