There is a story, certainly apocryphal, reflecting with gentle humor, the warmth and affection Victorian Britons felt for their sovereign... "The Queen, God Bless Her!" The story, now part of British military lore, concerns a ceremony at Buckingham Palace known as an Investiture at which decorations for valor were presented, chief among which was the Victoria Cross.
Recipients were said to have been lined up without regard to rank or branch of service. The Queen accompanied by the Queens Consort-Albert moved down the line pinning the awards as they went.
Usually, particularly in the case of the Queen a smile and a few complimentary words sufficed. However-the story goes-not so with Albert. He too assisted the Queen but his presentation was apt to be more time-consuming-He was apparently fascinated with the recipients exploits, background and the size and health of his family. Rather than murmuring a few words Albert was wont to question the recipient at some length before moving on with the Queen. An Investiture was apt to be a lengthy ordeal as it was Albert's, queries and remarks played hob with 'time schedule,' set the Aides and Staff to figeting and, the story goes, exasperating the Queen.
At one such affair Albert, fascinated by the appearance and language of a huge kilted highlander engaged him in conversation at some length. Everything stopped. Finally the Queen's patience snapped. "For pity's sake Bert" she said, "Give him the bleedin gong and lets get on with it!" Well, I said it was certainly apocryphal but it serves to lead into the subject of this article -- Gongs.... er..ah AWARDS... more specifically awards to our miniature tabletop warriors.
Snugged against the northern arm of the Catskill Mountains of New York is a respectable rise known as Roundtop (no relation to the Gettysburg rise of the same name!). Perched on the slopes of Roundtop Mountain is what was formerly a hunting lodge and is presently the residence of the author. The building also serves as the headquarters of a loosely formed organization known as the Hearts Content Home Guard Wargame Club.
Membership fluctuates, players come and go but the club has been active in wargaming of all periods (and scales) for well over a quarter of a century. Although located in mountainous country some 100 miles up the Hudson River from New York City the club has counted among its gaming locations five full time wargame tables and these within about a ten mile radius of the "Headquarters"!
The relevance of the foregoing lies in the fact that these tables permitted long term engagements with no dislocation of troops or scenery-in fact whole campaigns could be pursued with players engaged for varying periods of weeks and even months.
One such campaign was based on engagements in the American Civil War-in fact over a two year period (real time) every major ACW battle was gamed. The figures used were Airfix 20mm. Not all players were students of history and even fewer were familiar with military tables of organization. I might add, however that all who gamed the entire campaign were enthusiastic and eager to learn.
To provide a framework into which to fit troops as units under their organizational labels a simple TO/E was established. The basic fire and maneuver element was, in the infantry, the Battalion-represented by 8 figures on a base (in two ranks of four). Their firing effect by volley was given as one D6. In the ACW period Battalions tended to be either ad hoc or independent units but we put them in regiments. Artillery consisted of two-gun batteries with the guns separate and attended by a two man crew. Cavalry was formed in Regiments of four figure stands divided into two squadrons each.
Thanks to the fairly inexpensive cost of Airfix figures, eager volunteers to paint and the TO/E (Tables of Organization and Equipment) adopted both sides -Union and Confederate-were able to field "armies" of approximately 600 figures each.
Although deviating occasionally from the historically correct the ACW order of battle proved simple, easy to learn and sufficiently realistic to permit formation of "task forces" for defense and for offensive operations. Thus a player could direct that "a reinforced brigade be sent to guard the ford" rather than saying "lets put this bunch of guys over there".
Basically the Table of Organization as adopted is as follows: A four figure stand represents a company or troop; Two companies equals a Battalion; Two Battalions equals a Regiment;Two or more Regiments equals a Brigade; Two or more Brigades is a Division. It is at Division level that one or more Field Artillery batteries are added as organic to the Division. Two or more Divisions equals a Corps. Here are also found "Corps Troops" such as Heavy Artillery, Mortar Batteries, Engineers, Signal units, etc. A small cavalry unit might be added as Corps Commanders escort. The addition of Corps wagon trains was only made for those game-9 where such logistical encumbrances played a significant part.
In keeping with the nineteenth century "Corps self-sufficiency" theory the Corps was generally considered to be a complete fighting unit-in-effect a small army capable (as Napoleon decreed) of fighting alone for extended periods.
So it was on our ACW wargame table. Two or more Corps equalled an Army and at this level could be found additional special and support troops-Pontoon Engineers, Siege Artillery, etc.... and of course the cavalry organized as a division, the cavalry consisted of two - sometimes three brigades supported by two or more batteries of horse artillery .
Such was the table top miniature army organization that saw us through battles-ranging from First Bull Run to Appomattox-and in between.
These games took place some time before the advent of "On To Richmond", Johnny Reb" "Blue and-Gray" rules and the like. - Fortunately the ability to leave table top battles standing for long periods allowed for exhaustive experimentation with rules and procedures-The result was a series of oft refined and adjusted rules eminently playable and satisfactory to all
It is not the purpose of this article to present these rules in detail but some explanation is necessary here. As mentioned firing was based on the Battalion volley - 1 D6 with ace,2,3,4 being hits and 5 & 6 representing insufficient damage to the target unit to effect its combat efficiency - misses in other words. Other weapons utilized dice rolls (for example artillery rolls were doubled at shorter ranges for the effect of canister).
Units were adversely effected by hits which lessened their fire effect and melee capability-Small markers were placed on the stands to indicate hits. Four hits eliminated the unit-It should be mentioned here that all units bore unit identification--20th Maine, 9th Va. lst Texas, etc. painted on the stands.
As the battles progressed we frequently observed incidents where (as the result of dice throws to be sure) some Infantry and Cavalry units-sustained near ruinous hits but still pressed on to succeed in an attack, or although in like condition still emerged the victor in a hard fought melee. In some cases units while sorely hit managed to beat off sustained attacks. Naturally the players commanding such units were inordinately pleased and would point out their exploits during post game bull sessions.
At one point some player voiced the opinion that such a unit should receive some sort of decoration-perhaps a star on their flag or on the stand if they were not a color-bearing unit, in other words "Give 'em the bleedin gong"'
Gradually, as the result of frequent observations of unit performance and post game discussions an "award policy,, was devised:
The provision requiring BOTH sides to agree on the award insured that any unit receiving the V for Valor must indeed perform in a manner to impress both friend and foe!
ACW gaming by club members took place over about a two year period. This allowed the gaming of Civil War battles in actual historical sequence. During the first few months very few "V" s were awarded to either side. However, as time went on more and more units seemed to qualify themselves for the award even with players of both sides remaining extremely critical of unit performances. Units having been awarded a "V" earlier in the campaigns suddenly became candidates for a SECOND award! Possibly the extra point in melee and morale aided although many members felt that a one point advantage would not make any appreciable difference. However that may be, units began to qualify for double and then triple awards. Even when judgment of unit performances became "supercritical" the number of awards and multiple awards grew. Clearly some amendments were needed to the awards policy!
After much discussion and some trial and error it was decided that:
The system worked. As more battles were fought several interesting results were observed:
The club unfortunately has few opportunities nowadays for long term campaigns but the troops still stand ready on the shelves with those unit who have been "Given the bleedin gong" proudly displaying their crimson "V"s and gold bars.
Few wargame clubs have facilities for long-standing and long term campaign wargame setups. Failing a continued series of battles with the same troop units, working up a system of "battle awards" presents difficulties. Perhaps awarding a small handful of "V"s right after every table top engagement and doing that over a period of months (years ?) would eventually produce the highly decorated and battle-hardened units here described. At least that would be a start.
The identification of table-top units as being "Good, bad or indifferent" changes contemplation of them from just a "bunch of guys" to regarding some with pride, some with hope - and (sigh) some with sorrow - in short, giving them identities, and rewards!
A word of caution - should you decide to try this-make sure you make a written note of the unit you intend to nominate for a decoration AT THE TIME OF THE ACTION OR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE THEREAFTER. It would be sad indeed for those tiny brave warriors to demonstrate all that valor and suffer the losses only to be forgotten when the "gongs" are passed out!
1. The device would be a small red "V" (for valor) painted on the stand.
2. Award of the V would only be made for an outstanding performance in an attack, a melee or a sustained defence.
3. The chief player on both sides must agree to the award.
4. The award would not be painted on nor effective for the present engagement.
5. The "V" award would not of course add to the effectiveness of the units fire but would add a point to that units melee rolls and have a favorable effect on its- morale rolls in subsequent battles.1. A unit could be awarded a total of three "V"s (translated to three extra points on the dice).
2. Instead of a fourth "V" the unit would receive a gold bar painted on the stand.
3. The award of the gold bar would mark that unit as a veteran battle-hardened unit - one a commander could (usually) depend on to accomplish its mission, help stiffen other troops, or, in a critical situation save the day. Three "V" and a bar meant FOUR extra points added to a dice roll. This was often just enough to tip the scale!
4. However, once cited for a further "V" the base would be marked with a red dot. Its bonus points would then drop to only two point and remain there. The reasoning here was simple-if a unit continued to asses "VI's (points) it could eventually become undefeatable - a troop of supermen. The four points represented by the gold bar actually bordered on that status as it was! The decision to drop back to two points was therefore based on the wholly realistic fact that continued use as "Shock Troops" or "Forlorn Hopes" would, over time decimate the ranks of the veteran unit. Even if "brought up to strength" (and ACW units seldom were) .... the quality of the new recruits or replacements would not restore that unit to its former effectiveness.
Nevertheless a two point advantage would remain with the unit. This, it was felt, would result from pride in the unit's name, past accomplishments and a desire to further pursue the glory its name echoed.1. Whether by design or accident (opinions vary) units well known to history seemed to achieve "V" status early on and then slowly but surely began the climb to elite status. Examples were 20th Maine, Hoods Texans, 6th Virginia Cavalry, etc.
2. The mere appearance of one of these units would cause considerable nervousness and readjustment on the part of an opponent
3. As the result of this an opponent would hastily (during his move) bring to bear all possible artillery fire on the "elite" unit in an attempt to destroy it before it could close to action. The success or failure of such maneuvers added an extra fillip of excitement to the game.
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