Historical Background
On April 1, 1756, a band of Delaware Indians, led by Shingas raided Fort McCord in what is now known as Chambersburg in Western Pennsylvania. Of the twenty-seven members of the community that were present, all were killed save nine who were taken captive. Carefully trying to avoid any of the larger Pennsylvania outposts and forts that could hinder his return home, Shingas began his trek back to Kittanning, hindered by the slow-moving captives he had taken.
When word spread of the destruction of McCord’s Fort, a group of men gathered under the command of Captain Alexander Culbertson to rescue the captives. On a personal level, several of the men were well aware that they had family members among the captives. Accounts of the time also speak of an Indian scout, Issac, who aided Culbertson in his pursuit. The path of Culbertson’s men took them near Fort Lyttleton, a decent sized complex with provincial troops attached. It is here that Ensign David Jamison and some of the men from the fort joined Culbertson in the pursuit, nearly doubling the Captain’s command to fifty. Sometime near midday on April 4, Culbertson and Jamison caught up with their target. In a small clearing where Sideling Hill Creek and the Little Aughwick Creek converge, Shingas had taken a spell to relieve the captives. An immediate fire fight broke out, with what looked to be similar numbers on both sides.
But what wasn’t evident to the settlers was that Shingas was not alone. The Indian chief was not merely taking a moment for his captives to catch their breath, he was also waiting for the other half of his war party – the half that had broken off days earlier to complete their own raids. As Culbertson’s party became fully engaged with Shingas and his warriors, the other war party of Indians arrived, appearing at Culbertson’s rear and left flank. Now, against a combined one-hundred strong enemy, Culbertson’s men were in an awful situation. Taking fire from nearly all directions from an often well-entrenched foe, the would-be rescuers began to watch their comrades fall one by one.
After a two-hour engagement, both sides suffered heavy casualties. With ammunition running low – many had nothing left to fire with at all – the colonists were driven off. Captain Culbertson was killed and his unit suffered 80 percent casualties.
The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn and you are in command. The rest is history?
Battle Notes
Delaware Indians
• Commander: Shingas
• 4 Command cards & 1 Combat card
British Army
• Commander: Culbertson
• (4) 3 Command cards & 2 Combat cards. British start with 4 command cards. After first command card is played do not draw a new card that turn.
• Move First
Victory
5 Victory Banners
Special Rules
- The High Hills (outlined in red) are impassable.
- The two creeks are fordable.
- The shallow fords (outlined in light blue) have no movement or battle restrictions, but stop bonus road movement.
- Indian “War Cry” is in effect for Delaware Indians.
- The British Indian Scout is never considered a full-stength unit and can never be more than one block.
- British gain a temporary victory banner when occupying the camp hex (outlined in dark blue) at the start of their turn.
- British gain a permanent victory banner when starting and exiting the road hex on the Delaware base line.
- British units may ignore one flag when on forest hex.