Action at Sabo Springs

 A slightly rearranged tabletop battlefield here in GHQ for this week's game with Phil set in the War of 1812-15: Lord Rawnsley commanding the Crown's forces and Ol' "Retribution" Bykleigh commanding the forces of the United States. As usual here nowadays the rules in use are Black Powder 2, age and memory dictating this as much as preference. Just a few images from a tense game which swung one way and then the other over nine turns of play ~

Turn 1 and the only Americans on the battlefield are the US Rifles, supporting two batteries of artillery. As you can see Lord Rawnsley's command was rather more active! 

Turn 2 and a second US unit, a Volunteer Rifle regiment, arrived: oh joy, oh rapture! This is looking like a walk over for the Anglo-Canadians and no mistake!

Turn 3 and at last a Brigade of US Regulars, lead by the 1st Regiment, arrives to steady the Militia's nerve and take up a position on the left of the American line. All along the front the Anglo-Canadians have advanced briskly and the options for American action are severely constrained.

Turn 4 and the Anglo-Canadians have taken up a strong position on the American right, from the cover afforded by the fencing pouring fire into the US troops as they struggle to deploy into firing lines.

Turn 5 sees an indecisive struggle to dominate the centre around the farm buildings. The Anglo-Canadians are moving slowly but the American Militia cannot exploit the moment, being in some Disorder from heavy artillery fire from two batteries located on the far hills.

Turns 6 & 7 sees the action hotting up on the American right. Despite losses from fire and some Disorder the Americans' line is holding firm and exchanging lead with the enemy.

By Turn 8 the Americans are sensing victory despite the loss of the Regular Brigade on their left. The fighting in the centre is beginning to swing their way with two Anglo-Canadian infantry units Breaking under fire. Disorder though is rife amongst the Militia and that is hampering any efforts to exploit the opportunity.

Turn 9 sees the fortunes of war swing violently against the Americans when their large Militia Brigade holding the centre suddenly breaks and retires from the fight! {With too many failures to rally off casualties the individual Militia units were becoming Shaken from Anglo-Canadian fire.} With two of the three American Brigades now being Broken the army is finished and retires from the field, handing victory to Lord Rawnsley's command.

A grand game lasting just over two hours and demonstrating once again the unpredictability of the rules, which seldom fail to deliver an interesting and consuming encounter right up to the end. Next up in GHQ a game with Jon next week but we've not decided on what it will be as of yet.