US War of Independence

1777: The Year of the Hangman is an operational study of the campaign for Philadelphia. Between September 1st and December 19th two armies contended for the American capital, seat of the rebellion, home to the Congress, and from where independence from Great Britain had been declared only the year before. In this contest battles were fought in Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Today roadside placards mark these places: Cooch's Bridge, the banks of the Brandywine, The Battle of the Clouds, and Germantown. For 225 years a solemn, common grave has marked the site of the Paoli Massacre. Glory attends the name of Red Bank where the hated Hessian was sent packing, and the fight for Fort Mercer where the Royal Navy suffered its worst defeat of the entire war. Fort Mifflin stands in mute testament to the patriot's naked valor; while Valley Forge remains a shrine to his devotion.

In all the spectacle of war there has seldom been a sight the equal of British General Burgoyne's campaign of 1777. The float and march south from Canada had almost a surreal quality juxtaposed against the Adirondack wilderness. Hundreds of vessels making up an immense inland navy on Lake Champlain transported nearly 9,000 combatants together with 138 cannon. Burgoyne's objective was Fort Ticonderoga and from there, Albany, and a rendezvous with British forces coming from New York City. The strategic purpose of the campaign was nothing short of an end to the American Rebellion.

With few significant exceptions the first three years of the American Revolution were fought in the North. The war entered a new phase, however, following the Battle of Monmouth Courthouse in June 1778. By then the military situation in the North had become stalemated. This, coupled with France's entry into the war, required a new British strategy.

Motivated in part by the expectation of rallying large numbers of loyalists to their standard, the British shifted operations to the South throughout 1780-81. First to fall was Georgia. Next they captured Charleston in May 1780. They crushed a second American army at Camden in August the same year. Before long all of South Carolina was overrun and they were poised to march into North Carolina. Overrunning the state was one thing, but pacifying it proved to be another.

Three factors conspired against British success:

Throughout the South partisan forces emerged that constantly harassed British outposts and supply lines. Famous leaders, such as Francis Marion, (the Swamp Fox), rode into legend at the head of their makeshift forces.

Elements of the British army were defeated in detail at places like King's Mountain and Hannah's Cowpens. These losses could not easily be replaced.

A new American commander rode South to rebuild and revitalize the American army. His name was Nathanael Greene.

France assumed belligerent status in the American Revolution in the spring of 1778 following the defeat of British General Burgoyne at Saratoga the previous October. Count d'Estaing was placed in command of French expeditionary forces assigned to simultaneously help the Americans and "grab" any British Caribbean sugar islands that might prove vulnerable.

The first Franco-American attempt at cooperation occurred in late summer that year at Newport, Rhode Island. The expedition to besiege British held Newport ended in failure when d'Estaing withdrew his fleet due to storm damage.

Following the fall of Savannah, in December 1778, American leaders in Charlestown, South Carolina began to appeal to d'Estaing for help. They pointed out how unprepared the British were to withstand a major operation. d'Estaing agreed to return from adventures in the Caribbean at the end of the summer to help in the liberation of Georgia.

Volume IV in GMT's American Revolutionary War Series portrays the events from September 10th to October 9th, 1779, as the Franco-American Allies mount their first significant cooperative effort against the British in North America during the Revolutionary War.

Savannah is a departure from the other four battles in the Rev. War Series in that it covers a span of four weeks. To accommodate this, as well as to depict salient features of an 18th century siege event, several new mechanics and a bit of chrome have been grafted to the core game system.

At Monmouth Courthouse in east-central New Jersey, General Washington's Continental Army came of age. Leavened by their experiences during the winter encampment at Valley Forge, the Continentals would give as good as they got on that sweltering mid-summer's day: June 28th, 1778.

GMT is pleased to offer the latest in Mark Miklos' popular and critically acclaimed American Revolutionary War series: Volume V, Monmouth.

As with all games in the American Revolutionary War series, on-site research has been conducted by the designer with support from Park Historian Dr. Garry Wheeler Stone, Monmouth Battlefield State Park. Thanks to the courtesy of Dr. Stone, the Monmouth game map will be created from a copy of the 1778 base map to insure accuracy. This is particularly critical when showing the road net, which has often been shown incorrectly in many secondary sources on the battle as well as in previous versions of Monmouth war games.

As a captain of Rhode Island troops said, "…you have been wishing some days past to come up with the British, you have been wanting to fight, now you shall have fighting enough before night."

The Battle of Monmouth. Volume VI in the acclaimed Battles from the Age of Reason series, this is the second game to explore the battlefields of the American Revolution.

"The Battle of Monmouth" explores the fateful events of June 28, 1778 when the Continental Army led by George Washington attacked Sir Henry Clinton's British and Hessian column as it withdrew from Philadelphia and retreated across New Jersey to New York...an event that signalled the tide had turned in the war.

Four scenarios explore this dramatic situation:

Brandywine & Germantown expands the Battles from the Age of Reason Series into the American War of Independence. Both games are in the same box, using a single scenario book, and most of the same counters (many American and British units fought at both). The games adhere closely to the highly successful BAR rules system. The major change lies in the halving of the strength point ratio so that 1 point equals 50 men, 25 horsemen, or 1 cannon, accommodating the smaller battles and units of North America. This will, in turn, result in a doubling of stacking limitations (map scale remains the same as the other BAR games). There is a noted lack of cavalry in both battles. The counters are in the same style as the other BAR games, but with some interesting variations (e.g., rifle frocks).

Worthington Games is pleased to announce its exciting new game on the American Revolution and French & Indian War. This game will feature 15 scenarios covering the battles that forged the nation. The game will come with a map board and terrain tiles so you can play the scenarios included as well as design your own favorites. Pieces will represent the British, American, French and Indian's that were prominent at the battles. For each battle the commanders are rated for their leadership capabilities and this plays a vital role in the ability to move and control your forces on board. Dragoons, artillery, Indians, light infantry, militia, and various other pieces are present to perform their historic roles in battle. The game will feature the artwork of renowned historical artist Don Troiani.

Can you as Braddock and Washington outwit the French and Indian ambush on the forest trail to Fort Duquesne? As Tarleton can you slash through Morgans lines at Cowpens? The decisions are yours…………

Game includes box, map, hardwood wooden counters, labels, rules, dice, scenario book.

The game features 10 land battles from the War of 1812, some of which include: Lundy's Lane, Bladensburg, Queenston Heights, Craney Island, Chippawa, plus more. You're getting 2 games in 1 package with FOR HONOR AND GLORY, also included are rules, map, metal ships, plus 9 sea scenarios and 2 lake battle scenarios from the War of 1812----That's over 20 scenarios between 2 games in 1 box!

Take command of the American and British Armies in twelve great battles of the American Revolutionary War. You'll feel the battles come to life as the American Continentals and feared British Elites try to hold the line against each other at the battles of Long Island, Harlem Heights, Weitzel's Mill, Trenton, Hobkirk's Hill, Eutaw Springs, Bemis Heights, White Plains, Kings Mountain, Brandywine, and the double scenario covering the morning and afternoon battles at Monmouth.

The game comes with a beautiful hard mounted game board with hard mounted terrain tiles, large counters. The game also uses the Clash for a Continent system.

As British leaders you've told the American patriots to lay down their weapons or you'll lay waste to their lands. And as the Americans you have pledged your lives and fortunes in defense of all you value. Take the role of British generals Howe, Burgoyne, Cornwallis and others as you stake your reputation on defeating the rebel armies. As American generals Washington, Greene, Gates and others as you've precariously placed your army in their path... The enemy approaches, the sound of cannon deafens, men shout commands, smoke fills the air, can you HOLD THE LINE!

Rebel Seas is the second volume in Mark Campbell's Close Action series. Its 20 scenarios cover naval actions in American waters during the American War of Independence. They range from one-on-one frigate actions to grand fleet engagements with over 20 ships of the line on each side. Each scenario contains the same level of research and commentary found in Close Action. Rebel Seas is the first of three books spanning the years 1774-1792. The other volumes will treat the struggle for India (Monsoon Seas: Suffren's Campaign for India) and England's blockades of its Continental foes (European Seas: The Lifeline of Empires).

Nineteen battles from the American War of Independence are included in three volumes. The easy game system recreates battlefield conditions with a move-fight-rally play sequence to simulate the grand tactics of these battles. Additional rules include command control, morale, artillery, light infantry, and dragoons. Each battle is represented by its own units and map along with exclusive rules to recreate the unique battlefield situation. Units are generally regiments, and rated for combat strength, morale, and march capabilities. Famous leaders are also included-Washington, Howe, Greene, and Knyphausen. Battles range from Bunker Hill, through Brooklyn and Trenton, to Saratoga and Monmouth, and on to the South at Cowpens, Guilford, and King's Mountain.

Nineteen battles from the American War of Independence are included in three volumes.

The easy game system recreates battlefield conditions with a move-fight-rally play sequence to simulate the grand tactics of these battles.