Scott, on his Check Your Leader TV YouTube channel has set up a 28mm ACW game on lovely terrain with the Union (defenders) in position. He has invited viewers to submit a battle plan and a set of orders for the Confederate forces, from which he will randomly select one and play it out using the Pickett’s Charge rules, while recording the game on video.
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| Scott's 28mm troops and battlefield |
Anyway, I have been lucky enough to have my battle plan selected for play. The General situation is that we are looking at a small slice of a bigger battle that has already started to the south (left of the table). It is 1862 and Lee has invaded Pennsylvania.
In this sector, my Confederate Division had been a little tardy in getting the battle going. Already to the south there has been the sound of gunfire and now the Corps Commander has come directly to my headquarters to kick my backside for not getting things going sooner. In a fierce mood, his parting words were, ‘Get this battle going now soldier or you won’t be a Brigadier General this time tomorrow’.
I immediately rode out to each of my brigade commanders to share words of ‘encouragement’ in person! The Corps Commander would surely hear the sound of my guns as endorsement that we were being true to our duty.
I will say no more on the battle at this point and let the series of Scott’s videos do the story telling and of course give some insight into the rules.
The introduction video is already up (link below in the resource section) and from that, you will be able to find the subsequent videos that fall out from the game, without coming back here. However I will keep this post alive with edits (inserted at the end of the post, so that for future readers, the post makes sense) while the game runs, with some comment and also include the latest updated video links, so please feel free to return.
What Scott is doing is a ton of work and sharing it is very kind. He has other battles, most recently Quatre Bras, on his channel. If you like his content and want to encourage more, please consider subscribing to his channel.
I know I have three brigades and three 4 gun batteries at my disposal, plus a reinforcing brigade that I hope will come on at some point from the south (left flank).
I am hugely looking forward to seeing what falls out of this and it is surprising how I can already feel a sense of command tension / anticipation from the unknown and wanting a plan to work, being hopeful of what my own troops can do, even wanting few casualties on the way in and of course wanting to be touched by Lady Luck. I hope to learn a lot about the Pickett’s Charge rules. Thank you Scott.
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| My iPad sketch of the battlefield |
please return here for updates over the next few days.
EDIT 1 - the second video is up (link below in the Resource Section). Scott also has another viewer involved as the Union Commander (Hello Old Grognard).
So far I am mightily encourage by the bravery on my right flank and am in hope that by the end of the day, we will prevail and I will be inviting Old Grognard to my Headquarters for tea. :-)
EDIT 2 - the third video clip (link in the Resource Section below) is up covering turns 4 - 7. A real see-saw of events and back 'n forth action across the field, with Scott saying at one point 'I think the whole battle will hang on this charge'. is he right?
There is a well explained charge process described at around the 1 hour 23 minutes point.
Edit 3 - the fourth and final video clip is up (Resource Section below). Thanks Scott and Old Grognard, I really enjoyed this and since the videos started, I have taken my Pickett's Charge rules off the shelf and started reading them, which has been significantly easier after you superb explanation of the rules. Very entertaining game and a good result that gave all parties a good close game. Thank You for all the work done.
EDIT 2 - the third video clip (link in the Resource Section below) is up covering turns 4 - 7. A real see-saw of events and back 'n forth action across the field, with Scott saying at one point 'I think the whole battle will hang on this charge'. is he right?
There is a well explained charge process described at around the 1 hour 23 minutes point.
Edit 3 - the fourth and final video clip is up (Resource Section below). Thanks Scott and Old Grognard, I really enjoyed this and since the videos started, I have taken my Pickett's Charge rules off the shelf and started reading them, which has been significantly easier after you superb explanation of the rules. Very entertaining game and a good result that gave all parties a good close game. Thank You for all the work done.
Resource Section.
1st Video - the introduction to the table, forces and briefing. LINK
2nd Video - the battle starts, the first 3 turns. LINK
3rd Video - reaching the high point, turns 4 - 7. Link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQntfwxDj80
4th Video - a close game and a result!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GtOEpOqut8
My sister webspace COMMANDERS is a bit more snippet based than here. Link.
