Well, having missed the pre-Christmas games down at the club thanks to picking up a virus, I was determined to make it to Rafael's place today for a game of Regimental Fire & Fury.
Raf had picked the Henry House scenario and set it all up ready for when Terry, Steve Clarke and I arrived. Steve took the Federals (with advice from Rafael) and Terry and I had the Confederates.
Here's the view from beyond the Rebel left showing the mass of disordered Confederate infantry with guns in front
Union troops occupy the high ground
with more infantry behind them
Jackson had relinquished this ground in earlier fighting
Union guns and infantry over on the Federal right (where reinforcements will arrive)
Here's the scenario book - available from Caliver Books here in the UK
and the briefing notes
Battle map showing initial positions
Terry starts to sort out the units during our Maneuvre phase
Those infantry still in good shape are pushed forwards both left and right of the centre road crossing Henry House hill
The first charge goes in
with support on the right
These Union troops are pushed back
Three Rebel regiments advance on the Union red trousered Zoaves blocking the hill
Union troops are arriving across the river bridge and nearer to hand too threatening the Rebel right flank
The Rebels now have the fence line right of Henry House hill
Rafael makes some suggestions to Steve Clarke
Ah ha ! Thats the way to do it !
Union infantry has now arrived to support the troops on the hill
The first Rebel charge on the left is repulsed by the Zoaves
The Rebs advance into the cornfield and attack the Union battery just in front of Henry House
Rebel cavalry have sneaked up the main Union battery - and manage to not beat them !
They retreat and mill around near the enemy limbers
Fortunately for the Rebels, Beuregard's infantry manage to take out the smaller Union battery in front of Henry House
Here we can see Rebel reinforcements extending to the right as well as pushing up the central road
The Rebs on the left charge the Zoaves again as do the Rebel cavalry against the guns
- and guess what - they lost again !
despite the Confederates beefing up their right flank
the Union infantry have a secure hold on the right hill
and more troops arrive marching towards the bridge
The Rebel guns had pretty much lost the duel with the Union artillery
so infantry were pushed forwards to do the job instead
The Union guns are charged
as the Zoaves hold their own against the odds next to them
More Union infantry cross the river to support their troops on the hill there
Unbelievably, the Union Zoaves now charge the mass of Rebels in front of them
as other Union infantry have crossed the rail fencing and destroyed the Rebel infantry in the cornfield - the Rebel commander retires on his own !
So, the Union has shored up this position for now
This time, Confederate infantry attack the Zoaves on two sides as the so far less than successful Rebel cavalry attack them in the rear
Surely, they can't prevail against these odds ?
Beuregarde's troops flushed with their victory on the hill, now swat away not one but two Union regiments in the cornfield
This plus the Rebels finally overcoming the Zoaves and capturing the right hand hill too, victory is declared for the Secessionists.
But, we all agreed the real heroes of the day were the Union Zoaves - tempted to get a pair of red trousers myself now !
