Part 1

Regarding tactical manuevers, I think the key ones are explained in the Postbattle report from last issue. Baxter (2/1) fell into line with Cutler in the woods just north of the cut and Paul (2/1) tried to anchor the line between Doubleday's brigades, Rowley on Seminary Ridge at the Chambersburg Pike and Stone at the Seminary.

XI Corps was deployed a bit too far forward and lost initiative to Rodes. The Rebs' attacks were very predictable: Pettigrew on Meredith with Archer protecting flank. Davis through to Devin to Cutler, Brockenbrough in support and threatening Gamble's flank. Pender's brigades were marched on with Perrin forming a field column while the rest formed supported lines for the 47 combined assault on Seminary Ridge. Brockenbrough joined Thomas to clear the Chambersburg pike of those stubborn Yankees.

Archer formed a field column and fell in on Pettigrew's southern flank to attempt to turn the Yank flank at Hagerstown road. Damn Buford (Gamble) managed to get dismounted cavalry there just in time.

The cavalry repulsed the Rebs' attempts. Heth and Pender fully occupied Reynolds' I Corps and the remnants of Buford's division (Gamble). That left the 42 stands and 3 batteries of XI Corps to contend with the 63 stands and 4 batteries of Ewell's II Corps, ANV.

XI Corps deployed in open country and were rolled up handily. Some difficulties were encountered by Howard in getting his troops to change formation and move. The grim ranks of Southerners just kept on comin' and used their firepower and elan to convince the 'Germans' to skeedaddle.

The OOB (corrected for 7 divisional leaders on USA sheet) applies to the FNF (Fire And Fury, for those new recruits to gaming out there - ed.) Day 1 scenario. I designed it (inspired by old experiences with Simulations Publications, Inc. charts) from their ACW board games. We use it as follows: darken a box for each KIA/WIA, place a / in a box for each "skeedaddle", and place an X in a box for each capture. The boxes are grouped in segments corresponding to Fresh/Worn/ Spent levels of the brigades, the two step strength of batteries, and the one step of each leader/E brigade commander. (BTW - we pencil in any leader replacement on the turn track when the casualty occurs-better to avoid arguments.) The "R" in the turn track indicates a scheduled reinforcement. The unit strengths, turn track and victory points are per the FNF Rules Manual.

The photographs were taken during a game held January 18 with some inexperienced 'though willing gamers: Kyle Faulkner, Joe and John Bradley. The novice Yankees rolled very high and the experienced Confederates rolled very low during the first wave! But, the second wave was overwhelming and morale-shattering, leading to the Yankee concession before Rodes delivered a blow.

The battlefield is 6'x7' (1"= 180 feet, 1 stand = 200 men) and is made of felt: darker green pieces denoting forest/woods perimeters (with a tree or two for effect), very light green denoting orchards (no effect on play), blue for creeks and brown for roads. Contours are represented by STO indoor/outdoor carpeting, cut to shape. Slopes are ignored in this field. The ridges as shown do not have crests (they can be defined by a green thread or tailor's chalk following Plate XCVI of The Official Military Atlas of the Civil War - FNF does not show crest-lines on their scenario maps in the only edition as of this writing).

The defensive modifier applies when being attacked from a lower elevation. The Gettysburg defensive bonus/rough terrain area is defined by fencing (roughly the perimeter of the outlying perimeter roads).

The manufacturers of the 15mm castings used in our game are listed below:

I painted, washed and coated them. All troops are mounted on metal stands that in turn may be mounted on magnetic movement stands (visible in the photos in the last issue.) I made these movement stands by obtaining a 24" x 12" sheet magnet, trimming it into 1" or 3/4" strips of varying lengths, then gluing the magnets to basswood for support. Art supplies were purchased.

The snake fences and rail fences are home-made from craft-sticks (2A" sticks) with a square profile that cost about $3 for a 500 count - for 15mm scale, I cut the sticks in half for the snake fencing that denotes the Sunken Road at Gettysburg. STONEWORKS made the barns, bridges and stone wall segments, too. The trees are Heki (available from MUSKET MINIATURES), mounted on fender washers (for weight and base) and flocked. The Lutheran Seminary was hand-made by yours truly using architectural supply sheets of brick and metal roofing that are veneered on a wooden block. Cupola, chimneys and windows are cut from dowel, balsa and basswood, respectively. I copied the structure from a I picture in the FNF: Rules Set, and eyeballed the scale. USA 1, Corps brigades bear the blue Eagle flak Corps brigades bear the blue Eagle flag. XI Corps brigades bear the Old Glory.

Suppliers

JR MINIATURES
John Younghaus at stuff1@gte.net
http://home1.gte.net/stuff1/wargamer.htm

STONEWORKS
stellar@bright.net
http://www.bright.net/~stellar

OLD GLORY
(Purchased from Eagle & Empire, Alexandria, VA, phone 703.360.5363) and Grandiosity (at http://www.erinet.com/bp/hist.html). Poses include skirmish, energetic, advancing, artillery, USA command, mounted cavalry, wounded/dead, and flags.

MUSKET MINIATURES
Jim McCarron at musketminl@aol.com. Poses include advancing firing, CSA and some USA brigade command, corps and divisional leaders, dismounted cavalry, limbers, FNF game markers and flags.

PEARL
Alexandria, VA, phone number 703.960.3900.

Part 1

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