First Bull Run, 21st July 1861

With hindsight, it was a bit ambitious to stage a refight of the Battle of First Bull Run in just one evening, but we gave it a go anyway.

Initially the Confederates made the unusual decision to retire their front line, possibly to reduce the exposure on their right flank. Either way, this enabled the Federals to push forward in the centre. Reserves began to arrive for both sides, but we had to curtail this aspect of the game, as we would never finished it before the end of the evening.

The Union forces made a breakthrough in the centre of the line, but the Confederate left flank managed to break a Federal brigade through successful musketry. The climax of the game was the emergence of Brig. Sherman's large brigade, arriving from the other side of the Bull Run. They smashed into the Confederate right flank, forcing the Southern gentlemen to manage an orderly retreat, to fight another day.

Unfortunately, Jackson's Brigade never got into action, as they spent the entire game rushing over to their left flank, Jackson missing the opportunity to earn himself the epithet 'Stonewall'.  Another unusual episode in the game was when a small Federal cavalry unit captured a limbered Confederate battery intact and carried the guns back to their own lines!

Rules used were Second Edition Fire and Fury.

 

 

"Away, away, away down south in Dixie" - Vintage ACW

Some good old fashioned ACW on display this evening. In this scenario, both Federals and Confederates are fed fresh divisions into the front line as the game progresses. The Southerners end up with a terrible 'traffic jam' effect and struggle to get enough troops into the firing line. Nevertheless, the union commander was only able to make piecemeal attacks, which were mostly driven off eventually.

The climax of the game was a Union charge across a bridge in column of attack, which could have gone either way. However, the Confederates managed to hold on and push the column back over the bridge with heavy losses, providing a narrow 'winning draw' for the Secessionists.

Some Images from Recent Club Games

 Some Medieval slash and gore using Osprey's 'Lion Rampant' Rules:

Some 15mm ACW action using Fire & Fury Second Edition:

ACW - playing about with movie trailer creator, imovies

 

ACW - A club night game

A club night game. This was our first trial of Fire & Fury Second Edition. The second edition tidies up some of the quirks of the classic first edition, and includes more sophisticated sections on morale and weapons, without losing the character of the original rules. Highly recommended!