Historical Background
After the skirmish of Jumonville Glen(May 28), Washington knew a counterattack by the French was now only a matter of time, Washington fortified his camp at Great Meadows while he awaited the rest of his volunteer regiment. Washington put his men to work building a small log palisade – with a low trench and earth berm around the perimeter – which he christened Fort Necessity. It was in a poor location on low ground that was subject to flooding, with the edge of the higher woodlands within musket range. The last companies of the Virginia Regiment arrived on June 9 and reinforcements arrived when South Carolina’s Provincial Independent Company marched in with another one hundred men.
On July 3, in heavy rain, a force of some 800 French and Indians appeared, commanded by Louis Coulon de Villers. Washington formed his men in ranks to fight outside the fort, but the French and Indians surrounded the fort and opened fire from the woods. Four hours later, Washington’s trench was flooded and exposed to heavy fire, much of his low supply of powder was wet, and many of his men were dead or wounded. At dusk, the French commander called a truce and offered terms. Washington, with no hope of reinforcement, signed the surrender (written in French) not realizing that it was also a confession to having “assassinated” Louis’s half-brother at the Battle of Jumonville Glen.
The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn and you are in command. The rest is history?
Battle Notes
French Army
• Commander: Coulon de Villiers
• 6 Command Cards & 5 Combat Cards
• Move First
British Army
• Commander: Washington & Mackay
• 3 Command Cards & 2 Combat Cards
Victory
5 Victory Banners
Special Rules
- Opening Cannonade rule is not in effect.
- Fence hexes represent palisades comprising Fort Necessity. The French player gains 1 permanent victory banner for each palisade broken.
- The Great Meadow Run & Indian Run streams are fordable. The shallow fords have no movement or battle restrictions
- Indian “War Cry” is in effect
- Artillery represent swivel cannons (2 blocks per unit). The French player gains one victory banner when both swivel cannon units are eliminated.
- Indian Warriors
- Indian War Cry
- French Militia
- Swivel Guns
- Palisades
- Break the Palisades