'Cry me a river'... an American Civil War game

All set to play a Balkan Wars game with Jon this week, I had a last minute change of heart and set up a 15mm ACW game that involved my first use of the new river gunboat USS Monitor. This fictional scenario was inspired by some of the readings on actions along some of then great rivers of North America in which armies were supported by flotillas of gunboats and other naval craft..

The scenario pitted a smaller Confederate force, against a larger Union attacking army. The confederate force was deployed mostly on the left side of a tributary to a much larger river, but with a division deployed on the other side intent on holding the town and bridge crossing vital to the Union advance. The game was played using my 15mm armies, and our fave Volley and Bayonet rules.

The gunboat on the main river at the bottom of the photo, with the Union forces advancing from the right. The bridge and town sector are in the centre foreground of the photo. The buildings on this town sector were scratch built.

My initial deployment of the Confederates was flawed, and I had to pull a brigade and supporting artillery back across the river from a very exposed position adjacent to the town sector. Jon placed the weight of his attack on his left, against the main objective, supported by the gunboat coming up the river.

The gunboat advancing slowly upriver in support of the union attack

The brigade and artillery beating a hasty retreat from its initial exposed position

On the confederate left the army cavalry brigade dismounted and deployed on foot in support of the left Division.  While not 'sharpshooters', their die rolls seemed blessed. . a LOT of 6's were rolled and they inflicted significant casualties on the Union right.

The first attack went in against the town .. and bounced, with one Union brigade routing away

In the firefight on the left one Confederate brigade was lost but ...

The pressure mounted against the town

A second attack .. which successfully pushed the defenders from the town

Union forces now hold the town

In the meantime the Union right flank brigade suffered such casualties that it went into morale collapse.. however soon after the opposing Confederate division was exhausted.. as was their right flank division.

Overall, with the Union centre divisions untouched, the confederate position was no longer tenable. A withdrawal was in order... 'Cry me a river' huh?