Ameriwank: ARW

I've always thought the best Ameriwank would be started right from the beginning.

Lexington and Concord: Instead of being allowed to escape to the Charles town peninsula New England militia block the escape of the exhausted red coats forcing their surrender 1,800 captured.

Fort Ticonderoga and Crown Point captured: same as OTL

Capture of St. Jean: After occupying St. Jean, Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold successfully ambush an advancing British force and retain possession of that post.

Bunker Hill: same as OTL

Invasion of Canada: American forces under Gen. Montgomery occupy Montreal in Aug. 1775 without a fight. British forces retreat to Quebec.

Quebec: same as OTL except Ethan Allen is killed instead of Gen. Montgomery

Dorchester Heights: Washington fortifies the Dorchester Heights on Feb. 24 1776. British attack on the heights fails miserably. American forces storm weakened position in Boston. Gen. Howe surrenders

Thoughts
 
Yes, but the beginning need not be the ARW...
Getting Nova Scotia to join might, for example, could potentially make the USA stronger in the 2000s. And then there's East and West Florida...
 
Yeah I was thinking that but I want an Ameriwank that leads to something resembling the America of today but even more cocky.

America really began in 1607 but thats a different thread.
 
Yeah I was thinking that but I want an Ameriwank that leads to something resembling the America of today but even more cocky.

America really began in 1607 but thats a different thread.
Getting more colonies to join in the Continental Congress would have resulted in what was most likely something resembling the USA of today (though, if Nova Scotia joins, you might see Canada belonging to the USA by today). Remember, there were several colonies that remained Loyal, but some of those wavered on joining the Rebels...
 
I've always thought the best Ameriwank would be started right from the beginning.

Lexington and Concord: Instead of being allowed to escape to the Charles town peninsula New England militia block the escape of the exhausted red coats forcing their surrender 1,800 captured.

Dorchester Heights: Washington fortifies the Dorchester Heights on Feb. 24 1776. British attack on the heights fails miserably. American forces storm weakened position in Boston. Gen. Howe surrenders

I don't think the Massachusetts militias could do more than skirmish when the British marched back to Boston in April 1775. The British were pretty well trained in stand-up fights, and did get resupplied and reinforced from Boston during the day and even had some artillery.

Similar for Dorchester Heights. The British had their naval guns. The Dorchester fort seemed to be able to hold out against a hypothetical British shelling, but I don't think the Continental Army could have successfully attacked across water or the narrow Dorchester neck.
 

67th Tigers

Banned
Too early a victory may well remove the counterrevolution resulting in a very different USA with the moderate Tories (such as Washington) and Whigs leaving the USA for other pastures.

Quite possibly you'd get two different independent American states, a Whig New England and Pennsylvania (occupying Catholic Canada), and a Tory New York down to Georgia. If the Congressionals win too quickly, the USA will never solidify into a country.
 

67th Tigers

Banned
Similar for Dorchester Heights. The British had their naval guns. The Dorchester fort seemed to be able to hold out against a hypothetical British shelling, but I don't think the Continental Army could have successfully attacked across water or the narrow Dorchester neck.

No, but the Dorchester heights gave they sufficient elevation that their artillery could burn Boston (the richest city in the English speaking world) to the ground. Hence the urgency of the attack before the NE Militia could put guns on the heights.
 
No, but the Dorchester heights gave they sufficient elevation that their artillery could burn Boston (the richest city in the English speaking world) to the ground. Hence the urgency of the attack before the NE Militia could put guns on the heights.

Exactly. The Continental Army could shell Boston, thereby leaving the position there untenable, but couldn't invade it. The British couldn't take out the Dorchester fort that was erected overnight to the surprise of the British.
 
Siege of Quebec: Same as OTL

Battle Le Cedres:
Benedict Arnold relieves besieged forces

Battle of Charles Town:
Same as OTL. Except Continental Navy captures HMS Bristol and HMS Experiment

Battle Trios de Rivers: Successful counter attack by American forces under Maj. Gen Montgomery.

New York: Washington convinces the Continental Congress that defending New York risks the future of the rebellion. Washington positions his army in the Hudson highlands.

New Jersey: Gen. Clinton attempting to draw Washington out of the highlands moves towards Philadelphia. Washington moves to Morristown threatening the LOC of any movement from New York towards Philadelphia.

Valcour Island: US naval squadron under command of Benedict Arnold attacks undefended transports and bateux moving southwards toward fort Ticonderoga.

Fort Cumberland: Jonathan Eddy leads a force of 1,000 men against the British post at Fort Cumberland. The fort is stormed and a British attempted to reclaim it is beaten back.
 
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67th Tigers

Banned
Exactly. The Continental Army could shell Boston, thereby leaving the position there untenable, but couldn't invade it. The British couldn't take out the Dorchester fort that was erected overnight to the surprise of the British.

ISTR The pallisade was pistol proof by the morning, and wasn't quite musket proof by the time the British attacked. If left unmolested it would have been proof against 6 pdrs by next morning.
 
BCO said:
I don't think the Massachusetts militias could do more than skirmish when the British marched back to Boston in April 1775. The British were pretty well trained in stand-up fights, and did get resupplied and reinforced from Boston during the day and even had some artillery.

Well actually the image that militia only sniped at the British from behind walls and trees is a myth. New England militia stood in line and fought in formation no less than 16 times throughout the day long engagement. The British did being artillery but little ammunition.

Against the advice of his Master of Ordnance, Percy had left Boston without spare ammunition for his men or for the two artillery pieces they brought with them. He thought the extra wagons would slow him down. After Percy had left the city, Gage directed two ammunition wagons guarded by one officer and thirteen men to follow. This convoy was intercepted by a small party of older, former militiamen, still on the "alarm list" who could not join their militia companies because they were well over 60. These men rose up in ambush and demanded the surrender of the wagons, but the regulars ignored them and drove their horses on. The old men opened fire, shot the lead horses, killed two sergeants, and wounded the officer. The survivors ran, and six of them threw their weapons into a pond before they surrendered. Each man in Percy's brigade now had only 36 rounds, and each artillery piece only contained a few rounds in side-boxes.
http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battles_of_Lexington_and_Concord

BCO said:
Similar for Dorchester Heights. The British had their naval guns. The Dorchester fort seemed to be able to hold out against a hypothetical British shelling, but I don't think the Continental Army could have successfully attacked across water or the narrow Dorchester neck.

Well the British bombardment that took place in OTL from the cannon on ships and in Boston was ineffective(most shells fell far short of the fortifications). The Continental Army would actually attack down the Charles river from their base at Cambridge. And yes its not a sure thing nothing is in war but remember this is Ameriwank which mean what can go wrong for the enemy does.
 
Early 1777

New Jersey:
Clinton continues his (unsuccessful) attempts to draw Washington out into a major engagement. All that comes form Clinton's maneuvers are small sudden battles at Princeton, Kingston, New Brunswick Somerset Court House and in countless other places go as badly for the Americans as they do the British but each victory brings in new recruits for the Continental Army will each man lost to the British is not as easily replaced.

Clinton heeding the advice of James Grant begins enacting harsh repercussions against colonists suspected of rebel sympathies. The tactics backfire leading to horrendous atrocities committed against British POWS by local militias. Whigs in Parliament denounce Clinton and Grant's tactics European opinion is universally against the British actions leading to ever increasing amounts of volunteers for the American cause.

Summer-Fall 1777:

Burgoyne begins his campaign from Canada. Landing his forces north of Ticonderoga he begins placing batteries on Mount Defiance overlooking the fort. Arthur St. Clair having been notified of the threat had already begun evacuating the fort. By the time the British guns are ready the fort is abandoned and the pontoon bridge from Ticonderoga to Fort Independence is blown up. Burgoyne pursues the retreating Americans.

Hudson Highlands:

In concert with Burgoyne's offensive Clinton begins an offensive against the Hudson forts. British columns are ambushed at Dunderburg Mountain and Bear Mountain pass. Bloody attacks are launched against fortified positions taking some but always at a high price. Despite the losses suffered Forts Clinton and Montgomery are eventually reduced. Washington withdraws to West Point.

Siege of West Point: In Sept. 1777 Clinton begins besieging the American fortifications. Attempt fails when word of Burgoyne's surrender reaches

Saratoga: Same as OTL but Arnold killed in action against Fraser's redoubt.
 
Winter 1777-78

Canada Invaded:
Lafayette after distinguishing himself in the previous months campaigning, commands a winter offensive against Canada. Bypassing posts at St. Jean and Chambly Lafayette occupies Montreal in mid Feb. Lafayette attempts to rally the Quebecers to the American cause some join but many more continue to proclaim themselves neutral. The situation changes when word reaches that France has joined in Alliance with the United States of America.

Spring 1778: French fleet sails to America Washington begins planning a massive attack on New York. Charles Cornwallis replaces Henry Clinton as commander of British forces in North America. Cornwallis begins preparing for the defense of New York. American offensives in Illinois territory Henry Clark seizes posts at Vincennes and Kaskasia. A force of Continental Marines seizes Baton Rouge, West Florida.

Summer 1778: Believing an attack on New York to be premature Comte De Grass convinces Washington to join an attack on Newport Rhode Island. The attack succeeds some 3,000 prisoners are taken Cornwallis arrives with reinforcements only to see the post had already fallen and promptly sails back to New York.

Quebec: Quebec is besieged throughout the summer and fall but without naval supremacy British forces can continually be reinforced and resupplied. Lafayette retires to winter quarters in Montreal.
 
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Well the British bombardment that took place in OTL from the cannon on ships and in Boston was ineffective(most shells fell far short of the fortifications). The Continental Army would actually attack down the Charles river from their base at Cambridge. And yes its not a sure thing nothing is in war but remember this is Ameriwank which mean what can go wrong for the enemy does.

Across water? I would think that the British ships would prevent that. I assume that the British ships could navigate to that part of the Charles River.

The only land link to Boston, at that time, was the narrow and easily defended Dorchester Neck.
 

CalBear

Moderator
Donor
Monthly Donor
I've always thought the best Ameriwank would be started right from the beginning.

Lexington and Concord: Instead of being allowed to escape to the Charles town peninsula New England militia block the escape of the exhausted red coats forcing their surrender 1,800 captured.

Fort Ticonderoga and Crown Point captured: same as OTL

Capture of St. Jean: After occupying St. Jean, Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold successfully ambush an advancing British force and retain possession of that post.

Bunker Hill: same as OTL

Invasion of Canada: American forces under Gen. Montgomery occupy Montreal in Aug. 1775 without a fight. British forces retreat to Quebec.

Quebec: same as OTL except Ethan Allen is killed instead of Gen. Montgomery

Dorchester Heights: Washington fortifies the Dorchester Heights on Feb. 24 1776. British attack on the heights fails miserably. American forces storm weakened position in Boston. Gen. Howe surrenders

Thoughts

Bunker (actually Breed's) Hill could have been a straight up Colonial victory. It is actually easier to make into a complete success than most of the rest of the list (especially those involving Canada). An additional 3000 rounds (and, in a perfect world, about 50-75 additional Pennsylvania riflemen, never can kill too many officers:D) would have resulted in an outright defeat of Howe's forces (not to mention an extra 500 or so lobsterback casualties).

Concord is one of the more misunderstood actions of the ARW. Had there been any sense of C&C on the colonist side, the entire column would have been wiped out, as would have the relief column. It is also the relief column that you have to stop. This was the unit that broke up the colonists who had set themselves up as a half-assed blocking force with a couple of cannon rounds. The problem was that there was NO control, much less command. Folks would show up, bang away for 10 minutes (mostly missing), and head home when the column got a bit too close. It would take an ASB to get the colonists to work as a united group.
 
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Calbear has it.

Concord has been mythologized, but ironically in the wrong way. Individual militia companies could and did stand in line against British regulars, and caused them to run away more than once. James Barret's Massachusetts militia, for instance, routed a company of British light foot on the ridge overlooking Concord across the North Bridge. Hell, had they followed up here instead of standing around cheering they may have been able to invest Concord properly right there and then.

The problem was that the highest ranking officers present were the militia company commanders. No centralized command structure at all. Had there been, they might have been able to obliterate the entire column when Colonel Smith paused to reform while retreating from Concord. Neither Percy nor Smith would have survived to retreat from Lexington in early afternoon for certain.
 
BCO said:
Across water? I would think that the British ships would prevent that. I assume that the British ships could navigate to that part of the Charles River.

The only land link to Boston, at that time, was the narrow and easily defended Dorchester Neck.

The British fleet was deployed in the outer harbor. The American landing force would land via flat bottom boats on Boston Common. A number of floating batteries had already been built for artillery support. After the landing at Boston Common another force would attack from Roxbury.
 
CalBear said:
Bunker (actually Breed's) Hill could have been a straight up Colonial victory. It is actually easier to make into a complete success than most of the rest of the list (especially those involving Canada). An additional 3000 rounds (and, in a perfect world, about 50-75 additional Pennsylvania riflemen, never can kill too many officers:D) would have resulted in an outright defeat of Howe's forces (not to mention an extra 500 or so lobsterback casualties).

Yeah I know but that could lead to an immediate British withdrawal. The siege of Boston was an important step for the development of the Continental Army and the nation as a whole.

CalBear said:
Concord is one of the more misunderstood actions of the ARW. Had there been any sense of C&C on the colonist side, the entire column would have been wiped out, as would have the relief column. It is also the relief column that you have to stop. This was the unit that broke up the colonists who had set themselves up as a half-assed blocking force with a couple of connon rounds. The problem was that there was NO control, much less command. Folks would show up, bang away for 10 minutes (mostly missing), and head home when the column got a bit too close. It would take an ASB to get the colonists to work as a united group.

True it was more like a school yard brawl than a true battle, but their was a force, an organized force, in position to block the way to the Charles Town peninsula.
 
Winter 1778-79: After Governor Hamilton retakes Vincennes, Henry Clark begins his epic march to retake the settlement.

Spring: Lafayette renews his campaign against Quebec. Maj. General Richard Montgomery launches offensive towards Halifax from the rebel base in the Cumberland basin. French fleet sails to Quebec. Washington begins preparation for major offensive against New York. Cornwallis aware of this plans an attack on the Hobart Gap to threaten American LOC between Washington and Philadelphia.

Summer: Daniel Morgan commands an expedition against Fort Niagara. Henry Clark launches his attack on Detroit. Each post falls before the end of fall. Battle of the Gulf of St. Lawrence indecisive British retain control of St. Lawrence but suffer heavy loses, French sail to Halifax. Halifax surrenders upon arrival of French fleet. Washington becomes aware of Cornwallis's plans sends reinforcements to Morristown cancels preparation for offensive against New York.

Fall: Charles Cornwallis launches attack on American forces in Hobart Gap. Battle of Springfield results in decisive American victory. British forces are cut off and forced to surrender.
 
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Oh geez, here we go again.

Throwing in more colonies into the mix will skew the later history a lot, especially when we get to the Constitutional Convention. Especially Quebec, which raises the question of what to do with a large religious and linguistic minority.
 
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