Tuesday 15 October 2019

Battle for Blue Farm Creek : ACW

So this is me catching up, despite my lack of blogging I have still played quite a few games even if my cycling obsession has restricted my painting !
Anyway here is our latest ACW game. For a change and looking for something fairly quick to set up I rustled up a simple non-historical ACW scenario, somewhere in the Shenandoah Valley  two small forces have been sent to secure provision from a local farm. The forces are roughly equal with both sides allowed to bring on any cavalry as an advance guard. As a non-historical scenario the narrative is fairly light.
Confederate advance guard has charged onto the field with light horse artillery immediately unlimbering, the Creek from the title is just beyond the gun
Union Forces marching forward towards the Winchester Pike
A chance for my newly mustered (acquired) Louisiana Tigers to make an appearance, the dry bed of the Blue Farm Creek can now be seen beyond them
Rebel infantry advancing through the cornfield
.....and fleeing back again after only one volley 😢
Only a couple of turns into the battle and more rebels are being forced back from the farm itself.
On the far left of the battlefield it is mainly skirmishing, these rebels attempting to drive off some Sharpshooters
The 3 objectives for both sides lie roughly in a line level with the farm, so the Union Forces can’t hold back on the road and must advance 
A well placed Union canning guarding the junction between Winchester Pike and Creek Road
Rallied and back into the fight the rebels supported by more Louisiana troops seek to force the defenders out of the farm
Despite taking casualties (green rings) they force the Yankies back
Brigadier Crumpton waves on the Tigers “up and at’em boys”
Not so good on the right flank more Rebels have been pushed back
Union troops holding the road but this may not be enough
Dam from nowhere the 2nd Louisiana are charged in the flank and forced to retreat
Luckily we rally on the right again....
But as twilight looms the Union Zouaves push forward looking to capture one of the objectives 
There are still lots of Union troops holding the road, but they need to get to that barn by the Blue House
The Federal Zouaves and the Tigers clash in a fearsome hand to hand struggle in the ploughed field
Rebel cavalry dismounted are holding the barn and the creek
But these guys have been chased away from the farm.
The final shot as darkness falls, in the end all three objective were contested, although the rebels would like to have claimed a minor victory as it took the Union Brigadier Harrison to risk is own life to contest the barn as darkness fell.

A fun game to play and close right till the end 🙂

22 comments:

  1. Just whipped something up? My God, Matt, your game is gorgeous!

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  2. marvellous as usual. see you soon

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    1. Thanks back to the Saxon cavalry this evening 😫

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  3. Replies
    1. Thanks Michael as a pick up game there wasn’t much context but hopefully the pictures at least tell the story of a decent struggle !

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  4. Back with a bang! Super stuff Sir.

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    1. Thanks Phil ...........might even get the RCW on the table soon !

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  5. Nice to see you splendid ACW forces in action again!

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    1. Thanks Mike, a certainly colourful engagement 🙂

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  7. Lovely terrain and troops, Matt. It certainly shows how colorful ACW can be.

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    1. Thanks Dean, yes getting all the Zouaves on the field of battle certainly brings some colour and somewhere I have another unit to paint.....🤭

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  8. Splendid looking figures and terrain as always and especially both zouaves units!
    Best Iain

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  9. A great sounding and looking game Matt...

    All the best. Aly

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  10. Every time you post a gorgeous ACW AAR like this I have to re-convince myself that I am perfectly happy with my puny 15mm collection and I don’t want 28mm secretly in my heart. 😀

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    1. Well that is a challenge and I get the same feeling with my old Napoleonic figures......perhaps one day I might chance ?

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  11. Great looking troops and tabletop.
    Nice AAR.
    ACW is one of my favourite periods to game.

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