Civil War Campaign: Confederates

While moving through the area Ms. Elizabeth (Who Lt. Schneider had saved from deserters) purchased food from the locals and was warned of a strange man who had been sleeping in the Farm’s Barn for the past few days.

He had come to the farm shortly after the Battle of Manassas and many of the local women did not trust him.

After relaying this information to Captain Bell men were sent to detain the man and they did so. However before any interrogation could begin Yankee Troops made their way down the main road.

As the Confederate troops approached the Farm no one could tell them who owned the farm. It was apparently the property of a man now living in Texas who simply allowed tenants to live on it for rent and was a very distant landlord.

As the following report will show the farm became known by both sides as “Burns Farm”…..

The Two Confederate Forces make Contact with one Another and the Map Starts to Take Shape.

Apologies for the lack of content but I’m currently moving and it’s thrown everything out of whack.

Here’s a few pics of the set up so far and some of the latest minis I’ve painted up for the rest of the Campaign.

Following his victory Captain Bell moved along the road into the cultivated farmland unwilling to engage the enemy in a built up urban area where the enemy would have time to set up proper defences.

Meanwhile Captain Willaims followed his foe into the small farm north to the North, the lines were drawn for another fight between the two sides although Williams men are armed with muskets which could put them at a disadvantage in any long range shootouts.

Bell has lead his men across the river while Schneider is making gains on the flank although he might be too far away to make any real impact.

With a surge of energy Bell’s men stormed across the river and gave the enemy a deadly volley. His men took the return volley on the chin as the skirmishers moved to edge around the enemies flank.

Bell then launched his men into the enemy and following the advice of the great Jackson his men “yelled like furies” as they gave the Yankees cold steel.

They drove the Blue Bellies back but halted their advance to avoid enfilading fire from the skirmishers on the rocky knoll.

Schneider turned his men to face the foe and had them jump the fence before forming a line.

Schneider’s men unleashed a brutal volley almost wiping out the skirmishers on the knoll and wounding their leader.

Bell’s men took advantage of their secure flank and went back in with the cold steel driving the enemy even further back. Only the Union reserve could still operate as a coherent fighting force.

Seeing this Fallworth had his men pour more fire into the skirmishers and managed to drive them back through their own troops which put so much shock on them that they were forced to retreat.

Fallworth moved back around to flank the Yankee’s on their right, it was then that Jeremiah A. D. Wentworth the Third emerged from his cabin and began a dialogue with the Lieutenant.

Bell halted his force and secured their gains rather than pursue the enemy and risk unnecessary casualties.

The Confederates have crossed the river and won the day. All with only 6 men injured. 2 Dead and the rest wounded.

In the aftermath of the battle a Yankee Lieutenant was taken prisoner, he hasn’t given his name yet and seems to be in mostly good condition.

Jeremiah A. D. Wentworth the Third is a local farmer who has offered us his services as a guide. A veteran of Mexico he should prove very useful in the future.

The Union troops have fallen back to a nearby town. Now Captain Bell has to decide whether he will risk an urban assault or move around the Yankee’s rear and cut them off from their line of supply.

Let’s have a little fun. At the end of every Battle Report I’m gojng to include a little Trivia section. The first person to answer the question correctly will earn a point, who ever has the most points at the end of the campaign wins a certificate of accomplishment. Put it on your resume or something no one ever checks those things anyway. ?

First up a two part question. Two points up for grabs.

Who is the Confederate in this picture? Nickname/AKA/Real Name are all viable.

Which Battle is this picture depicting?

Hint: The actual event pictured here happened at night but the artist has depicted it during the day for artistic reasons.

Stone Wall, Confederate carrying multiple canteens, what’s that in the union soldier’s kepi?

Good Luck, and thanks for reading.

The Confederates were hastily searching for a viable ford by which they could cross the river, the bridge that was marked on their maps had been destroyed. Across the river Union troops took up positions among the cabins and fields forming an impressive hurdle for our brave Southern Soldier’s to overcome.

Captain Bell observed their activity for the better part of the afternoon until 4pm when the Confederates abandoned their search for a crossing position elsewhere and opted to wade through the river and take his craven Yankee boys head on.

Two things.

First these photo’s are staged but nothing in them is staged. I only had the idea to do this Campaign as a project in the last few turns and so we hadn’t taken any real pictures. These battles happened as you see them, luckily deaths, moments of bravery/cowardice and other meaningful events were all meticulously recorded for the campaign anyway so this isn’t a huge hurdle.

Secondly the table shown is only half the table, there was an extra two feet behind the Union players with fields and houses but it played no part in the game so was omitted for obvious reasons.

The Confederate Player had to cross the river but didn’t want to take on the Union troops dug into their positions in daylight. So I decided to give the Union player a choice, fight a defensive night battle or take the fight to the enemy by moving their deployment point forward the the sunken road. Wanting to get stuck in as soon as possible the Union player opted to make the crossing well and truly opposed.

As the Union skirmishers emerged from the sunken road the Confederate skirmishers entered the shallow river and exchanged some useless volleys back and forth as Schneider’s men made ground in their risky flanking move.

To the left of the Confederate centre is a small cabin and a gentlemen has emerged to watch the battle unfold, shotgun in hand of course.

Seeing his time Bell lead his men across the river as the Union troops rushed into a line.

Whoever fires the first volley will have a big advantage, will they follow it up with cold steel or try to win the volley fire war?

Captain Bell continued North along the road travelling to seize the major river crossing and deny it to the enemy.

Williams meanwhile cut off his opponents line of retreat by occupying a village that Union troops had quickly bypassed.

Not wanting to give the Confederates and breathing room Union Captain Marshall seized the opportunity and deployed his troops on the far side of the river to oppose any Confederate crossing. The river didn’t turn out to be as significant an obstacle as was previously thought. Confederate troops now had a difficult decision. Do they cross the river under fire from the enemy or do they attempt a forced march during the night and risk total chaos?

Lieutenant Schneider lead his force of Eight Men in the early pre-dawn hours to the camp of the Union deserter’s. The Deserters have taken a local woman hostage, for nefarious and comic book villainesque purposes no doubt, and the men aren’t about to let some Bluebelly Yanks run off with a daughter of Virginia.

The Deserters are spread out coming in from their picket positions. The Confederates have halted at a fence line where they are spotted by the Sergeant in charge of the deserters.

Schneider lead the bulk of his men behind a large rock where they harassed the enemy with fire while three men stayed by the fence.

The Confederate’s killed the Deserter Sergeant with their first shot allowing the captive woman to run to safety. Two deserters attempted to outflank them but where cut down by the men at the fence.

For the next few turns the two sides traded fire to no effect until all of a sudden three deserters fell in quick succession which prompted the Confederates to charge the final remaining deserter hoping to take him prisoner.

Rather than face the gallows or the cell the deserter took a final shot. He struck Lieutenant Schneider knocking him down and sending the rest of the Confederates into a murderous rage.

All in all it was a successful mission, no Confederate Casualties bar the lieutenant and the total destruction of the enemy. The woman that was saved returned to their camp with the remaining Confederates where Lieutenant Schneider was taken to the preacher for medical attention.

The lieutenant made a full recovery, the bullet passed straight through his shoulder leaving a clean wound.

The Woman is named Elizabeth and has agreed to accompany the Confederates until the area becomes safe enough for a Lady to travel home on her own.

In Campaign terms the Lieutenant continues to function as normal but must roll two dice and pick the lowest when making task rolls that require physical strength and can’t add his Status Dice to a combat.

Elizabeth has joined the Company, she can help wounded Leaders make a recovery and can assist with any delicate negotiations they might have to make.

This skirmish was fought using the Legends of the Old West Ruleset from Warhammer Historical.

Captain Bell followed the road north deducing that it would take him to an inhabited area sooner or later where he hoped to get more information on his spy while Captain Williams decided he would blaze a trail North through the Swamps hoping to catch the Federals before they’re ready.

The Players cannot see any more than I allow them to see and they don’t know where their allies are just to make it interesting.

There’s a “Fog of War” aspect where the players will not be able to actually see each other beyond a certain range.

Captain Bell’s Force consists of:

Leader Status III      (Bell)                                                   

Three Groups of 8 Infantry, Rifled Muskets

Leader Status II        (Schneider)                                                   

Three Groups of 8 Infantry, Rifled Muskets

Leader Status II         (Fallworth)                                             

Two Groups of 6 Skirmishers, Rifled Muskets

Captain Williams’ Force consists of:

Leader Status III         (Williams)                                                         

Three Groups of 8 Infantry, Muskets

Leader Status II          (Miller)                                                     

Two Groups of 8 Infantry, Muskets

Leader Status I          (Sergeant Williamson)                                                    

Two Groups of 6 Skirmishers, Rifled Muskets 

Leader Status II        (Hillsborough)                                                      

30 Confederate Militia 

Holy Man 

Mule Train 

During the Third Turn Captain Bell discovered a group of half a dozen Union deserters, armed and aggressive in a small camp hoping to make a break for freedom in the morning. After Mulling it over Captain Bell decided to dispatch Lieutenant Schneider with a force of Eight Men to apprehend the brigands. Taking his detachment out at Dawn the Lieutenant braced himself for combat.

Welcome!

It’s 1861 and following our Glorious Victory at Bull Run the Army has some serious work to do.

Unfortunately they can’t do it while Billy Yank is running away like a startled Jackrabbit so we’ve got to make sure that doesn’t happen.

There’s also the small matter of a Local spy selling information to the Federal’s, Captain Jeremiah A. D. Bell has been sent to apprehend him and bring him in so we can see if he’s motivated by Patriotism or Coin.

Accompanying Captain Bell are Lieutenants Schneider and Fallworth.

Captain Jeremiah A. D. Bell is a wealthy, young Southern Gentleman with a large stake in a profitable Silver Mine out West. However no true son of Alabama could rest easy in San Diego while his homeland suffers, so with much pulling of strings and natural charm he got himself a commission. He has managed to secure enough Rifled Muskets for all of his men.

Lieutenant William P. Schneider is a German Immigrant who moved to work on a farm in Alabama a decade ago. With hard work he purchased his own farm and settled down. When Alabama voted for Secession Schneider saw the way the wind was blowing and managed to get himself a commission in the State Militia based on some less than accurate stories about service in the Prussian Army. 

Lieutenant Milton H. Fallworth was a plantation overseer who lost his job when his employer freed all of his slaves upon his death. He sought out the bottle until news of Alabama’s secession created a place for him among the officers of the Confederate Army.

Captain Thomas P. Williams hasn’t been informed of the spy and is to instead dedicate his entire attention on smashing aside the Federal Rearguard and opening the path forward.

Captain Thomas P. Williams has left behind his wife, children and Law Practice in Mobile Alabama all for his love of the Great State of Alabama. After his first taste of combat he’s more committed than ever to the cause of Southern Independence.

With him are the former Army Sergeant and current Lieutenant Howard C. Miller and Lieutenant Johnathon R. Hillsborough.

Lieutenant Miller traveled South into Mexico (with the army he didn’t just go on his own) as a Bugler and spent the next few years barreling through the ranks. He still carries a Bugle into battle as a homage to his past.

Lieutenant Hillsborough “transferred” from the Navy after jumping ship in Mobile once the State seceded and put out the call for experienced men to become officers.