May 1776
Now that spring/summer is fully here, the rebels begin the campaign season a bit ahead of my own projected attacks. This led to some uncomfortable moments, but the situation is not unsalvageable...at least, that's what I'm putting in my reports to the Sovereign!
Let's begin in the south. Haldimand's force moving into the upcountry of the Carolina's is surprised by a large force of rebel militia. Haldimand keeps his nerve, though, and retreats in the proper direction...towards Camden. Thus accomplishing his goal (or nearly so) of linking up with my Carolina loyalist militia.
Haldimand will link up with the force at Camden, while my other loyalist militia's prepare to contract into the Camden / Charlotte area to beat down on any rebel militia (like the rabble at Orangeburg) that appear to challenge our dominance of this area.
Cornwallis, fresh after conquering Charleston...will move by sea to Savannah, which he will place under siege.
Another loyalist, Thomas Brown...forms a raiding group at St. Augustine in Florida. He will be picked up by ships transporting reinforcements to Cornwallis from Jamaica...and will be deposited somewhere on the Southern coast. I haven't decided where yet.
In Virginia, my freed slave militia is beaten in a several day running battle by American militia under Colonel Robert Howe. The time spent chasing down my regiment prevents Howe from reaching Norfolk in time...
Lord Dunsmore returns to Norfolk in time to be besieged by Howe. I have nothing to spare to get Dunsmore out of this situation. I will have to see what I can spare from Cornwallis down the road.
A new front opens with a rebel attack on peaceful Mohawk indians in the upcountry of New York.
Colonel Warren led a group of regulars and militia deep into indian country in a preventive strike to keep me from possibly interfering with a move on Ft. Oswego? I'm not sure what the point of this expedition was. In any event, it unlocks the Mohawks for me, and I give the order to pull back into the mountains and concentrate the braves into a force capable of striking at a target of my choosing. Let the rebels try to chase down my force in the Pennsylvania wilderness...
I order up some rifles to help my indians fight better...
In Canada, I move some militia to Isle au Noix to watch the northern end of Lake Champlain, which frees up my scouting indians to check on any attempt to move up the lake towards Canada. I order a depot built at the northern end of the lake.
And finally, for New England...
The Continental Army, sensing the withdrawal of forces opposite them...attacks Boston. Clinton manages to retreat ahead of this assault, but the loyal militia in Boston do not and are destroyed. Clinton fights a small skirmish getting off the island, but now stands almost completely isolated, in bad shape, without decent shelter. The loss of Boston is catastrophic to my plans...though with hindsight, could easily have been forseen. Clinton did not have near enough force to hold the city.
Howe successfully relocated to New Haven...and was joined by the Hessian reinforcements...giving me approximately 1200 power, in precisely the wrong place. Had I left Howe at Bunker Hill...I would now have the power to do serious damage to the Continental Army. Timing is everything, and I have royally botched this particular bit.
Burgoyne is in the process of landing on Manhattan, and should complete this landing in June. I decide to send a formation of Hessians north to capture Hartford, and to secure a Connecticut river line defense against the Continental army's attempt to protect New York. I also send the Hessian siege train towards New York, while Howe stands at New Haven. I send my bateaux in Newport to evacuate the island and rendevouz with Howe...as I have a significant overcommand penalty at the moment, and need Grant and the rest of the generals. Clinton is ordered to try to make for the Connecticut river crossings to the north, and to avoid contact with any armies. Part of my fleets is sent back to Halifax, to transport the reinforcements to Canada to Quebec.
My goal is to force Washington to come to me at one of the Connecticut River crossings, and there to inflict a defeat on him. I should be able to take New York, from where I threaten Philadelphia and Albany. Time will tell how successful I will be at being able to defeat the rebels, but I expect heavy fighting to occur around the New York area as I look to push my perimeter out with the numbers I have. The difficulty will be finding the right balance of troops to send out that keeps the pressure on but also ensures victories.
How hard could it be?