On Company Business

This scenario is a slightly modified version found in the 2011 TFL Summer special.

The efforts of the Ohio Charter Company to populate and develop trade in the valley saw a significant investment from many of Virginia’s leading personages. Life on the frontier was a tough existence, with settlers attempting to carve farms out of wilderness whilst attempting to co‐exist with the Indian population. Since the Summer of 1753 the French had been intent on securing their claim to the territory by forcibly ejecting the traders and settlers of British stock. As an uneasy peace turned into full‐scale war such punitive expeditions increased, and the civilian population and local militias bore the brunt of the unforgiving fighting. This scenario is based on one such French raid in the Ohio valley.

Two families were running the farmstead and the Dunn's son Billy had come running in to say that the French were coming. Billy was immediately packed of to get help from the fort at Squaws Crossing. In the meantime both families barricaded themselves into their respective farmhouses and awaited the assault. An Indian raiding party soon turned up and started to fire upon the Dunns farmhouse,

 

whilst two groups of Milice Canadiene fired upon the Bradstreets farmhouse from the cover of the nearby field.

Both the Dunns and the Bradstreets were taking casualties and it wasn't long before the Dunns were forced out of their home, swiftly followed by the Bradstreets.

With a hoop and a holler both the Indians and the Milice Canadiene rushed towards the farmhouses in a bid to pillage and burn whatever they couldn't carry with them.

With the Dunns and Bradstreets heading for the cover of the nearest woods.

In the meantime the Marine Infantry slowly advanced towards the trading post by the river.

The Militia in the trading post started to take casualties and decided that hiding in the woods was going to be a better option.

The British regulars at last decided to show up, only to find the farmstead in flames.

The regulars formed line and poured fire into the Marines.

Soon the Marines were falling back, having taken significant casualties.

The Militia seeing the Marines legging it from the field, took courage and advanced, but the Marines had too much of a head start.

The French had done what they had come to do, in burning the farmstead and fields, so were declared the victors. However, the Dunns and Bradstreets said that they would rebuild a bigger and better farm.