Skirmish at Silver's Creek (Legends of the High Seas AAR)

Turn 1: Forces deployed

This is the stirring conclusion to a three-part series dedicated to saving Prince Adam.  In the first installment (http://redcoatsandruffles.blogspot.com/2020/04/through-woods-legends-of-high-seas.html), Prince Adam was left for dead while his wife Belle escaped.  She rallied a small force of allies, located and finally retrieved Adam, who had survived his wounds (http://redcoatsandruffles.blogspot.com/2020/09/saving-prince-adam-legends-of-high-seas.html)  After finding Prince Adam, the allies have to escort him to safety, a task made far more difficult when Gaston visits a British encampment for reinforcements.

With Major Phillips still recovering (see http://redcoatsandruffles.blogspot.com/2019/11/skirmish-at-turnbulls-farm.html), the young and impetuous Lieutenant James Brampton agrees to lead one company of the 43rd to Silver's Creek with Gaston.  If King Roland II is in the area, his capture would be a significant accomplishment for the young lieutenant.  A handful of Volunteers of Ireland tag along to act as guides.

Unknown to everyone, a patrol of Continental Light Infantry is also in the area, hiding in the heavily-forested region.

Colonists and Allies: King Roland II, Queen Miranda, Steward Baileywick, Sir Bartleby, Belle, Adam, and Enchancia Royal Guard.  12 Continental Light Infantry under Captain Duckworth are available as reinforcements. (20 in all)

Turn 6: Continentals appear

British and Allies: Gaston, 9 mobsters, 6 Volunteers of Ireland, 12 privates of the 43rd Regiment of Foot, Lieutenant James Brampton. (27 in all)

(Scenario is "Crossing the Silverlode" from Lord of the Rings: Strategy Battle Game.  Naming it Silver's Creek is a play on the original title, as well as a salute to the most famous pirate of all.)

The first five turns saw the rescue party putting as much distance as they could from their pursuers.  By Turn 6, the Light Infantry had appeared in the forest.  Lieutenant Brampton engaged Baileywick in combat.  Baileywick defeated him and pushed him back, but could not wound him.

Turn 7: Baileywick vs. Brampton

The Light Infantry shot a Volunteer of Ireland in Turn 7, but Brampton also killed Baileywick.  Turn 8 saw Gaston determined to get into the action early and not repeat his passive performance from last time.  He paid for it as Captain Duckworth dispatched him with ease.  Lieutenant Brampton killed a Light Infantryman.

Turn 9: Light Infantry holds the line

By Turn 9, the action was hot and general.  Brampton used a Might point and took down another Light Infantryman.  The Light Infantry retaliated by killing a mobster.  Captain Duckworth was charged by two of the mob, but with a might point, he used his two attacks to lay them both low.

Captain Duckworth continued to hold the line, killing another two of the mob, as the refugees headed for safety.  Perhaps running the lightly-armed and defended mob into such a mighty warrior was a grave mistake.

Turn 11 saw Duckworth and the Light Infantry combine for 2, while Brampton and the mob did the same.

Turn 11: "Forward 43rd! They shall not escape!"

Turn 12 saw the first escapee: Sir Bartleby of Enchancia.  Throughout the fight, he had acted on the advice that discretion is the better part of valor.  It finally paid off here.  One escaped, three to go.  Elsewhere a Light Infantryman went down.

Turn 13 saw the most important Priority break for the Continentals (the previous 5 turns had all been British).  With it, Prince Adam and Belle escaped, the (unofficial) goal of the past three scenarios.  But in order to win the scenario, two more refugees would also have to evade their pursuers.

Turn 13: Prince Adam and Belle reach safety

Elsewhere on the field, Duckworth dispatched another mobster.  Apparently they still have not learned to avoid him.  The other important action this time was the duel between King Roland II and Lieutenant James Brampton, 43rd Regiment.  Roland had been protecting the refugees with his two attacks and two might points.  If Brampton could eliminate him, he could mop up the lightly-defended refugees.  With a mighty effort, Roland surmounted his opponent's fight value and inflicted two wounds.  It was only a matter of fate that Lieutenant Brampton lived to see another day.

Turn 13: Red coat vs. Redcoat

With Turn 14 and Miranda's escape, the refugees had won by the letter of the rules: evacuate 4 characters.  But what of the other three survivors, not to mention the Light Infantry?  The battle was far from over.

Two more escaped on Turn 15, and Captain Duckworth killed another mobster.

The Volunteers of Ireland landed a lucky shot on a Light Infantryman.  Elsewhere Roland and another Light escaped.  The mob accounted for a third Light, and Duckworth avenged the shot by dispatching a Volunteer of Ireland.

Turn 17: Duckworth alone in a sea of red

Turn 17 and only Captain Duckworth is left on the field.  He has given such an account of himself that no quarter will be given by the enraged British.  Instead, he must escape to survive.  The British attempt to box him in, but he downs a soldier of the 43rd, then repeats the procedure in Turn 18.

Turn 19 is another crucial priority shift, as Captain Duckworth gains priority and heads for the edge of the board.  The British swarm him in the next turn and inflict a wound, which he is fated to receive.  One wound left.  Can he make it before he is overwhelmed by numbers?

Turn 19: Duckworth and Brampton survive

He does!  Captain Duckworth hurries off the board edge, while Lieutenant Brampton is secretly glad to draw off and lick his wounds.

The Continentals suffered 11 casualties from their initial force of 21, including Steward Baileywick.  7 refugees escaped, as well as two Light Infantry and Captain Duckworth.

The British suffered 14 casualties, including Gaston, of their force of 26.  The mob that followed Gaston was reduced to one survivor.

Lieutenant Brampton put in a solid performance, killing four enemies.  But Captain Duckworth was a terror in combat, accounting for 11 of the 14 British casualties.  Who knows what adventures are in store for them?