Perry Miniatures for Sharp Practice ACW

 My Christmas gift to myself was a large lot of Perry Miniatures ACW cavalry. I have both mounted and dismounted groups. Sharp Practice is ideal for small engagements using cavalry, so I went all in.

Here is how they turned out:

Union dismounted.

Union mounted

Confederate dismounted

Confederate horse holder

Confederate mounted

Confederate collection

Union collection

The whole group

28mm Warlord Metal Prussian Landwehr for Sale

 I have painted up 24 Warlord Games metal Prussian Landwehr. These are nice figures painted to a good wargame standard. I am asking $85.00 plus postage.

Charlie Foxtrot Casualty Counters

All of my Sharp Practice figures, except for my AWI collection, are grouped using Charlie Foxtrot movement trays. I am very pleased with these. On my initial order, I tried to purchase some of their casualty counters, but they were out of stock. A little over a week ago I put in another order and to my delight the casualty counters were in stock. I ordered six bags for a total of 30. When I am in, I am ALL in.  By the way, the order was filled and in my hands within a week I believe, despite the challenges of international postage.

I was able to complete the first half of my counters last week. The results are below. I am quite pleased. It was a fun project and will add just that much more to my battlefields. Great job Charlie Foxtrot!

 

Battle of Miller's Crossing Turns 7, 8

 I have played multiple game of Sharp Practice, yet this is the first time that the Tiffin chip was pulled first! All of the units automatically became reloaded.

 Turn 8: This was a very bloody chapter in the game. The zouaves were able to fire first. This did terrible damage to the three rebel groups opposite them. Two had to fall back and the formation was broken, resulting in the loss of three points on the moral table.

Close ranged volleys rip the rebel groups apart.

The jubilant zouaves celebrated too early, however, as at the end of the turn two rebel groups, concealed in the woods, blasted the flank of the formation. At this range, the Confederates could hardly miss. Several sixes were rolled and the colorful ranks were thinned considerably.

In the woods behind the Miller farm, the rebels got the jump on a lone group of Union skirmishers. The group's leader was knocked out, but no loss of morale occurred. 

Two groups of Confederate skirmishers fire at their yankee counterparts.

The blue clad unit sustains considerable losses, including its leader.

The last action of the turn saw the Union gun fire at a column of rebels rushing forward to support the crumbling line. The packed formation resulted in severe losses to the rebels.

At this point it would appear that the Confederates are in trouble. Their main battle line has been shredded, and numerous Union groups are pouring forward to reinforce the zouaves. Can the rebs regroup in time?

Battle of Miller's Crossing turns 5, 6

 Today's action was quite dramatic. Tension built with each drawing of a chip from the bag. The use of flags was critical to the play, as will be shown in the narrative.

Turn 5: The Confederate commander took advantage of three flags to seize the initiative and move three groups up the road and into line. This would enable them to punish any Union troops trying to make it across the bridge in column.

However, the Union commander's lead formation was able to cross the bridge, then quite fortuitously drew four flags which allowed him to get a second turn with his lead formation. He used it to form into line and present. This set up a very tense situation for turn 6 as each side hoped to fire first.

Both sides await the first volley. Who will get it?

Other Union units advance down the road.

Union skirmishers cross the stream.

A Confederate formation advances.

Berdan's men advance to a fence to provide support.

Turn 6: The chips were drawn, and in short order the Union had three flags. These were used to fire a controlled volley into the gray line. Three were killed and significant shock was accumulated. A couple of other of units were able to move, and a red flag appeared just before the Tiffin chip. This allowed the rebels to return fire. Their volley was diminished, however, by the large amount of shock, and the Union line suffered only two dead and a much smaller amount of shock.

A rebel formation advances into some woods to support the right flank of the main force.

Other Union formations continue to move down the road toward the bridge.

Both sides await their fate. The drawing of each chip was quite exciting.

The Union drew a very important third flag which allowed them to fire first.

The rebel line was staggered by the close range musketry.

The rebs were able to use their one flag after the Tiffen card was drawn, but their volley was not nearly as deadly.

The Confederate formation is moving into a very advantageous position.

Will the Union commander be able to get reinforcements across the bridge in time to continue to the attack?

The Battle of Miller's Crossing Sharp Practice ACW

 I have finished up a good number of Perry plastic figures to use for Sharp Practice. This is their first taste of battle.

The Union side has 10 groups of eight infantry, five of zouaves and five of regulars. There are two groups of skirmishers, one of regulars and one of Berdan's. Finally, there is a medium gun.

The rebs have a similar composition, except instead of 10 groups of eight, they have nine, and three groups of skirmishers instead of two.

The game is very straight forward: both sides are trying to control a river crossing at Miller's farm. The Union deployment point was a bit closer which gives them the initial advantage.

This is the bridge both sides are seeking to control.

The view from the Union primary deployment point.

The first turn saw the Union get all but one of its formations on the table.

The primary Union deployment point is crowded with troops.

The secondary point is also filling up.

Five groups of rebel infantry enter on turn one,

 A unit of skirmishers and a formation of infantry enter at the secondary point.

A close-up of Miller's Crossing.

Turn two saw both sides continue to advance. The Confederates used four flags to get a double move for its leading formation. The two units on the Union right both rolled well for movement and are within musket range of the bridge.

The men in gray and butternut move rapidly down the road.

A formation of two groups on the left flank advance as well.

These Union elements are now within musketry range of the bridge.

Three groups of zouaves are almost at the bridge!

Turn three saw a unique situation occur. A red flag was drawn (Confederate), then the Tiffin. This was a break for the rebel side as it allowed its lead unit basically a free move towards the objective.

The only two tokens drawn.

The race for the bridge tightens!

Turn four: Both sides continue to advance, and more units enter the table. The Union gets its last formation of infantry and the rebs' artillery piece arrives. It is another quick appearance of the Tiffin token, but this time the flags favor the Yankees and they get even closer to seizing the bridge.

The rebel supports catch up, but no forward progress is made towards the bridge.

The zouaves have reached the objective. Can they get to the other side and deploy into line before the Johnies can and unleash a volley into the dense column?

The Berdan Sharpshooters move up in support on the right flank.

More Yankees move down the road.

Turn five is more than likely to be critical. Who will be able to deploy into line and blast away? Will the three remaining units of rebels finally arrive? Will it be in time to make a difference?