The Colonel's Lady

Yesterday was a regular Essex Warriors games day - next Sunday is our Open Day to which you are all invited - check out the Essex Warriors website for details (we are the war-games club NOT the wrestlers !)

Anyway, we had decided to fight a Sharp Practice American Civil War game, but as we had so many keen players we "bigged it up" effectively having two battles going on either side of a river.

The Union were trying to escort a VIP lady across the table. As the Rebels had thrown a duff die, they were not informed that this was the real mission of the enemy forces.

Here we see the chaps examine the battlefield (which was taken from "Terrible Sharp Sword" ACW supplement)

Rafael, Allan, Ian, & Wes are the Confederates, Richard, Bob, Les & Mike the Feds with Steve C and I trying to help them all with the rules.

The Union have to start on the road over the other side of the board and get across and off on the road nearest the camera.

To do this, the Union army has provided plenty of cavalry as escorts !

Sent to meet them, a force of infantry, under Mike & Les, which gets into a fight straight away as they approached a building only to find it occupied by Rebel skirmishers !  Bloody for both parties.

bob gets a lick on and sends his cavalry forward (with the Colonel's lady hidden amongst their ranks).  Only Bob and I knew where she was hidden. Allan's Confederates emerge from the corn field and buildings on the right. 

Ian and Wes's Confederates appear on the other side of the river, facing towards Les & Mike's men.

Ian sends skirmishers to cover the ford as the cavalry approach.

The first unit of which gets there at the gallop but promptly gets shot up by various Rebel units. Fortunately for the Union, the Lady was not in their midst.

More Union cavalry get tempted into attacking Allan's men

Whilst all this is going on,  another Union cavalry unit moves towards the ford (this is the one escorting the VIP Lady)

With Allan busy with a hand to hand combat contest

and his other men seeing Union infantry approaching,

the important unit has eluded them.

Allan and Bob's men continue to slug it out for the rest of the game

This is the view from the Union start position - where did that dice/chip bag come from ?!

Mike's men exchange long range fire with Wes's men t'other side of the river.

Again, providing a distraction to the Rebels 

As the Lady's escort canters over the ford, with one casualty only - not far to go !

As the officer's chip has not come up, they have been activated by Command flags - you need to know the rules to understand I'm afraid (see Too Fat Lardies web store !) 

Allan's skirmishers who had fled from the Union cavalry now emerge from the orchard to fire a volley at the departing escort.

But his main force are focussed on enemy still to their front.

The Lady's escort reach the protection of the wooded hills - well nearly, I made them pay a penalty for climbing the slope which leaves their back exposed still !

Wes tries to get his column moving to inflict more casualties before it is too late

But Mike's men have moved forward to cover the withdrawal of the escort

A happy Union commander knows his job is done !

Great fun - well I enjoyed it so I can only hope the rest of the chaps did.