Regimental Fire & Fury game played - Olustee 20th February 1864

Game at Stephens today (our first in 5 weeks !!) using Rgt F&F and a scenario contained in main rules Olustee set in Florida in 1864.

I was attacking with Rebs against his Yanks in an area of mainly open woods and swamps but with central area of open (ie killing) ground.

After a long catch up session (I was in England and he in USA) we managed to play through 5 turns with minimal queries easily resolved with this well written set.

So did not complete game but Rebs going to be up against it as Union had managed to deploy all its artillery backed up by a deadly unit armed with repeating rifles (these get double fire factors and a +4 to shooting if fresh !!), was going to a bloody advance (ala Mr Pickett) into teeth of this.

Do like these rules as they generate a nice flavoursome game and was great to back to gaming.

All kit from Stephens 15mm collection (the area enclosed by string is the open sector)

Ulster Wargames Society- Regimental Fire & Fury game 'The Sunken Road'

Club meeting today (held over from December) and I partook in a game of Regimental Fire & Fury run by Dave S using his terrain and 15mm troops.

Scenario was action at Sunken Road at Antietam.

Union attackers were led by Stephen, Dave B and myownweeself with Rebds commanded by Dave S and Billy.

Initial Union assault is led by mainly large Green units which are on hiding to nothing against 'dug in' Rebs with several Veteran units, so plan was to engage the sunken road positions with musketry (Rebs having mainly smoothbores gave Union range advantage with rifled types) and then to use reserves to turn Reb right.

And this is pretty much how it unfolded with Union in extended line essentially skirmishing against Rebs, until that is..........drum roll...............I got rush of fiery blood as usual and flung my Green troops in with cold steel  

They were predictably repulsed which saw Rebs, who now realised how impotent they were,  then emerge from sunken road to start chasing them off (but meant that Billy and I had some action other than firefight).

Dave B also launched several charges (Reb lines soften up better here with artillery support) with mixed but better results.

Stephen also charged with reinforcing Iron Brigade and other Union units and chunk of sunken road was captured forcing Reb reserves to that flank.

That how it stood when time called with things largely in balance but with both right wings folding.

Great game with good set of rules, although even after a full 11 turns played we had not fully finished game which is only real downside to F&F system.

Also at club were several other games (none of which I saw much of)

Usual Team Yankee game with Andy & Co (BAOR vs ?) 

A 28mm Sharps Practice game with two Jeremys and Bryn (and Mr A.N.Other ?) set in Italy during Revolutionary period. 

And a game of Blood Red Skies with Leslie, Paddy and Phil & son which looked like it was set in western desert ?

Regimental Fire and Fury game

Another ACW outing at Stephens this time using Regt F&F and a published scenario set in 1862 just prior to 2nd Bull Run (can't recall scenario name).

This saw me with a 2 Division force of Confederates (Crack or Veterans) attacking Union (included the tough Iron Brigade) through usual broken terrain.

Tale of game was dreadful execution by Union of the Rebs (dice demon in full flow - first 4 shooting rolls were 10,9,9 and 8 !!) throughout every turn with a couple of Reb units Swept completely From The Field (ie wiped out) and huge casualties suffered (stand losses 32 to 3 at end !!). 

Conversely the Reb shooting and combat rolls were mostly dire (only 2 tens rolled were Manoeuvre on one turn)

Despite being high quality and with more units eventually (Brigades arrived piecemeal due to crossing an off board rail cutting), the Rebs just could not withstand the Union artillery (including 1 off board) and the large Iron Brigade units (12 - 14 stands) lead by fierce Colonels.

We tried a slight amendment to rules relating to the Cold Steel bonus, in that only units lead by Brave Colonels or with a Leader attached could declare a cold steel charge otherwise they used the shoot and charge option. This worked fine.

I did attach a Brigadier to a Crack unit to charge but of course charge stopped cold by Union firepower and predictably the Leader killed, the Iron Brigade suffered no such issues and their charging was awesome destroying or routing several Reb units. 

Great fun with a very good set of ACW rules (one of my fav sets)

Rebs trying to gain foothold in field which was Key Position but have been swept away

Reserves arrive on Reb left into yet more effective Fed firing

Chaos in center as Reb reserves arrive just as front line units Rout through them to rear and Iron Brigade advances. Reb mixed batteries on right were ineffective throughout

Regimental Fire & Fury - 1864 group game

Game with the chaps at Mr Ps today using the ever reliable and enjoyable Regimental Fire & Fury with their excellent 15mm kit and terrain.

Scenario was adapted by Mr B from a Johnny Reb scenario and is set in 1864 during Shermans campaign although I believe it is a fictional encounter.

Mr P and I took Union with Mr B taking command of our reserve (nice to see him actually get to play for once) whilst John and Le Duc led the Rebs.

Situation is Rebs in defense along a stream/river with Feds attacking with superior numbers and quality (Feds all Veteran or Crack whereas Rebs had several Green units).

Union march on in columns along roads from their table edge under long range fire of Reb guns and muskets. 

Opening salvoes from Reb guns started a trend that was to continue for both sides to an incredible unabated amount ie the rolling of 10 and going low on ammo !

I swear easily 90% of engaged units ended up low on ammo (blue chits in pics) and indeed this is first time I saw use of ammo wagons in a F&F game (Union were able to replenish a couple of batteries)

I was in command of a large veteran Union Brigade under General who was of able status who died very early on (as did one of Mr Ps) being replaced by a less able chap (ie poor status) but thankfully this did not stymie my advance much due to good Manoeuvre rolls. 

My veteran Brigade of 6 units with 3 guns (just off shot) on Union left

Mr Ps Brigade on right (Mr B had another Brigade arriving after a couple of turns)

Still it took me a full six turns to get into attacking posture ie behind a extended line 'screen' with supported units.

Once I launched my charges it was a mixed bag with my units on left forcing Rebs back then carrying a defended wall on a hill but my units on right failing against a gun battery, then forcing it to retreat before being pushed back across the river by Reb counterattack.

Overall this right wing of Reb army was pretty well mauled but still able to resist

Mr P and Mr B took longer to get into engagement range and only managed to conduct one or two charges but the Reb commanders yielded as they thought their goose was cooked (I was not so sure) with losses in stands at 35 Reb and 37 Union. 

Another great game with F&F. We played I think 8-9 turns out a scheduled 12-13.

Rebs deployed along river bank guarding three bridges/fords

My Brigade begins to deploys from march

My guns are deployed to support advancing Brigade

Brigade has assumed attack formations, Rebs on my left have been forced back from river bank to wall on hill

My assault on hill and along road goes in and is successful

But am about to be repulsed on right side of road after forcing a gun battery to retreat by a Reb counter attack

View from Reb lines just prior to my crossing river

In center and right the Brigades of Mr P and Mr B approach river line

And later assault the river line

Rebs of Le Duc defending the Confederate left wing 

General overview of battle as my initial assaults begin and rest of Union army moves up.