Battle of Fort Donaldson

[Westbury]

Another foray into the ACW, this time early war -  Fort Donelson February 1862, one of those gloriously inept battles often used to to signpost Grant's early 'genius' but more a case of squabbling confederates handing the victory to him.
In brief three confederate generals, Floyd, Pillow & Buckner, trapped in Donelson, passed the command between them as each sought to avoid the censure of being the man to loose an army in a place it shouldn't be in.
The battle started on the morning of the 15th with Pillow driving off McClernands division and securing the road to Nashville and the escape route for the army, bizarrely they then retreated back into the fort! Even more bizarrely Grant had been absent from his command all morning so his subordinates had fought three separated engagements without any senior direction and it wasn't until the afternoon when Grant returned and the confederates had gone back to where they came from that the Union got it's act together and launched a strong co-ordinated attack that bottled up the confederates who were subsequently forced to surrender.
We fought our game based on a supplement to another set of rules which saw us deploying a single large brigade with significant artillery support spread thinly along one base edge as the fortifications of Donelson and then two divisions of infantry and a detached cavalry brigade along their left table edge as the break out force. The Union had guns deployed on some heights on their left centre supported by two brigades awaiting orders and McClernands division bivouacked around a farm on the centre right; reinforements were pre planned in at various times in the game, significantly a big division arriving on the road that led straight up the left table edge to the confederate positions, Grant himself in the centre to re-establish the chain of command and another brigade for McClernand.     

[Westbury]

The battle started with both sides booming away with their artillery while the Confederate left started it's attack - they were given a weak chain of command in order to simulate the confusion of the day and this was added to by the Union sniper (one per side) picking off a divisional commander and a brigade commander which slowed the advance.
At the farm & woods McClernand held on, particularly when his reinforcing brigade turned up and reinforced the position.
On the Union far left the reinforcing division arrived and began it's six foot march up the road and in the centre Grant arrived to establish a functioning chain of command.
The artillery duel gradually favoured the Union and several Confederate guns were put out of action which was important when the reinforcing division broke through the split rail fencing and deployed into line of battle.
Back on the Union right the Confederates lost their cavalry brigade but still thought they'd made it when the Union brigadier commanding in the wood fell and his brigade broke but the farm and corn field held out and it transpired the Confederates themselves were to weak to continue - mainly due to one Union battery that stood to it's guns until the last delivering round after round of canister.
Finally, back on the Union left the lead brigade of the reinforcing division assaulted the earthworks and carried them; Fort Donelson was theirs and the rebels had not broken out.

[Tomsche]

Great looking table and it seems a fun battle not often seen recreated.

[FifteensAway]

Nice to see the recreation on the gaming table of a Union Victory that stayed a Union victory on the table.  Who was it that won that war again, which side?  Seems some gamers have forgotten sometimes.   

[Digits]

Fifteens - Pointless playing if you know which player is going to win mind!  Isn’t the whole purpose of these games to see if there is a chance of reversing history, or exploring alternate endings or routes to victory?

Anyway, a great looking game!

[FifteensAway]

Digits, you are correct in that we don't want predetermined games but far too often I see ACW games that are pretty much foreordained for rebel victories.  Maybe it's the climate here in the states these days.  My own ACW collection sat fallow for a long time after I realized to what extent ACW interest, overall not just gaming, was sustained by hangers on to the whole lost cause thought process.  I expect that problem isn't as severe for UK gamers.  And, yes, lovely game.

[has.been]

Another good show Ian & Dave.

[Bloggard]

Digits, you are correct in that we don't want predetermined games but far too often I see ACW games that are pretty much foreordained for rebel victories.  Maybe it's the climate here in the states these days.  My own ACW collection sat fallow for a long time after I realized to what extent ACW interest, overall not just gaming, was sustained by hangers on to the whole lost cause thought process.  I expect that problem isn't as severe for UK gamers.  And, yes, lovely game.

interesting observation FifteensAway. I suspect that a rather romanticised attachment to the confederates is not so uncommon outside of the States either, wargaming-wise.
But regardless, great looking game. ACW games are one the classic mainstays of the hobby, aesthetically speaking, and yours, Westbury, looks like it does that tradition full-justice.
Some more pics of the whole table (or so) would be great!