Author Topic: Battle at Johnstone's Ford (ACW) (Read 1953 times)

has.been · « **on:** 09 April 2021, 05:04:00 PM »

First Game in ages with a real human opponent (socially
distanced) not on a Zoom meet. Vodkafan & I played
ACW using Rebels & Patriots.
The view of the Yanks from Leelands House, south of the creek.
South Carolina & Battery Peter watch as Joshua Appletree, the
Union commander, marches the 51st Pennsylvania up AND down
the road. Managing to mask his artillery at the same time. This
is the, 'Thorn in the side of the Confederacy'

??
My battle plan is going better than I had hoped.
9th & 11th Virginia, supported by the dread Tiger Zouaves, all advance.
I, Dudley M. Du Bose, personally lead the Tigers.
Meanwhile Battery Peter prepared to fire.
Finally a view of the Union centre, anchored on the Johnstone house.

has.been · « **Reply #1 on:** 09 April 2021, 05:27:00 PM »

The battle begins with the South Carolina boys opening up on
8th Michigan, who despite hiding behind the stone wall next
to the Johnstone House, decide that discretion is the finer part of valour,
and retire to the next section of walling.
Next both Battery Peter & my dismounted Cavalry (Skirmishing on
my right flank) open up on a detachment from 12th Illinois, detached to
act as Union skirmishers. Heavy pressure is being applied on the uppity
Blue Bellies.
Then the gods of war had a little chuckle. Upon ordering the 11th Virginia
on my extreme left to advance to the creek, they first refused,
then turned & skedaddled! (I threw Double One !!!!! I followed this with a Three. = retire two moves = off table!). One third of my line infantry
gone without even firing a shot.
I believe I still have the advantage over Appletree (Vodkafan) so (sucessfully) order both the 9th Virginia and my Tiger Zouves to cross the creek.

has.been · « **Reply #2 on:** 09 April 2021, 05:41:57 PM »

Appletree brings the Pennsylvanians back again towards the ford.
Meanwhile dismounted Union Cavalry skirmish against the
9th Virginians. Not dangerous to me, more annoying (Local amendment
we don't allow skirmishers to fire unless using the skirmish action, i.e.
MAY move up to half a move, but fire at half effect. 6 dice not 12).
The 9th reply & the skirmishers start to retire, but by firing instead of
advancing I am losing the initiative.
In the centre the Carolinians are keeping the young men of Michigan
from advancing. Good enough for me. Then...
On my right as I throw to activate my skirmishers... another pair of ones!
The gods of war move it up to laughing. Again I follow the double ones
with a three, which results with my right wing following my left wing by
leaving the field while still at full strength!!!!!

has.been · « **Reply #3 on:** 09 April 2021, 06:02:24 PM »

Battery Peter, probably running low on ammunition, tries to support
the coming fight at the ford, but to little effect.
Even that idiot Appletree realises the key point in the battle is nigh.
He orders the 8th Michigan to move towards the ford.
In an attempt to drive off his skirmishers on my left flank, I throw...
DOUBLE BLOODY ONES< AGAIN !!!!!! (gods of war now guffaw loudly).
I consider I have no option, but to launch a charge against his artillery.
(Rule note. to reach them I need to throw 6 or higher with two dice.)
I throw FIVE!!!!!! Du Bose & the Zouaves (a unit that cost the price of
all of Vodkafan's Line units) is now standing just in front of Battery one,
Ohio state Militia. The gods of war start to wet themselves, Bastards.
My 12 figure unit takes 4 figures as casualties. We dice to see if Du Bose
is one of them, no surprise, he is. The shattered Tigers retire, only to
come under another murderous cannonade, four more fall.

KarwickWingmaker · « **Reply #4 on:** 09 April 2021, 06:06:27 PM »

Lovely game and report!

If I was playing ACW I would probably use Sharp Practice by Toofatlardies, does Rebels & Patriots have any particular selling points over that system?

Cheers

has.been · « **Reply #5 on:** 09 April 2021, 06:27:34 PM »

My:- left, & right flanks run away,
shock troops retreating,
Commander down,
The attack on the ford stalled.
It is now just damage limitation.
from somewhere battery Peter finds enough ammunition to persuade his skirmishers from Illinois to head back there.
The South Carolinians manage to convince the 8th Michigan to
stay low & avoid those 'Little red badges of courage', then (helped
by a double 6 on activation) pour a rain of death onto Appletree &
his Pennsylvanians...
Somehow he comes through it without a scratch!

I have to admit Appletree has won.
(Game over Dude! Much fun was had though)

Post battle & Appletree gained enough Glory to make it up to Colonel.
This means he is booted upstairs & I am rid of him, yippee!!!!
Du Bose was rescued by loyal troopers & will be fit enough for
the next battle.
All of this in just eight moves! I love these rules.

has.been · « **Reply #6 on:** 09 April 2021, 06:33:34 PM »

Quote

If I was playing ACW I would probably use Sharp Practice by Toofatlardies, does Rebels & Patriots have any particular selling points over that system?

Both are at the 'fun' & Hollywood end of the rules spectrum.
I like them both & have had enjoyable games with Sharp Practice.
I know the figure count is very similar, but I think of SP as a character
led adventure, while R&P I think of more as a unit centred game.
You pays yer money & you takes your choice.

has.been · « **Reply #7 on:** 09 April 2021, 06:44:03 PM »

As it hadn't taken me long to lose, what with Vodkafan having a
mighty army of 15pts, & me with just 25pts, we decided to go
for a rerun. I would play Union & James Confederate for a change.
Set up to be the same (saves time).
I had a cunning plan. As I now had the smaller force James would never,
I mean NEVER expect me to attack! I deployed nearly everything on
my left flank, only to find that was where the bulk of his troops were!
The gods of war continue to taunt me. More double ones! Oh they
really must hate me.
Short story = James won again.

vtsaogames · « **Reply #8 on:** 10 April 2021, 02:30:17 AM »

You need to sacrifice small animals to the dice gods.

I've played more than a few R&P games and didn't even know that you could have units just bolt off the table...

Harry Faversham · « **Reply #9 on:** 10 April 2021, 09:30:04 AM »

I tried to sacrifice Herself to the Dice Gods...
I rolled a dreaded big 1 = she nutted me and legged it!!!

has.been · « **Reply #10 on:** 10 April 2021, 10:08:10 AM »

Quote

I've played more than a few R&P games and didn't even know that you could have units just bolt off the table...

The 'Retreat!' result (Page 22. '...makes a double retreat move...')
will do it every time if you are near to your base line.

Quote

I tried to sacrifice Herself to the Dice Gods...
I rolled a dreaded big 1 = she nutted me and legged it!!

Harry Faversham · « **Reply #11 on:** 10 April 2021, 11:29:00 AM »

Great looking game, a collection to be proud of there.

vodkafan · « **Reply #12 on:** 11 April 2021, 10:46:40 AM »

Has.been has told it all, I shall just add some pics from the Union perspective for the first game:

Rebs are massing for an attack in the centre

Skirmishers confront each other on the Union left flank

The Rebs unexpectedly run!

A whole Reb unit runs on the right flank too!

Reb artillery does it's best to find targets

The Union commander Appletree, after marching indecisively backwards and forwards in front of his own guns for several turns, finally gets out of the way as the main Reb attack starts