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This Rencounter scenario is provided by Will Scarvie, will@kafka.saic.com.

last revised 3/31/95

The Pen is Mightier than the Sword

A Skirmish scenario set during the War for American Independance

============================================================================== Colonial Situation

Ben Chamberlain, a respected local merchant, militia leader, and publisher of anti-English pamphlets and papers, has been found out. Word has been passed by informants that a strong patrol of British infantry has been dispatched to his house to sieze Ben and his press. A few of the local Minutemen and Militia have been hastily assembled and are making their way toward Ben's house to take him, his son Robert and their printing machine into hiding.

The Minutemen under Captain Jones, and Militia with Sergeant Brunich and John Farmer arrive together on the South side of the Table. The Minutemen with William Oxbridge will arrive shortly.

Ben and his son are in their home, unaware of the impending danger.

Remove Ben, his son Robert, and their printing press from the house and safely off the south side of the table.

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Colonial Forces

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The Minutemen with Captain Jones enter the table from the South side on their first activation at point D.

Captain Jones - Veteran of the French and Indian War, a stern leader. Veteran (5), F 10, M 9 Flintlock Musket w/30 rounds (loaded), Socket Bayonet

Minuteman #1 - Nameless defender of liberty. Regular (4), F 8, M 7 Flintlock Musket w/30 rounds (loaded), Socket Bayonet

Minuteman #2 - Well armed but still nameless defender of liberty. Regular (4), F 8, M 7 Flintlock Musket w/30 rounds (loaded), Socket Bayonet Flintlock Pistol w/10 rounds (loaded)

Minuteman #3 - Nameless defender of liberty. Regular (4), F 8, M 7 Flintlock Musket w/30 rounds (loaded), Socket Bayonet

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The Militiamen with Sergeant Brunich enter the table from the South side on their first activation at point E.

Sergeant Brunich - Prefers the thrill of melee to sniping from behind trees. Regular (4), F 8, M 11 Spiculum (same as Spear) and Sword

Militiaman #1 - Infrequently trained, but enthusiastic. Green (3), F 8, M 6 Flintlock Musket w/20 rounds (loaded)

Militiaman #2 - Infrequently trained, but enthusiastic. Green (3), F 8, M 6 Flintlock Musket w/20 rounds (loaded)

Militiaman #3 - Infrequently trained, but enthusiastic. Green (3), F 8, M 6 Flintlock Musket w/20 rounds (loaded)

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The Militiamen with John Farmer enter the table from the South side on their first activation at point F.

John Farmer - A local landowner of unremarkable skill. Regular (4), F 8, M 7 Flintlock Musket w/20 rounds (loaded), Socket Bayonet

Militiaman #4 - Infrequently trained, but enthusiastic. Green (3), F 8, M 5 Flintlock Musket w/20 rounds (loaded)

Militiaman #5 - Infrequently trained, but enthusiastic. Green (3), F 8, M 5 Flintlock Musket w/20 rounds (loaded)

Militiaman #6 - Infrequently trained, but enthusiastic. Green (3), F 8, M 5 Flintlock Musket w/20 rounds (loaded)

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Old Ben and his son start in their home, and may not move until a shot is fired or the commotion outside is heard.

Old Ben - Local merchant, militia leader, and underground publisher. Veteran (5), F 8, M 8 Flintlock Musket w/20 rounds (unloaded, and it will take 3 turns to retrieve)

Young Robert - Ben's son. A frequent hunter and an exceptional shot. Regular (4), F 12, M 7 Flintlock Rifle w/20 rounds (unloaded, and it will take 3 turns to retrieve)

Special Rule: Old Ben suffers a two point morale penalty if Young Robert is killed, suffers a crippling wound, or succumbs to his wounds. Similarly, Young Robert suffers a three point morale penalty if Old Ben is killed, suffers a crippling wound, or succumbs to his wounds. Actions lost due to these penalties will be spent tending to the wounded man.

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The Minutemen with William Oxbridge will enter from the south side on their turn, determined as follows. After their first activation, roll 1d6 each time they successfully activate. If the roll is less than or equal to the number of active turns they have already spent off board, they enter. Example, if the unit has activated three times already, and rolls a three or less on 1d6 at the beginning of their fourth activation, they enter using that activation.

William Oxbridge - Veteran of the F&I War, and a crack shot with his pistol. Veteran (5), F 12, M 8 Flintlock Pistol w/20 rounds (loaded), Knife

Minuteman #4 - Nameless defender of liberty. Regular (4), F 8, M 7 Flintlock Musket w/30 rounds (loaded), Socket Bayonet

Minuteman #5 - Nameless defender of liberty. Regular (4), F 8, M 7 Flintlock Musket w/30 rounds (loaded), Socket Bayonet

Minuteman #6 - Well armed but still nameless defender of liberty. Regular (4), F 8, M 7 Flintlock Musket w/30 rounds (loaded), Socket Bayonet Flintlock Pistol w/10 rounds (loaded)

============================================================================== British Situation

An loyalist informant recently discovered that Ben Chamberlain and his son Robert, two respected local merchants, are the ones responsible for the recent rash of inflamatory and abusive publications denouncing the King and British sovereinty. This rabble rouser must be stopped and his press confiscated.

A strong patrol of fifteen infantry has been assembled and placed under the command of Captain Hoyle. This may be the chance the captain has been waiting for to prove that his breeding is certainly up to the tasks that service in the colonies requires. The patrol is to be accompanied by two loyalist scouts. Proceed to the home of Ben Cartwright and sieze him, his son, and the printing press they have been using.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------ British Forces

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The infantry under Captain Hoyle enter on the North edge of the table on their first activation at point A, in column.

Captain Hoyle - His commission purchased, this fop has little military talent. Green (3), F 6, M 6 Flintlock Musket w/60 rounds (loaded), Socket Bayonet

British Line #1 - Stout and true, a defender of the King. Regular (4), F 9, M 8 Flintlock Musket w/60 rounds (loaded), Socket Bayonet

British Line #2 - Stout and true, a defender of the King. Regular (4), F 9, M 8 Flintlock Musket w/60 rounds (loaded), Socket Bayonet Flintlock Pistol w/20 rounds (loaded)

British Line #3 - Stout and true, a defender of the King. Regular (4), F 9, M 8 Flintlock Musket w/60 rounds (loaded), Socket Bayonet

British Line #4 - Stout and true, a defender of the King. Regular (4), F 9, M 8 Flintlock Musket w/60 rounds (loaded), Socket Bayonet

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The infantry under Sergeant Thompson enter on the North edge of the table on their first activation at point B.

Sergeant Thompson - Veteren of the French and Indian Wars. A real leader. Veteran (5), F 10, M 9 2 Flintlock Pistols w/40 rounds (loaded)

British Line #5 - Stout and true, a defender of the King. Regular (4), F 9, M 8 Flintlock Musket w/60 rounds (loaded), Socket Bayonet

British Line #6 - Stout and true, a defender of the King. Regular (4), F 9, M 8 Flintlock Musket w/60 rounds (loaded), Socket Bayonet

British Line #7 - Stout and true, a defender of the King. Regular (4), F 9, M 8 Flintlock Musket w/60 rounds (loaded), Socket Bayonet

British Line #8 - Stout and true, a defender of the King. Regular (4), F 9, M 8 Flintlock Musket w/60 rounds (loaded), Socket Bayonet

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The infantry under Corporal Twitch enter on the North edge of the table on their first activation at point C.

Corporal Twitch - Newly promoted after many years in the Line. Regular (4), F 9, M 8 2 Flintlock Pistols w/40 rounds (loaded)

British Line #9 - Newly arrived in the states, but well trained. Green (3), F 9, M 8 Flintlock Musket w/60 rounds (loaded), Socket Bayonet Flintlock Pistol w/20 rounds (loaded)

British Line #10 - Newly arrived in the states, but well trained. Green (3), F 9, M 8 Flintlock Musket w/60 rounds (loaded), Socket Bayonet

British Line #11 - Newly arrived in the states, but well trained. Green (3), F 9, M 8 Flintlock Musket w/60 rounds (loaded), Socket Bayonet

British Line #12 - Newly arrived in the states, but well trained. Green (3), F 9, M 8 Flintlock Musket w/60 rounds (loaded), Socket Bayonet

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The loyalists scouts enter anywhere on the North edge of the table on their first activation. Note that they each form their own "unit" and are their own leader, for game purposes.

Richard Hunter - An old frontiersman and loyalist, but his eyesight is failing. Veteran (5), F 7, M 9 Flintlock Rifle w/40 rounds (loaded), Socket Bayonet, Knife

Davy Moffett - A frontier scout returned from the West to defend the King. Regular (4), F 11, M 8 Flintlock Rifle w/40 rounds (loaded), Socket Bayonet, Knife

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Game Map

                 A            B             C
  +--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
  |        W   :| |:          /                |
  |        W   :| |:         /                 |
  |       W    :| |:        /                  |
  +      W +    :\ \:      / +        +        +       N
  |---------------\ \-----/                    |       |
  |     W         :\ \:           WWWWW        |    W--+--E
  |     W          :\ \:       WWW     WWWW    |       |
  +    W   +       :| |:     +W       +    W   +       S
  |    W           :| |:       WW        WW    |
  |   W ########## :| |:         WWWWWWWW      |
  | WW  ########## :| |:                       |    | |  = road
  +W    ########## :| |:     +        +        +    ---  = path
  |     ########## :| |:                &&&&&&&|    :::  = wooden fence
  |     ##########  | |:             &&&&~~~~~~|    &&&  = dense shrubs
  |     ########## :| |:      &&    ~~~~~ ~~~~~|    ~~~  = creek
  +     ########## :| |: &&&&&&~~~~~ ~~~~~&&&&&+    ###  = plowed field
  |             &&&:| |:&&~~~~~ ~~~~~  &&&&    |    WWW  = edge of woods
  |         &&&&&~~~| |~~~ ~~~~~&&             |    XXX  = building
  |        ~~~~~~ ~~| |~~~~&&&&&&              |
  +~~~~~~~~+~~~~~~ :| |&&&&& +        +        +
  |~~~~:~~~~XXXXXXX | |:                       |
  |    XX   XXXXXXX | |:                       |
  |    XX   XXXXXXX | |:                    WWW|
  +    :   +       :| |:     +        +  WWW   +
  |    ::::  :::::::| |:                W      |
  |#############    | |                W       |
  |############   /-+ +---------------\        |
  +###########   / /-----------------\+\       +
  |##########   / /                WW \ \      |
  |#########   / /                W    \ \     |
  |########   / /                W      \ \    |
  +--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
             D            E               F

Each square is one square foot.

Note: The entire open ground area should be scattered with individual trees, bushes and rocks to provide some amount of cover.