The seed for this booklet was planted at Historicon '95. Throughout the four days, as Keith and I manned our booth, we received many pleasant comments about Habitants and Highlanders as well as Rockets Red Glare. Often, there was a request attached, to these comments, that we release more booklets for the horse and musket era; Napoleonics maybe, or American Civil War. Keith and I had already dismissed these topics as being too broad to be covered adequately in our booklet format, but a "completer" module for H&H and RRG - that was something to think about. As we sat at our booth we brainstormed on what could be included in such a booklet; the 1745 siege of Louisburg, perhaps, colour map and counters for the campaign game, Montgomery's 1775 assault on Québec, perhaps two or three American War of Independence scenarios.
Early in the preparation of Whites of their Eyes it became apparent that the American War of Independence was going to dominate the new book. The story was compelling, the personalities involved were interesting and most importantly, the scenarios were diverse and very intriguing. Not only are there various sizes of battles (the crucial battle of Trenton is no more than a small unit skirmish, whereas the battles of Saratoga are the largest offered in any of the three books) but the type of battle differed, considerably. Within these pages you will find examples of an orderly 18th century siege (Yorktown), confused night street fighting (Québec), surprise dawn attacks (Trenton and Germantown), set piece battles (Cowpens and Guilford's Courthouse), meeting engagements (Monmouth) and, of course, flanking marches (Long Island and Brandywine). We feel that these scenarios really highlight the strengths of our "action card" rules sets. The effect of the leader's quality on the course of the battle and the unpredictably of armed conflict, both are emphasized in all scenarios.
Once we had decided to proceed with an American War of Independence booklet we were delighted to find that the campaign game from Habitants and Highlanders could be used, virtually as written, to simulate all but one of the campaigns in the 1770's. With three slight additions to the H&H map, a few rule changes and a set of new counters "Wolfe and Montcalm" became "Howe and Washington".
In retrospect, Whites of Their Eyes was the natural sequel to H&H and RRG. Not only do the rules and scales fit perfectly for the American War of Independence but Whites connects the other two histories. A wargamer and amateur historian cannot understand the causes and course of the American Revolution without first grasping the significance of the Seven Years War in North America (French and Indian War). Likewise, the War of 1812 is a meaningless wilderness skirmish unless the American War of Independence is understood. Indeed, the War of 1812, can also be seen as ratification of the American Revolution by citizens of the United States and the rejection of the revolution by Canadians.
We are proud to offer Whites of Their Eyes as final volume to our trilogy on musket-era conflicts in North America. We trust it will increase your wargaming pleasure and lead you to a greater understanding of the history of these two northern neighbours.
"We share common aspirations for the future, and indeed, the future of all mankind. Geography has made us neighbours. History has made us friends. Economics has made us partners. And necessity has made us allies...What unites us is greater than what divides us."
from John F. Kennedy's speech to the Canadian House of Commons, Ottawa, 1961
I hope you enjoy what follows Bruce McFarlane