Raindem
Matrix Hero

Posts: 696
Joined: 7/15/2000 From: Arizona Status: offline
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May 1776 Things are deteriorating quickly in New Jersey. The British have blown open my left wing, captured Morristown and Newark, and reached the Hudson. Only a handful of militia now stand between them and New York. I made some counterattacks at Morristown and Princeton. By choosing this route of advance, the British are going to present an ever extending left flank for me to chip away at. Horatio Gates has taken command of American forces outside of Boston. Aided by the arrival of new militia called up last month, he made an all out assault on the British right wing at Lexington. After 3 bloody rounds of combat he took the ground. Historically, it reminded me of a Bunker Hill in reverse. Clearly, we will not take Boston using such methods. In Virginia, Lee has taken his small but enthusiastic force and invested Norfolk. Initial attacks were unsuccessful, but we’re hopeful that renewed efforts next month will bear fruit. If the British weren’t willing to fight for Savannah (a Loyalist stronghold), I doubt they’ll expend much effort on Norfolk (a beehive of Patriot activity). As mentioned in the last update, Arnold has cautiously advanced back into Canada. Our Indian scouts reported that the main British force under Carleton was at Montreal, but there was hardly nothing guarding Quebec - a garrison and a single unidentified foot regiment. We decided on a risky maneuver. The Green Mountain Boys would remain at St. John’s and try to pin Carleton, while the rest of Arnold’s “army” (I use the word loosely. He had but 4 tired militia battalions) would advance up the St. Lawrence, cross it at Trois Rivieres, and attack Quebec from the west. Note that Arnold’s army was able to move from St. Johns to Quebec in a single turn (1 month). That’s over 800 miles, or around 26 miles per day. Foot regiments of this period were able to move much faster than the infantry units of the 20th century. Their supply tail was shorter (they foraged as they went), they had less to carry, and enemy units didn’t exert the same ZOC effect that they do now. Add to that the accelerating effect of waterways, and you are capable of moves like this one. Arnold reached Quebec, but didn’t have enough MPs left to attack this turn.
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< Message edited by Raindem -- 2/16/2019 2:43:48 AM >
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Grab them by the balls. Their hearts and minds will follow.
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