4 Oct 2009 Scenario 36: Night Attack-1

This game was played solo using 1/72nd 19thC fictional armies using Hearts of Tin. 

In order to get more games going, I decided to bring back some smaller figures and a few scraps of terrain and set up another small (4x5)  gaming table at the kennel. One of my old 15mm armies seemed like the obvious choice but I've just started work on some 20mm plastic RCW and have been casting a nostalgic eye on some Airfix ACW figs I painted up 25 years ago  during an earlier nostalgic bout, soooooo ...... 

It is 1863 and civil war is raging in Oberhilse. A brigade of Republican troops in their blue uniforms are camped by the Blubagh Run. Six companies plus a squadron of dragoons are on guard at the Western crossing in case a threatened Rebel night attack materializes, 4 more companies plus a field gun are in camp while 3 more squadrons are en route. The Rebels are indeed on the march but they are aiming at the Eastern ford, 2 squadrons of light horse, 16 companies of infantry divided into 2 brigades and a field gun. This would have been a good game for a GM,  map moves and written orders or at least a programmed enemy but the night rules and control test  caused lots of mayhem as it was.

The Rebel 1st Brigade managed to cross easily but the 2nd Brigade went haring off to the west on its own initiative. The 1st fight of the game came as a single squadron of dragoons dashed itself against the rebels as they deployed from the crossing and was cut down to a man. (oops) Behind them the blue infantry formed line with the 3rd Infantry in reserve. Across the run, the Rebel 2nd Brigade deployed to cross the run behind the blue line. The 3rd Infantry was ordered up and advanced into melee range leading to a fierce musketry duel across the run. 

Feeling the onus to attack, the Rebel commander ordered the 1st Brigade forward and the blue force was caught in a nasty 2 way fight but with the advantage of 1st fire and the gun, threw back the 1st Brigade. The regiment of rebels on the far side, backed off voluntarily after being shaken by losses. After a brief pause, the rebel lines came forward again just as the remaining dragoons spurred forward to attack the 2nd Brigade. (not sure why...)  The rebel unit composed of volunteers from the northern mountains, fired high, broke and were ridden down but enough dragoons were hit to shake the cavalry brigade. As the rebel infantry renewed their attack, the rebel light horse flanked the blue line and the 2nd Infantry broke and scattered and the whole blue line fell back in considerable disorder. The rebels were just as badly battered however (all brigades on both sides were now shaken) and also had to fall back.