John Brown attempts to capture Harper's Ferry

[ffrum]

These are photos from a Harper's Ferry game I ran in 2004.  John Brown and his men take the Arsenal at Harper's Ferry.  Civilian militia comes out to oppose him.  They are assisted by various local militia groups that arrive at various locations onto the 6 by 12 foot game board.  Brown holes up in the Arsenal firehouse with captives from the population of the town.

Part of Brown's men attack the rifle works on the hills above the town.  Another detachment of Brown's men move to capture George Washington's nephew and the heirloom sword of George in the nephew's house, east of town.   Brown and his men are assisted by approximately 150 revolting slaves in small bands (a non-historical addition to make the game interesting).

As game turns progress, there is fighting all across the town and at the rifle factory Arsenal in the streets.  The U.S. Cavalry arrives (with Robert E. Lee in blue) and finally John and his minions are unable to escape and are finally captures or killed.  12 players took 4 hours to complete the game.

[Lowtardog]

Lovely game

[skip]

really like your town

[Barry S]

Great looking game!

[traveller]

Cool!

No Marines included?

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Yes, the Marines (Dixon figures) were there (by train historically) along with Lee, but the cavalry also arrived.  I neglected to mention the important role the Marines played in attackiong the Firehouse and capturing John Brown in this game scenario.

Since I did not represent the train or tracks in this game, the Marines arrived on foot.  I did not have a suitable train at the time I built this game.  Since then I have purchased and invested heavily in the Dixon Miniatures locomotive and cars, built some cars of my own and converted them all to fit on purchased S-guage track. 

The attached photos are of the Dixon train in a Southwest, Post Civil War game with undefeatef Confederates that are still trying to fight the Union in Mexican town.
1. An overall view of the train arrival.
2. the Artillery car the Confederates are buying from the French in Mexico.
3. Another view of the train.

[traveller]

Wow!

[carlos marighela]

Good looking game and an unusual choice of subject matter. Seems it played out to the historical result too.

[Galloping Major]

What a fantastic set-up 


www.gallopingmajorwargames.com

[ffrum]

Thanks for the kind words on my John Brown/Harpers Ferry and Southwest Confederate (train) game described below. 

I was fortunate to have three friends over last night for a 28mm scale "Raid On the B&O Depot" scenario game.  The scenario is from the first book of Brother Against Brother skirmish level rules scenarios. 

Eighty elite Confederate cavalry in 8 squads, attacked sixty, veteran Union infantry and one cannon (added to the scenario OOB) at a train depot with the train attempting to load supplies to move to support a larger Union army.  There are 8-10 wagons transferring supplies to the train cars on a siding and the locomotive and tender and a flatcar already loaded on the main track in front of the depot and a water tower. 

The game board is 6' x 12' wth the depot at the Southeast corner.  The north and South edges are the 6' dimensions.  The train tracks run across the game panels from the Northwest corner, crossing to the East and turning directly South, reaching the depopt at the Southeast corner.  The playing area has some patches of trees and quite a lot of fence, a sunken road that runs from the North edge center to the Southwest edge, exiting the panel at about 6' South from the Northwest corner.

The six Union units deployed at the southern end of the board, on both sides of the track.  The 8 units of Confederate cavalry enter along the North board edge.  The Union infantry is musket armed.  The Confederate cavalry is armed with carbines.

The Confederates attacked Southward, first down the road and the railroad tracks right of way, to avoid fences.  But they were forced to attack across dismantled fences in the center of the board.

The Confederates were badly mauled by the infantry musket fire, but one cavalry unit broke through the Union defenses in the middle of the board and was able to burn the train and supplies.  The Union units were depleted with no reserves and dealing with small remnants of Confederate units still attacking from the North.  There were very heavy loses on both sides but the Confederates destroyed the supplies and achieved their objective.