Capturing the turnpike

 Keith and I managed an ACW game this week. It was a fictional game set in 1862, at 2600 points (using the Volley and Bayonet Road To Glory scenario system points), using my 15mm armies (mostly old Freicorps figures).

Each side consisted of two Corps. To mix things up each side had one Corp entering the table on turn 1, and the second entering on a random turn, along one of the two entry roads along each side's base line, the road selected randomly.

The second Confederate Corps cam on in turn 2, but on the same road as the initial advance, creating quite a traffic jam as they entered onto terrain broken up with woods.

The Union second corps entered on turn 4, also along the same road as the initial advance, with with clearer terrain into which to deploy.

Both forces were attempting to capture the central turnpike and at least one of the two fords that crossed the river bisecting the battlefield. This was clearly an important transport hub.

The terrain before deployment, the Union advance from the left, the Confederate from the right. Both forces entered on the roads nearest the camera.

The first Confederate advance. The congested nature of the terrain facing the Confederate forces is apparent.

The main turnpike, the Union forces grabbing the town first

Union forces take up defensive positions along the banks of the stream

The second Confederate corp enters in two columns

The confederate deployment opposite the turnpike pouring fire into the town (a wooden town, testing for 'fire' each turn)

One division of the Confederate second corps pushes out to the right towards the second ford

Must be Jackson.. the bulk of second corps advances around the Union right flank, but a long way from the action

The dismounted Union cavalry regiment pushes across the ford, threatening the Confederate right

The volume if fire on the Union brigade occupying the turnpike leads Keith to withdraw the brigade

Keith also refuses his right in anticipation of the advancing Confederate left

It's looking pretty congested in the centre as a firefight develops

The Texans (M6 Shock) occupy the town at the turnpike

The Union cavalry is pushed away from the action

The confederate left approaches the stream

Confederate brigades push across the stream at the second ford.

The Union attacks the town, but is repulsed

The Texans attack the town and forcing the new defending Union Brigade to rout, but they become disordered entering the town sector .. and then .. in the next Union turn Union forces pour fire into the sector and the fire into the wooden town causes it to catch fire, and fire into the town it catch and ..

The Texans, already disordered from their move into the town, retreat as a result of the fires, adding a disorder.., it becomes a rout in game terms as the troops flee the burning town!!

The routed Texans

The Confederates on the right attack the Union brigades attempting to hold them back form the ford

They drive them off ..

However at this stage the centre division was in morale collapse and the second division in the centre was nearly exhausted. The game appeared to turn the Confederate way until the very last turn, when the smaller Confederate brigades fell apart. They had fought hard and taken significant, and ultimately unsustainable, casualties.

The terrain had held up the bulk of the Confederate second corps, meaning that six Confederate brigades, and two Corp artillery batteries, never saw action. This made a difference!!

The forces were 2600 points, and at full scale provided plenty of action on a 6'x4' table. I'm not used to creating Volley and Bayonet scenarios, but this one worked out well. The terrain presented challenges for both players, and provided a great wee engagement.