Three Rejects turned up for this game last Saturday, low numbers due to a game the previous Saturday and some Rejects not available or not allowed out (Lee).
"This is a fictitious battle fought between the North and South just a few days before the battle of Second Bull Run (2nd Manassas) August 29th-30th 1862 using 15mm figures and Fire and Fury rules.
A Confederate army under the capable command of General Jackson is speedily advancing through Virginia looking for any Union forces that could threaten Lee's main army that is only a few miles away. Heading on a collision course is an Union army under the command of General McDowell who is cautiously and steadily making his way through the Virginian Countryside.
The Game:
Both sides start the game with all units of infantry in march column and all artillery batteries are limbered as they march towards each other, who will win the first turn, watch and find out the pressure is on for the players."
Kind words supplied by Postie!
Confederate Forces
2nd Corps c/o *General Jackson* (John)
1st Division c/o Starke
1st Brigade: 2nd Tennessee (Crack) 65/43/2
2nd Brigade: 1st Tennessee (Veteran) 6/54/3
3rd Brigade: 3rd Tennessee (Veteran) 76/5/4
4th Brigade: 4th Tennessee (Veteran) 87/65/4
2 batteries of guns
2nd Division c/o Lawton
1st Brigade: *4th Kentucky* (Veteran) 87/65/4
2nd Brigade: 1st Kentucky (Veteran) 6/54/3
3rd Brigade: 2nd Kentucky (Green) 6/5/4
4th Brigade: *3rd Kentucky* (Crack) 1098/765/4
1 battery of guns
3rd Division c/o AP Hill*
1st Brigade: *1st Louisiana* (Crack) 987/65/432
2nd Brigade: 3rd Louisiana (Veteran) 98/76/54
3rd Brigade: *6th Louisiana* (Crack) 1098/765/4
4th Brigade: 4th Louisiana (Veteran) 109/876/54
5th Brigade: *5th Louisiana* (Veteran) 87/65/43
6th Brigade: 2nd Louisiana (Veteran) 76/5/43
1 battery of guns
The confederate forces have more stands of figures (18) and less green units compared to the union.
(The numbers beside the units if you don't know show the units size and what number the unit has to be be to show worn and finally spent! The stars beside units and commander denote exceptional leadership and a plus to their units and from command stands!)
Union Forces
3rd Corps c/o McDowell (Me)
1st Division c/o Hatch
1st Brigade: 1st Michigan (Veteran) 87/65/4
2nd Brigade: *2nd Michigan* (Veteran) 87/65/4
3rd Brigade: 4th Michigan (Green) 6/5/4
4th Brigade: *3rd Michigan* (Veteran) 11109/87/6
2 batteries of guns
2nd Division c/o Ricketts
1st Brigade: *3rd Illinois* (Veteran) 109/876/5
2nd Brigade: 1st Illinois (Crack) 1098/765/4
3rd Brigade: 4th Illinois (Veteran) 87/65/4
4th Brigade: 2nd Illinois (Green) 8/76/5
2 batteries of guns
3rd Division c/o *Reynolds*
1st Brigade: 1st Vermont (Veteran) 87/65/4
2nd Brigade: *4th Vermont* (Green) 7/65/4
3rd Brigade: 2nd Vermont (Veteran) 87/65/4
2 batteries of guns
(The union has less numbers, more green units but some more artillery of better quality and except for some moments of madness when I charged, most of the attacking would be done by the confederacy for which they get a bonus and the union does not.)
Initial set up, Union to the left and Confederates to the right.......
All those pretty march columns, full turn to go in to line.......
Confederate Nemesis John...........
Nemesis..............
The long road for the Union to the bridge.......
The confederates on the same road........
The union head straight for the hill in the middle, the game consisted of enough figures for 3 players a side, 2 flanks and a center..........
Walkers bridge, the game would hinge on keeping the confederates from a breakout here......
Kept my troops in march column to get the 2 foot movement........
On the left flank Union forces start to deploy to another hill to await confederate forces.......
The confederates charge across the bridge in column........
A closer view from the confederate side.......
Aerial shot...........
The initial clash went bad and the confederates steam over......
A bit of luck and the clash went well for the union......
Driven back across the bridge......
Don't roll a 10, these are out of ammo markers for artillery and infantry units.......
Disordered markers, these are used a lot........
The center standing before the confederate assault......
Another confederate unit tries to storm over the bridge........
A view from the confederate side of the attack on the right flank..........
The confederate view of the attack on the left flank.......
Pressure is building......
The right flank holds and kicks out the attackers but they will be back.....
....again and again.......
The left flank still holding......
I'm taking an along the line shot while John and Postie move the figures?........
Things are getting tense at the bridge.........
The center is buckling a little.........
The confederates trying again and again......
They break through on the right flank, have taken out one battery but the attack falters (worn and disordered) and the other battery turns its guns, canister anyone........
The left flank buckles a little but not for long.......
The amount of stands lost (after 6 turns).......41 Confederate vs 5 Union and a battery of guns.........
End of the game.......
An excellent game but such extreme rules, the dice gods pulled Johns pants down today and he never got a chance to pull them back up, his luck was awful while mine was good, 21 victory points to 3 (unheard of in any previous Reject game), John did nothing wrong and a couple of good dice results in the right place and a different outcome maybe........
Good game, good day.......