Colonial Campaigns Club (CCC)

Ernie please delete thread

Al,
Coming from my usual realism angle, there may have been some drawbridges over streams in the colonies/U.S. during our period, but I am not aware of them. For the purposes of a non-historical game, the latitude to include one would be fine, but this country did not have many bridges. Those that did exist were pretty simple. The main trusses were made from single trunks laid side by side. If a bridge had to span anything wider it was supported by numerous uprights sunk into the stream bed. Again, the height of the bridge above the stream itself was only as high as the average height of the available timber. Most streams and rivers were forded at shallows, and when bridges were built it was at those shallows in order to take advantage of the bedrock and shallow depth. Wooden structures were prone to rot and to ice floes during thaws, so they did not last long. It was not until common use of iron became practical that permanent bridges became numerous. However, many small towns, and hamlets could not afford bridges until the 20th century. Most large streams had ferries if a bridge was impractical.

I agree with the idea of various depths, and ferries or longboats, (Durham boats at Trenton?)and especially the destruction or perhaps
building of brides. The old "1776" of Avalon-Hill had bateau building turns as well...liked that too.

After a little research (surfing) I found that a King-Post Bridge was most common in our time period thoughout New England. This was a single span bridge that couldn't go more than 50' or so (I think [;)].) The trusses (supports) were above the bridge, usually. This could give a fair amount of clearence for shallow draft vessels to pass under.

http://www.historiclakes.org/Plattsburg/Plattsburg.html

Click on the above link and look at the four pictures at the very bottom on the page. Enlarge (click on) the one on the right. In that picture you will see the galleys of the American fleet. It is this type vessel that is in the Plattsburg scenario. I don't think it would be too much of a stretch to see that knid of boat going under a single span bridge. Being able to fire cannons or block bridges is HIGHLY unlikely, but I think they should be able to go dwonstream ... and I think that inf/cav units should be able to melee them if next to the shore.