End of week two

The Battle of Antietam ended today, and it literally came down to the last roll on the last turn to determine the winners.  On the southern table, the Union was finally able to tear a hole in the Southern line, but at great cost.  On the northern table, the Yanks threw all they had at the exhausted butternuts and somehow the rebs held.  The final charge saw three fresh Union regiments in march column crash into the last available Confederate unit on the table.  Unbelievably, the dice were tossed and the men in gray won by just one pip, but it was enough to hold the line and win the game in that sector.

The kids were absolutely fantastic this week.  I am especially grateful to John and Brian who have been helping me out.  You guys have been terrific.

Next week I'll be trying out a new period, the French and Indian War.  This is more of a skirmish game with figures mounted individually in units of 12 to 15 men representing companies.  The first adventure will feature a custom made fort and several farmsteads that will need to be defended against a host of French and Indians.  Somewhere along the line a wagon train will enter the game trying to get supplies to the fort.  I think it should be a fun game.

Day Four, Week Two

Both sides continued to slug away at each other.  A Confederate counter-attack from the southern end of the line destroyed what was left of the Union left flank, only to see dust clouds swirling in the distance stirred up by fresh units in blue.

On the northern end, the Confederates have continued to be aggressive, but are now confronted with a huge gap in their lines.  A single brigade of reninforcements have arrived, but even greater numbers keep turning up to support the Yankee effort here.

So it will all come down to the final day.  Will the rebs be able to hold out until sunset and at least gain a tactical draw, or will the yanks burst through and destroy Lee's legions?  We'll know tomorrow.

Casualties litter the field after the Confederate counter-attack

The rebs try to organize a second line along the Haggerstown Turnpike

The huge gap in the rebel line

Looking north towards the cornfield

Union regulars try to take the stone wall a second time with no better results

Day Three, Week Two

The day began with a lull in the action as both sides dressed their lines and licked their wounds.  But after the brief respite things picked up where they left off.  Reinforcements have arrived on both sides, yet at the end of the day the Army on Northern Virginia was in danger of being cut in half.  The Sunken Road position has been ruptured, although a second line of defense is being organized along the Hagerstown Pike.

On the northern table, things were a bit more sedate.  A huge conflict is brewing on the western flank with both sides hesitant to throw the first blow.  But something will have to give tomorrow.



Heartbreak at the stone wall.



Beginning of day three at the Sunken Road.

Action on the northern table.

A lot of action taking place in the cornfield.

Anderson's divion of Longstreet's Corp arrives to threaten the Union flank.

Some heavy thinking going on.

The Sunken Road at the end of day three.  D.H. Hill's brigades have been wrecked by a charge on their flank.

Day Two, Week Two

On the southern table, the Sunken Road saw intense fighting.

The three hours this morning went by very quickly as the battle really picked up on both tables.  On the north end, the Confederates continued to be very aggressive, hurling charge after charge at the Yankees.  But by the end of the day, the gray tide was beginning to recede.

On the southern table, two entire Union brigades were completely used up trying to take the Sunken Road.  Stubborn rebel resistance was slowly erroded, though, under the constant fire of the men in blue.  Confederate reinforcements were stalled upon their entry by a timely flank charge as they entered the table.  Things are looking very grim for the heroic defenders of States rights.

This is the northern table.  At the top of the picture can be seen the destruction that has taken place in the cornfield, just as it did in September of 1862.

Camp VIP Week Two

Week Two of Camp VIP got off to a great start today.  Several guys from last week joined a few newbies for this week to fight battles from the American Civil War.  Here are the two opposing teams:

The Rebel cause is in the hands of these fine young gentlemen

These handsome fellows hope to keep the Union in tact

The battle today was the opening of the Battle of Antietam.  We broke the battle into two parts, on two separate tables to make it easier to get at the figures.  Two Union corps were set to attack Stonewall Jackson's corp, but many other units are in the wings waiting for their chance to enter into the fray.

The Sunken Road prior to the battle beginning

Doubleday's Division ready for action

The Union commanders on the southern end of the field

The Sunken Road under attack

A Confederate charge through the cornfield took out a Union battery, but the Lousianans lost 75% of their number and were removed from play



This Union brigade learned the hard way that being hit in the flank by artillery can cause a lot of problems

The game is off to a great start.  The Confederates on the northern flank have been very aggressive.  In the southern portion they have been content to sit behind their stone walls and keep up a lively fire on the enemy.






Week One Completed

The first week of camp VIP is over.  The final battle ended in a British victory, though in the last two turns the Americans were able to capture General Howe who was trying to rally a British regiment and a swift counter-attack in the middle saw the Americans take the church that was a major objective.  Other than that, though, the Yanks were pretty much trounced along the rest of the line.

Win or lose, however, the kids were terrific and everyone had a great time.  Next week will see us moving on to the Civil War.  The tables are set up and the armies are in place for what should be a fierce fight along a tranquil stream known as Antietam.

Here are two more shots of today's action.



This is on the American right.  The redcoats were able to sieze the objective and then fight off every effort to retake it.



This is just before the British and Hessians launch a devestating flank attack on the American middle.  It was a  painful lesson for two of our newer students.

American Victory!

On day three of American Revolution week the Continental forces picked up where they left off and won a smashing victory against the British.  Before we were five minutes into the day, a grenadier battalion and a guards battalion failed morale checks and ran from the field.  The American militia continued its stellar defense of a fence line.  The final stroke was administered on the American left where a charge by two units caught a British brigade in the flank and destroyed it.

American units can be seen rushing down the road to reinforce their pressed comrades.

Casualty stands mark where a battalion of grenadiers once stood, but they are no more.

We started a second battle, and this time it looks as though the British might get some revenge.  But we'll only know for sure tomorrow.

In our second game, both sides moved quickly to grab positions.



A major battle was brewing in the church yard which was a major objective for both sides.  The British Guards arrived there first, which will cause the Americans a lot of problems.

To my Camp VIP kids, on my list of blogs you will see one for HMGS.  This is the historical wargame group I am a part of.  The president of our organization has extended an invitation to all of you to join at no cost!  Membership allows you attend all of our conventions for free and can also get you discounts at a number of local hobby shops that sell miniatures and other gaming materials.  Check out the site and leave a comment that you heard about it through our VIP class with Mr. Winser.