ACW Campaign Game #1 Feb 2026 – Moorefield

After several turns of maneuvering we have our first battle of the Campaign!

The Union are holding the town of Moorefield with the Confederates attacking it.

The Union force in Moorefield is commanded by BG Louis Blenker and has the following forces:

• BG Schencks(Alan) Brigade: 4 regts + Rigbys battery Indiana light artillery
• Col Cluserets Brigade(Goldie)- 2 Regts + Battery G West Virgina light artillery
• Col Dickels(Goldie) Cavalry attachment – 2 Regts cavalry, all Tiny units

On Turn 2 BG Milroy’s(Keith) brigade of 4 Regts + 12th battery, Ohio light artillery will march in on the road from Wardens.

The Union briefing and set up instructions is below.

The Confederate’s are attacking from Upper Tract where part of Jacksons Division with the Brigades of Fulkerson and Conner with SteveC in charge.

• 3rd Fulkersons Brigade – 4 regts + Carpenters battery
• 4th Conners Brigade – 3 Regts + Carringtons Virginia battery

Ashby’s 7th Cavalry Brigade with 3 small Regts and Chews Virginia battery of Horse Artillery commanded by Rob.

On turn 2 PaulW would arrive on the battlefield from Woodstock with not only the 1st Brigade of the Stonewall Division but the man himself!

The Confederate briefing and set up is below. Ashby’s troopers had been scouting the area and the Confederates were aware of the Union positions and the troops marching from Wardens.

The table is set up below from South to North.

Schenck’s Brigade below.

Cluseret’s Brigade is in Moorefield with a battery in a redoubt beside it, with skirmishing cavalry linking to the 2nd battery in a redoubt elevated commanding the center of the table.

Confederates march onto the battlefield. Ashby’s cavalry are on the left flank, then Conner and Fulkerson on the right.

Milroy’s brigade marches onto battlefield.

Jackson marches on…..much to the Union players surprise!! It’s like the French Imperial Guard appearing on your flank……

They flood forward……..

Schencks troops retire to consolidate position.

2 Tiny Union cavalry units stayed in front of the Confederate lines and were extremely difficult to move.

Lunch time and although we had all bought food along, Alans wife Joni prepared a feast for us!

The large Union batteries were effective…..the Union players didn’t agree but they were consistently disordering units and inflicting casualties….and being redoubts was difficult to inflict casualties on. The redoubts are 3 sided…we just didn’t bring them along(as we didn’t know about them).

Troops in buildings with artillery in cover makes for a difficult target to get to.

Over on the flank the dismounted cavalry were fighting it out. Thankfully….this distracted Milroy as planned so he was unable to support Schenck.

Jacksons troops in combat with Schencks. This combat went on for a number of turns.

The join point of Fulkerson and Winders brigades where the Union cavalry has finally been driven off.

Schenck is holding on and a regt from Milroy has arrived to assist.

The dismounted cavalry fight is over and the surviving troops of Ashby have been driven off, but without Ashby who was captured in a combat.

Schenk’s brigade has fled the field.

The brave 25th Ohio regt of Milroy’s brigade that rushed to their assistance is about to suffer the cost…..

The flank of redoubts were now open….

and both batteries were destroyed.

The death of the 25th Ohio…..

The remaining Union forces withdrew from the field of battle.

So a decisive Confederate Victory. I must say if was harder for the Confederates than I expected with Winders flank attack stalling against dismounted Union cavalry…the guns in the redoubts kept the Confederates at bay and Schenck held on longer than I though he would. The sacrifice of Ashby and his cavalry tying up Milroy worked perfectly however.

Great game for first one of the campaign and big call out for Russell of organizing and running a superb campaign.

Now, Summer has been a non event for us with the weather being generally awful. However, this month I had a 2 week break and Anita and I went and stayed up north in Whangamata which as expected was sunny, warm and the water was great! Anita had also accepted a new position so I celebrated with a Whisky purchase while I was there.

Below is the Tomatin 18.

Reviews say:

An 18 year old finished in Oloroso sherry butts…..Nose….rich and sherried…citrus and died fruit….palate……sweet…..fruit cake….chocolate….Finish…llloonngggg and warming spice and I will add…Oily …..in a pleasant way……an inspired purchase.

Sigh…will pop upstairs and enjoy one now….. happy days… Terry out!