BackgroundObjectivesWe have 2 big worries as of April of 1778, the British have Henry Clinton's large army in Philadelphia and another large army in New York possibly with Charles Grey commanding. Our only sizable force is Washington's outside of Philadelphia in Reading. He may be able to siege Clinton and wrest control of the capital away from the British, but we'll have to lure some of his force away from Philadelphia for that to happen.
Our primary goal for this season is to retake Philadelphia while containing Grey's force in New York. Avoiding getting crushed between the 2 British armies is paramount. Secondary goals include pushing a small British force out of Newport in Rhode Island and preparing for a march to and siege of Oswego. This scenario lasts 2 years (24 turns).
April 1778The situation in the Philadelphia and New York area. The 2 large British armies will have to be lured out of the cities and manuevered around and fought only in favorable situations. Where possible, militia will be detached to defend forts and cities to keep areas from being easy pickings for the British.
The situation in and around Oswego. Troops from other areas or newly raised troops will be needed to complete this secondary objective. Hopefully the large area of Indians to the south will stay out of this as I don't have the men to pin them down and fight the British.
A reinforcement of French troops is expected, they are very much needed.
May 1778Midmonth, a British force led by Valentine Jones attempted a breakout out of Newport and was repulsed by Nathaniel Greene in Providence.
Unfortunately, news out of Rhode Island is that Nathaniel Greene was killed at the battle of Providence. The British and I have relatively equal sized armies around Newport. A siege is probably premature right now, so I'll have to be happy with trying to contain the British for now.
There is still a rather large force in Philadelphia consisting of Cornwallis and possibly some Hessians. Clinton has taken a small force out of Philadelphia and marched west to Lancaster. Undefended, it falls to the British.
It does appear that some of the force from New York has been piecemeal sent out of New York into New Jersey to capture Princeton. Another small British force has left New York towards New England.
American George R. Clark was set loose into the Ohio wilderness and he successfully took Ft. Miamis.
Washington has 2 plans before him.
Leave Reading and maneuver to Princeton and prehaps threaten the force at New York while trying to better his intelligence on the force still in Philadelphia. This might also draw the British out of Philadelphia and maybe even New York. He would cross the upper Deleware into Maidenhead and move on Princeton from the north. A small force commanded by Charles Lee would stay behind to secure Reading. The possibility of being caught between a force from New York and Philadelphia is not appealing.
Or, march west to assault Clinton's army in Lancaster while leaving behind a small force commanded by Charles Lee to secure Reading.
The opportunity to strike a blow to Clinton on the Susquehanna is too enticing. Washington will march to Lancaster.
Eager to strike a blow against the British, Louis de Portail will move out of the Peekskills towards Ridgefield in Westchester to determine the size of the British force there and to drive them out. Better intelligence on the army still in New York is needed.
In the north, a band of irregulars is moving towards Ft. Ticonderoga. Ticonderoga is well defended and this British move should be of little consequence.