Historical Background
Part of British General Jeffery Amherst’s plans for the 1759 military campaign included an expedition to capture Fort Niagara (under the command of French Captain Pierre Pouchot). Amherst chose Brigadier General John Prideaux to lead the expedition, which was accompanied by Sir William Johnson – the British Indian agent who led the expedition’s Iroquois forces. When the British arrived at Fort Niagara on July 6 they immediately began siege operations and Pouchot dispatched messages to the south requesting support.
Upon recieving Pouchet’s request, Captain Le Marchand de Lignery and native allies combined with forces under Charles Philippe Aubry and left Fort Machault for Niagara. However, messengers sent to Pouchot also leaked news of their advance to the besieging British, who prepared an ambush.
Before the action, the British native allies told their French counterparts that they intended to remain neutral in the upcoming clash. They wished that the French native allies would do likewise. This induced many of the French-allied Indians to desert.
Lieutenant Colonel Massey led 464 British regulars to defend the trail running north from Niagara Falls to Fort Niagara. On the right flank covering the portage trail, Massey deployed about 130 men of the 46th in the La Belle Famille clearing. Just above the river gorge, were the grenadiers of the 46th and a small detachment of the 44th Foot. To the left of the 46th, the converged light companies of the 44th, 46th, and 4th battalion of the 60th Foot took position.
On the extreme left stood a detachment from the 44th and New York Regiment. Understanding that the French force included a significant number of regulars, Massey ordered the redcoats to lie down and fix bayonets.
As the French came out of the woods into the open, they immediately opened fire and began to deploy from column into line formation.
Waiting until the French were within very close range, the British commander gave his troops the command to rise and fire. The 46th fired seven volleys, then advanced, firing at will. Massey later estimated that his men each fired about 16 rounds in the action. Meanwhile, the grenadier company’s fire caught the French left flank in enfilade.
When the French flinched before the deadly fire, the British attacked with the bayonet. French morale collapsed and the British-allied Iroquois rushed the survivors.
The French began a panicked retreat, in which the British gave chase, according to one report, for as much as 5 miles. French casualties were significant, including Lignery, who sustained a mortal wound. Massey was also wounded.
The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn and you are in command. The rest is history?
Battle Notes
French Army
• Commander: Marchand de Lignery
• 4 Command cards & 3 Combat cards
British Army
• Commander: Massey
• 5 Command cards & 4 Combat cards
• Move First
Victory
7 Victory Banners
Special Rules
- Opening Volley is in effect (beginning with the British player). Warrior units may not participate nor be targeted.
- Indian War Cry is in effect, but not against other Warriors.
- The Niagara river is impassable.
- French gain one temporary victory banner for each field works they occupy at the start of their turn.
- French gain a permanent victory banner for each unit exiting the road hex on the British base line.
- British gain one permanent victory banner for each British-Allied Indian unit that exits the road hex on the French base line.
- Indian Warriors
- Indian War Cry
- French Militia
- Opening Volley