Sedgwick's Charge - July 4th, 1863

 Following the bloody repulse of the Confederate attack that came to be known as Pickett's Charge, the Union corps commanders pressured Meade to "finish off" Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia to end the bloody war.  In our scenario, written by Scott Mingus, they get their way and Meade launches his last reserve, Sedgwick's VI Corps onto Lee's position on Seminary Ridge.

The game system is Johnny Reb III, 30:1 figure ratio, with a somewhat enlarged table to allow for a modicum of social distancing.  The game was unique that it featured a higher concentration of artillery than typically found in our pick-up games, and the use of light field works which are also a rarity.  Lee's force had ten brigades, four of which were rated elite, and massed artillery batteries.  Sedgwick likewise had ten brigades (one elite) and two massive batteries from division and corps reserve artillery.  Neither side could call for reinforcements during the game.

Looking across the field at the Confederate position on Seminary Ridge.

Length-wise view of the initial deployment.  

Seen from the Rebel left flank.  Bliss Farm smolders
in the center.

First casualty and "snake eyes," a rout. The first of many.

Turn two and the Yankees return the unlikely favor.

An unmodified roll of "ones" on two six sided dice results in a rout automatically.  Despite being just a few percent chance, it happened a great deal in our game.  Along with an abnormal number of double sixes.

A section of light field works opened up by another "snake eyes."

The Union side was required to spend several turns
bombarding the Confederate line.

Each side was operating massed artillery "battalions" with a slight edge in numbers for the Union.  The latter opted to roll as one for in theory, the greatest effect.  Unfortunately, both massed batteries managed to roll boxcars in the bombardment series of turns.  So while this gave out max damage to their target and an extra morale check for "unexpected devastation," it also meant they were out of ammunition!  This meant (as I ruled) that each element from the battalion had to go to a supply wagon to replenish, one at a time.  This had a HUGE effect on the softening up expected to the strong Confederate line.  Why we use dice I guess.

The Union left begins their advance.  More units, mostly
Union, rout from cannon fire.

R.E.Lee attached himself to a battery and devastated
the Union forces advancing.

Confederate view of the Union advance.  A very strong,
if thin line awaits.

Some brigades trying to minimize their time under
fire by advancing in column, a juicy target.

On the Union right, the Yankees clear the fence line
and expect the Rebels to attack.

Unknown to the Union commanders, a scenario specific rule was in place prohibiting the Confederates from advancing or attacking, except to regain lost ground.  Lee had frittered away enough men the day before and wasn't going to attack anywhere.

The Reb right awaits the onslaught.

The grand view from the Rebel lines.

Still waiting(?!) for the Rebs to leave their stone wall cover.

Union center, having whittled down some of the Reb
artillery, begins to advance.

A fine line of Yankees, colors proudly flying, attack.

And the Union right is left to hurl taunts.

In fairness, one Union brigade had lost 40% and by the rules could no longer advance.  Another would be in the same straights with one more lost regiment.  The 3rd was cowering from the R.E.Lee directed artillery fire.

Turn 10 the Reb right attempts to surprise the Yanks
with a big charge.  With disastrous results as shown.

The Reb center has been weakened and now a major
attack is brewing.

Left-center from the Union POV,

What a glorious sight.  Follow the colors!

Even the Union right advances, masking their grand
battery on Cemetery Hill.

"Knowing that when the fire came, so long dreaded,
it would be horrible."

The Union left continues to make progress and throws
in the reserve brigade to exploit.

Meanwhile, the band played on...

Flanked, and reduced below 60%, the Rebels crumple
on the Union left.

As the great exchange occurs in the center!

Looking down field you can see the Yankees are on
Seminary Ridge as the center rages on.

The smoke clears and the devastation is revealed.

More Yankees pour onto Seminary Ridge.

More volleys are exchanged in the center.

And the shattered remnants recoil.  Those that could.

With two turns remaining that could have been played, we opted to end the game with the utter destruction of the Union center.  The Union right was stymied, unable to advance and doomed if Lee ever released his flank.  The Union division in the center was beyond rallying or renewing the fight.  But the reloaded artillery park would keep the Confederates from getting too pushy.

The big question was the Union left.  The scenario called for them to penetrate into the woods on Seminary Ridge and hold for a major victory.  Lee was starting to shift forces to push them out but with only two turns left to play it is questionable whether they could.  Though extremely costly, I judge it a minor Union victory.  Lee will not retire unmolested as he did in real life.

Thanks to all who played in good humor despite the scenario requirements and/or limitations.  One of our favorite periods and game systems, I can reasonably say a good time was had by all.

Blood in the Sand

 A mixed coalition force disembarked from the River Witch and quickly dispersed a Mahdist force and prepared to march inland.  Their mission: to recover hostages held in the distant village or mosque.  To complete the job the "army" was composed of Royal Police, US Marines, German sailors with an Askari unit, and traditional British regulars.  The well-armed River Witch retained her crew for protection.  Rules are the classic The Sword and the Flame with 25/28mm figures.

It is a long trek across the table to the distant village.

While the mission seemed straight-forward enough, there was a kicker.  One of the coalition contingents had been bought off with the promise of gold and a tiny kingdom of their own.  Each of the four coalition players drew a card, the secret holder of the joker could time their treason at their own choosing.  Their mission, to make sure lots of prisoners fell into the hands of Osman Dinkus, the fourth Dinkus to hold the title recently.  (Big family, all bullet magnets.)

The Royal Police in the foreground and Marine squares beyond.

The objective and the worried prisoners.

At an early point a unit of swordsmen boiled out of cover and attacked a British square.  Gunnery dropped some, others became stragglers and some would not close, but one warrior persevered!

Bad picture, but he cuts his way through most of the square,
only being stopped by their officer, he alone retiring unhurt.

Elsewhere, another sword unit emerges from cover to
attack the lead Marine square.

Their charge comes up short, and then....

All paused with bated breath, expecting the American rifles to decimate the Jihadists.  But to their suprise...

Oops.  Lucky me.  I chose to reveal now since my
square had multiple coalition targets available.

Some helped double-team the Germans and Egyptians.

Centrally located, they took and gave a lot of fire.

Despite movement phases being cut short twice by flipping
jokers, the rallied hero charges again!  Eventually shot down.

Other Mahdi units hit the Egyptians as the Marines
fired into the melee.  Oh well.

A few survived that onslaught, only to be gunned down.

The German officer and one other drag wounded past
the British regulars who have fared well.

A laggardly pursuit happens as the coalition forces
seek succor.

Seeing the field littered with dead and wounded, the
Americans stand fast the rest of the game.

Amid good-natured ribbing, I did point out that it was the 4th of July weekend so I was just replicating shooting redcoats from 100+ years before!  The Mahdi units could pursue and I collected my own wounded and dead.

All the survivors converge on the safety of the River
Witch, defeating another sword unit along the way.

But wait, another surprise!  (Not really.)  The ship's crew
has been neutralized and the best cannon manned.  The
other two cannons had been dumped into the river by the
crew before being struck down.

Osman Dinkus rides forth at the bow!

And is promptly shot down by the enraged British.

And so the survivors recaptured the River Witch, taking no prisoners, and escaping with their shocking tale of treachery and deceit.  No doubt protests will be lodged at the appropriate embassies and reprimands issued, but in the end the Mahdist cause continues another day.  One other friendly fire incident took place and needs to be noted though.  As the Mahdi tried to swarm a British square the nearby German officer fired into the melee "to help," striking down a redcoat.  After seeing off the swordsmen, the British returned fire, ineffectively.  Though no more fire occurred, Lt. Baker-Baker, later Major General Baker-Baker, was heard to say "there will be a reckoning.  If not in this century, then the next."