Last Thursday my fairly regular wargame opponent, Steve, visited for a game of American Civil War (ACW) using his 28mm figures, along with some of my own that I have begun to paint. The game was based on a real battle, although not from the ACW, with the Union side defending a camp with a small force of infantry and cavalry, while the Confederates attacked with a considerable advantage in numbers. However, the Union was to expect reinforcements, which were diced for each turn, to help redress the balance.

There was a lot of cavalry in the scenario, but I wanted to do this as Steve has been busy painting them up and it was a good opportunity to have a lot of mounted troops on the table top. The Confederates side had six infantry regiments, two cavalry regiments and two batteries, while the Union began with one infantry regiment and two cavalry regiments, with four more infantry regiments and two more cavalry regiments arriving during the game, as well as an artillery battery. The table top is six feet by four feet, the rules were Rally Round The Flag, with extensive amendments by Steve.

The bulk of the figures are Steve's, but two Confederate infantry units were mine. I have been sitting on a half dozen boxes of Perry 28mm hard plastic ACW infantry for a few years with the intention of getting back into the period, but had kept putting off doing anything about it. I was suddenly inspired with the prospect of a game and quickly painted up some units. More are to follow! I really enjoyed painting the figures and it brought back happy memories of my first wargame plastic figures, the Airfix ACW Union and Confederate figures that I had some fifty years ago!

The game was a seesaw affair, with the Confederates winning in the end as the Union reinforcements were slow to arrive. But there was a lot of dismounted cavalry in action, which was really good to see. Anyway, enough chatter, here are some pictures of the game:

The battlefield with the Union camp at top right and a line of earthworks and logs as defence. The Confederates entered along the left edge beyond the small stream; Union reinforcements arrived from the lower edge, entering by way of the bridge on the right or a ford on the left.

The snake rail fencing was all made by Steve, as well as the telegraph poles.

The Union defenders can be seen deployed ready for battle.

The Confederates enter the field.

The Union cavalry dismounted quickly and harassed the Confederate right flank throughout the game.

The Confederates attacked the defended position in two waves; the first was repulsed, but the second stormed them and drove out the Union infantry.

The Confederate cavalry were quick to dismount and enter the fray on foot as well.

The Confederate regiment on the left has gone into open order, while the green counter indicates that they have gone prone as well.

One of Steve's Confederate batteries; a little diorama all by itself!

The Confederate left wing sweeps around to seize the Union camp.

The Union battery firing in support of their cavalry,

Plenty of Union infantry arriving, but a little too late to turn the tide.

The end of the action with the Confederates in control of the Union camp and

in a fairly strong position to repel any attack.