James and Scrivs' Longstreet Campaign

[smirnoff]

Thank you HM
Is it a robust/simple campaign system? A brief overview would be great if you have the time.
And is it integral to the rules or a supplement?

[Grimjack]

All part of the main rulebook, a great 'Grand Campaign' systems, although you need the cards (which you need for the game anyway) to really make it work. If you check out the Honour website at www.sammustafa.com, it not only gives you an insight into the rules but you can also download 'Longstreet Lite', the diet Coke version of the main system.

Or you could check out the Wargames Illustrated article in the March issue (out 28th February) which offers a bit of a comparison between the game and Across a Deadly Field.

[H.M.Stanley]

What he said ...

[H.M.Stanley]

Our first game yesterday.

Barksdale drew  "A Friend in the State House" as his Character, Paul's  is a Scout. Both have already made their presence felt during the game and in the post - game sequence.

Expect something shortly, dear readers, on Scrivs' blog

[scrivs]

Great game, I hope to update the blog at lunchtime.

[scrivs]

I have made a start and done the biography for Colonel Thaddeus P. Scrivener and some of the troops in his Brigade.

http://scrivsland.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/colonel-thaddeus-p-scrivener-and-xith.html

[scrivs]

So here is the report of the Battle at Woodwards Farm that took place on 14th September 1861. Rebels have advanced into Kentucky and formed positions around Woodwards farm, can the brave Colonel Thaddeus P. Scrivener repel them?





As usual more pictures and commentary on the Scrivsland blog

[scrivs]

Following on from the Union victory at the Battle of Woodwards Farm on 14th September 1861 both forces marched and counter-marched but neither side managed a clear advantage.

Despite the excellently executed flanking manouver and great heroism leading his troops Colonel Thaddeus P. Scrivener remained without recognition. However, his following his mismanagement of the Confederate forces Barksdale was inexplicably elevated to the rank of General following the debacle. That scoundrel obviously has friends in high places.

XI Brigade entered winter quarters outside the town of Barbourville in Knox County. However, disaster struck, an outbreak of Influenza decimated the troops in the camp leaving hundreds dead and incapacitated. No retrospect of rank was shown, and Scrivener was laid low for several days, his beloved Victoria was summoned to the camp as the worst was feared.

Come early spring 1862, Scrivener had recovered and some influence had been at play as he was rightly elevated to General rank. The howitzer from 12th Battery Ohio Light Artillery was replaced. Further support was also forth-coming, the newly raised 5th West Virginia joined the brigade and Battery H, 5th U.S. Artillery comprising two 3" rifles and an howitzer were added.

The campaigning season for 1862 was about to start.

More here: http://scrivsland.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/the-1861-influenza-epedemic.html

[H.M.Stanley]

Lies,  lies and damn Yankee  propaganda!

My brave boys performed  magnificently, magnificently i say, in the face of vastly superior  numbers.

Hampton's 1st North  Carolina Cavalry reported a host of blue bellies advancing from the North. As ordered  by my Divisional Commander,  we held our position,  once the enemy had been sited and  I called together the Brigade. The 18th Mississippi were some way away and had hard marching ahead. March to the sound of the guns, that's  my motto.

I deployed the 13th and 17th  Miss. around what i now know to be Woodward's Farm. There was some talk by the Regiments' Colonels of deploying further forward but i would hear none of it. No Sir! Having the Battalions' fanny sticking out in mid air crouching behind walls is not how J. D. Barksdale wages war. It's  all very well for these military types and their experience of fighting Mexicans and Indians, but i have the smarts see?  I have read Cesare,  Napoleon and everything my dear General P.G.T (we call him Tips   ) Beauregard has written on the subject.

Manley's Artillery was deployed on the left of the infantry with the cavalry in reserve.

I had anticipated the Union Commander, Colonel Scrivener's [never trust a short man, brains too near to his bottom!], feint to the front and attack though the heavily wooded area to the East but i needed time for the Fightin' 18th to support our position. "Time gentlemen time", its all i hear these days. Yessir.

And it almost worked too! The 13th and Manley's Artillery were tore up pretty badly but bravely held their positions. Again and again the 13th went in with the bayonet but those cowardly northern plough boys just hid in the woods.

I shall however be having a word with Hampton. I shall give the boy the benefit of the doubt, on account that his Daddy and i are members of the same Gentlemen's Club in Richmond, but my orders to charge, and support the 13th,  were not carried out and the cavalry made some strange manoeuvres during the battle.  Strange, y'hear?

The 18th arrived not a moment to soon and we almost had the yankees in a pincer movement on our left flank. However, night was coming and i was receiving ....

[H.M.Stanley]

... reports of more yankees in the distance.

I would gladly die for the Glorious South's cause but i simply must preserve the Brigade for the greater good of the Confederacy.

And with that I ordered the Withdrawal.  

As I was saying only yesterday to the Senator over a passable brandy, I must have more men if i am expected to kick those yankees out of Kentucky.

Modesty prevents but i should not be at all surprised if I was promoted to Brigadier General shortly. The Senator was effusive with his congratulations for a job well done

[H.M.Stanley]

Longstreet campaign:

I managed to avoid the post game trauma that so affected Scrivs troops but damn all that artillery already!

I was promoted and have a 2nd Eagle with 6 Epic Points, mostly for valiantly charging my troops in, whether it was a good idea or not*

13th Miss. Seasoned/Recruits - 7 Bases [they took a battering and will be less inclined to get stuck in in future]

17th Miss. Eager / Recruits -  9 Bases

18th Miss. Eager / Recruits - 8 Bases

Manley's Artillery - 1 x Howitzer  [a lucky pot shot on Counter Battery fire, plus desperate fighting in the front  line, puts these on the back foot]

1st North Carolina Cavalry - Seasoned/Recruits  7 Bases

1st South Carolina Cavalry  [NEW] - Eager /Veterans 9 Bases (Huhaw!!)

In the Campaign Cards section of the post battle process, i drew CS Replacements, Confederate Cavaliers, CS Replacements and Hail to the Chief. All but Cavaliers were Red Top cards and can only be applied once to each unit. It meant that each non artillery regiment increased in size by one base. Hail to the Chief would normally have resulted in one of the now Seasoned units reverting back to Eager, but alas was a wasted card.

All in all the Confederates are in reasonable shape but i will need to manage the Union artillery

* The aim of the Longstreet campaign is the personal glory of the CO by accumulating the highest number of Epic points. To quote from the RB "... Methodically shooting your enemy is a good way to win battles, but raising your hat and shouting "FollowMe, Boys!" is how you get in the papers and the history books. "

[scrivs]

Both armies had marched for many miles, countermarching again and again to secure the best ground. Finally, battle was forced, Scriveners Union troops lined a ridge and awaited the Confederate onslaught. Unfortunately, a severe rainstorm storm blew up and after it was clear that battle would not be joined that day both sides withdrew without a shot being fired!

Whoops, one of us had forgotten to bring a Longstreet deck

So we played a couple of games of Dead Mans Hand instead.....

[H.M.Stanley]

[Walks off whistling with hands in pockets ...] 

[Ray Earle]

Looking great gents. Loving the backstory too. 

[scrivs]

That scoundrel Barksdale was finally brought to battle yesterday evening on Smiths Heights.

Another stunning victory against those southern rebels, although I am sure that Barksdale will be along shortly with a tale of derring-do.



Going into their quarters the Union troops fared much better than last time with only a small outbreak of cholera. Neither Scrivener nor Barksdale were deemed worthy of a promotion this time, despite many futile attempts at glory by that scoundrel.

Looking forwards to the next one.

More Union Propaganda over on Scrivsland: http://scrivsland.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/the-battle-of-smiths-heights-24th-march.html