It’s been a long time coming, but a blog update is well over due.
What have we been up to?
Recently we have now got to grips with American Civil War. The old guard at the club (Nev and Paul) have been using fire and fury for many a year and still swear by them (and often at each other).
The games normally played were normally the pick up and play battles and I have been involved in a couple and thoroughly enjoyed it....
After a bit of musing, games are always better when you get to play with your own models and the idea was forming around history corner that there were some great battles and scenarios out there which would really bring ACW to life. This would be further enhanced by the fellow ACWers who had at various states some nice 28mm forces which with the help of Black Powder wanted to do battle.
Following on from an excellent narrative Napoleonic campaign last year, we wanted to add some flavour to the ACW games and decided on replaying the major (and some minor) engagements starting at the beginning with a league type scoring for wins/losses/draws for the victorious Confederate forces (can you tell I’m a rebel).
First up was the First battle of Bull Run which turned out to be one of the best and fun games I have played for a long time and frighteningly the game actually turned out similar to actual events.....almost like 'proper' wargaming that....
We used a cobbled together scenario intended for fire and Fury
The morning opened with Hunters Division coming down the road from Sidley in March Column. Evans Brigade was on the edge of the wood at Matthews’s house hill. Hunter moved Porters brigade to the foot of the hill, formed up and set about moving Evans from the hill, while Burnside and Palmers cavalry marched straight down the road to the stone house.
At 10:00 Hunter, supported by Burnside began to press forward. Evans` small force fell back and rallied on the road with Bartow in support. Bee had trouble rousing his brigade into action and couldn’t advance down henry house hill to meet the approaching Union forces at the cross roads with the Stone house which were allowed to enfilading Evans already beat up brigade.
Porter attacked the formed confederates and a vicious battle pursued. With the confederate cannons supporting Evans and Bartow meant that the advantage was with them so Porter eventually fell back, worn and disordered.
Over on the right Sherman has forded the Bull Run and had taken up position and exchanged volleys with Cockes brigade. The sudden charge by Sherman dislodged Cocke from his stone wall and he fell back. Sherman tried to hold his troops behind the wall but followed up, carried away with seeing Cocke run. Cocke rallied his brigade and threw them back into Sherman. The rebel yell and the withering fire from Confederate artillery meant that Sherman retired to his original position. No ground had been lost or won, but Sherman and Cocke had been bloodied and a stale mate ensured.
Jackson got bogged down on Henry House Hill and couldn’t bring his numbers to effect. A union brigade led by Wilcox continued to push on past the Stone House and reached Henry house hill. However, Wilcox had overstretched his line and with Confederates pouring out of the woods at the back of the hill meant that he had t withdraw.
Stuart’s cavalry came on the confederates left flank and got raked by musketry so quickly withdrew. Palmer’s cavalry remounted at the stone house and moved forward. Stuart caught them and quickly ran Palmer and his force down.
The Union forces had pushed the confederates back to the back of Henry House Hill but their supplies were becoming low and McDowell ordered the conservation of Ammunition which meant that they could not continue the assault for long. They had to withdraw to the Stone House, leaving the confederates to reorder, form up and control Henry House Hill.
We unfortunately didn’t get to finish the last two turns, but the Confederates had two more brigades to arrive, and this together with Jacksons brigade now being formed up, the unions ammo being low and Stuart now at the house and behind the Unions forces I think would have meant the likely withdraw in good order of the Union forces - so a better result that actual events.... perhaps all the civilians who turned out to watch wont be trampled and scattered!
Sherman was holding his own next to the Bull Run and if Schenk ever turned up would have meant that the confederates would have had to withdraw to the woods and form up there.
At 10:00 Hunter, supported by Burnside began to press forward. Evans` small force fell back and rallied on the road with Bartow in support. Bee had trouble rousing his brigade into action and couldn’t advance down henry house hill to meet the approaching Union forces at the cross roads with the Stone house which were allowed to enfilading Evans already beat up brigade.
Porter attacked the formed confederates and a vicious battle pursued. With the confederate cannons supporting Evans and Bartow meant that the advantage was with them so Porter eventually fell back, worn and disordered.
Over on the right Sherman has forded the Bull Run and had taken up position and exchanged volleys with Cockes brigade. The sudden charge by Sherman dislodged Cocke from his stone wall and he fell back. Sherman tried to hold his troops behind the wall but followed up, carried away with seeing Cocke run. Cocke rallied his brigade and threw them back into Sherman. The rebel yell and the withering fire from Confederate artillery meant that Sherman retired to his original position. No ground had been lost or won, but Sherman and Cocke had been bloodied and a stale mate ensured.
Jackson got bogged down on Henry House Hill and couldn’t bring his numbers to effect. A union brigade led by Wilcox continued to push on past the Stone House and reached Henry house hill. However, Wilcox had overstretched his line and with Confederates pouring out of the woods at the back of the hill meant that he had t withdraw.
Stuart’s cavalry came on the confederates left flank and got raked by musketry so quickly withdrew. Palmer’s cavalry remounted at the stone house and moved forward. Stuart caught them and quickly ran Palmer and his force down.
The Union forces had pushed the confederates back to the back of Henry House Hill but their supplies were becoming low and McDowell ordered the conservation of Ammunition which meant that they could not continue the assault for long. They had to withdraw to the Stone House, leaving the confederates to reorder, form up and control Henry House Hill.
We unfortunately didn’t get to finish the last two turns, but the Confederates had two more brigades to arrive, and this together with Jacksons brigade now being formed up, the unions ammo being low and Stuart now at the house and behind the Unions forces I think would have meant the likely withdraw in good order of the Union forces - so a better result that actual events.... perhaps all the civilians who turned out to watch wont be trampled and scattered!
Sherman was holding his own next to the Bull Run and if Schenk ever turned up would have meant that the confederates would have had to withdraw to the woods and form up there.
Some pics to follow soon and an update on our next engagement Battle of Wilsons Creek....
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