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

Rebels and Patriots Waterloo Campaign Game

 

French attackers and British defenders deployed

British Officer's line infantry unit

British Light Dragoons

Riflemen and skirmishers

British line infantry

French infantry

Both sides advance

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone!

Last Wednesday afternoon Craig came over to my place and we played a 24 point a side Rebels and Patriots Waterloo Campaign game. I still had the table and troops set up from my solo game last week. The French were the attackers and the British were the defenders. The French started the game well, chipping away at the British Light Dragoons, who they eventually routed. The British sharp shooting riflemen in turn proved to be very effective and joined by the line infantry killed the French officer and eventually destroyed his veteran line infantry unit. At this point the French casualties were mounting and they were in retreat, so we called time.

British Dragoons suffer casualties

The infantry are reluctant to close 

Voltigeurs skirmish and evade

British Dragoons are broken

Long range shooting continues

British shooting finds its mark

The French casualties mount and they are in retreat

Secure the Road - Rebels and Patriots Peninsular War Game

 

Forces deployed

British defenders

French attackers

Both sides advance

Shooting commences

French lancers are broken by British fire

On Friday afternoon I played a solo Rebels and Patriots late Peninsular War game out in the shed. The scenario was to secure the road, both sides had twenty six points, the French were the attackers and the British the defenders. The two sides advanced and the French lancers were soon broken and then routed by some withering British fire. Undaunted the French infantry pressed the attack and were able to kill the British officer and break his unit with shooting. All the British units were veterans but the French had the weight of numbers and were eventually able to break and then rout the Kings German Legion unit. The French had secured the road and the surviving British had no option but to retreat.

The French have the weight of numbers

British officer is killed and his unit broken

KGL unit is broken and retreats

French charge the KGL

Casualties mount for the Brits

French secure the road

Peninsular War Rebels and Patriots Game - Hold the Bridge

French attackers on the left, British defenders on the right

Most of the French advance

95th Rifles enter the woods and the KGL cross the river

Riflemen evade the attacking French, KGL on the bridge form Close Order

KGL in the woods suffer casualties but are undaunted

As I mentioned in my last post, yesterday I played a solo late Peninsular War game of Rebels and Patriots. In the scenario the French attack a bridge and the outnumbered British trying to hold it for six turns. This was a standard 24 point game with the companies as described before. It turned out to be a pretty tough scenario for the French against the upgraded British units who were all Veterans, Aggressive and Good Shooters or Sharp Shooters in the case of the 95th Rifles. The French managed to attack in the woods and on the bridge but were beaten back and suffered heavy casualties. They were disordered and their attack foundered. It was a fun game and good to get my French and British Napoleonics out on the table.

French attack the KGL

KGL force them to retreat and follow up leaving them disordered

Volley fire by the KGL on the bridge leaves the French retreating and disordered

Final turn and the valiant French attack has foundered

French Voltigeurs

Here are some skirmishing French Voltigeurs from the Perry plastics set, French Napoleonic Line Infantry 1812-1815, that I've just finished painting. I want to try a solo late Peninsular War scenario with the Rebels and Patriots rules and these skirmishers bring my French company up to 24 points. The French have two veteran line infantry units (6 points each), two line infantry units (4 points) and one unit of skirmishers who are Good Shooters (4 points).


The British are outnumbered nearly two to one but have two veteran line infantry units of KGL who are also Good Shooters and Aggressive (9 points each) and a unit of veteran skirmishers (95th rifles of course) who are Sharpshooters (8 points each). The scenario is pretty simple the British have to defend a bridge for six turns while the French have to try and take it. It should be fun to see how it works out and I'll post photos and a report soon.