Monday 18 May 2020

Tuxedo Junction : ACW Scenario : Rebels and Patriots

In the latest copy of Wargames Soldiers and Strategy 108 there is a small ACW scenario by Ken Butt. I have left the photo blurred to avoid copyright and all that, but it gives you an idea. Importantly it shows the water tower which gave me the idea to make one. It also has options for Sharp Practice and Rebels and Patriots. Anyway I picked  up the idea and amended it slightly.

In our game the objective is the same for the Union force to hold the station as a key communication/supply centre. The Rebel forces will enter randomised from their baseline apart from a cavalry unit which will enter at ANY point from turn two on a descending D6 role, this represents the rebel cavalry being sent on a wide flanking move ey could be critical but might turn up too late. Together with skirmishers the rebels have two infantry units of aggressive veterans. The Union force have a skirmish unit already on point in the station building. More skirmishers and dismounted cavalry will enter turn one but then from turn two some raw recruits will come on from camp with a single unit of veteran boys from the town. We agreed to play until one side was don to two units left, assuming they hold their nerve at 50%
All is quite at the station the couple of skirmishers by the station office are actually inside (roof is fixed on this building)
Rebel infantry advance at pace and the alarm goes up
At the Union campground two units of ‘green’ infantry are preparing to march, ahead of them the dismounted cavalry
It what is this turn 2 the union forces have hardly moved and the Rebel cavalry charge on after some debate they came on right at the camp
Are they Texans ? in the distance supported by a skirmish line
The rebel cavalry manage to pin down the ‘green’ boys amongst the tents
Things look better on the right
Dismounted cavalry have positioned themselves on the left flank ...but come under heavy fire
General advance towards the objective
Finally the cavalry are chased off but it has taken far too long to get moving from the camp a late breakfast isnt good at this stage
The Union Veterans may need to hold the objective on their own, its starts well as they force the Texans back
But the thin grey line is getting closer all the time
Finally with the cavalry gone the troops from the camp get moving they may be in time to make a difference
...but then Union forced back on the right...everything is in the balance
Two disorganised markers is bad news and the green troops are pushed back again into the camp (perhaps a second breakfast?)
But the unit under the control of the Union officer manages to assault the station building forcing the Rebel skirmishers out......at this point the Union force is close to breaking already down beyond 50%
....and the inevitable the Rebels make one more decisive push and the Union force is pushed back again, at this point the green troops failed their final rally test and left the field so the Confederates are the clear winners.

A nice little scenario so thank you WS&S worth the money this month. We adopted it a little but think this made it just a little more variable.

No cycling photos this time as it was cloudy on Saturday instead as i was putting the Confederates away and tidying up, the infantry and cavalry all slipped out of the box for a parade, so here is a shot without artillery of my Confederate forces as they stand at the moment :) depending on scale 3 or 4 Brigades. I have a small unit of cavalry and some lovely rebels in shirtsleeves waiting in the queue.
As always keep safe and well.......Matt

23 comments:

  1. Great report Matt, good to see the scenario from the mag played out. I am hoping to play the Starpel one at some point. A fine force of Rebs you have assembled there Matt.

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    1. Thanks Phil, yes the Starpel one looks interesting but i would have to do it in 6mm i suppose that might work. Much better in your 20mm. Look forward to seeing it. Rebels are coming along nicely

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  2. Your table layout and photography never disappoint, Matt! Enjoyable little action recounted well. Good to see your Confederate Army out on parade to celebrate the victory. Looking closely at your buildings, the painting on the weathered and rusting tin roof on the station is perfect!

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    1. Thanks Jonathan but you might be being too kind. Perhaps i should stop there :)

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  3. Makes a change to see something useful from WSS. Nice looking game there Matt.

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    1. Thanks David good to get another skirmish played on the battlefield. I makes me feel like the ACW is two separate collections. So i am already planning the same for AWI. As to WSS I don’t get it every month but i feel you might be a little harsh as most months i find something i find interesting.

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  4. Always love to see your battle table! Scenery is awesome!

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  5. Loved the report Matt and especially liked the group photograph at the end, what a wonderful collection.

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    1. Well it was sunday afternoon so I spoilt myself by getting them out, it always feel like an indulgence ? But you should try it sometime like chocolate naughty but nice

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  6. Lovely game, nice size, WSS is my favourite of the magazines. The group shot is excellent!
    Best Iain

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    1. Tanks Iain i tend to flick between WI and WSS and usually find something in both that interests me. I have found the scenarios especially the mini-campaigns rewarding and have played a number in the past. I am current looking at a back issue that had some Al Andalus scenarios which i am planning to do after the vikings have been seen off ?

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  7. Smashing AAR Matt. Nice to see the water tower in action.
    Cheers
    Stu

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    1. Thanks Stuart........terrain built for a ver specific scenario/purpose....

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  8. another cracker. may get out the ACW for a game when I get a minute

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    1. Thanks......with a bit of practice we have found Rebels and Patriots works quite well at this scale and allows good utilisation of figures in smaller skirmish’s.

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  9. Great looking game, with lovely terrain! I miss playing with my mates and hope this thing is over soon, will get out some ACW I think for a run first!

    Cheers
    Matt

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    1. Yep difficult times, we have found some virtual gaming helps. One of the benefits of our lovely hobby is painting and modelling is quite consuming, thanks for looking 👍

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  10. Fabulous looking game, Matt. The terrain, layout and troops are really inspiring. To be honest, I've never really had an interest in ACW - but seeing these wonderful images of a very cool scenario has me considering getting into it (if even in a small, skirmish way).

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    1. Thanks Dean ....I am in danger of buying the Napoleonic set you have been working on with the idea of some skirmish games too.....🙂

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  11. A great looking and sounding game as always Matt...
    I am at this moment having another read through of Rebels and Patriots... mostly to see if there is anything useful I can steal for my Lion Rampant 3rd Century Rome project...
    The side effect of this is that my head is now filled with lots of AWI and ACW ideas instead...
    You’ve not helped thing either 😂

    All the best. Aly

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    1. “You’ve not helped anything either”

      I should open my eyes when I type...🙄

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    2. Thanks Aly, we obviously play both rulesets here, and although form the same stable you be aware if you have read them that R&P are quite different. The one mechanic that most people find frustrating in LR is the fail a roll and the end of your turn, in our larger LR games we give each side 2 or 3 fails. This is obvious taken away in R&P. If I was to compare I would say the tactical opportunities in R&P are much higher giving a game that does require tactics LR and DR are about getting figures on the table for fun.

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