This is the (much-delayed by work) second half of the report on our recent French and Indian War game. Those who saw the first half of my report might remember that it ended as the French siege of the fort began in earnest, with a long artillery duel between the French siege guns and the British artillery.
The results of that artillery battle were: numerous casualties and several guns destroyed; desertion by some of the Indian forces (who were already operating at low morale before sustaining additional casualties from artillery fire); both sides running very low on ammunition for the remaining artillery; and a breach in the wall of the fort.
It was at this point that the missing British ranger company, off the table on water, re-emerged, landing in the swamp and proceeding through the forest to the road.
They arrived in time to ambush and destroy the recently summoned French ammunition re-supply column. This resulted in further Indian desertions (who now knew there were enemies close to their village) and a consolidation of the French regulars for a storming of the breached British fort.
The one controversial moment in the game occurred here, with the British players bringing back the long-gone brigantine, carrying reinforcements and re-supply. The special off-table water movement rules we had adopted required a certain number of turns off-table before water craft could return with new troops, so we had to count the turns in the game that had elapsed. The French players in the end agreed that this move was legitimate, so the ship both landed its reinforcements and drove the remaining Indians off the island.
As the British advanced, the French, with their artillery and their flanks now exposed, began a fighting withdrawal, finally holding the bridge and allowing their artillery to escape.
By regaining the river line, the British side secured a victory. By holding the other side of the river (and saving their artillery), the French prevented a bad defeat. But all the players agreed that the British victory had depended on good timing and some excellent luck with the dice.