With the release of Liberty or Death imminent lets look at a couple of the commanders from the American War of Independence Black Powder rules – Rebellion!
Major-general Friedrich, Baron von Steuben (1730-1794)
Rebel Commander of Note (from Rebellion! page 59)
Von Steuben joined the Prussian army at the age of 16 and served as a staff officer during the Seven years’ War. he found himself unemployed following the peacetime disbandment of much of the army and thereafter sought employment in a number of European armies, passing himself off as a baron. he arrived in America in 1777, in possession of a letter of introduction from Benjamin Franklin, the rebels’ ambassador to Paris. Presenting himself to Washington with his somewhat over inflated credentials he served as drillmaster to the Continental Army during its travails at valley Forge and it his to his credit that the army which emerged in the Spring was far improved from that which had gone before. von Steuben continued to organise and train the army and became Inspector general as well as serving in the field during the latter years of the conflict.
Special Rules
Von Steuben’s effect on the Continental Army is best represented by improving the fighting ability of the infantry from 1778 onwards. As a commander he seems to have been professional and competent, so deserves a staff rating of 8.
Perhaps use this mounted officer from the Continental Army Starter Army to represent one of the many commanders of note available in Rebellion! Build your force to gain your independence with our new set in conjunction with Wargames Factory:
Lieutenant-general Sir Henry Clinton (1730s – 1795)
British Commander of Note (from Rebellion! page 55)
Henry Clinton’s year of birth is unclear, but we know that in 1751 he was appointed as a captain in the guards and he served as an aide-de-camp to the duke of Brunswick during the Seven years’ War. In 1772 he was promoted to Major-general, also becoming member of Parliament for Boroughbridge and later for Newark-on-Trent. At the outbreak of rebellion Clinton found himself dispatched to America, sharing his voyage with generals Howe and Burgoyne. his intervention at Breed’s hill possibly saved the army from a humiliating defeat and in September 1775 he was rewarded with the temporary rank of Lieutenant-general. having not served in the French and Indian War he was often contemptuous of those who had and his abrasive personality often soured his relationship with other officers. In 1777 he returned briefly to England because of strains between himself and general howe and when he succeeded the latter as Commander-in-Chief in north America his relationship with his second-in-command, Cornwallis, soon began to deteriorate and continued to worsen until the end of the war. As a field commander, Clinton continued to display skill, but as a strategist he found his plans frustrated by an already weakened position, events beyond his control and his inability to form a productive, trusting rapport with subordinates. Following Cornwallis’s surrender at Yorktown, Clinton was replaced as Commander in-Chief by Sir guy Carleton and returned to England.
Special Rules
Henry Clinton was a professional and competent battlefield commander. however, his relationships with other officers were often strained. If acting as a subordinate officer he might be awarded a staff rating of 8 with the headstrong characteristic. If he is the Commander-in-Chief then his command style may be best represented by not including him in the battle at all and assuming that his subordinates will act independently.
Use this mounted officer from the British Army Starter Army to represent one of the many commanders of note available in Rebellion! Arm you men and recruit those loyal to the King with our new set in conjunction with Wargames Factory:
