I seem to play more computer games than wargames in 1998. One of my favorite software company's is Talonsoft, I have had numerous hours of fun with their various games. Recently, I finished Talonsoft's Antietam (it is worth playing). After playing TalonSoft's Battleground 5, Antietam, I realized a small ford action was a reasonable action for a Sunday night wargame. For the game we used Shane Hensley's Field of Honor rules. I used a screen shot from the software game as the layout of my wargame. TalonSoft describes The Antietam field of battle (Sept. 17, 1862) "consists largely of rolling farmland, with patches of woods and cut by ravines leading down to the meandering Antietam Creek. It was on the high ground to the west of this creek that Robert E. Lee decided to establish his defenses. A tree-covered bluff extending from a low ridge that divided the ground between Sharpsburg and Antietam Creek. The ridge ran parallel to the creek from the East Woods, then gradually neared the creek until the two met near Burnside's Bridge." West of Burnside's Bridge was a ford that is the basis of this small scenario.. In this scenario troops & guns can only cross Antietam creek at the ford. This is a "what-if' scenario using available units positioned near the ford. I created this scenario to teach a couple of beginners the basic game mechanics (within a historic perspective). The game required a limited tactical area and a modest number of units. Set up: The Union's command and any reinforcements enters on the dirt path at the eastern edge of the board. The Union commander has the discretion to select the order-of-march from his available units. Whereas, the Confederates reinforcements enter any where north of the stone wall at a board's edge. The only unit on-board is Branch's 12 lb battery which is located on the north side of the stone wall, at the peak of the hill facing the ford. Except, a confederate unit is hidden in the woods the 50th Georgia is positioned north of the Antietam Creek, just east of the minor tributary. It is hidden and inactive until a Union unit attempts to cross the Antietam Creek or moves to the Antietam Creek bank. Antietam can be crossed only at the ford. For gaming purposes I used small stones 4" apart to mark the ford; the creek is 2" wide so it eats up a lot of the movement rate. In this scenario I ruled that Cavalry will not get disrupted as they cross the ford. The rules for infantry crossings still apply. The tributary to the Antietam Creek is shallow and does not cause trouble crossing it. The terrain limits the use of artillery. The confederate 121b battery overlooks the ford but the forest and hills along the creek limits their field of fire. Except for the gap in the trees at the ford, the only other LOS is a small hill directly across the creek on the Union side. Walker's Div. I Corp., Army of Virginia (Lee) Unit: Morale\ Fire\ Melee Ransom Brigade Branch's Field Arty. 12 lbs C\C\E 49th N. Carolina Rifle C\C\C s425 25th N. Carolina Rifle C\C\C s350 35th N. Carolina Rifle C\C\C s400 Drayton Brigade 50th Georgia Rifle C\C\C s225 Robertson's Bridge* 2nd Virginia (Horse) Carb. B\E\B s150 12th Virginia (Horse) Carb. B\E\B s150 Walker's Briaade* 30th Virginia Smbore B\B\B s225 48th N. Carolina Rifle C\C\C s150 27th N. Carolina Smbore B\B\B s325 46th N. Carolina Rifle C\C\C s175 3rd Arkansas Smbore B\B\B s675 French Battery* 6 lbs C\C\E *These units activate on any double roll (2d6) at the ending of each turn. The horse, battery and Walker's Brigade are rolled separately. Objective:Deny the Union the use of the ford. Access to this ford provides the Union an opportunity to put pressure on Lee's right flank. Cavalry Corp. & IX Corp (Wallcox) Army of the Potomac, (McClellan) 2nd Brigade (Farnsworth) Cavalry Corp. 3rd Indiana Carb. C\]D\E s200 8th Pennsylvania Carb. C\]D\E s375 8th Illinois Carb. C\D\E s325 1st Massachusetts Carb. C\D\E s225 2nd Brigade (Welch) 8th Michigan Rifle C\C\C s300 45th Pennsylvania Rifle D\D\D s325 46th New York Rifle C\C\C s275 100th Pennsylvania Rifle C\C\C s350 Battery E. 2nd US Artillery 10 lbs Parrot B\B\B 1st Brigade (Christ)* 50th Pennsylvania Rifle D\D\D s375 17th Michigan Rifle D\D\D s675 79th N.Y. Rifle C\C\Cs350 28th Massachusetts Rifle C\C\C s400 Objective:The Union troops are to capture the ford. Access to this ford provides the Union an opportunity to put pressure on Lee's right flank. *This Brigade activates on any double roll (2d6) at the ending of each turn. The Game In the game I allowed the Union player to lead with either his horse troops or infantry in column. Rich decided on a brass attack so lead with his cavalry. He trotted up to the ford and crossed under fire from the 121b gun. The Cavalry screened with one regiment and flanked moved with the rest of the horse. The screening horse died to the man under the heavy gun. But the rest of the horse ran down the length of the creek to work their way around the stone wall. Lisa's Ransom Brigade was running up in a skirmish fashion as the horse hit the ford. Unfortunately, the cavalry was outside the range of their rifles, during the fording. The Union infantry was still out of sight beyond the creek. The Union Parrot set up at long range from the 121b battery and began counter battery fire. Battery E. 2nd US Artillery had a couple of lucky hits and reduced the 12lber's future effectiveness. The 12lb gun was moved to face the coming threat of a flank attack (In hindsight this did more harm than good). The 49th N. Carolina formed into line and marched forward to contest any further ford crossings. At the same time, 100th Pennsylvania moved to the creek's bank and opened fire on the 49th with little effect. Next turn, the 46th New York moved through the trees at the creek's edge to support their sister regiment. The N. Carolina's again moved forward to contest any crossing, but receive terrible fire from the two Union infantry regiments. She had to let he 49th move back to the wall. By now, with Branch's Field Artillery now relatively ineffective, Rick decided to move Battery E. 2nd US Artillery to a commanding hilltop on the Union side of the creek. The gun had no more targets because of the near field of fire (4" wide terrain gap in the trees at the crossing). The Cavalry had pressed around the stone wall to meet a skirmish line of infantry from the 35th N. Carolina. The confederates opened up on the horse and broke the first charge. However, a supporting charge from the 8th Illinois rolled up the flank protection. Lisa just didn't have enough troops in place to stop the flank movement. The reinforcements never arrived so she had to abandon the wall and retreat. The Union infantry now crossed unopposed. Back to MWAN #98 Table of Contents Back to MWAN List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 1999 Hal Thinglum 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