This was a fictional ACW game February 21th, 2016, Denderleeuw.
All figures from and painted by Piet Lambrecht.
the scenario was: A strategical crossroad occupied
by the Federals was abandoned due to a Confederate advance in overwhelming
numbers. With some reinforcements arriving a front line was established
some distance away from the crossroad, hoping to keep the line while awaiting
the reinforcements to come in force.
Our game starts here.
But first some notes on the composition of the
armies.
The "About Bonaparte" ACW
adaptations were used:
Confederates have smaller units (4 stands) but are
all veterans except the Louisiana Tigers 2 regiments, which are Elite. Also for
the infantry charges only the Confederate still have the charge bonus.
The Confederate artillery batteries however are
less powerful, average of 3 figures while the Federals have an average of 4 figures.
The Federal regiments are bigger in size, almost
all of them having 6 stands. Only the sharpshooter unit having just 4 stands,
but being veteran, and in fact the only veteran unit on the Federal side. There
is however the Iron brigade, with the two regiments being Elite.
Both sides have also 2 units of (light)cavalry.
They can dismount and fight on foot, with high firepower at close range
(revolvers/carbines) but almost none at long range. Dismounted cavalry will act
as skirmishes while being charged.
Also the Confederates have one sharpshooter unit
which can act as skirmishes.
Five player-brigade generals on each side.
Confederate right to left, (Patrick) Pots, 4
regiments of which one sharpshooter/skirmish unit, 2 batteries. Next Adrien, 6
regiments, reserve Robbe, 6 regiments of which 2 are Elite, centre front
Steven, 6 regiments and 2 batteries, Extreme left, Marcel: 2 regiments,
one battery, 2 cavalry regiments, one horse battery.
Federals: left Patrick (VDB) 3 regiments in the
front line of which one in the woods of the left centre, one heavy battery on
hill behind the front line. Sharpshooters coming on the field the 2nd
turn. Then Geert, all units coming on the field the second turn: 3
regiments, of which two are Iron brigade (elite) 2 heavy batteries and a
cavalry regiment, Then me, Dirk, 2 regiments in the front line, with a battery,
2 regiments coming ip with the reserves. Centre right, Siegfried with the
Zouave brigade 4 regiments, one battery all coming from the reserve. On the right,Piet, 2 regiments in the front line, 2 coming up, and a cavalry regiment with a horse battery.
Pots, on the Confederate right dispatched his
sharpshooters into skirmish formation towards Patricks who's regiments had
taken positions behind a fence. . More to the centre Adrien targeted Patricks regiment
in the Woods, which was forced back into the Woods. My two front regiments
and battery were charged by Steven, pushing my units back and my artillerists
abandoning their guns. Marcel did a cavalry charge and was able to
force back the targeted regiment.
In our turn, I tried to retake my battery but
wasn't able to do so, My regiment driven back with losses. On our left
Patrick firing line inflicted a number of casualties on the Confederate sharpshooters.
Piet's cavalry on the Federal right had come to the field and immediately
attacked the Confederate cavalry of Marcel, but unable to drive them of, the fight
evolving in a continuous melee. Also his battery inflicted losses on a regiment
in battle column .
In the second Confederate turn we saw them
continuing their aggressive move. While Patrick was able to keep his line, his
regiment in the woods even drove of an attack of two Confederate regiments.
One
of my regiments broke, the other one had to give ground. Steven kept one
regiment with my lost battery to spike the guns, while another of his regiments
attack and drove one of Piet's regiments to the rear. In our turn, the reserves
were now on the field.
Geert immediately deployed his batteries into a grand
battery that took on one of Stevens regiments with great effect, the unit immediately
halved.
One of pots’ regiments also took casualties. On the
Confederate left, the ongoing cavalry melee raged on without decision.
T
he next Confederate turn Steven pushed further. It
was a tense moment for me. While my two reserve units were still in mars
column, I was hoping my worn remaining
regiment in battle formation could hold the line and would not break, a breakthrough
charge on my mars column regiments would almost certainly break my command, and
the battle lost.
The regiment was beaten
back but stayed on the field, the Attacking Confederate units didn’t breakthrough.
Also Pots charged the Federal sharpshooters but them too , chased back didn’t’
quit the field, his command also holding out.
Patrick’s regiment in de woods survived a new
charge of two supported units from Adrien,
effectively keeping back the huge build-up of Confederate units.
The Federal turn now. Patrick on the left returned with his
sharpshooters, Pots’ regiment dissolving.
The Iron Brigade of Geert taking position behind the woods ready to take on any Confederate. In the
centre I was able to form my firing line, and with Geerts grand battery
creating one huge killing ground.
One
regiment destroyed, another one driven back. It apparent now Steven’s advance without support from Adrien or Robbe has
put him into trouble.
The Zouave brigade of Siegfried advanced aggressively
destroying yet another regiment of Steven.
Piet was able to rout the remains of the
first Confederate cavalry regiment. And deployed his reserve regiments in line.
The odds had changed. Stevens’ command all but broken, Pots command even so,
Marcel not strong enough to mount offensive actions, and Robbe and Adrien
bogged down, behind the woods and on the central hill, chances of a Confederate
victory fading away.
The final turns,
the Confederates tried to consolidate
their position , and still not able to break Patricks regiment in the woods.
Siegfried with his Zouaves effectively pushing back Steven and Marcel almost
reached the Confederate base line.
the left One of the Iron brigade regiments broke one of Pots’ regiments with a
charge another on destroyed by musketry, and the Confederate sharpshooters
undergoing the same fate.
Pots’ could do no other than to sound the
retreat.
The two brigades of Adrien and Robbe now confronted
with the risk of being outflanked or even surrounded had no other option than
to admit defeat.
A close run thee hour game, with everything in it,
accompanied with fine Belgian beer and chocolates . An afternoon to remember.
