One of our local Clubs, Hutt Miniature Wargames Club is holding its annual convention on the weekend of April 27-28 2024. A group of 10 of us will be playing a Demonstration Game, another American Civil War Game. This time, we are replaying ‘The Battle of the Wilderness’, in particular Day 2 on 6th May 1864.

To get the ladz a feel for it, I staged a practice game based on the fighting around the ‘Orange Turnpike’. The Map is below.

We were practicing playing in woods…lots of thick woods…so movement was 6 inches, shooting in woods was 6 inches. There was no tinkering with the command ranges or artillery being in the woods…just to see how it went.

Looking from the Turnpike down the battlefield we have an open area known as Saunders Field and then woods…everywhere!

The Confederates left flank extended beyond the Union line and the Confederates had more troops on this flank.

The Union advance on the enemy who left a number of units behind….which they would pay for.

Back on the Turnpike the Union started with some of the best artillery fire I have seen in a while causing extensive damage to the Reb’s in the first couple of turns.

On Turn 2 a flanking Confederate brigade appears on the Union right flank. Sadly one of our players had to pull out and he was providing a Reb contingent. So I subbed in Franco Prussian War French!

The Union line awaits the Reb’s moving through the woods.

Sadly after moving to shooting range…the flanking French fluffed all their shots. It really was turning out not to be the Confederates day!!

View of Confederate left flank where they have turned the Union right flank, but sadly have suffered major casualties and their right flank is in real trouble.

End of game and a picture of a shaken Reb unit facing an onslaught of Blue Coats was an apt summary!

Final picture..I do like these games…troops are so pretty!

So that was that.

Following this game we have made changes for the game on the 27th April. Among them is reducing the amount of artillery and it cannot go into woods. Command ranges will be reduced, failed command rolls can result in troops suffering special rolls for getting lost etc in the woods. Should be a hoot.

Until next time, Terry out.