The Battle of the Bloody River

Bill, having returned from his jaunt to the Indian Ocean resorts and, after long chats, observations on the state of the world, military history and similar bullshit, we finally got the game underway again. After a discussion of the rules for retiring while facing the enemy, and what could happen if my cavalry managed to catch him, his withdrawal continued at pace. At this point the Confederates were streaming onto the table.

The cavalry had been ordered to chase the retiring Yanks. On the infantry side Avery's brigade was tasked to go south around the farm to their front and head for the river to the south of the bridge. Smith's brigade was given the slow and strenuous task of clearing Titi Hill. In the centre Gordon's brigade was told to "Get off the damned road!", to let the artillery through. The lead regiments in those brigades went into skirmish order, if they weren't already, and chased after the Yanks. That also screened the regiments advancing behind them, in march column. On the right flank Hays' 5th La was left in line and told to help Smith's brigade clear the hill. The other four regiments were ordered into skirmish formation and sent westwards through the trees, to clear them and to try to get around the Union infantry regiment (95th Pa), which had just cleared off the hill. The woods-bound regiments were also told that "No huntin', no fishin' and if you men do any of that then there'll be no mercy to y'all either!". The 13th Va CAV tried to thread their way between the hill and the woods. Fail. Bloody terrain.

Bill's 5th Maine (Me) was still looking for fords, and the 96th Pa moved forwards and manned the southern earthworks. The 1st WV CAV had nearly reached the bridge, and 95th Pa were withdrawing in extended line. The reinforcements, from Russell's 3rd Brigade, had reached the western end of Pekkerville and stopped for orders from Bartlett.

Bill's reinforcements stroll into Pekkerville.

"Forward the guns!"

No more photos- some idiot git forgot to take his camera and had to use his old, steam-powered, phone (as you can tell)......

The 13th Ga could see some of the 121st NY withdrawing. Despite the long range, the outbuildings of the farm (they're there, even if you can't see them- trust me) obscuring the line of sight, and only seven figures being able to see the Yankees, I risked wasting the opening volley bonus by firing at them. After modification I was rolling on the "1/2" line, and needed an 11 or 12 to hit. I rolled 12, causing one casualty- which Bill promptly saved after thirty seconds of mixed profanities. But that 12 meant that Bill had to roll for morale, for "Unexpected Devastation". He rolled a 2 and 121st NY broke for the bridge. So, despite me not having scored even one casualty so far, I'd managed to rout 1/4 of Bill's original infantry force. [Insert smug smile emoji here]. The 9th Va and 10th Va CAV (what was left of them) were chasing Bill's 1st WV CAV- the 9th Va CAV in skirmish formation. The 121st NY's run away left them between my cavalry and Bill's, and also partially blocking Bill's artillery, who were also running for the bridge. Bill's other advanced infantry regiment, the 95th Pa, had finally got to the bottom of Titi Hill and were getting set to cover the other units. At the end of the turn the 121st NY were tested for their morale again- and the buggers passed! They were disordered and shaken, but they could fight again and my cavalry, in skirmish order, would have difficulty shifting them. My Charlottesville battery (2 X 12pdr Napoleons) came forward and went into battery, ready to be nasty to whatever Yanks it could see. Courtney's battery (2 X 3" Rifles) had pulled off the road (which Charlottesville should have done, the idiots) and moved to the left of the Charlottesville battery, ready to go into battery next turn.

Turn 8. Orders Phase- orders were given and the 9th Va CAV were ordered to get close to the infantry and guns, between them and the bridge, if possible, and try to pick off a few Yanks. The idea is to keep the infantry and gunners from withdrawing until my infantry came up. I briefly considered charging the infantry and guns, but that would have been as useful as a concrete floatie, especially if the infantry passed their morale test- which was quite likely- and would probably cost me my biggest cavalry unit. Everyone else was to continue the advance, as quickly as possible.

Next phase- Morale. Bill rolled for his 121st NY who- obviously scared spitless by the appearance of the artillery and nasty men on horses, and having their artillery wagons and limbers careening past- ignored probability and promptly failed the roll, so routed again. That left Bill's battery alone and unprotected, and in front of my 9th Va CAV. But 9th Va CAV only had orders to skirmish with, not to close with and capture, the battery. On the plus side, seeing the 121st NY running past put the wind up the 5th Me. They failed their morale roll (Bill's throw for their morale did not amuse him), hopped over the earthworks and left the 95th Pa to face the Rebs coming through the woods.

Orders were revealed and the First Fires didn't see many casualties. The Reb 12pdr Napoleons caused a couple of casualties on the 1st WV CAV, but Bill saved one and the regiment shrugged off its morale test. One of Hays' La regiments had a stand, moving on the edge of the woods, fire at the 95th Pa, but it was a waste of powder. Then came movement. The 9th Va CAV tried to intercept Bill's artillery, but they were just a bit too far away to stop the guns from reaching the east end of the bridge- where they unlimbered. 9th Va CAV could get within pistol range and nearly surround the battery, but didn't have orders to close with the gunners. 1st WV CAV moved behind the northern earthworks and dismounted. The two reinforcing regiments were deployed into line behind the bridge, and 95th Pa started moving into the woods. On my left the survivors of 10h Va CAV had moved up to the river and dismounted, looking for a ford. Hoke's North Carolina was moving up behind them, 6th NC in skirmish. To Hoke's right Gordon's big Ga Brigade was moving up, while Smith's Va brigade was still crossing Titi Hill and singing some ditty about living hills and noisy music. Badly. Hays' La brigade, minus the 5th LA, who'd joined the choristers on the hill, kept pushing through the woods, towards the river.

Early's Charge of the Too-Light Brigade

Due to technical difficulties a lot of photos we took were lost when the SD card from the camera decided to malfunction. The two photos above, and those below, were taken by Bill after the SD card failure. Thanks, Bill.

So what happened with the battery, you ask? The battery can't fire when it's moved and unlimbered, but the cavalry certainly could. So 17 Average cavalry, armed with pistols, fire at enemy gunners less than a lanyard's length away.

And missed. Not completely, but let's skip the ungory details, shall we? No gunners were harmed during this part of the game.

There was some fire from the Yank regiments deploying on the other side of the river, but the 9th Va CAV shrugged off the casualty they took (IDIOTS!). 96th Pa got lucky and scored a casualty on the 10th Va CAV, but didn't force a morale check, so 10th Va CAV continued to happily play in the mud on the river bank.

The leader casualty phase saw no injured leaders.

GT 9: Murder on (approximately) the bridge. Not much happened after the First Fires phase. Troops continued moving into position, Courtney's battery of 3" Rifles killed a few grasshoppers and severely frightened a wayward rabbit in front of the southern earthworks. The 96th Pa's return fire at the Rebs opposite them was similarly ineffective. In the morale phase the bloody 121st NY rallied again!

I made the decision not to try to charge the guns. I'd get no benefit, being too close, and with a base of the 1st WV CAV and their damned Spencer Repeating Rifles, and the 5th Wisconsin (Wisc) within three inches, the cavalry would have broken before contact. So I elected to First Fire instead. That was simultaneous fire, and there was a slim chance I may cause casualties and perhaps rout the battery crew.

I discussed the pros and cons of Bill using double-shotted canister in his guns. After walking him through the pre-fire morale check he wisely decided not to double-shot the guns. When the smoke cleared and saving rolls were done the result was as expected. Half the 9th Va CAV saddles were empty- and all the gunners of the battery were watching the remnants of the 9th Va CAV galloping away.

Both sides prepare for the inevitable assault across the river, south of the bridge.

The mercurial 121st NY (on the right) has reformed while the 95th Pa head into the woods. Visibility in the woods is 2", and counts as Area Fire.

Comment on the rules. The observant will have noticed some short lengths of pipe cleaner and a base showing two men carrying a casualty. I use these as markers in the game, but not quite the way the rules suggest.

The casualty base indicates that the 121st NY is not happy, and the fact they are facing the enemy and not moving away shows they are "Shaken". I also use a "dead" casualty figure to indicate that a unit must test morale, and a fleeing figure to signify rout. The Old Glory ACW casualty pack supplies more than enough of these markers.

The green pipe cleaner indicates the casualties the unit has taken, IAW the rules. It's placed on the left-most base, to the right of the number of figures equalling the casualties taken.

The black pipe cleaner is put on the unit's command base to show that the unit has fired, so can no longer claim the "First Volley" modifier.

The purple pipe cleaner indicates that a unit has found a ford. In this case, however, the unit which found the ford has departed for safer places (they hope). The brigade commander knows where the fords are, and can send an ADC to guide regiments to the ford. The other option is for the unit to search and see if it can find the ford, or another, if it wants to cross.

GT 10. Four turns to go. Some ineffective fire was exchanged and the troops continued getting ready for the "Hail Mary" assault that was soon to come. Smith's Virginians and the 5th La are still traipsing over Titi Hill, singing some ditty about living hills and music. The 13th Va CAV and 2nd NC CAV are threading their way between the hill and the woods. Three regiments of Gordon's large brigade have formed assault column (poor things), Hoke's brigade is forming up to provide covering fire- should a ford be found- and the guns are moving forward, to close range. Hays' Louisiana lads are still skipping through the woods in skirmish order.

Bill's battery had taken the opportunity to withdraw across the bridge and unlimber. 1st WV CAV has manned the northern earthworks up to the bridge. What happens next? Will 121st NY rout again? How far will 9th Va CAV flee? The photos below show the situation at the end of GT 10. Just to make Bartlett's day, Brigadier-General Wright, his division commander, has heard the gun fire and come forward to take the glory give advice.

If you go down to the woods today.......

"Man, did you see what canister did to them damned Rebs?"

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