So carrying on the ACW theme currently on I put on a Battle of Monocacy game which was fought on the 9th July 1964, This was part of the Confederate General Jubal Early’s raid down the Shenandoah Valley into Maryland.

On the 3rd July the Union area Commander, Major General Lew Wallace who was based in Baltimore with a command of 2-3,000 men reacted to news of Early’s march towards Baltimore and Washington by moving his force to Monocacy Junction to block the Confederate advance while requesting reinforcements to protect the unguarded Washington. Wallace gathered additional troops from Annapolis, Baltimore and a field artillery unit and a small cavalry force. On July the 8th Wallace stopped the advance units of the Union VI Corps commanded by Ricketts and convinced him to remain at Monocacy Junction to hold off Early and his estimated force of between 14-28,000 veteran troops.

So dawn on Saturday July 9 had a Union force of about 6,800 men positioned an the bridges and fords over the Monocacy River. A battery was on a bluff overlooking the main bridge and Ricketts men below them guarding the fences and riverbank. The cavalry brigade of Clendenin was downstream watching the river.

There were further forces facing each other but I decided to just fight the main battle.

So the aim of Union General Wallace is to hold on and delay as long as possible to give reinforcements time to get to Washington. The Confederates was to get to Washington!

So for the scenario I have kept fairly much too the actual battle but changed some aspects a wee bit for play playability and fun factors.

Below we have the initial set up Ricketts 2nd Brigade commanded by Steve. This was 4 regts plus the battery on the bluff behind them. Opposite across the river was Ramseur’s Lilley brigade with 5 Virginia regts with 2 batteries from Nelsons battn with a 3rd battery arriving later. Alan commanded here.

To the south the Union cavalry of Clendenin commanded by Rob had 2 dismounted regts covering the ford with 2 more on there way. Across the ford can be seen the lead regts of McClauslands cavalry brigade of 4 regts commanded by Keith.

And Alan is straight into it and managed to get 4 units across the bridge and a 5th on it(they are not actually crossing the river…..Alan got a wee bit excited.

Keith rushes his cavalry regts across the ford, dismounts and prepares to pepper Robs 2 regts in the farms. I had reduced the Union regts to 2/3 size of the Rebel ones. Picture below is after several turns of firing from both sides. There is a dinky rule in the ACW supplement of Black Powder where units that fail morale tests from shooting do not pop but instead are ‘whupped’ and basically keep 12 inches away from the enemy with reduced factors….and are just …annoying…but…it feels right! The final 2 Union cavalry units have dismounted and joined the fighting.

Here we have the Union battery on the bluff behind fortification. Union needed 6’s to hit them and they got an enhanced save.

Keith added his cute ambulance to the photo…nice.

The Union cavalry have been beaten after several rounds of hand to hand and mount up and ride away….those that could. Just to the left of the field the Confederate Division of John Gordon has commenced crossing the ford. Goldie had arrived and took the brigade of Evans and his 7 Georgia regts. Keith retired the cavalry and took command of the 2nd brigade of Hays 5 Louisiana regts.

As Gordons regts marched across the fields towards the Junction and the road to Washington, up popped Emersons brigade of 5 regts who had been lying down behind a fence! A withering blast was delivered on the surprised Confederates by these veteran units troops…to…well…almost no effect…..

The other end of Emersons line….flank fire on Evans brigade…Goldie giggled…it was really bad shooting.

I quite liked this picture of the flags.

So we have Evans brigade to the left, Hays to the right, Alan in the distance who has bought guns up to close range and is dealing to Steve’s troops. Keith’s surviving cavalry and a battery that appeared are holding the fence line to centre and I have the Emerson brigade.

Game end. I declared a Union victory, if only because the road was not clear and so Early’s Army would now not make Washington before Union reinforcements made it.

So that was fun and now the whisky of the week!

Well… I do have a love affair with Glenmorangie so this weeks offering is the ‘Nectar D’or’.

With tasting notes of:

Sumptuous and warming, the Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or has spent ten years in American white oak casks before spending its final two years in Sauternes casks from France. It is here, in hand selected wine barriques from Sauternes: the most famous and ancient sweet wine growing region of France, that this whisky develops its rich, spicy and dessert-like flavours. Non chill-filtered for additional aroma and mouthfeel. 

Aroma; Lime and orange rind, sultanas and dates give a rich fruity flavour laced with tantalising spices of coconut and nutmeg.

Taste; Ginger, nutmeg and toasted almonds bring a deep, warming taste interwoven with a syrupy lemon meringue and honeycomb middle. 

Finish; Long and lusciously sweet finish with lemon zest, white chocolate, vanilla and traces of ginger and nutmeg. 

Awards; WWA 2008 Category – Scottish IWSC 2009 Silver Category – Single Malt Highland IWSC 2009 Silver Category – Single Malt Highland ISC 2009 Silver Category – Scotch Single Malts 

Alcohol Vol 46%

Some may not like a sweet whisky, but tonight we have a southerly storm howling outside, it is VERY windy…and cold….and the coffee machine has died…so will shortly be sipping this beauty in front of the fire watching our Queen of Canoeing win her Gold medals again.

Good night!!