Iuka 1862 Valour and Fortitude Game

 

Initial Union deployment

Initial Confederate deployment

Confederate forces advance

Union forces also advance,
some battalions though the fields.

Turn three sees all the Union brigades on the table

It's pretty congested at the Union end of the table

Can the weight of Union numbers win the day?

Confederate artillery battery is deployed on a hill,
Union cavalry threaten the Confederate flank

Last Sunday Craig, Gary, Rob, Rick, Chris and I met down at Vikings Club in Lanyon for the Canberra Regional Wargames Group's monthly meeting. We played our first ACW Valour and Fortitude game, the scenario was Iuka 1862. We actually played a game of this battle about two years ago with the Osprey rules With Hot Lead and Cold Steel but the V& F game was quite different with rules and also a different take on the actual scenario. Craig, Gary and I commanded the Union brigades, Rob, Rick and Chris commanded the Confederates. The Union and Confederate forces contested the road, the main objective in the game. 

The Union forces suffered early losses and struggled to make headway. The terrain, inexperience (most Union brigades were rated green), and congestion of their forces hampering their attack. The Confederate artillery battery deployed on a hill, was effective and proved a thorn in the Union side the whole game. The Union forces eventually had some success, their weight of numbers began to tell, and the game was in the balance. In the end the Confederates managed to hold on and win the game.

Confederate and Union forces contest the
road the main objective in the game

Union forces suffer early losses

Union artillery battery is deployed

Confederate artillery battery proves effective,
a thorn in the Union side the whole game

Terrain and congestion of forces hampers the Union attack

Union forces finally have some success

Game is in the balance

Confederate forces hold on and win the game

With Hot Lead and Cold Steel First Game - Iuka 1862

 

Confederate view of the table

Union view of the table with Mower's brigade
at the rear ready to come on in turn three

Sullivan's brigade advances

Sanborn's brigade advances

Confederates dig in

First fire

Last Thursday afternoon Craig, Gary and Robert came over and we played an ACW game out in the shed. Craig was keen to try the new Osprey ACW rules, With Hot Lead and Cold Steel. These are similar to Black Powder but use D10s rather than D6s. Craig had made up a two page QRS which was very handy. The scenario was Iuka 1862, we used the one on p.136 in the Glory, Hallelujah, Black Powder supplement. Craig and Gary were the Union commanders and Robert and I were stuck with the Confederate command.

The two Union brigades advanced, their objective was to hold the road junction after seven turns. The Confederate brigades just dug in the woods which meant they counted as being in heavy cover. Regiments from both sides became unnerved and retreated early on but were able to rally and continue the fight. Union reinforcements from Mower's Brigade arrived on turn three and the Confederates were slowly but surely being whittled down. Confederate regiments from Herbert's and Martin's brigades panicked and retreated but were able to rally and dig in again. A desperate final Union charge nearly succeeded but the Confederates were able to just hang on.

Union regiments in Sullivan's brigade
become unnerved and retreat

Sanborn's Brigade suffer heavy casualties

Union reinforcements from Mower's Brigade arrive 

Confederate regiments from Herbert's and Martin's
brigades panic and retreat

Confederates rally and dig in again

Desperate final Union charge

Wilson's Creek 1861 - Rebels and Patriots Game

 

Forces deployed

Opposite end

Confederates advance

Price's Brigade is tardy

Pesky Union skirmishers in the cornfield

First fire for both sides

Last Thursday afternoon Craig, Rick, Gary and I played an ACW Rebels and Patriots game out in the shed. The scenario was the Battle of Wilson's Creek which was fought in Missouri on 9th August 1861 and is also known as Bloody Hill. Craig and Gary were the Union commanders, while Rick and I were the Confederate commanders. This proved to a close and hard fought game with plenty of ebb and flow in fortune each turn. The Confederates outnumbered the Union forces, their infantry were all rated green but were in large units which made them more resilient. 

In the scenario we used Pearce's Brigade arrived as Confederate reinforcements on turn six which proved to be very handy. In the end the Confederate artillery found their mark and combined with infantry fire were able to drive the Union infantry back from Bloody Hill. Both sides suffered heavy casualties but the Union forces were in retreat. Skirmisher and artillery fire did seem overly effective in the game. 

The fire fight continues

Pearce's Brigade arrives on turn six

Plenty of ebb and flow in each turn

Confederate artillery find their mark

The grind continues

Union forces are driven off Bloody Hill

Heavy casualties for both sides but
the Union forces are in retreat

American Civil War Buildings

 

Here are two American Civil War buildings that I've just finished painting. We have an ACW game lined up tomorrow, so hopefully we will find a use for them. The buildings are a North American Farmhouse and Ramshackle Barn by Renendra.

Chickamauga, Georgia, (Second Day) September 20 1863 - Battle Cry Game

 

View of the table from the Union right flank

Side view

Union right flank under McCook

Last Tuesday night I went over to Rick's place for a Battle Cry game, the scenario was the second day of Chickamauga. Gary and I were the Confederate commanders, Longstreet in the centre and Polk on the right, under the overall command of Braxton Bragg. Rick commanded the Union forces under Rosecrans. Both sides had five cards, with the Confederates moving first, and six flags required for victory. 

The Confederates had early success attacking on the right flank but the Union forces slowly but surely pegged them back. Most of the fighting was concentrated on the Confederate right flank and centre, with progressively worse cards, making things difficult for both sides. In desperation the Union forces played a Sharp Shooter card to kill Polk and draw the game 5-5. The hard fighting continued and was finally decided in the centre with the Confederates narrowly winning 6-5.

Fighting on the Confederate right flank and centre

Centre decided the game

Confederates just win 6-5