Larry Reeves American Revolutionary Skirmish Game
Patriot Brother vs. Loyalist Brother
Being an adaptation of the ACW rules set "Brother vs. Brother"

This action was known as "The Battle of Pitts' Mill"

The sweeping gesture by Larry Reeves (in green checked shirt) makes some rules point less obscure. Jim Woodrick, on the right, seems to be absorbing the lesson.

Bill was the commander of the Patriot regulars who entered the game by forced march on the 6th turn. They had "marched to the sound of the guns" and almost turned the tide in favor of the patriots.

There were 5 platoons or sections of Patriot militia (each of 10 figures) hidden on the game table at the start, or loitering in the tented American camp. Later, three platoons of regulars entered the table on a road, along with a light 3-lb gun and crew.

The Patriots in the game were, :

• Fred Diamond - American Militia
• Jim Woodrick - American Milita
• Eric Best - American Militia
• Bill Estes - American Regulars

One of Phil Young's British platoons which had forded the stream, and moved almost the length of the 8 foot game table, then turned 90 degrees and moved through the American camp, to this rail fence.

The British right flank unit engages in a melee with one of the American militia units. There were several different British units that took the post of honor on the right flank, one after the other, each beating various groups of rebels, but losing heavily to desertion in the process.

Appearances can be deceiving. While the photo really seems to show the game-master Larry Reeves caught in the act of accepting a bribe, I am certain that there is another explanation for this incriminating photo. Jim Woodrick (on left) and Eric Best (in center) look on enviously.

Note the white tents of the American camp below Larry's outstreached greedy arm.

A shot of the British company commander leading from the front. The only thing that he did in the game was to promote sub-lieutenants to platoon leaders, as one by one, the British officers were shot.

All of the British in the game were members (1 figure = 1 man) of one British company. There were 8 sections or half-platoons (10 figures each) of red coats. One platoon of German riflemen, 6 mounted Light Dragoons, and a 6-lb gun with 5 crewmen completed the British Force.

Note that the British are clustered around the end of the left hand house, entering it. The rebels hold the right hand house.

Fred Diamond's milita had garrisoned both houses at the start of the game, but in response to repeated entreaties from his fellow militiamen, he had left the houses to fight against the British left flank units.

It took three charges by British line to roust the Patriot militiamen from this work. The British player (Jay Stribling) had terrible morale, as his men flinched repeatedly from close quarters with the rebels, and the platoon leader fell dead (due to heat stroke probably, since I do not think the rebel fire was effective at this point).

Jim commanded the left flank of the British forces. He had the German jagers, armed with rifles, and the six mounted Light dragoons. The mounted forces found themselves in an ambush on turn one, in the area marked First Militia as Jim (according to his mission) scouted down the road. The Jagers came up and were able to assist the Light Dragoons in routing the rebel militia that had been defending the road.

British commanders were, left to right:

• Jim Pitts, with the Light Dragoons and the Hessian Jagers
• Ed Sansing, with the 6-lb gun and the platoon of Grenadiers
• Jay Stribling, with two platoons of center company men and the company commander
• Mark Gilbert, with two platoons of center company men
• Phil Young, with two platoons of center company men

Map of the field, drawn by a Rebel officer, taken off his body after the action. The British entered from the top, as the map is oriented. The Rebel troops locations at start are marked. All were hidden as the cowards normally are.

The town of "Pitts; Mill" in the lower right hand corner, in the area marked Fourth Militia was the British objective. The Patriot camp can barely be noted, in the area marked Third Militia.

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