Yeah, probably 2nd Manassas but “The Battle of the Unfinished Railroad Cut” has a more folksy sound; was an interesting game of DennisC’s 20mm ACW during the monthly Friday ClubNight in which I and KevinA as Confederates were tasked with defending the unfinished railway line from overwhelming Union forces from Colin and Nate’s disparate assaults, using the 2nd Edition Fire and Fury Brigade rules (which new charts really has it resembling the regimental version!) in this fictional what-if scenario.
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| The Confederates were well-outnumbered in this battle and indeed even had green units (gasp!) |
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| The grey strip is Dennis's representation of the unfinished railway cutting which I was suppose to defend. I did, but not in the way poor Dennis would wish the battle to be conducted :) |
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| Dang many bluecoats. Fun to see the numerous figures I had painted being used on the table. |
Dennis near had a apoplectic fit as I promptly advanced my meagre two units toward the four units facing me a hill away and followed that by moving my other two into the woods ahead. “You are suppose to defend the line!” exclaimed Dennis at seeing my advances. And then he really shook his head when I then ‘vanished’ my crack cavalry unit. “Where is it?!” asked Dennis. “It’s moving hidden from the enemy”, respond I. “Well, I better not see it behind my troops!” added Colin (my Union opponent). “No it will not ”, I answered, “but will be unseen as you still have four blank blocks ( indicating more possible Union units unknown as of yet ). More than fair I am thinking”
Indeed my charging Rebs were short a couple of inches from the blocks but as the rules indicate visibility into the woods, Dennis as GM, laid them out. Colin protested but I suggested “they could smell you d*nmed Yankees a mile away” in my best Southern accent. Dennis placed yet more Union on the table. Outnumbered 3 to 1 but not defending his beloved railway defensive positions, Dennis suggested “this was not suppose to happen!”.
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| We know the Yankees were there as we could smell 'em...... |
But I was happy in the tactics. Especially as my other two units had, again, advanced ( “You are suppose to defend!”) and started to attack Nate’s Union open right flank of their attack up hill against KevinA’s few Confederates holding our right part of the line. The two Union player’s forces had separated, leaving a big gap in the middle for me to exploit so I came to aid Kevin with this flank attack from the middle.
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| The units of my attack in the center directed by Stonewall himself. Lots of bonus command points for that! |
All was going well but even early in the game, when the artillery was firing at very long ranges, casualties seemed very severe. But now as artillery was in effective ranges due to our advances, the artillery fire became absolutely devastating. Unfortunately Dennis had severely overestimated the amount of artillery which was historically deployed and so had perhaps 4X the number of models on the table which amounted to massive grand batteries of firepower. Even low rolls were causing disorder and mayhem. High rolls blew away whole units, including my previously hidden cavalry which I had moved around the hill to advance upon the guns which were unsupported and partially destroyed or silenced and alone in the Union empty middle. But un-like the ill-fated Charge of the Light Brigade which, one might remember still did reach the guns, my elite boys were completely destroyed by a single volley by an average die roll by the guns. Sigh.
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| a view of Kevin's defence's on our right flank. Lots and lots of artillery in this fictional what-if battle made for huge casualties |
Kevin was still holding his hill but weakening against the large numbers assaulting him. My attack from the centre had a nice effect as the green (poor) Union unit at the end of their line routed (Nate had rolled an unfortunate 1 on the d10 dice employed by FnF - which ruleset use of the single d10 makes wide swings in one’s fortunes)
This rout would allow that attack would be effective but as often happens with wargames, real time will effect the battle and it was called. Both sides claimed victory.