ACW WARGAME - JOHNNY REB III

Yesterday the Goulburn Stormers played a 28mm ACW game using Johnny Reb III rules. The game was a scenario from the Peninsula campaign around Williamsburg and involved a flank attack by two Union brigades on a redoubt in which there was a large gun. This was a great opportunity to put onto a wargames table my recently completed 8" Columbiad emplacement, even though in the scenario it was not allowed to fire. The game lasted nine turns out of a possible fifteen turns and was a resounding success for the Union who broke the Confederate line and forced to the Rebs to retreat in disorder. Below are some pictures of the game with a description of what occurred.

The Confederate main line deployed defensively along a fence with the gun and its redoubt in the distance.

The gun and in its redoubt which was garrisoned by an erstwhile regiment of militia.

The game opens with the Union artillery pounding the Reb redoubt, hoping by doing so to whittle down the defenders and force them into a morale test.

With the union guns firing the Union right flank steps off in fine style advancing to engage with musketry the Confederate left flank.

As the Union line advances commanders on both sides consider their options. Union musketry severely discomfits the Reb left flank forcing two regiments to withdraw in disorder.

The Union guns finally make an impression on the garrison of the redoubt who become shaken. Taking that as their cue, three Union regiments that had been waiting concealed in the forest on the Union left flank surge forward and attack the redoubt. The militia fire at the attackers ineffectually and are swept away in rout.

With the far right of the Reb line burst wide open the Union troops pour through and descend on the right flank of the main Reb line. The crew of the big gun look on bemused wondering what has just happened.

With Union troops now at close range directly on their right flank and with more Union troops moving steadily in on their left flank the Rebs surrender to the pressing dictates of self preservation and common sense and skedaddle.

The battle ends with the right flank of the Reb line hopelessly compromised, the left of their line in serious trouble and fresh Union troops emerging from the woods in the center. Union losses were very light - nothing at all from the left flank attack and only two or three figures on the right of the line. Reb losses were very much heavier. The Harper's Weekly correspondent attached to the attacking Union force broke several pencils excitedly scribbling down the details of this glorious victory for the union Cause - Now on to Richmond!