And Continually Wear The Blue

A Guide to the
"US Injun Fightin Army"

Reviewed by Paul Koch

And Continually Wear The Blue, or ACWTB, is a short guide to the uniforms, tactics, battles, etc. of the United States Army on the frontier in the second half of the Nineteenth Century. I defy anyone to honestly say that they have not at one time or another toyed with the idea of modeling and gaming the western cavalry, particularly after watching a classic John Wayne/John Ford movie. This short work is a wargamers handbook to the era.

All the information is here. Perhaps not in any great depth, but that is frankly too much to ask. There is, however, brief and adequate coverage of the basic organization of the frontier army, the sort of men who filled the ranks and the kind of officers who led them.

Even more interesting is the chapter on tactics. It covers not only the mounted infantry tactics of the cavalry but the various tactics of the Indian nations. These ranged from silly (running up and touching a foe with a stick while he is shooting at you is just plain silly) to the classic stealth of the Apache to the use of rifle pits and converging columns by Chief Joseph.

The complexities of the Indian culture are just barely touched upon but enough is said to more than whet the appetite. Throughout the work as well there are continual references to the "Yellow Ribbon" rules, also of "Ulster Imports". This rules set should be owned by all gamers a swell if for another reason than that it gives an outline for group solo play that maybe the way to run colonial and other "social" games.

The book it half size (5 by 8) and merely stapled but this helps keep down costs. Alas, the price of ACWTB was not given to this reviewer, however, all products of this firm are very easy on the pocket book. Available from Ulster Imports, Box 48, Champaign, IL 61820. Buy this one! It is a little gem, rough cut, but very valuable.

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