In the "On to Richmond" tournament played at the recent splendid convention of the Historical Miniatures Gaming Society, there arose some serious discussion of how to name and identify the brigades we use in the game. Historical units names are obviously the first answer, but not the only one. Within a historical framework, I suggest the following: CSA The Stonewall Brigade - the famous Virginia regiments that stood "like a stonewall" with Jackson at the 1st Manasas and wrote many a glorious page thereafter. The Texas Brigade - "Lee's Grenadier Guards." Their ragged dash and ferocity make them my "automatic elite" troops. The Orphan Brigade - John C. Breckinridge named these Kentuckians at Perryville. They fought long and hard throughout the campaigns of the west. Taylor's Louisiana Brigade - this well dressed, well drilled outfit taught Jackson's men how to march in the Valley. Need we say more? USA The Iron Brigade - tough westerners from Wisconsin and Indiana; their black hats showed the rebs that the "Army of the Potomac" had arrived at Gettysburg. The Irish Brigade - these sons of Erin bore kelly green battle flags bearing the harp of St. Patrick in gold relief. Their combat record makes them an elite force in anybody's army. The Vermont Brigade - granite souled sons of the granite state, they wore an all dark blue uniform for the first part of the war. Their combat prowess and distinctive uniform drew fire like a magnet. The Zouave Brigade - every table top commander must have one of these if only for the color. Historically these regiments from New York and Pennslyvania which made up the unit kept their gaudy Zouave uniforms throughout the war. These are historical brigades, 4 for each side. There are other ways to personalize units. For instance, our group always liked to draw from the pages of literature and cinema. After all no one can then say, "My great grandcladdy was really part of that bunch, and they would never run!" It may be cowardly but safer to use units of fictional powers. Fiction The Civil War is American fiction's most written about event. Films also favor the subject. Here is a short list of suggestions: USA Rome Hanks - Union officer in DIARY OF ROME HANKS. A good tough brigadier of a western brigade. Col. Marlowe - John Wayne in the movie version of Sinclair's THE HORSE SOLDIERS. He naturally commands afine brigadeof myYankeehorse. Col. Secord - The Duke's dumb, politically ambitious second in command in THE HORSE SOLDIERS. We might speculate that the great raid got him command of his own brigade. Nathan Brittles - Capt. Brittles of SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON; we are told in the film that he commanded a brigade at the 2nd Bul I Run. Gen. Thursday - Henry Fonda's haughty newly demoted Col. in FORT APACHE. As in the flick I have him wearing a "havelock" with his kepi. Gen. John Carter - commanded Henry Fleming's brigade in one version of the RED BADGE OF COURAGE. CSA Col. Ashly Wilkes - Miss Melanie's husband and Scarlett's secret love in Margaret Mitchell's GONE WITH THE WIND. We consider him a whimp on a par with E.T. His command has our deepest sympathy. In our games it seems to need it. Gen. Rankin - first rate CO of a North Carolina brigade in Fowler's fine novel JIM MUNDY. He later receives a brigade in the west. Gen. Ferro - rises to command JIM MUNDY's brigade after Rankin. He loses his right arm at an early battle. Johnny Miles - another poor, one-armed Reb who tries to defend Newton Station in THE HORSE SOLDIERS. Gen. Rome Clay - the old dying trooper Smith in SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON. Clay commands one of our divisions. Col. Reb Hollister - Gary Cooper's character in one of his films (I forget which one). He commanded a Georgia brigade. Col. Mirbeau - a white haired, imperialistic Cajon aristocrat in IN OLD NEW ORLEANS was said to have headed a brigade of Louisiana cavalry. Gen. Compson - a character in several stories by William Faulkner commanding at least a Mississippi brigade. You may also wish to name your units after those who paint them. When I left Washington, D.C. for exile in California, the Potomac Wargamers gave me two bri- gades as a farewell gift. They naturally became the PW brigades (1 for the blue and 1 for the gray)--they of course hail from Maryland. One could even honor friends, relatives or teachers by bestowing them with miniature commands. Dick Bryant, our friendly editor has a hysterical talent for creating the most outlandishly funny monikers for his table top COs. Two of his latest being commanders of two Yankee divisions named Gen. Flabgirdle and Gen, Potwomper. Have some fun with your units, after all: What's in a name? Back to Table of Contents -- Courier Vol. V #1 To Courier List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1984 by The Courier Publishing Company. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com