The First Battle of Daviston Part Two Cornwallis's Attack An AWI game using Washington's Wars

Cornwallis arrives in the late morning with his infantry and artillery at the edge of Big Stony Woods.. Discovering that the two Brigades he had ordered into attack holding position near Millers pond He ordered his errant Brigadiers to him. Lord Cornwallis clearly agitated that his march was tardy and that his orders weren’t carefully followed ,severely rebuked Colonel Fitzhugh for his bungled attack and made it clear his performance was unbecoming a British officer. He had better improve or dismissal and disgrace would follow him back to England. General Erskine added that had only the flank attack arrived on time the rebels would have been driven from the field as he only encountered a moderate militia force and no artillery. Cornwallis then asked why he wasn’t holding the town since he was pitted against so paltry a force. Erskine replied he had driven a third of the rebels from the field but didn’t have the infantry needed to clear the village proper. At this moment scouts reported Continental infantry approaching the town from the West. Cornwallis immediately ordered Fitzhugh to move his brigade to the left flank form up his light infantry screen and prepare to attack. Cornwallis himself added that he would take the center and support his effort. He then ordered Erskine to hold his position to pin whatever Rebels on the right until he received orders to advance into the town from Cornwallis himself.

General Stirling arrived with his Brigade around 10:30 am to the sound of musketry and cannon fire coming from the middle of town. Colonel Griffin reported he was holding the town and had driven off the attack on his left at the crossing at Little Mossy Creek and had repulsed an attack on the center of town by British regulars but lost one regiment in doing so and was short of ammunition. Stirling ordered one of his batteries to support Griffin and ordered some ammunition wagons brought up for Griffin’s Brigade. During this meeting scouts reported British forces near Big Stony Woods on the West side of town ,Stirling lost no time and moved his Brigade along a stone wall that ran from the West side of town to Travers farm. He then placed Hazlett’s Delaware Continentals on the left with the 2nd Company Pennsylvania State Artillery in the center and finally the 3^rd Pennsylvania Regiment to their right at Travers farm.

In Reserve he kept the 3^rd Virginia Continentals to support the line. Stirling was confident that his position was a strong one and as long as he had ammunition he should be able to hold  his position. In addition Griffin had the Chester County men holding a forward position in the churchyard which if needed could provide flank fire on any attacker in the fields to his front. At around noon British infantry were seen moving to the West along the edge of Big Stony Woods where they took up position in Farmer Nixon’s barley field South of the farm. Not long after they passed, British infantry and artillery emerged from the woods and took up position facing the Continental line awaiting orders to attack. Stirling steadied his men and ordered his artillery to fire. At 12:30 pm Cornwallis ordered his artillery to return fire and gave the advance orders to Colonel Fitzhugh. Fitzhugh still smarting from Cornwallis’s stern rebuke determined to regain favor as he ordered the 1^st Light Battalion forward with the 9^th Foot in support and the New Jersey Loyalists following the 9^th.Foot. The Light infantry quickly closed the distance crossed over the wooden fence lining the country lane midfield and began skirmishing with the Rebel line that had deployed no skirmishers.

The 9^th foot crossed the fence and held there while the Loyalists caught up and the Light battalion continued to harass the Continental line. The 45^th Foot spotted the men of Chester County hidden behind the hedge surrounding the Church and began firing on them to prevent them from firing on the flank of Fitzhugh’s attack. Under fire from the light infantry. the 3^rd Pennsylvania returned fire trying to force the light infantry back to no avail and the lights continued to close. The Royal artillery engaged the Pennsylvanian artillery in an attempt to silence their guns with most shots bouncing back and landing near the 3^rd Virginia Regiment who sidestepped as the balls slowly rolled along or harmlessly embedded themselves in the plow rows.

Cornwallis ordered his brigade to advance with the 45^th Foot on the right and the New York Loyalists advancing on their left. He then ordered the artillery forward to the country lane to support Fitzhugh’s rapidly advancing brigade. The 45^th Foot once it gained the wooden fence was halted by the fire from the Chester County men who still clung on to their position.

 The 45^th returned fire and began an firefight which lasted until the New York Loyalists advanced and threatened the right flank of the Rebel position forcing it to retire.

Meanwhile Fitzhugh prodded his men forward into assault position and ordered the lights to fallback and reform. To his right he saw the New York Loyalist advance and begin firing on the rebel line and on his left barely visible in the smoke he saw the ensign of the New Jersey Loyalists steadily advancing towards the stone wall.

To his immediate front his sight was obscured but as he glimpsed he saw the Rebel artillery fire and begin to reload he ordered the 9^th Foot to charge. The gunners busy realigning and reloading didn’t see the redcoats because of the smoke until they were almost upon them. The Pennsylvania gunners broke and ran heading to the rear past the 3^rd Virginia whose Colonel seeing redcoats starting to climb across the stone wall ordered his regiment to advance and fire in an effort to plug the gap in the line.

The 9^th’s charge had brought it into contact on the left wing of the 3^rd Pennsylvania who was currently in a firefight with the New Jersey Loyalists and the right wing of Hazlett’s Delaware Continentals also in a firefight with the New York Loyalists. Now to his front the 3^rd Virginia was advancing and firing upon him. Fitzhugh ordered the Regiment center companies to hold on the stone wall and return fire at the 3^rd Virginia.

Meanwhile in the churchyard the 45^th Foot advanced and began firing volleys at the Chester County men who returned fire supported by the guns of the Western Company New Jersey State Artillery placed by Griffin to cover the town center.

On the left flank of the attack the 1^st Light infantry reformed and advanced down the road in skirmish order in an attempt to flank the 3^rd Pennsylvania at Traver’s farm which they succeeded in doing bringing fire to bear into the now exposed flank of the 3^rd Pennslyvania.

The 3^rd Pennsylvania receiving fire from it front and right flank withdrew slowly to reestablish its line with the New Jersey Loyalists advancing into the spot vacated by their withdrawal. On the left flank, Hazlett under heavy pressure also fell back in an effort to reestablish the line.

In the center Fitzhugh seeing the Rebel line cracking grabbed the colors of the 9^th and shouting “For God and Country” charged the 3^rd Virginia who broke and ran to the rear. General Stirling tried to rally the 3^rd Pennsylvania but closely pursued by the British he was unable to successfully rally them. The 3rd Pennsylvania was now out of the fight and heading for a much safer place. The 3^rd Virginia after firing a volley was unable to halt the charge of the 9^th Foot and they too broke and ran. Hazlett retired his men slowly covering the panic stricken troops with well directed volleys until with the aid of the loaned artillery battery and the remains of Griffin’s Brigade he was able to break off action at around 530 pm and retreat towards the Delaware.

Losses

British 280 men killed wounded or missing

Continental  360 killed wounded or missing

The First Battle of Daviston An AWI Battle Report Part One Erskine's Attack using Washington's Wars Rules

The Battle of Daviston November 24th 1776

Situation 

British forces are overrunning and securing key points in New Jersey prior to the onset of winter. The army is also tasked to destroy any Rebel forces they encounter to speed up the collapse of the Rebel cause thus ending the war. Rebel forces are retreating and securing defensive positions in Pennsylvania across the Delaware river with some units still securing supplies in New Jersey while en route to the Delaware River . 

Objective

British

British forces under General Cornwallis are ordered by General Howe to secure supplies rumored to be gathered at Daviston, a rural farming Hamlet 16 miles to the Northwest of the British Army camp at Brunswick.

Continental

Delay the British from taking Daviston as long as possible without losing their 50% of their force.

British Order of Battle

General Lord Cornwallis

1st Brigade
Colonel Fitzhugh
2nd Battalion Light Infantry
9th Foot
New York Loyalists

2nd Brigade
Brigadier General Erskine
26th Foot
New Jersey Loyalists

Corps de Reserve
General Lord Cornwallis
45th Foot
Royal Artillery
1st Brigade one light battery attached to the 2nd Brigade

Continental Order of Battle

General Charles Lee

Stirling's  Continental Brigade
Hazlett's Delaware Continentals
3rd Pennslyvania Regiment
3rd Virginia Continentals
Western Company New Jersey State Artillery

2nd Company Pennsylvania State Artillery 

Griffin's Brigade New Jersey State Militia
Chester County Regiment
Little's Regiment
1st Pennsylvania Rifles
Salem County Regiment

 Morning November 24th 1776

General Cornwallis planned his attack ordering General Erskine to assault North along the road directly leading into the town drawing any rebels forces against Erskine's forces while Colonel Fitzhugh's Brigade was to  perform a wide flanking maneuver to the Northeast of the town along the road which crosses Little Mossy Creek and turning the Rebel left flank in doing so.Cornwallis would support Erskine with a thrust through Big Stony Woods and across the crop fields once Erskine had drawn out any defenders to face his attack.Unknown to Cornwallis the Rebels had spotted his forces and Griffin had deployed his small force into covered positions in the middle of town and he placed the 1st Pennsylvania Rifles to the East covering the bridge across Little Mossy Creek.He then sent messengers to General Charles Lee requesting aid for his command. Lee on receiving the dispatch returned to his dinner discussing events with his staff officers over brandy. Determining that the attack was just a foraging party General Lee did nothing.The messenger left to return to Griffin disgusted by the lack of urgency by the General and his staff.The messenger rode along the countryside and by chance came upon a group of soldiers and wagons marching along the road.He was halted by a provost guard and was directed to Colonel Charles Stirling. Colonel Stirling listened to the messenger, ordered the wagons to continue moving West and turned his Brigade towards Daviston.

Meanwhile on the approach to his jump off point Colonel Fitzhugh suffering from a severe case of gout, got lost and took a unused road delaying his march critically for an hour as he counter marched his Brigade back to the original route. General Erskine led his Brigade to his jump off point and waiting an hour as ordered deployed his battle line and artillery to begin his assault on the town. Cornwallis fared no better on his approach as the terrain was thicker and more rugged than he expected with his artillery getting stuck several times in the stony ground and tree roots.His command would not clear the woods until late morning well after Erskine had attacked the town and been repulsed.

General Erskine observing no Rebel activity deployed his guns to cover the center of town and ordered the 26th Foot in column followed by the New Jersey Loyalists down the main road towards the town square.

As they approached the Salem County Regiment emerged from an apple orchard and advanced towards Erskine's men. Erskine formed the 26th into line and waited for the rebels to close. Another Rebel regiment emerged from the orchard Little's Regiment.Griffin formed his 2 regiments into line supporting each other and advanced. Erskine ordered the 26th forward to take cover behind a fence line.

The Salem County militia fired a volley at the 26th killing and wounding a few score of soldiers. Erskine ordered the 26th to return fire at the Rebels killing several men. Erskine realized his guns were unable to fire at the Rebels while the New Jersey Loyalists were blocking the road and ordered them down the road to flank the Rebels.Griffin at the same time ordered Little to move up and turn the right flank of the 26th which he attempted to do but only succeeded in a partial flanking position from which he fired volleys into the 26th.

Perplexed that Colonel Fitzhugh hadn't arrived on the Rebel flank General Erskine continued to defend the rail fence with the 26th firing rapid volleys at the Rebels massing against him.The 26th fired  a devastating volley into the Salem militia who suddenly retreated back to the wood fence bordering the apple orchard.

Meanwhile the New Jersey Loyalists marched down the road attempting to turn the flank of the Salem Militia when  they were flanked in turn by fire from the Chester County Regiment hidden behind the hedge of the Daviston Church killing many and forcing back the regiment in great disorder.

Under heavy pressure on both flanks with Fitzhugh nowhere in sight and seeing the New Jersey Loyalist retreating with the Chester County Regiment closely behind  moving toward his open left flank. Erskine ordered the 26th to fallback behind the stonewall of the Watson farm covered by his artillery who forced the Chester County men to cease their advance and fallback with loss.Little's men  continued to fire but with ammunition running low,they also fallback to the apple orchard. Erskine consolidates his position to await reinforcements and to find out where Fitzhugh is. 

Fitzhugh's Folly

After blundering off track in his advance Colonel Fitzhugh  is late, an hour behind schedule making him 2 hours behind his jump off time at Little Mossy Creek.To make up for lost time Fitzhugh quick marches his command in column with none of his light infantry deployed. Within a half mile of the bridge Fitzhugh hears the rattle of musketry coming from the center of town and rushes his command toward the bridge at the double quick still confident of an easy victory.

Fitzhugh runs his force right smack dab into the long rifles of the 1st Pennsylvania Rifles under Jacob Cox,a veteran of the French and Indian War and 20 years of Frontier warfare. Cox's men line the woods along the creek and pour devastating accurate rifle fire into the packed column of the 1st Light Battalion as it attempts cross the narrow bridge.  Unable to deploy on the narrow span and facing withering fire from the woods all around them the Lights fallback avoiding the mass of infantry jamming the dirt road.

With the sudden departure of the lights in front of them The New York Loyalists become the unwilling target of Cox's expert riflemen who soon begin to fall from the deadly fire. Colonel Fitzhugh gallops to the head of the Loyalists and orders them to fallback behind the regulars.

The green New York Loyalists panic and turn and flee in mass disrupting the 9th Foot in the road way clamoring for the rear. Fitzhugh steadies the 9th narrowly avoiding disaster. His actions draw the attention of Cox's riflemen who fell his horse and several of their shots pierce his coat.The colonel of the 9th is shot through the chest mortally wounded as he tries to reform the regiment causing the soldiers to waver as the Light infantry flow past their right flank.

Colonel Fitzhugh freshly mounted on the 9th's late Colonels horse appraises the situation and orders his Brigade to rejoin General Erskine convinced his force is totally inadequate to force the crossing without artillery. support  He reforms the Brigade and marches back to Erskine covered by the 1st Light Battalion. Fitzhugh arriving just before noon to an unhappy Erskine and destined  for a new assignment supporting Cornwallis's attack effort from Big Stony Woods.