The summer of 1776-A newbie's first AAR

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This is my first AAR, so bear with me. I apologize for the small images, it is necessary for me to upload them on 56k

The last name was signed on the Declaration. It was official. Representatives from the thirteen colonies, from the woods and hills of New Hampshire to the tobacco plantations and mansions of Virginia, were declaring themselves free of King George III's rule. They had come to Philadelphia in the sweltering summer for common purpose. Now however, the practical problem, not the ideological one was in the way. The King would undoubtedly not let his colonies go without a fight. The colonists had already won a few "unofficial" victories, the rout on Bunker Hill near Boston namely. But to be free the colonists best and brightest would need to combine diplomacy, tact, strategy, and maybe a victory on the open field against the battle tested "thin red line". All of this needed to be done with very little respect, prestige, troops, and ships.

The first problem confronting this new, rag-tag (in the grand scheme of the world) was to find a commander for it's equally new, and equally rag-tag army, basically a combined militia force from all over. Boatsmen from Marblehead and Salem, shopkeepers from Manhattan. rough frontiersmen from Albany, and farmers from the tobacco fields of Virginia, who quite frankly had a bit of a distaste for their New England brothers in arms. The Congress settled on Benedict Arnold, arguably the best military mind in the colonies to command the infantry and artillery forces arrayed in Albany.

Meanwhile. General Washington, the Virginian, was given command of the cavalry, and devised a daring plan, he would use his immaculate leadership abilities to push his men quickly through British lands and seize them, force marching through the land. If they could take enough of these lands, maybe the British would let them go.

Troops were also being raised from amongst the militias of the colonies. There numbers however, were limited.

 

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This is my first AAR, so bear with me. I apologize for the small images, it is necessary for me to upload them on 56k

My first computer was only a 4k so I feel your pain!

Nice start. I look forward to how the rebel rabble does in the war!

 

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The British Empire is not amused.

 

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On July the 8th The continental Congress realized the needed a capable admiral to command the small Continental Navy. The navy was small, but had well built, well crewed ships. Samuel Adams, a Bostonian was selected for the task. Not so much for ability, but for the trust the congress had in him, and how quick he was to step forward.

Three days later, on July the 8th The congress selected one of their own, a man named Langdon as the leader of the colonies during this time. He was more a figurehead, an official signature on documents then anything else. The congress still held the real power.

Langdon in his wisdom realized that the colonists could not hope to match Cornwallis’ army man for man. He decreed the army should focus more on drill, discipline, and good equipment and morale to win the day the armies should have to meet.

On July the 21st, the British made a move. They marched from Vermont to the colony of New Hampshire, pillaging and demanding food and shelter from the small farmers as they went. They made their way through the rough woods and hills and to the colonial seaport of Portsmouth. They attacked the town immediately. The 1000 Defenders were greatly outnumbered and doomed from the start. They fought bravely however, and held of the overwhelming force for over a week, inflicting over 1000 casualties on Cornwallis’ army.

Almost a month passed. Langdon issued war taxes on the colonies, which were gladly paid by some, not by others. He also took out a loan with a Dutch bank to fund his war efforts.

Arnold and his men arrived in New York on the first of August, Washington made his march through the British possessions, and colonial mercenaries continued a similar march through the south. Cornwallis made a slow march north, towards the Abanaki region of the colonies, taking it without resistance. The colonial army trained, and waited for reinforcements in New York. President Langdon had not been idle however, and had a plan. He devised a plan to send his navy, small and fast, towards the Caribbean to take the British possessions there, to further convince the crown to allow them to separate. The enlisted the help of Nunez De Balboa, a Spaniard, with a deep distrust for any English speaker, but gold was gold in his eyes, and the colonials were willing to pay well.

Disturbing news had reached the congress’s attention while these plans were being made however, milita and scouts reported Cornwallis and his massive force had turned south in Maine, and were heading down the coast back towards Portsmouth, the colonials could only presume he was marching towards New York, to squash Arnolds small force. Washington’s scouts also reported a British cavalry force was waiting for him in Canada, a clash was finally inevitable.

Even as more colonial troops march to Arnold’s army in New York.

 

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Get those redbacks.

 

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Washington met the British cavalry in Huron on September 2, and outnumbered them 3 to 1. He quickly defeated them, sending them reeling back towards Ontario.

Washington then decided to split his troops, sending a third of his men north, with general Nathaniel Greene, to take undefended British possessions, while he would pursue the British east across Canada with 2000 men.

At the same time General Wayne and his cavalry continue to carve through the British possessions on the western frontier.

On Saturday September the 11th, Adams and his fleet draw close to the island of Bermuda, they find two British warships waiting for them on the horizon, the James and the Sovereign o the Seas. Adams had four Heavy Frigates, The Andrew Doria, the flagship The Viper, The Hancock, and the John Adams, and Three East Indiamen, transporting Balboa’s men, the Nautilus, the Essex, and the Congress. After five days of hard fighting, and pursuit, Adams sank the Sovereign of the Seas, and forced the James to fall back with extreme damage. The fleet later made it to Bermuda, which Balboa took without resistance.

Several weeks passed, Arnold assembled his force in New York, while Washington won yet another victory in Canada against the British.

Cornwallis was seen marching past Newburyport and Gloucester in northern Massachusetts, and heading towards Boston. He would be in New York soon.

The British offer peace, but it is only renouncing claims on several colonies, the president feels another war will follow shortly, and does not sign. Some in the congress disagree, urging Langdon to sign, as they believe Cornwallis will utterly destroy Arnold’s army, and ruin their chances at independence.