A small update.

Since the Aspern game we have had several games  where we are working through the new Black Powder ACW supplement ‘Glory,Hallelujah’. I have run 2 games based on scenarios from the book with some pictures from the ‘Bartletts Farm 1863’ scenario below. The rules have worked rather well and the games have the feel of an ACW period game. There have however been some discussions post last game around some issues which we are working through. These for us are number of guns represented on the table,we have used 1 gun per battery until now but are moving to 2 guns and 3 guns for the Union 6 guns batteries. There are also concerns around the difficulty in getting units to charge into battle but the more you read the more you understand battles were mainly firefights rather than mass hand to hand combats.

You may have noticed we try to have appropriate terrain in our games so ACW requires lots of trees and fences of varying types. The other night Paul G and Keith came round and we started a production line of fences. First offering in early stage picture is below. I have a Foundry ACW rulebook called ‘From Bull Run to Gettysburg’ which is just awesome with step by step instructions on how to make all types of  fences and even has tent templates.

2 types ACW fences under construction.The MDF is cut to 10cm long and 2.5cm wide. Plan is to undercoat brown,do some dry brushing,add flock,tufts etc.

And finally there are some pictures from an ancient game Brian Trott and I played last week using the ‘Hail Caesar’rules. Brian fielded his EIR v my Macedonians. My EIR are being rebased from WAB to ‘Hail Caesar’ so it is the unfinished and damaged from to many house moves Macedonians that were used. We fielded small armies to get a feel for the game. Standard sizes battles are fought between somewhere around 400 point armies.Brian fielded 270 points,I had 180. And yes I lost as Brian cleared both flanks of my Phalanx. Was fun and look forward more games. After loss consulted army list and identified what need to add to Macedonians to get to 400 points and also allow some variation in the army. So took advantage of Warlord Games buy 3 pay for 2 deal and ordered 3 boxes Companion cavalry. I have also assembled and undercoated a Warlord Games box 32 Macedonian Phalanx to give me a 3rd block. From Victrix I have I have added a unit of Hypastists and a box 56 skirmishers.These were ordered from Caliver as cheaper and no postage paid. Direct from Victrix I have ordered the decals.

Part of Brian’s EIR army. Back in early 2000’s we got similar forces,Craig painted and based them for PK for us. I am rebasing mine to similar sized bases.

Phalanx grinds on against legionnaires. Phalanx destroyed one unit but the Romans eliminated the flank supports.

Next week I have a game against friend Craig who is building a Greek army. It won’t be battle ready but we will use my troops and get handle of the rules.

Til next time.

Terry

I got a call from John Hutton over Xmas to say he was bringing a visiting American friend with his son(who is also John’s Godson) down to Wellington from Auckland on January 5th to see the ANZAC exhibitions and he inquired if they might be able to play a game(it was that or I jumped in and suggested it, never can recall details). So a game from 1pm was booked in and John emailed the group and not surprising everyone, even those working said they would be round.

So John decided he wanted an ACW game so I set the table up with Alan’s assistance as for the Battle of Glendale. However with the paucity of Rebel troops at our disposal I decided to have them defending and the Union attacking, or rather that was my plan which of course lasted all the way until turn 1!

The hall of Infamy for the game are above, from left to right is Paul G, John Hutton, Silas son of Ivan and Godson of John, Alan, Ivan father of Silas, Russ and Paul W. Paul G was working and arrived for turn 2.

The Rebels were to defend the right hand side of the river. At the far end is a road exiting where reinforcements might arrive so the stream crossing and road needed to be held. Paul W had 2 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry regts and 2 batteries to hold this end. In the centre Ivan had a 2 brigades infantry and 2 batteries of 24 pounders in position. What had not told them was they only had 3 rounds of ammo for these 2 batteries. On the near end Russ had a large brigade of 5 regts and on turn 2 a further brigade would arrive. They would be elite. Russ had 2 batteries.

On the Union side Alan was at the far end with 1 brigade of infantry. Silas was in the centre with 2 brigades of infantry and John was at the near end with 2 brigades of infantry one of which was advanced over the stream and was starting in the woods.

Silas has moved both his brigades up into a field so 8 regts are in one big mass! Risky. Johns troops are moving up to cover their right flank.

Paul has arrived from work, he in the loud shirt while I am feeling the stress, already opened a rather nice wine to sip whilst resting in the sun.

Johns front brigade has rushed forward allowing Russ to get a regt onto his flank…….its not going to be pretty. And it wasn’t. For some reason I have not taken any decent shots of this part battlefield. But Johns advancing Union troops discovered an abandoned rebel battery which they used against the Rebs. But all to no avail and Russ had Johns brigades destroyed by the end of the battle.

Russ’s second brigade is on the table and rushing forward to fill gap to Ivans forces which are holding Silas’s mass of Union troops in the field.

Paul W using cavalry to try and take advantage of the gap between Silas in centre and Alan on the Union left flank. At this stage Paul marches a brigade in beside Alan and moves forward to close the gap. Paul W was trying to get the cavalry in a position to charge the Union artillery that was galloping onto the battlefield but just could not do it!

Left hand side above is Paul G first brigade with one of the 2 batteries I let the Union have the turn before. Alan got the other 1. The brigade of 5 Union regts on the right I offered to John as Union CinC to arrive anywhere on their edge. John chose to commit them here with Paul G getting allocated them. The were unreliable meaning needed to beat command roll to move. I had thought these reserves would be committed on the other side of Silas and pushed through between Ivan and Russ where would have had a straight run towards the church(objective) but alas were committed here.

Above shows action on the left and centre. In woods can be seen Union and Rebel flags as they fight it out to hold stream line and take or hold the road. The Rebel batteries in prepared positions can be seen on the ridge line. Ivan has still not fired his 24 pounders! Pauls front brigade is crossing the stream. In the fields Ivan moved a regt around into Silas flank and started shooting up down the line. Russ was aggressively pushing forward to hold Johns 2nd brigade as well. Units were starting to be destroyed or fall back.

Action in the fields! Action in the fences/fields slows you down as imposed 6 inch penalty for crossing the fences and 6 inch visibility in the fields.

Top left can be seen Alans troops in woods, behind then some Union cavalry are arriving. Because Alan never got to threaten cutting off the road, there was no reserves rushing in from the corner to assist the Rebels, plus they did not need them in the end! In the centre Paul Gs left brigade is rushing through the corn towards the batteries. The Unreliable brigade can be seen at the stream and in the foreground are the remains of Ivans central brigade which performed rather well..

Alans cavalry advancing towards the stream with Paul Gs infantry in distance advancing up the ridgeline. They had been refusing to move and 2 units units dismounted skirmishing cavalry with sharps would have come in handy!

I like flag shots!

And the game draws to a close.

I blame the wine because I missed taking a picture of Russ’s whipping of Johns troops(sorry John!). Russ was in a position to roll up the Union line from the woods.

In the centre Silas’s Union troops were no longer in a position to push forward thanks to Silas and Ivan pretty much taking each other out.

On the centre left Paul G had 2 basically intact brigades but there was no time left for them to achieve the objective and there were enough Rebel units around to keep them at bay until Russ came stomping down the rear.

Further over Alan and Paul W had spent the day in the woods and stream keeping each other busy and both still had their cavalry intact.

So a victory to the Confederates and I hope Ivan and Silas enjoyed their game!

Below is a picture of a Kea at Mt Hutt ski field doing what they do, destroy the trim on cars(it copied over from camera so though may as well use it)

Until next time.

Terry

Hello again!

Our late August game was cancelled due to a combination of illness and overseas travelling amongst the group.

So the next game was to be a refight of the Battle of Glendale which was fought on 30 June 1862 and was part of the Peninsula Campaign known as ‘The Seven Days’.

The players are Terry,Russ,Alan,PaulG,Keith and joining us Raymond Hutchinson with his troops and scenary!

The scenario is essentially that from Wargames Illustrated issue 287 from September 2011 and was written for Black Powder.

The table was the standard 12 x 6 foot with Terrain as follows:

• Woods makeup a large proportion of the table and provides soft cover
• Planted Fields also provide soft cover
• the creek has a 6 inch movement penalty

Deployment is as per the map with brigades being of 4 or 5 regts,

On turn 2 following deployments occur:

• Union: Burns deploys on Union edge with no regt closer than 6 inches to any other regt in the brigade.
• Confederate:  JR Andersons brigade deploys on the Confederate table edge within 12 inches of Sykes Farm.

The Union Commanders would be:

Alan – Taylor,Sully and the 3 batteries south of the creek.

Keith – Dana and Strange(4 regt brigade each with 1 stamina wound) plus 3 batteries

Paul G – Grover and Burns

The Confederates would be:

Terry – Field and Anderson

Russ – Wilcox and Jenkins

Ray – Branch,Archer(4 regts) and Pender(5 Valiant regts)

The Union win turn 1 and initial deployments shown below.

A daunting sight in front of Strange Brigade!

Rays Grey Hordes!

Alan’s 3 batteries open up and disorder 1 regt and get 1 casualty on another. It could have been much worse.

2 of Alan’s guns gone! Top left Sully advances through fields. Jenkins in top right advancing as well.

In Union centre Strange has formed his brigade into single line. Top can be seen Rays Pender and Archer brigades racing to join up with Branch. The Union suffered a number of failed command rolls so Dana and the Artillery did not come up in support yet.

View from Anderson’s newly arrived brigade down road to Field’s brigade with the Union brigade of Taylor over the bridge.

In the centre the casualty markers behind the regts in Strange’s brigade tell the tale.Russ is advancing aggressively and Alan in the foreground has Sully advancing to support Union centre.

On Union left Grover is still at starting position! Rays brigades are now advancing out of the woods and have even found an abandoned Union battery and now about to turn it on the Union lines!!

Union left flank where Burns has arrived and formed front line. Dana has moved to plug gap to centre.

Back to centre where Strange’s brigade is looking fragile. The stamina level is 3 per regt and a regt has been destroyed, the others have several casualties and disorders so with out some pressure being taken off it is not looking good.

Strange’s Brigade breaks!

On Union right their front line is disordered and shaken! But they are giving it back with Reb units also disordered.

On the Union left the Rebs are pressing in hard! Who will break first!

On the Union right Taylor has been pushed back and now Anderson has got a flank on Sullys regts!

In the Union centre the batteries were now at medium range and starting to do some damage. Strange’s brigade has broken and Sully is under pressure.

And the Union left flank shows Rays Rebs pouring forward!

And at that stage we called it a game.

A rushing victory for the Confederate cause!