Out of Left Field

Union Forces Approach the Confederate Line at the Battle of Barnett's Bluff

A few weeks back I agreed to join my group of Longstreet players for another campaign. The talk had been about starting in the spring, which works great for my schedule. That would give me plenty of time to repaint my missing cavalry, destroyed by me in a tragic slip on the ice moment. As I wanted to play an Eastern force this time, I would also have time to get a few new command stands done and add a new unit or two.

 Well, things got moving faster than I expected and the first game has been played. My Union forces lead by Ebenezer W. Pierce, composed of the 4^th Massachusetts, 3^rd and 7^th New York, 4^th Massachusetts Artillery, and the 2^nd US Cavalry (formally the 2^nd US Dragoons) battled Carnot Posey and his Mississippians.

The Battle of Slippery Springs

Yankees Pour Fire into the Faces of the Rebs

As this was the first battle of the campaign both sides had mirror image forces. We fought an Outflanking battle with me as the attackers.

 My trait cards, Artillery & Engineering Officer give me a nice +1 boost to a single artillery battery per turn, and the ability to start with an extra bridge across either a stream or river, or to start with a good section of fieldworks. I also get a +1 to digging in my troops during the game.

 Carnot Posey has European Veteran and Personal Physician giving him a +1 boost to his infantry shooting with a risk of losing cards (1-3 loose that many cards, 4+ no effect). The Personal Physician reduce the risk to only being affected on a 1-2, plus be immune to the most deadly card in the game that removes 1-6 cards from your hand at the start of your play, (you only have a 6 card hand).

 Both sides started the battle headed for the open flank, me to exploit it, the Rebs to fill it. Both of us where lucky and had bonus movement cards, but the Rebs played a card that kept my cavalry from moving for a turn and that would have left my infantry vulnerable if it advanced.

 Having lost my advantage, I forced a Reb infantry unit into range of two of my infantry units, with the intention of shooting it to pieces. The Rebs had the right counter and turned my shooting into crap. So much for best laid plans. 
The battle then turned into a series of charges and counter-charges (Charges gain Epic Point (EPs), and EPs are what the campaign is about). We both made headway, but the Rebs broke through my center, while I only pushed back their flank. The game was close with my failure to cause any casualties on my last turn, despite having four rolls of 50% to do so, being the difference in winning and losing. I lost the real battle of EPs 4-to-9. In the end a moment of hesitation on my part of not launching a charge cost me.

 

Rebs Launch a Massed Attack on the Yankee Line

The other forces of the Army of the Potomac fought in a 3-on-3 game. In The Battle of Barnett’s Bluff, the Union troops were soundly defeated by the Rebs. A combined force of Virginians lead by Charles S. Winder, North Carolinians lead by J. Johnson Pettigrew, and Louisans lead by Harry T. Hays, first stalled the Union attack, then launched a major flanking assault to break the line. The New York Zouaves lead by Romeyn B. Ayres, held the Union center, supported on the left by Israel B Richardson’s Michiganders, and Thomas Francis Meagher’s 2^nd Irish Brigade. It was the Irish that suffered dreadful losses from the Louisans assaults on their exposed flank.

 

Confederate Assault on the Irish Brigade's Flank

This is only 1861 and there are another six battles to go. The Confederates start with all the advantages, but over time that swings to the Union. My big problem is I am in last place with 4EPs with most of the pack way up at 8-12. Time to teach my boys bayonet drill and hope for some great press.