Lasted a good 4 hours from opening till conclusion, with war cries given, teeth gnashed and tears of glory or woe, depending on which side of the dice you were on.
All in all, a bit of a classic battle.
Overview of the table as set up commenced.
The deployments in action were that the 9th Confederate Brigade were stationed in the region of Scaplehorn farm and supply depot, holding until the two relief brigades were coming into the area - although neither the Union nor the 9th knew quite exactly where or when they were going to be turning up.
The Union deployed in a long line, using the full length of the table to attempt to envelope the farm. The general plan being for the central brigade to advance, clear out the 9th and take the farm, whilst the left flank advanced in rapid order, lending support where needed and preparing to stifle the advance of the relief Confederate brigades where possible. The right flank would do much the same, but in a more rapid motion, being cavalry based.
The Union Centre
Union Left Flank
Union Right Flank
The face off.
To say that the opening for the Union was a misfire is an understatement........first roll of the game and Major Bert rolled a classic with a blundered order, making his entire brigade advance a full move to their left flank. He Hearned it!
errr...............boys, weren't you supposed to be advancing towards the enemy??
The left flank also had trouble with orders and advanced with few units, whilst the right flank moved at a halting pace accordingly.
Piecemeal advance
Still some time.............
In return, the Confederates opened fire and began to prepare for the inevitable wave that would (eventually) reach them.
It begins.
Eventually, the advance was made and firefights began to break out from all across the line, with a plucky unit of Reb Zouaves putting up a stubborn resistance. Where were the relief columns??
Sharpshooters doing some work
Reserve holding back for The Right Moment
Union Right Flank takes the fencing
A wave of troopers coming at 'em
Union Zouaves begin to get around the flanks
Its a massive Zouave off in the centre......
But can they hold?
Its just a matter of time, no?
Finally, the sound of the Confederates Relief arrival was heard............except there was only one? Where'd the other one get too? Oh, I see, you split forces to attempt a trap. But wheres........uh oh, is that a blunder roll a I see? Oh well.....next turn then
Reinforcements on the Confederate Left begin to advance onto the table
Reb Zouaves still holding out in the centre, just.
Here comes the backup on the left! But wheres the other one?
Huge amounts of firefighting erupt all along the lines, with the 9th stubbornly holding onto the farmhouse, the Union right pushing forward to attempt to counter the Reb relief and the Union right attempting to move to counter the expected second relief column, but having a bit of a traffice jam with a distracted Major McDonnell giving confused orders.
Better late than never, eh?
Confederate left moving up to support the farm. Its all kicking off royally now.
Firefight in the centre continues - they just won't shift!
Union begin to make ground
The Confederate left deploy into line and begin a second firefight.
That could spell trouble.......FIYAAH! Only a madman would charge into the middle of that!
Oh.
Well, the Union horse made it through the firestorm, got twatted by endless amounts of cannon fire and then wiped out a couple of cannon, before being wiped from the face of history. Victors, but only in legend.
More and more pressure began to come in from the Confederates and we'd reached the point of the battle when the line begins to sway on both sides and its about who can make the decisive breakthrough. Reserves were deployed. Oaths were muttered. Knuckles were whitened.
Union centre begins to push and take control of the farmhouse
The Reb Zouaves in the centre are finally destroyed, but is it too late?
The Union right begins to crumble before eventually breaking and falling back. A whooping and a hollerin' goes up from the Southerners.
A vicious firefight continues from the Confederate right flank. Now the farm is clear, Union begins to reform to take the fight head on.
Overview of the centre right from the Rebel view
The large unit of Confederates forms up in the middle to hold the line.
Confederate skirmishers leap into the gap left by the Zoauves and cause havoc
The ongoing firefight with the Union left continues, with the Union beginning to take more and more casualties.
Union Zouaves leap the wall and take advantage of the cover.
The rebel left flank swings around and takes advantage of the space left open from the retreating brigade, forcing a deployment of the reserves in the centre.
Eventually, the Union casualties began to take toll, units were coming apart piecemeal........the remaining two Union commanders gave each other a look and decided to make a final push to attempt to break the lines once and for all. ACTION OVER INACTION.
Sadly..........and in spite of forcing a few units to retreat in good order, this wasn't enough and the Union found a number of units wiped out in short order, breaking both brigades, leaving the field with a win for the Confederate
Union centre...........its all gone. Just the single unit left for a fighting withdrawal.
Confederates throw hats in the air and make the victorious advance.
Confederate right.........battered, but not broken. Almost though, almost.
Confederate centre. Thats what victory looks like.
The Confederate left, at the end.
CONFEDERATE WIN.
A great game. One for the ages. It was difficult to keep a track of what happened across the full table, mainly due to the amount of actions happening and the ferocity of the fighting (I was in control of the Union left, so had little idea of what was going on over on the right hand side of the field)
Great table, great armies - all painted - great company and a damned good Christmas 2018 game.
Till the next one!
