The Shot Heard Round the World

Lexington Concord Campaign Using Dominion of the Spear and Bayonet

Part 1

For details on the campaign, refer to my prior post.

Background

April 19, 1775.

Thomas Gage has sent a force towards Concord to seize military stores stockpiled by the rebellious colonists.

The vanguard is led by Col. Smith with 1 company of light Infantry and 1 company of grenadiers;

Lexington

Smith arrives in Lexington. He is confronted with a company of Massachusetts colonial militia,

Note: For this battle, I'm giving each company 2 stands.

A shot is fired. Who knows from where. The colonial militia opens fire in the center. Their volley is ineffective. Major Pitcairn, commanding the lights, orders a reply. A devastating volley on the left sweeps away half a company.

This is all the militia can stand. They break and flee.

In Dominion, a battle ends when a side is down to 1 unit. Because the colonists only started with 2, I gave them a chance to stand and fight. But they failed their morale roll.

Merriam's Corner

Smith continues his advance. At Merriam's Corner, he confronts the Lexington militia who fled and another company under Col. Gardner.

Smith deploys his lights on the wings and grenadiers in the center.

Again, I'm using 2 stands per company. Only half a company managed to escape from Lexington.

The grenadiers launch the attack. But colonial musketry is hot, driving off the British. On the right, there is a firefight. It goes poorly for the colonists.

The British lights on the right flank the militia. There is a series of volleys but no casualties.

Then the militia on the left breaks. The remaining militia must retreat.

The road is open to Concord, but the British suffered their first casualties of the day.