Last week was an ACW week in my roster of wargaming activities, so with awful weather prevailing outside, I decided to have a small game to try out Neil Thomas' ACW rules from his book "Wargaming: An Introduction". I have had this book for quite a few years, but have never used any of the rules. However, I find I am drawn more and more to the simpler, quicker rules of the old days - which is Mr. Thomas' style of rules - when it comes to solo-play, so I thought I would give them a trial. I also wanted to develop a sort of mini-campaign by being able to carry on from one game into another one,

The scenario has a Union cavalry brigade holding a bridge and farm at a key crossroads, somewhere out on the far left flank of their main line. The Confederates have decided to launch a probing attack to secure the bridge and crossroads, preparatory to a flanking move against the Federal main line. The Confederates start with one infantry brigade, but will get reinforcements, as will the Union cavalry. Each side would have twelve units in all, giving a reasonable size encounter.

The rules have a different basing system from my 28mm armies, but not enough to worry about. So each infantry regiment has four bases (16 figures total), each cavalry regiment four bases(8 figures total) and each artillery battery is a single base with model gun and crew. I added generals because I always think they are important, but their role was to help with rallying and morale (my own amendment), not command ranges, etc. In fact, as the game progressed, I made several adjustments to the rules because it gave a better "feel" to them for the ACW, but otherwise I kept pretty well to the basic rules. Turns are IGO-UGO in approach.

I enjoyed the game very much as it was fast-paced and pretty realistic, as far as I can tell from my knowledge of the ACW. The Confederates ended up winning, though I thought that the Union were going to hold the objectives quite successfully, as their reinforcements turned up promptly. The Federals retreated off the table to the west and I now have another game to play as the Confederates exploit their success. I did add several amendments to the rules in the end, but none that I thought detracted from the original spirit, which is always important when altering a set of rules.

Here are some photographs. Artificial light owing to the gloomy weather, so the pictures are not quite as clear as usual.

The battlefield, 4 feet by 3 feet, the white counters marking out

 the one foot squares for putting on the scenery. Rather more terrain features than the rules expect, but you cannot play ACW without snake rail fences and lots of woods.

The Union cavalry brigade - one dismounted regiment at the bridge, one mounted in reserve at the crossroads, plus their commander, Brigadier General Colley.

Here come the Confederate first brigade, led by Brigadier General Higgins. Four regiments plus a battery. The rules do not allow for columns, but the game was not going to work without having them, so I adjusted accordingly, but only for movement, not combat.

The leading Confederate unit shakes out into line. Firing and mêlée is in line only in the rules.

A die role decided that Higgins sent his other two regiments into the woods to the north of the road. To try and overcome the drawback of playing both sides, I decided to roll a die for tactical decisions by the brigade commanders, keeping it simple - odds or evens to do or not do something, or a maximum of three options, 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, or weighted if one decision was the most likely.

The firing begins and the Union cavalry, being out of range, get the worst of it. All units can only shoot when stationary in the rules.

Back came the Union cavalry from the bridge, while the other regiment dismounted and moved off to the left of the farm.

The Confederates pressed forward to seize the bridge and line of hills as their artillery moved up in support.

Luckily for the Union, their reinforcement roll was successful on Turn 4 and on came their first brigade, waved forward by Brigadier General Farthing.

Higgins' brigade is well deployed and moving forward, with only the Union cavalry to worry about.

At this point, making a roll to decide if Higgins would press on, he decided to stay where he was and wait for his reinforcements as more Union troops rushed towards the crossroads.

The Union cavalry have moved to the left, holding the bridge to the north of the farmhouse, clearing the way for the infantry.

The Confederate line erupts in musketry and artillery fire. Higgins might be staying put, but he was certainly not going to let the Federals escape punishment.

Farthing starts deploying his brigade along the fence by the road.

But he also sends a regiment into the field behind as a reserve.

Confederate musketry forces one Union regiment out of the line, but the reserve is moving across. Units only test morale when they lose a base (four hits) and if they fail, they must retreat a full move. However, they can rally bases back.

The second Union brigade enters the table, again another good roll for reinforcements, this time Brigadier General Grout is in command. Both Federal brigades had four regiments and a battery.

The Confederates had a successful reinforcement roll on Turn 8, which brought Brigadier General Crockett on with his three regiments brigade.

A bit of a shambles in the Union centre, with units having fallen back owing to poor morale results from the very effective Confederate musketry and artillery fire.

Crockett's die roll made him decide to go left and move against the Federal right wing.

Crockett's brigade heads across the stream, prior to deploying for an attack.

The Union having fallen back opposite his right wing, Higgins decided to send forward his two regiments on that side.

The Union cavalry regiment which had been forced to retire, decides to shift left and support the other one across the stream.

Grout starts to get his brigade into position along the road, while Farthing is trying to rally his disordered units and shift to the left.

Higgins' right wing halts abruptly and starts musketry up again as the Union line reorganises, while Crockett starts to deploy for action.

The Confederate third brigade - three regiments and a battery - under Brigadier General Varley has arrived on the table in column behind Crockett's men.

Long range musketry from the Union line tries to disrupt the Confederate plan.

Crockett waves his men forward on the left as Higgins' regiments fall back from the bridge.

Into the attack, Crockett and Varley push their men forward over the stream,

but in a rather disjointed fashion.

The first Confederate charge goes in, but under the rules the defence always gets to shoot, which rather reduced the attackers. Mêlée is by base, but I gave the Union a bonus for being behind the fence, which saw the Confederate attackers repulsed. 

The Union line blazing away with musketry as the Confederates get more organised, especially Varley and his units. In the distance, Higgins has decided, wisely, to advance as well in support of his other two brigade commanders, pinning down the Union troops on that side.

The charge goes in.

Success for the Confederates, who break a Union regiment and secure the fence line.

The Confederates manoeuvre to threaten the Union regiments on the flanks of the breach.

Slightly out of sight behind the farmhouse, Higgins' combined Zouaves regiment gets across the stream and rushes the farmhouse.

All going wrong for the Union as their line begins to give way under pressure, although Grout's battery keeps up a brave defence.

Grout closes his line to the left, trying to hold onto the crossroads.

Higgins now throws the rest of his brigade forward against the Federal left as Crockett and Varley get ready to launch a full assault across the road.

Varley's battery joins the fray.

End of the game (the table was needed for dinner!), but with the Confederates clearly in the best position, having secured the bridge and the farmhouse and on the verge of getting the crossroads, while several Union regiments have already retreated off the field.

The original map (randomly prepared) for the game is marked in dark purple. The Union lines of retreat suggested that the next game would take place to the west, which Farthing and Grout have retreated towards. I think I will allow the Confederates a fresh brigade so they can press their advantage, but with the Union side being reinforced as well, possibly by more infantry from the south, or maybe the cavalry coming back from the north?