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Friday 19 April 2019

Back to Basics ACW Game Part 1

Having used hexes and Command & Colors mechanisms for the past year, I thought it might be fun to go back to some 'old school' style wargaming.  I have used my own rules, which I published earlier in this blog, that are based upon Featherstonian, Grant and Quarrie systems, but much simplified. I use coloured dice and measuring sticks for combat, D6 for initiative and casualty % for morale.

This ACW battle is not based upon any particular scenario, but sees three Confederate divisions converging at a crossroads on a key turnpike. However; the crossroads is occupied by a weak Union force, that is being rapidly reinforced. To add to the Confederates problems, one of their divisions is on the wrong side of a river and the only bridge is in Union hands.

Here is a long shot of the battlefield, Confederates on the left, Union on the right:
The area of the crossroads, held by Union troops:
 The area of the river bridge, also in Union hands:
The cross roads is held by a mix of Union artillery and infantry;
With Union reserves rushing towards the area:
Meanwhile on the Union right, the Iron Brigade, supported by guns and cavalry moves into position:
The area of the bridge is strongly held by sharpshooters and artillery, again with reserves moving forwards:
The action kicks off with an advance by the centre Confederate Division, moving directly towards the crossroads:
The leading regiment comes under fire from Union artillery at the crossroads and suffers some casualties - first blood to the Union:
To be continued.........................








11 comments:

  1. Those Airfix figures take me back to when I started wargaming 50 years ago .

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    1. I got my first ACW figures in the 60s - I still have a few of them, but I have built up my collection over the years, painting them in batches when the mood takes me.

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  2. Enjoyed, thanks. I am just amid doing something similar with some old Featherstone stuff.

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    1. I look forward to hearing more on your project. I get as much joy out of re-reading these old books as I do from playing games.

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  3. Airifx still cannot be beat!

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    1. They do look good when painted and based an rival any of the modern figures, in my opinion.

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  4. Oh, good Lord I'm transported back to 1978! I know they were innacurate, but they looked good painted en masse; stupidest thing I ever did was give my collection away in the late 80s, but Airfix stuffed me. Soon after I started they 'upgraded' to the larger boxes and dropped the artillery, Cowboys and wagon train sets, so no chance of expanding my forces or doing any Terry Wise conversions.

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    1. They are still quite easy to find and can be picked up cheaply on ebay and at swap meets. That said, you need quite a few to make up units of one position, such as the marching figures. I believe there were only eight in a box.

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  5. Sadly no internet then, let alone EvilBay! If I had kept them a few more years I could have picked up reinforcements reasonably easily. When Airfix re-released the Cowboys and wagon train in the early 00s I bought a few boxes. Just in case...

    The biggest pain was all the prone figures in the Union box. I converted the 'straight legged' ones into dismounted cavalry with a few swift chops of a scalpel.

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  6. That's a real Old School look you have there - fine figures and great terrain. Very pleasing indeed!

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