Update from Dave Stiffler:

Small Battles of the American Revolution: There are many interesting American Revolution battles that are simply too small for the Battles of the American Revolution series scale (200 yards/hex, 100 men/strength point and 1 hour/turn). That’s why I’m pleased to report that Bruno Sinigaglio is designing the first “Small Battles of the American Revolution” game!

In the Small BoAR series, the base scale will be 25 yards/hex, 12 men/strength point and roughly 7.5 minutes/turn. At this scale individual units are identified as carrying predominately muskets or rifles, and all infantry units will be able to fire (something that is abstracted at the current BoAR scale).  Fire results are also more granular with results such as “reform”, “recoil” and “shattered” now possible.  At this scale, cavalry will have the ability to charge, and players will be able to put cavalry in reserve during movement and then to charge!  

The first game in the series will be Cowpens, which lends itself perfectly to this smaller scale. This game introduces a new unit type (Skirmishers) and terrain features (cane brake and “gentle slope”).  Research on this battle has been extensive, including a day-long visit to the battlefield by Bruno, developer Dave Stiffler, and BoAR series designer Mark Miklos.  The result is what might be the most historically accurate Cowpens battle map ever produced. 

Other Small BoAR designs in progress are the Battles of Hubbardton and Bennington by Curtiss Fyock and Cooch’s Bridge by Rob “Cappy” McCracken.

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Update from Mark Miklos:

Battles of the American Revolution: Volume 11

The Battle of Green Spring Plantation

I am hard at work designing volume 11 in the Battles of the American Revolution series, The Battle of Green Spring Plantation.  Fought in Tidewater Virginia in July 1781, this battle was the immediate prelude to Yorktown and represents Cornwallis’ last victory during the American Revolution. 

British forces had been rampaging virtually unchecked in Virginia until General Clinton, expecting a Franco-American attack against New York City, requested Cornwallis send him reinforcements.  As ordered, Cornwallis moved his army from Williamsburg, VA to Jamestown Ferry on the James River, intent upon crossing over to Portsmouth.

Shadowing the British in Virginia were the Marquis de Lafayette, Baron von Steuben, and “Mad” Anthony Wayne.  Their combined forces of crack light infantry, Pennsylvania Line, and Virginia militia remained just out of reach.  Deceived by British “deserters” and run-away slaves into thinking the British had already crossed the bulk of their forces over the river and that only a rear guard remained holding the ferry, the impetuous Lafayette, and the equally impetuous Wayne, rushed ahead to defeat this exposed element of the British force in detail.  Little did they know that Cornwallis had laid a trap into which the Americans obligingly fell.  Only the heroics of Wayne and his Pennsylvanians prevented disaster.

The Battle of Green Spring Plantation will feature a historical scenario and a campaign game.  Very little new chrome will be added to the core series rules in this volume although rules for skirmishers, who played a key role in springing the British trap, are being developed.  Counter density will approximate that of Saratoga. 

The sketch map, reflecting on-site and archival research, is complete as is the British Order of Battle.  American Order of Battle and Exclusive Rules are being written as this goes to press.  We anticipate Green Spring Plantation to be ready for P-500 in 2024.

-Mark Miklos

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