American Civil War Game Camp Ambush

Hello There! The first game of the year was around my wargaming friend, Adrians. The game scenario was based on a Paraguay war battle. There the camp was subject to a surprise attack and the small force defending the camp fought hard while hoping their other forces , who were across the river to the right, would come to their aid.

The commander with these forces merely sat down and basically ignored the noise of battle. 

Here the reinforcements for the camp defenders were diced for at each move to see if they arrived and then the player on that side could decide if these forces could enter at the bridge, near the camp, or at a ford at the other end of the table.

Here is the table. The camp on the right is manned by a small Union force and they have thrown up a quick defensive wall to their front. The Confederates have entered the table to the Union front and right. The Confederate advance on the flank is slowed by a number of fences while their force in the centre is moving into the open.

This unit of cavalry started on the table and soon hurried off to the left to try and stem the tide of rebs entering the table.

While on the other side of the table Confederate cavalry advanced over the fences on the Union right.

Here the Union camp guard await the attacks of the enemy.

The Union troops have the camp to their rear and are watching the enemy advance.

Following the cavalry up, the rebs had infantry to back them up and take the position.

Here there is a better view of the advancing sessionists.

After a couple of attacks the Union camp guard were pushed back as the Confederates managed to get over the defences.

Meanwhile the Union help started to appear and move towards the flank of the attackers.

On the Union right, Confederate infantry had started to reach the borders of the camp. Here the fist five companies of the Hampton's Legion are at the front.

The camp guard continued to get pushed back further into their camp but still remaining in some sort of order to slow the enemy advance.

Reinforcements increased as a number of infantry units turned up one after another. They could get along the road quickly but then had to climb the hill with the impromptu defence on it. By the time they arrived the defence had been lost but they also had to  change formation.

This unit had its first game on the table and were the 29th Massachusetts Regiment. 

At the back of the table two units of Union cavalry entered the table at the ford and joined the other cavalry that started on the table. The dismounted and engaged the Confederates. They stopped one battalion advancing and occupied some artillery and cavalry as well.

As you can see the camp defenders were outflanked but could not face the new threat as they were still engaged from the front. 

Another piece that was on the table for the first time was the Union Forge. They decided to move as the enemy broke through the woods.

Here are the rebel cavalry who engaged the Union cavalry who came in from the flank.

The Union cavalry joined together to push the Confederate infantry back. They sought the cover of a fence line and then pulled back further to come under the protection of a battery of artillery that was on a ridge behind.

Coming to the end of the game the Confederates had fresh troops moving through the camp while the Union had troops forming up on the end of the defences on the ridge.

At the end of the game the remaining forces were starting to form up against each other on the hill over the camp. The camp was irretrievably lost.

This was a lovely game which with using 'our' rules provided a close game. The table was a little smaller than we usually use but this was no barrier to the game.

Further photographs and report are on Adrian's blog here.