My turn to host a game. Jack’s favourite period is the American Civil
War so I thought I would lay on a game for him.
We used the Black Powder rules with one important change, because the table wasn’t that wide (around 4
foot), we decided to still dice for movement, but make single moves, rather
than the twos and threes. Whilst I like
the idea of the wild moves across the table, the single move option worked well
for this game. In addition as well as movement, ranges
were also halved.
The scenario was that I was holding
the cross roads and Bob and Jack’s aim was to push me out and take control.
Bob and Jack commanded the Union
forces and I organised the confederate resistance. The Union forces had 3 Brigades opposed to 3
Confederate Infantry Brigades and three regiments of skirmishing cavalry. The Union Brigades were each made up of 4
regiments whilst the Confederates were smaller with 3 regiments each. Both sides had one battery of artillery.
The Union Forces
My confederate troops
The Confederate cavalry are concealed
along the hedgerow and deemed to not be visible to the Union troops. First move for the Union army is to arrive on
the table edge. The Union forces all responded to orders and arrive ‘en masse’ Jack commanded 2 brigades on the right whist Bob managed the Brigade on the left flank.
My cavalry opened fire on Bob’s leading regiments throwing on into disorder.
Jack’s order for the day was push forwards! Which his troops duly did.
My cavalry managed to delay Bob’s advance and survive a rather ragged opening volley.
Jack continued his advance. His rolling volley disordered Confederate regiment after regiment. The only saving grace was that I was able to save the casualties for the most part
Bob started to inflict hits on my cavalry who fell back on their horses and supports, but not before one regiment broke and fled.
I moved forward my reserve brigade into the farmstead and surrounding fields and the brigade supported my cavalry on my left. My fire caused disorder in turn on the Union forces stopping them. Again for the most part saving throws meant casualties were at a minimum.
.
Round after round of firing saw first my troops disordered again and then returning the compliment to Jack’s units.
Bob and Jack discussed progress.
Bob’ Brigade pressed forward forcing the cavalry to fall back on the supporting infantry brigade. At the same time Jack moved his artillery forward to support Bob’s advance.
Eventually the repeated pressure
from Jack’s infantry managed to inflict casualties on the Confederate front
line and broke one of the regiments in the farm, at the same time I pulled back
my skirmishers in the surrounding fields
Whilst one of my broke and fled, my
Louisianna zouaves poured fired into the opposing Union regiment which in turn
broke and left the field. In the centre
another Union unit broke
.
The union artillery deployed and
opened fire ineffectively only to come under infantry fire and become disordered.
The first of the Union troops entered
the Farm complex bringing them into direct line of fire from my artillery and
supporting infantry.
As Jack looked on, Bob pushed forward his regiment after regiment driving my cavalry back from the fence line, out of the sunken road and back up the slope.
Jack quickly filled the gap created by the regiment that broke and brought more regiments into line. Threatening to outflank my line in the fields.
Another Confederate regiment rushed forward to extend my line and see off the flanking threat.
After some more ineffective firing, we announced the game as a draw.
We all enjoyed the game even though
there was no ‘winner’. The single move
option worked well in this game and the various walls and other terrain
features broke up both fire effect and movement adding to the flavour of the
game. Jack made all the rail fences as well as the Barn.
