She was only the Magistrates Daughter

The game scenario was taken from the Too Fat Lardies magazine article, entitled, "She was only the Magistrates Daughter". This was a game of Sharp Practice set the South during the American War of Independence. Both Captain Henry Brown of the Patriot Militia and Captain John Cornwall of the Loyalist Militia were smitten by the Magistrates Daughter (Miss Elizabeth Stockwell) and were resolved to "rescue" the fair maiden. The Crown forces were to deploy from point A with the Militia deploying from point B. The Patriots deployed from point C but also had a moveable deployment point. Both forces were heading to the Stockwell house, point D.

The Patriot Militia deployed into the woods in an effort to race for the Stockwell house.

Whilst the Continentals marched up the road hoping to capture the Crown deployment point B at the T junction.

The Crown forces, fearing that the Continentals might stop them from using their forward deployment point, used their command flags to deploy the Militia.

However, The Patriots managed to move a deployment point next to the house at the T junction and deployed their Light infantry skirmishers into the house. With a restricted arc of fire only a few of the skirmishers were able to fire and only killed a solitary Loyalist. The Crown forces deployed their Line and Light infantry North and South of the road respectively.

The Continentals deployed into line and a firefight was initiated between them and the Crown Light infantry.

 
However, the Light infantry was not having the best of this and soon was forced to take cover behind the nearest house.

Meanwhile, the race for the Stockwell house was on with the Patriots heading for the front door and the Loyalists making for the rear door.

The British column of Line was slowly advancing.

Serjeant Hale had at last sorted out his Light infantry and started to advance down the road.

However, The Patriot Light infantry had other ideas and poured lead into them.

Serjeant Hale ordered his men over the fence and into a nice firing position.

Poor Smithers took a shot to the head and was killed instantly. Serjeant Hale looked over and was cock a hoop as he could now merge the two groups into one.

The British dice rolling was much better than the poor Patriots and the Continental Light infantry were soon driven off leaving behind their dead Serjeant. Meanwhile, Captain John Cornwell had managed to rescue Miss Elizabeth and Daisy the cow, whilst the Patriots were attempting to batter down the front door.

In a moment of madness the Patriot Militia fired upon the retiring column, managing to wound poor Miss Elizabeth.

With fury in their eyes, The British deployed into line...

and charged the Miltia, almost completely wiping them out and capturing Serjeant Holmquist.

Captain Henry Brown hoped to sneak past the British line but was attacked in the flank, with his Militia routing and ending up as a captive of the Crown. Things were not going to plan for the Patriots.

The Continentals headed up the road hoping to prevent Captain John Cornwall making off with Miss Elizabeth.

However, the British Line came charging up the road taking the Continentals in the flank.

The melee was brief and bloody with Captain Ivor Singleton dying on the British bayonets. At this point what was left of the Patriot force retired from the field, licking their wounds, whilst the Crown forces held a court of enquiry to establish the guilt of the two captive militia officers.