ACW Fences

I am planning to play some games of Johnny Reb this year. I am building fences to create better games. Below are some that I have just finished.

I cut strips of cardboard, glue them to the balsa base, flocked the raised area with ballast, cut strips of balsa and built the fences, painted brown, drybrushed grey, and flocked the base with grass.

I now have about 20' of fences; my goal is double that.

John Hill Memorial Issue of Charge Magazine; Free Download

There is a free download through Wargame Vault of issue 41 of Charge magazine. Charge is the magazine Scott Mingus, Sr. published to support regimental American Civil War gaming.

The link is here

If you knew John Hill, or played his games, or are interested is playing them, download this tribute and enjoy it and let anyone else who might be interested know.

I haven't played much Johnny Reb lately, but that will change this year.

Gettysburg AAR

This year at the Origins Game Convention in June, my friend Jim will be GMing two sessions of Gettysburg using Volley and Bayonet. He and I did this exact game at Origins in 2000. In addition, Jim's wife is teaching a two session class on Gettysburg later this month. As part of that class, the students will have an opportunity to participate in our Gettysburg game as well. In preparation for this, we played the game at his home as a play test.

The Gettysburg battlefield, looking North

Heth's Rebel Div on the right, Buford's Cav on the ridge, and Union I Corps moves up to support

 In all the games of this we have played, the key to the rest of the battle is what happens on McPherson's ridge. If the Union can hold long enough, they will hold Culp's and Cemetary Hill's and be in a great defensive position. If the Rebs can brush aside Buford's cavalry, and the I and XI Corps, they will hold the high ground and win. In this game the defense of McPherson's Ridge was very good. Heth's Division of the Army of Northern Virginia moves onto the board in a long marching column. They attacked Buford one brigade at a time as they came out of road column.

 

 

2nd Div of I Corps faces the Rebel advance from the north edge of the table.

 The other avenue of advance for the South is from the north. The Union XI Corps faced this threat and stopped it.

Union XI Corps takes a stand just south of Gettysburg

Near the end of the first day

 By the end of the first day, the Union I Corps has retreated south between Seminary and Cemtary Ridges. The XI Corps is standing just in front of Culp's Hill, and on Cemetary Hill.
The confederates will be at the foot of Cemetary Hill, but it's not enough.

Hardtack among the snacks

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Last turn of July 1, 1863

The Union line

I Corps holds the Union left on Little Round Top

Rebel Assault

 Longstreet's Corps arrives during the night turn. As it was moving up, the Rebel II and III Corps threw themselves at the Union line one more time; to no avail. Although Johnson's Divsion make head way, it was stopped.

Brady wearing a Hardee Hat

Union I and III Corps attack the Rebel right

 By the time Longstreet is up and ready to attack, his two divisions are  the only intact units in Lee's army. If the Union can knock them out, the game is over. And that is what Brady and I did; we attacked Longstreet and overwhelmed him.

9AM, July 2, High Tide of the Confederacy

 One Rebel brigade briefly advanced onto the crest of Cemetary Hill before we threw it back.

Longstreet's Corps gives way.

This is one of the classic scenario's. Have fun every time I play in it.

Johnny Con 3

I attended the first day of JohnnyCon 3. Here's a couple of pictures of me playing in Dean West's Freiburg game.



For a full report of all three days of the Con, see http://pavelft.wordpress.com/

Front Royal

I started playing Johnny Reb in the mid '80's. I have probably played close to 200 games of this system, but only a few games since the turn of the century. Since I plan to attend Johnny Con in a couple of weeks, I needed to play a game to refresh my memory of the rules.
My friend Ted had never played Johnny Reb, so I invited him over so we could play a small learning game.
I setup the Front Royal scenario from the original version of the rules. Three Union regiments and one secion of artillery vs. two small brigades of Rebs. The Union troops are protecting the two bridges over the Shenandoah River, (I need to build some bridges!) If they cannot protect the bridges, they should burn them.

The terrain and Union setup at the start of the game.


On turn one, the Rebs march on.
The Louisiana Tigers are here and there is a scenario rule that forces them to roll a d6 each turn to see if a train enters the board. If it does, the Tigers will immediately charge the train and plunder it.

The small Union battalion moves toward the second bridge to cover it; or burn it.

On turn two, as the Rebs continue to advance, the front most US unit disengages. The small Union battalion continues to move toward the bridge.

Turn three, Reb Artillery on First Fire.


The lead Rebel unit comes out of march column and forms on my right flank. I move my unit that disengaged, and is still in disorder, toward the threatening unit. I fire at it and miss!


The 6th VA Cavalry rides on and heads for the northern bridge, (the one the small US battalion is trying to reach.)

On turn four the Tigers charge. They catch the disordered unit forming; never a good thing for the defender. The first US unit routs. The Tigers threw a large charge move bonus, so they hit the second US unit and routed it as well. Both Union units were now routed and within the range of the Tigers charge move. They both picked up.

Here is the situation after the initial routs of my two units.

The Tigers were now positioned perfectly to pounce on any unsuspecting trains to enter the table.

On the other end of the table the 6th Va charged the small 8 figure battalion. Again my opponent rolled very high for his charge movement bonus. I rolled pitiful for my defensive fire; no casualties. My last infantry unit routed and was hit again as it tried to escape.





A quick game and a new player introduced to Johnny Reb. We'll play this one again.