Billy and I play a wargame twice a year at the most and this time we decided upon an American Civil War encounter to fit this scenario. We tossed a coin for sides. Billy got the Federals, defending, and I became General Joshua T. Cornpone, to lead the "Sesesh" troops to drive the Yankees off the hills.

The map, I hope, gives an idea of the situation at the outset. The Confederates were set out on the line X-Y and the Union on the Line A-B. The table was eight by five feet. The figures were a glorious mixture of Minifigs, Garrison, Pax Brittanica, Corvus, Dixon, Wargames Foundry, First Corps and Mirliton. Joel Haas figures were also there in some numbers cast and painted by Grandad.

We decided to use "Charge" rules, slightly ammended, so poor old Grandad could get his head round them. Billy usually plays "Warhammer" games rules.

General Outline Union troops under Barnes have taken a defensive position while Gen Cornpone has deployed as shown in the map. Both sides expect the Union to receive reinforcements, but don't know when.

Union Forces: Four units of infantry. one unit of cavalry, two guns.

Mission: To hold the line of hills A-B.

Execution: Union forces will be deployed as the commander sees fit.

Union Reinforcements: Mission: To reinforce Union main defensive position. Execution: Reinforcements will comeon at best speed. Dice will be thrown for each unit to see wh route it will arrive upon. Routes I to 4. 5 & 6 on the dice means the unit is lost and will not arrive The move in which the unit arrives will also be diced for (one die for cavalry and two for infantry three dice for artillery).

Confederate Forces: Eight units of infantry, four units of cavalry, four guns.

Mission: To seize the hill line A-B.

Execution: Cornpone has seen the Union's placing the previous evening. He has deployed his force and advanced to line X-Y. He knows the Union commander must have called for reinforcements ant is determined to seize the position as soon as possible. This is a "no draw" situation. If, at the end of play, the Union do not have undisputed control of the hill line, they have lost.

The Game: We decided as figures (25mm) were based four per base we'd use "casualty caps" to indicate dead 'uns and only remove bases when all four become casualties. The caps were made by folding small squares of paper twice and snipping off a corner - voila!

The Federal cavalry rampaged downhill into the first Confederate battery, who were surprised, emptied some saddles, but generally came offworst with half the gunners cut down. Morale throws had them retreating two moves - and offthe table! The cavalry had blood in their eyes and swarmred on into the 2nd Alabama and hit them in the flank. The melee resulted in the 2nd being shaken and 3rd Louisiana behind them lost a few men too but were OK. At the third move, the Confederates all moved forward all along the line except for meleed troops.

A Federal cannon dropped into action on the hill and its ranging shot sailed over the Confederates right into the general Staff! Joshua T was wounded and two aides with him were killed. No fresh orders for two moves. However the Federal cavalry were driven off by the combined efforts of the 3rd Lousisiana infantry and 3rd Georgia cavalry. A CSA cannon caused casualties on two Federal regiments. On a die throw, a Federal infantry reinforcement was lost. Things evening up for the Southerners.

Fourth Move: Poor ole Josh! Another cannon round from the same weapon slew him before he could be moved away. Consternation. CSA units continued with last orders. Col. E. McIver Law eventually succeeded to Cornpone's command and ordered the Black horse Troop (FFW German Hussars) to attack at the charge. They sailed into the Federal unit opposite and were embroiled in two rounds of meleeing.

Reinforcements Arrive

Federal reinforcements now came on from the west, over the bridge; first a cavalry unit and next an infantry.

Texas cavalry charged the Federal African American "Glory" regiment and burst through them and on into the reinforcing cavalry regiment. The "Glory" boys passed a morale test and stood firm. The Texans now needed a morale throw.

In move seven, the Black Horse came under cannon fire which did not do them much good. The CSA Military Academy unit on the East came up against a veteran regiment. The Black Horse charged the gun and some of the gunners were cut down. A regiment of Confederate Zouaves (French from FPW Army) infiladed the veterans opposing the Academicians. The 2nd Alabama were covering themselves with glory after losing casualties to cannon fire and then from the Federal "vets" and finally broke under a wild change from the Glory regiment remaining.

The Texas cavalry disintegrated having done the usual charge on and on victory changing to disaster. The Confederate Zouaves routed on being charged by more Federal cavalry.

The last move saw the Black Horse decimated by cannon fire. The CSA Military Academy killing the whole of the regiment opposing them. The CSA Army sullenly withdrew covered by the Academy, 3rd Louisiana and 1st Alabama. Scattered remnants of other regiments made off under their cover. The Federal General consolidated his line and congratulated himself on a resounding victory.

We both enjoyed this hard fought contest. Grandad awarded the winner with a mounted General figure (Federal, of course!). Another gamer might have been weaned from Fantasy gaming? We found that, as usual, "Charge" rules stood up to any problems and were fast and fun. Grandad can't stand rules that create a mass of book-keeping and umpteen modifers to every rule clause.

Bibliography

1) Scenarios for Wargames, Charles Stewart Grant, WRG.
2) Charge. Brig. Peter Young and Lt. Col. Lawson.

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