Meandering along in The Valley, 1862

A return to the ACW for the most recent game here in GHQ and another tussle for advantage in the loose campaign of connected battles set in The Valley. Once more Ol' Useless S Bykleigh attempts to improve his faltering reputation and overcome his Reb nemesis, "Railfence Robinson"! The dramatis personae ~

"Railfence Robinson" scourge of the Union!

Useless S Bykleigh, hero of many a defeat!

The tabletop battlefield here in GHQ: the Rebs advance from nearest the camera: with two brigades of infantry and a supporting battery of Napoleons; the Union from the far side, again with two brigades of infantry and a supporting battery, of Whitworth rifled artillery pieces in their case. Both sides have reserves expected to arrive sometime after Turn 3. The game length is set at 12 Turns using Black Powder Mk2 rules with some additions from the Glory Hallelujah supplement.  On to the unfolding action through means of the usual annotated photomontage ~

Looking along the Rebel lines, the Turnpike in the distance giving the Rebs an opportunity for a rapid advance. Their supporting battery poised to pound any foolhardy Union advance!

The Union disposition is more compact, relying on the wooded terrain to cover their right as they advance to deny the Rebs control of the Turnpike.

The Union advance is slower than Ol' Useless desired in Turn 1...

...while the Rebs make good use of the firm going along the Turnpike!

Plans seldom survive first contact with the enemy! In Turn 2 the Union brigade on their left encounters Rebs advancing smartly down the Turnpike before all the regiments are in position. The brigade on their right is diverted to cover a threat they had not expected. Confusion of orders slows down their redeployment. 

The Rebs have advanced confidently on their left, maintaining the brigade's cohesion. The leading regiment on the Turnpike runs into the advancing Union before they can deploy into line. A brisk but uneven firefight sees the Rebs shaken by losses.

Their supporting regiments in the brigade are not able to immediately offer support, being some distance in their rear. Perhaps they stopped to draw water from the old well?

Turn 3 sees the battle lines shaking out. Both sides are getting into position to engage the enemy all along the front line, though the Rebs on their left are not yet fully deployed. Coming under fire their ranks are somewhat depleted and disordered.

Union troops pour volleys into the advancing Rebs on their left. Losses and disorder have hampered the Rebs getting into firing lines.

The 55th New York hammer the Rebs' leading column on the Turnpike. Losses are severe and they break, retiring  to the rear Whipped! First blood to the Union!

The expected reinforcements for neither side arrived in Turn 4! In Turn 5 the Union gained three regiments, arriving on their left flank where they might be able to add weight to the Union's efforts to throw back the Rebs.

As firefights errupt all along the lines you can see in the far distance only one Reb regiment from their expected reinforcements has arrived in Turn 4! In this portion of the battlefield Ol' Useless feels he may be getting the upper hand.

Despite losses and disorder though the Rebs are steadily shaking out into line and begining to hurt the Union troops in their turn. Where are the reinforcements though is their most urgent question?

Neither side has gained a decisive advantage, despite exchanging repeated volleys at close range. Both armies are suffering far fewer losses than expected, prolonging the firefights and detering either side from closing with the cold steel!

The Union battery of rifled pieces roars out time and again causing some disorder but inflicting no losses on the enemy!

The Reb battery of Napoleons answers back, again to little effect. Retraining must be high on the agenda of both formations when the battle is done!

The Rebs are unable to shake the resolve of the boys in blue, despite trading volley for volley with them. Losses mount for both sides but neither gives way.

Union regiments on their right emerge from the woods to surprise the Rebs and threaten to turn their flank. They respond by refusing their flank as the Union take too long to close and loose the element of surprise. 

Union losses are mounting and one regiment breaks, falling back Whipped for two moves and exposing a gap in the lines as a result. Can the Rebs take advantage of this Turn of events?

Fighting is at Close quarters on the Reb right. Their volleys have the desired effect in halting the Union advance in its tracks!

On the Reb right more reinforcements have arrived and waves of troops stand ready to close with the thin Union line where the boys are clinging on despite losses!

The thin blue line! The Union left is under great pressure but stubbornly clings to the fence lines, trading volley for volley with the enemy! Another regiment can hold its position no longer, falling back Whipped. Where are the reinforcements needed to shore up the line?

They are arriving in the nick of time in Turn 9 is the answer! Volleys crash out from both sides of the fence line. Shells soar over the masses of troops, but neither side will flinch and give way to the enemy.

The Union advance on their right has forfeited the element of surprise and allowed the Rebs to reform and reposition their flanking regiments.

In the Union centre the Rebs finally drive back the regiments which have clung on so tenacious. In Turn 10 it seems that the tide of fortune has switched to the Reb cause...

They are unable to exploit the yawning gap due to the disorder and losses in their ranks. Ol' Useless rushes to plug the line and the opportunity is lost. Turn 11 sees no sign of either side breaking, though losses have mounted steadily and disorder is widespread.

Turn 12 sees night falling on the exhausted men in the ranks of both armies. The Union can claim a very narrow win in the end as the Turn concludes with two Reb brigades retiring Whipped to one Union brigade. 

A hard fought encounter and a highly enjoyable way to spend a few hours with a friend. Not to mention the excellent lunch laid on by Sue. Next up should be an AWI game with Paul providing the opposition on Thursday week. Meanwhile, back to painting more Württemberg-Oels Dragoons for the Danes in the War of the Spanish Succession project.