ACW 1863 - a Sharp Practice game

Les Mills organised this one down at Essex Warriors today. And popular it was with 10 members trying to take part !

The scenery belongs to Les and most of the figures used, mine (Perry 28mm plastics in the main)

A force of Confederates are trying to stem a Union advance and have taken up defensive positions by a farm with advanced pickets by the church and woods to provide a warning

Here's two of the advance skirmishers by the church

This one is at the junction in front of the farmstead

Steve Clarke, Allan & Ian organise the Union attack (they would be joined later by some who couldn't get out of bed early enough on a Sunday !)  Or a major hangover in the case of Steve Nutt !

View from the Union end

The rebels snug in their farmstead

Did you hear anything ?

Oh! Oh! Blue bellies on the church road !

Shots are fired to warn the farm garrison as the first of the Union infantry appear through the early morning haze

and cavalry too 

In no time they are forming up across the rebel front

Alerted, the first Rebel troops emerge from the farm buildings

and the gunners from the barn to limber up

Ian is seen moving his troops up by the woods

The Rebel skirmishers delay their advance as best they can

Complicated formation this, Ian !

The Rebs get organised along the fence line

as more infantry are roused from their slumbers

Union infantry and cavalry are sent towards rocky ground on their right

Union officers try and organise their troops into easier controlled formations

The Union cavalry get a spurt on past the rocky ground

The Rebel skirmishers find their mark and cause problems for the foremost Union infantry unit

Here's the Union commander assessing his options

Ian's men enter the woods to try and outflank the enemy skirmishers

All the farm garrison can do is await developments

The skirmishers play cat and mouse with the enemy 

but weight of numbers will tell soon

Here we see the Union troops have consolidated a line level with the church and supports coming up

The rebel gun is wheeled into position in front of the farm house

These Union troops are just out of sight behind the slope so the gun can't get them yet

Are these Rob's glasses getting in the way of the cavalry fight which has erupted over on the Rebel left - yes Reb cavalry dashed on to prevent Union cavalry enveloping the Confederate flank

 The cavalry "bounce" off each other and gather their breath for another go

which comes all too soon

The first Union brigade advance over the crest facing the farm

The Rebs are ready for this but are outgunned in the first fusillade 

This Reb cavalry commander seems a bit too far ahead of his men if you ask me !

Ian's men have seen off the Zoave skirmishers by this stage 

The cavalry are at it again !

My problem is at this stage I have to leave as I have a flight to catch - so what happens next ?

I hope one of the players can tell me (and you) when I return as so far its all in the balance !

What a tease - bye, bye ...

Two Raids in a Day - Dux Britanniarum

Steve Clarke and Terry Drewett have been fighting a DuxBrit campaign "somewhere up North" and yesterday a game was arranged at Steve's place and I played the part of Bede recording the action (and joining in on the Romano-British side).

Steve has a Saxon force led by Aelwald, accompanied by his Champion, Eadwulf and Terry has the Roman-British under Ieuan and his Champion Medraut.

This was fought using Terry's superb 15mm collection on Steve's new made to measure battle mat !

We started with a farm raid by the Saxons. Steve's men are at the pond when the action starts

Steve activates his men and the farm is in view at the end of the table

Terry's slingers appear first at the table edge

and they exchange shots with the Saxon archers

The Romano-British Levy are ordered to race towards the farm and head off any Saxons

whilst the Warriors and Ieuan's elite troops head straight for the Saxons in view

Here we see the R-B's warriors in formation ready to launch an attack

and this run of cards helps !

The Saxons suddenly realise the danger

but the R-B elites hit the flank of the nearest unit

with an immediate effect

This Saxon unit is no more

Other Saxons have turned to meet the threat

and now Ieuan's best troops have their work cut out

Its too much for one small group and they lose the ensuing melee

That's the end of his best troops but they have bought time for the rest

The Romano warriors now hit the Saxons and isolate one group by using the "Goad" card

The Saxons are scattered

but fighting continues in small pockets

The threat still remains whilst Steve has the two groups at left of this picture

Ieuan and his valiant men keep up the pressure whilst they wait for the Levy to put in an appearance

at long last they are spotted rounding the woods and heading for the Saxons

First group in !

The arrival of the Levy makes the difference and Aelfwald's Saxons morale plummets to zero

The farm is saved !

As we finished this raid so quickly, even allowing for a pizza break, we elected to continue with another raid by the Saxons this time trying to loot a church - and here they come !  The priest and monks are naturally alarmed !

Ieuan must have heard their cries for a Romano-British force appears at the top of the picture 

Aelfwald has sent one group into the church to pillage whilst most of his warriors await the enemy

and they won't have long to wait !

Most of the British attack towards the waiting Saxons but one group heads around the church

battle ensues and the British push back the Saxons

but its a hard slog

Two Romano groups are sent packing

and the ones who tried to sneak around the back of the Saxons are caught too

but the tough centre commanded by Ieuan hold their own

They head towards Aelfwald's rear unit

where fighting is still going on

The shield wall has to turn as Aelfwald's formation is returning from their combat

Reorganised, they now ready themselves for the charge

The Romano card comes up before the Saxon one and in they go

Despite heavy casualties, Ieuan wins again and the Saxons are sent packing

So 2-0 to the British today - but no doubt Aelfwald will return again to create havoc in the English countryside.