The Battle of Adwalton Moor: England: 30th June 1643.

This article is my personal interpretation of this battle. Any mistakes are my own.

 During 1643 and beyond, King Charles issued numerous Commissions for the raising of regiments of horse and foot. On paper the Royalists could raise some 60,000 men.

 In reality, the Royalists would be lucky to gather a third of that number,  the rest being scattered in garrisons all over the country. Regiments were no more than either company or troop strength.

However, at this time the Royalists were in the ascendancy. Parliamentary Generals could not work as a unified Command, with each County Association jealously guarding against amalgamation. The “ New Model Army” was still in the future.

Taking advantage of the confusion within the enemies ranks, Queen Henrietta, having recently returned from the Continent, left York with a large convoy of weapons and material destined for Oxford.

This convoy, also had 3,000 foot, 30 companies of horse and dragoons along with 6 cannon and two mortars. The whole being escorted by the Duke of Newcastle.

After arriving at Newark and making sure the Queen and the supplies were secure, the Earl set out with his force to find the local Parliamentary army and destroy it thereby securing the North of England for the King.

To that end, Newcastle set out toward Bradford. He didn’t know that the Parliamentary forces under Fairfax were heading toward his army also intent on battle.

At Adwalton Moor, the advance guards of both armies accidentally ran into each other and had their first clash on Wisket Hill, with the Royalists giving way. During this skirmish, the main Royalist army drew up to the South-east at Hunger Hill. As the Royalist skirmishers took up their positions with the main army, the Parliamentary forces advanced into the enclosed area to the North-west of the Royalist position. As the Royalist cannon belched out their welcome, battle was joined………

THE PARLIAMENTARY ARMY: 3,500 Infantry and 500 Cavalry.

4,000 = 4pts x 10 = 40pts.

C-in-C Ferdinando Fairfax Senior @1pt.

Thomas Fairfax  @ 1pt

John Gifford @ 1pt.

2 stands of Light Foot Artillery @ 1pt equals 2pts.

9 stands of  Muskets @ 2pts = 18pts.

3 stands of  Pikemen @ 3pts = 9ps.

3 stands of Clubmen @ 1pt =3 points.

2 stands of Cavalry @ 2pts = 4pts.

1 stand of Dragoons. @ 1pt.

Note: the Clubmen do not carry firearms relying instead on a wooden club or quarter-staff. I repainted some pikemen and glued a shortened cocktail stick to the illustrations.

THE ROYALIST ARMY: 10,000 = 10pts x 10 = 100 pts.

C-in-C William Cavendish, Earl of Newcastle @ 1pt.

Sir Henry Slingsby @ 1pt.

Colonel Kirton  @ 1pt.

5,000 Cavalry = 5pts x 10 = 50pts.

5.000 Infantry = 5pts x 10 = 50pts.

8 stands of Pikemen @ 3pts = 24pts.

10 stands of Muskets @ 2pts = 20pts

16 stands of Cavalry @ 3pts = 48pts.

2 stands of Dragoons @ 1pt equals 2points.

3 stands of Light Artillery @ 1pt equals 3pts.

SPECIAL RULES.

* Both sides throw dice to determine who has the Initiative Point as per the basic rules.

* Royalist Musketeers deduct 1pt from all firing die rolls.

* All musketeers on both sides deduct 1pt from each die roll when firing on a target behind a hedge.

* When a stand moves into the trench it must stop moving. It can be moved at the start of the next Game-Turn.

* Cavalry cannot jump over hedgerow.

* The Cavalry and Pikemen can only move through the face of a square not a diagonal.

* The Musketeers, Mounted and Dismounted Dragoons can move in any direction.

* Infantry can push through Hedgerow but, can only be moved one square when doing so.

* Both sides cannot move any stands over, or through the squares containing the coal pits.

* There is no mention of cannon being moved during the battle so the cannon of both sides are static.

* If Cavalry attack any enemy Infantry stands positioned in the Trench, the Cavalry do not get the three points for attacking Infantry in the open.

* Any opposed Infantry in Close Combat across the hedge: use the rules regarding”Trench”.

VICTORY CONDITIONS:

* The Game is played for eight Game-Turns.

* The Royalists win if they can push all the Parliamentary stands from the enclosures toward Wisket Hill either before/ or by, the end of Game-Turn 8.

* The Parliamentary Army wins if it can hold its position in the enclosures for the Eight Game-Turns.

THE HISTORY:

When the Parliamentary troops initially encountered the Royalist advance guard on Wisket Hill, they managed to push them back across the Moor. It was said that the Royalist musket fire was “ a bit light”

I’m assuming that either the Royalists didn’t have enough powder, not trained enough with their weapons, or had a mixture of weapons. Possibly all three. The great Royal Arsenal of Hull fell to Parliamentary forces quite early in the war.

At this time Parliamentry infantry had better access to weapons so they could maintain two Muskets to every pikemen. The Royalists struggled to maintain their armies therefore the ratio was roughly 50/50

When Fairfax Senior saw the preponderance of Royalist Cavalry, this may have been the reason he ordered a rapid advance into the enclosures.

In modern times the battlefield is being slowly encroached upon by housing estates. The commentator at the time talked of a ditch that extended across the battlefield although there is no trace of it now.

The Royalist Cavalry had a real problem trying to break into, and move around the Parliamentarian position. The fighting was very intense

The actual history of the battle is very sparse and apparently has not received much attention. The historians are not sure even if this is the actual site of the battle. However in recent times, the battle and its effects on the War are being reappraised.

CREDITS:

Once again, the figures used were the Paper Soldiers of Peter Dennis ( Trademark Peter Dennis.) sold by Helion and Co.

The village of Adwalton is foamboard with illustrations stuck on. The hedgerow is pieces of panscrubber stuck on card.

The hills were made from foamboard with thin card overlay.

The flags were homemade from cocktail sticks and labels. The cannon were also scratchbuilt using card, plastic tubing from paint brushes and buttons.

The Battle of Downham Station; Norfolk; England February 5th 1871. [ Fictional ].

 This article is a work of historical fiction and is my personal interpretation of this era. Any mistakes are my own.

In the early hours of February 5th 1871,  a thick fog had formed covering the coastal waters of the east coast of middle England.  Steaming slowly through this gloom, on patrol, was the Armoured Corvette " PALLAS".

As the  Corvette steamed slowly through the calm waters, a Duty Lookout on the bridge spotted lights in the gloom. The Captain ordered a course change to intercept  those lights that were not expected. As the Pallas drew near, French Tricolours were spotted.

On being hailed a French voice replied in broken English that "echapper ....impoundment"!! .. The Captain and his Officers decided that the ships must have escaped impoundment by the Prussians. The Fleet sailed on. A signal was sent to the Coastguard station at Great Yarmouth.

The Harbourmaster at Kings Lynn watched the ships drop anchor as the sun rose and the fog lifted. Dockworkers and civilians watched in puzzlement as boats were launched into the water and troops were seen scaling down the sides of the ships.

As the boats came to the docks people thought they were French. The troops formed up on the dockside and gutteral voices issued commands. As people turned away, shots rang out  and these same soldiers held civilians. This broke the spell, people started shouting, screaming and running from the docks.

.

The Harbourmaster immediately ran for the Telegraph Office, hundreds of civilians were streaming away from Kings Lynn.

Meanwhile, senior Prussian officers were sending engineers and men to the railway yards to commandeer a train. Companies were sent forward to find horses. At the same time, troops of the Seebattalione were being sent toward the royal estate of Sandringham.

Within the hour,  Units of the Prussian 10th Armeekorp were on the train steaming toward Cambridge. Meanwhile there was shock and consternation at London and Windsor. At first, there was disbelief.! An Invasion! By Prussians!. As realization set in orders were swiftly transmitted. All available Militia and Military personnel were to head toward Kings Lynn by any means possible and engage the enemy.!!

Soon, the troops of the Windsor Garrison were packed into trains and Goods Waggons heading North. Meanwhile, The County Militia of Norfolk were scrambling in the same direction.

Eventually word spread along the Telegraph that the enemy were heading south toward Cambridge. It was decided that the enemy should be met at Downham Station…

BRITISH HOME DIVISION [ A scratch force ].

Acting C-in-C ; General Henry Abadie  @ 1 point.

General Evelyn Barker  @ 1 point.

General Edmond Wavery  @ 1 point.

1 stand of Grenadier Guards @ 4 points.

3 stands of Regular Line Infantry @ 3 points = 9 points.

1 stand of Regular Horse Artillery @ 1 point.

1 stand of Cavalry [ 6th Dragoons ] @ 2 points.

2 stands of Militia Horse Artillery @ 1 point = 2 points.

8 stands of Militia Infantry  @ 2 points  = 16 points.

[ personal weapons include the Beaumont-Adams revolver and the Snyder-Enfield Rifle.]

PRUSSIAN 10TH ARMEEKORPS.

Commanding: General Der Infantrie, Konstantin Bernhardt Von Voights-Rhetz @ 2 points.

19th INFANTRY  DIVISION;

Generaleutnant Emil Von Schwatzkoppen. @ 1 point.

4 stands of Line Infantry  @ 3 points = 12 points.

1 stand of Dragoon Cavalry @ 2 points.

1 stand of Light Foot Artillery  @1 point.

20th INFANTRY DIVISION:

Generalmajor Alexander Von Kraatz-Koschau @ 1 point.

4 stands of Line Infantry  @ 3 points  = 12 points.

1 stand of Hanovarian Jaegers  @ 2 points.

1 stand of Dragoon Cavalry  @  2 points.

1 stand of Light Foot Artillery.  @  1 point.

CORPS ARTILLERY; Oberst Moritz Van Der Goltz.@ 1 point.

1 stand of infantry Artillery Guard  @ 1 point.

1 stand of Heavy Foot Artillery  @ 2 points.

1 stand of Horse Artillery  @ 1 point.

[ Catchment area for the 9th and 10th Armeekorps;  Province of Hanover, Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, and Dutchy of Brunswick.]

SCENARIO RULES:

* The Prussians move first on the first Game-Turn and have the Initiative Point.

* From Game-Turns 2 to 8, each side throws a 12 sided die to see who Moves first and has the Initiative Point.

* Both sides are using Rifled Muskets and Artillery.

* The game is played for 8 Game-Turns, the Winner being the player who looses the lower number of stands.

THE BACKGROUND OF THE GAME:

In 2023 The Wargames Association of Reading ran their annual “ Warfare”event at Farnborough. Their theme was the 110th Anniversary of H.G. Wells. They requested games with a Victorian theme ( like “ The battle of Dorking”)

I worked out a Participation game with the Prussians and British, along with a  basic back story. I did some historical checking, to bind into the scenario.

However, at the last minute, my buddy got a call from the hospital for some long overdue surgery. Forward to 2024 and I received an invitation from The Newbury and Reading Wargames Association to put on Participation game at “ Colours”, their event at Newbury Racecourse.

This we did and it was a brilliant day, with lots of interest and people playing. We also managed to stage the same game at Warfare 2024, thanks to the club finding us a space.

I must admit, I really enjoyed setting up this scenario. In Medieval times The Hanseatic League had traded goods at Kings Lynn therefore I assumed the Prussian High Command would have information on the harbour area. Similarly the 10th Armeekorp had their Cantonment around Bremerhaven. That’s how I chose Kings Lynn for The Prussian raid-in-force.

THE TRAIN;

This was for the most part scratchbuilt, the “ Dajeeling ” engine body came from MPRO on Etsy, a Narrow Guage engine. I filled in the gaps in the body with plastic straws and cardboard.

I then filled in the bottom with picture framing cardboard. I then glued on a set of wheels from Peter Pig. The company does sets of wheels either Half round ( for armoured trains ) or full round for railway carriages.

 

I put some American Civil War railway figures ( Peter Pig 15mm) in the Engine before I put the roof on. 

The carriages were scratch built. I used the Peter Pig Flatcar and built the body using plasticard.

The railway line was purchased from Ironclad Miniatures. The station was a 15mm model kit from Kestrel and purchased online from Amazon.

Most of the buildings that make up Downham were from Total Battles Miniatures 15mm Black Powder range. Most were purchased as painted but two were painted by myself. Three of the larger houses were purchased from a Bring and Buy and repainted. The barn next to the station is from Peter Pig.

The scenery sections including the roads were made from picture-framing cardboard and Bluetack.  The hedgerow came from Pendraken Miniatures. The fences were scratchbuilt from matchsticks. The tents are scratchbuilt from cardboard.

All the figures came from Irregular Miniatures. The flags are from Pendraken Miniatures.

THE HISTORY;

During the 19th century, authors wrote novels by way of a warning to the Government of the day. Their concern centred around the paucity of Regular Troops within Great Britain. There were only 7,000 Regulars available. The vast majority of the troops were serving in British Dominions overseas. The Government relied on the Home Fleet to protect Britain.

Because of this situation every County was issued a License to raise Militia Battalions. There appears to be some standardization of uniform, the majority being either gray with red turnbacks, cuffs and trouser seams, or, Rifle green with red or black turnbacks cuffs and seams. They carried the standard rifle.

The Yoeman cavalry came from more well off Landowners and they paid for their own horses and equipment. Obviously there were very few of this group.

The Militia Artillery were well trained. Their uniform was based on the Royal Artillery uniform with County variations.

The Regular troops which were available wore the standard British Infantry uniform with shako. However the Home Service uniform was gradually being introduced. This was still a red jacket with grey trousers, however the Prussian helmet came in, dark blue with a brass spike and trousers tucked into boots.

The Grenadier Guards still wore the bearskin.

At that time, just after the Franco-Prussian War, the Kaiser was asked by a British journalist if he would invade Britain. The Kaiser replied he would not. However British Diplomacy depended on maintaining the Balance of Power in Europe. Supporting side A against B, then supporting side B when A got too strong.

 Prior to the Franco- Prussian War, Germany had been a patchwork quilt of small states which had been manipulated by either France or Britain according to political necessity. 

Under the Kaiser and, after a brief Civil War, Germany had become a unified  country in the heart of Europe. The Prussians had previously defeated Austria in seven weeks settling the issue as to who would be the dominant force within the old Holy Roman Empire. Germany had arrived on the world stage.

This situation turned the previous Political order, which had lasted some two hundred years, upside down. With the shock defeat of France, Britain now had a new powerful political adversary to deal with…..

( note: the picture above shows the 9th and 10th Armeekorp. The 9th has quite a few Essex Miniatures figures in it. I originally did the 10th then decided to add another” corps”….as you do!..).

Table Top Battles 2nd Edition; The Addendum. 2025.

When I wrote Table Top Battles, I was quite happy with the result. As I,ve been writing the blogs, I,ve been adding extra rules either for general use or specific to a particular battle.

 I also made a couple of mistakes in that the TURN RECORD SHEET and the ROSTER SHEET could not be downloaded. The Map of ITALY had a number of inaccuracies that happened during my first attempt.

 This ADDENDUM is a round up of all the extra instructions that have appeared in the blogs, plus a rectification of those glitches. This is a free download and print out.

I,d like to stress that this IS NOT THE COMPLETE RULEBOOK.

To get the print-out, go to the HOME PAGE. On the right hand side of the screen go to the box entitled" ABOUT ME". At the bottom of that column is the prompt for the print out.

Just click on that to get the file. Obviously, the quality of the print-out depends on the printer being used ( mine is not brilliant). However all the information will be in one place.

The Battle of Kesseldorf, Saxony, 15th December 1745.

 This article is my personal interpretation of the battle. Any mistakes are my own.

The War of the Austrian Succession was not a straightforward affair. France and Spain were linked via their respective Monarchies. However, they did not always work together. France had been an enemy of the Hapsburg Monarchy for Decades. When Frederick of Prussia declared war on Austria, the French government saw a chance to humble their constant enemy by yoking themselves to the Prussian war wagon. However, Frederick was not adverse to dumping his Allies if it suited his plans.

Austria was allied to the Italian Kingdom of Piedmont in order to protect its possessions in Northern Italy. Having lost the battle of Bassignana, the Piedmontese army became besieged within its Cities by the French. There was no force capable of stopping the Spanish army from entering Milan, thereby taking Lombardy for their own. The Austrian  General Lichtenstein promptly left the Piedmontese to their fate and made some hard marching eastward to Mantua before they were cut off from the homeland.

The Austrians were annoyed with Britain. This nation was not directly involved but King George was not only King of Great Britain, he was also Elector ( ruler ) of the Kingdom of Hanover. He disliked the Prussian King intensely. The British Government wanted to stop the French from gaining total control of the political situation in Europe. ( French was the diplomatic language of Europe. Even Frederick spoke better French than his native German).Therefore Britain was bankrolling Austria.

To combat French influence, Britain signed a secret alliance with Prussia. Part of this deal was to recognise Prussia’s conquest of Silesia. To that end, Britain was now putting pressure on the Empress of Austria to accept!  Needless to say this went down like a lead balloon with the Austrian Monarchy. France was in the same situation, equally angry with the Prussian Kings duplicity!..

At this point of the war both France and Austria realising that their political situations were similar,  started sending Envoys to each other’s Court. Having been major enemies for some five hundred years, they were now Allies!..

This was a huge upset to the established  political order of the western Monarchies  and became known as the “ Diplomatic Revolution”..

The two countries recruited Saxony to the cause. They then contacted the slumbering giant to the east…. Russia.  The idea was that Austria and Russia distract the Prussian forces while Saxony invade Prussia.  King Frederick was watching events with growing alarm.He desperately wanted his conquest of Silesia to be recognised by all of Europe. He was also uneasy about the possibility of Russian troops on Prussian soil.

As Frederick set his troops in motion, the Russians reneged on an agreement to support Saxony. ( At the Russian Court, the British Ambassador had managed to cast the French ambassador in a bad light and got him expelled thereby stalling any effort from that direction). Frederick moved his forces into Saxony and started taxing the populace!..

Austria was not prepared to countenance the loss of another ally. The Empress ordered Prince Charles to move the army into Saxony. The ruler, ( another Frederick ) was not the stamp of his father so, to strengthen his resolve, 46,000 Austrian troops lumbered into the Kingdom. Meanwhile, the Prussian General Prince Leopold leading 35,000 troops and King Frederick with another 25,000 were moving toward Dresden, the Saxon capital.

General Grunne,s advance guard of  10,000 Austrians managed to link up with the Saxon General Rutowski and his 28,000 men in order to defend the Saxon capital.

As these armies manoeuvred around in the bad weather trying to find each other, Prince Leopold’s Prussian troops blundered into the left flank of the Saxon army anchored on the village of Kesseldorf. After a number of attacks in difficult terrain the Prussian troops were repulsed. To get to the grips with the Saxons, the “ Old Dessaur “ ( the old warhorse) marched his army around to the front of the Saxon army positioned on the opposite ridge. Once the army was in position and only pausing to offer up a prayer, the Prince signalled the attack and the formations slipped and slithered down to the Zschoner Bach…..

THE SAXON ARMY = 28,000 = 28 pts:

13,600 Infantry = 13.6 or 14 pts r/u = 7 stands of Line Infantry @ 2pts.

4,896 Grenadier Infantry = 4.896 or 5 pts r/u = 2 stands of Grenadier Infantry @ 2 pts + General Rutowski @ 1pt.

1,600 Heavy Cavalry = 1.6 or 2 pts = 1 stand of Heavy Cavalry @ 2 pts.

1,200 Dragoons = 1.2 or 1 pt = 1 stand of Dragoons @ 1 point.

1,600 Chevau-Leger = 1.6 or 2 pts r/u = 2 stands of Chevau-Leger Cavalry @ 1 point.

( Chevau-Leger were a cheap form of Light Cavalry on ponies).

1 Regiment of 24 heavy guns each with 50 gunners along with 500 engineers/ miners:

24 x 50 gunners = 1,200 + 500 = 1,700 = 1.7 or 2 pts r/u = 1 stand of Heavy Artillery @ 2 pts.

33 Battalion Guns = 33 x 50 gunners = 1,650 = 1.650 pts or 2 pts r/u = 2 stands of Light Artillery @ 1 point.

AUSTRIAN ARMY 10,000 = 10 points:

4,000 Line Infantry = 4 points = 3 stands of Line Infantry @ 1 pt + 1 General ( Grunne ) @ 1 point.

864 Infantry Grenadiers = 0.864 pts = 1 point = 1 stand of Grenadier Infantry @ 1 point.

1,600 Grenz  Infantry = 1,6 or 2 pts r/u = 2 stands of Light Infantry @ 1point.

1,600 Cavalry = 1.6 or 2 points = 2 stands of Dragoons @ 1 point.

12 Battalion Guns x 50 gunners = 600 = 0.600 pts = 1 pt r/u = 1 stand of Light Artillery @ 1 point.

PRUSSIAN ARMY: 35,000 = 35 pts.

21,000 Line Infantry = 20 points = 7 stands of Line Infantry @ 2 points + 2 stands of Grenadier Infantry @ 3 points + 1 General ( Prince Leopold of Anhalt Dessau ).

9,000 Cavalry = 9pts = 4 stands of Cavalry @ 2 pts ( 2 stands of Dragoons + 2 stands of Heavy Cavalry ) + 1 General @ 1 point. ( General Lewaldt ).

33 Field Guns x 50 gunners =  1,650 = 1.650 pts or 2 pts r/u = 1 stand of Heavy Artillery @ 2 points.

66 Battalion Guns x 50 gunners = 3,300 = 3.3 pts or 3pts r/d = 3 stands of Light Foot Artillery @ 1point.

Fighting The Battle :

* The Prussian Army moves first on the 1st Game-Turn. All other Game-Turns are diced for as usual.

* The Prussian Army retains the Initiative Point for the entire battle.

* The Prussian Army wins any tied results.

* All Cavalry move at 2 squares only.

* Artillery move at one square only.

* Kesseldorf is regarded as a FORTRESS WALL: Therefore the Attacker will deduct 3 points from all Die rolls on top of any other deductions.( example: 2 points for attacking uphill + a further 2 points. )

* The Zschoner Bach does not impede movement but stands cannot fire while positioned in the stream.

* The Elbe cannot be crossed by any stands.

HISTORICAL ACTIONS,

* During the battle, the Saxon Grenadiers were more than holding their own within Kesseldorf. However, when the Prussians attacking the village retreated, the Genadiers left their positions to pursue them. This proved to be their undoing. Therefore:

* If any Prussian Stands are forced to “ move-back” as part of a close combat result on attacking Kesseldorf, the Saxon Grenadiers WILL BE MOVED TOWARD THEM. This action take place prior to the commencement of the next Game-Turn.

THE AUSTRIANS:

For some reason, the Austrians never moved from their position to aid the Saxons. However, players may wish to include them in the game. Therefore:

* At the start of Game- Turn 3 onward,  If the Saxon player rolls a “1”  during the roll to see who moves first he/ she may start moving the Austrians.

* The Saxon player may move EITHER the Saxons or the Austrians at the start of the Game-Turn. He/ she may not move both although ALL stands can fire and engage in Close Combat if able to do so. ( This is because there doesn’t seem to have been any cooperation between the two groups. )

MORALE.

I found that it is best to use the Morale system during this battle. The Saxon and Austrian Morale totals are kept separate.

WINNNG THE BATTLE:

* The battle will last until either:

A) one sides morale total collapses to Zero. The Austrians are Not included in this. Only the Saxons and the Prussians

B) At the end of 8 Game-Turns the side losing the most number of stands, looses the battle. ( In this situation the Saxons and Austrians Are added together.)

CREDITS:

The figures are a mix of Miniature Figurines and Peter Pig.

The trees are from various manufacturers. The represented villages are scratchbuilt. The hills are partly homemade and commercially by Brian of Essex Miniatures.

The snowfield is all cardboard as is the river. The snow effect rocks are Christmas decor from Wilkinson ( before they went bust!)

FOOTNOTE:

As stated at the start of this blog the above is my personal interpretation of this battle. However should you wish to explore this battle further there is a book available( at the time of writing). The title is:

Kesseldorf 1745 Decision In The Fight For Silesia by Alexander Querengasser available from Helion and Co.

Those Buildings.

This article is of my personal observation of the hobby.

Buildings in Wargaming can be both a blessing and a bind. Currently there are companies making some beautiful buildings in Resin, MDF and 3D printing.

The main photo shows three different styles which I use with mainly 15mm figures.

Three are scratchbuilt, the fourth is from Total Battle Miniatures.

 Some players like the buildings on the edge of a table for decoration. Those that have the space, include them directly into the battle, especially for skirmish gaming. However for larger battles and, in order to accommodate the larger footprint of the building, the table has to be correspondently larger.

Of course, this is fine if  you have the space for a large table. If you haven’t and you do need to include buildings there could be a problem.

The late veteran Wargamer Paddy Griffith said something along the lines that, the worst part of wargaming was the figures that we use because they distort distances.

Buildings cause a similar problem. Years ago in a magazine article the author wrote that it was better to have buildings a scale smaller than the figure to give a better perspective. Facing the same problem, I took an idea I used in the scenarios with the paper solders to telescope the buildings down.

Here are the rules for such items in the system I use

Example 1:   The building blocks line of sight between these opposing stands.

Example 2 : The British stand cannot fire on the French stand because the building covers the front of the British stand.

However, the French stand can fire on the British stand because the British stand is within the French arc of fire.

In this next photo, both sides can exchange fire.

In this next example neither the French or British can fire on each other.

Now the British and French can exchange fire.

In this example both sides can exchange fire. The French can claim cover because they are already in position.

If both sides survive the Firing phrase, this situation is covered by the “trench” rule in that both sides can engage in close combat over the wall.

This next illustration shows another dwelling type that I have started using. Both opposing stands can fire at each other and both can claim cover.

The following illustration shows both opposing stands within the village. Both sides can fire, and both sides can, once again claim cover from fire. If both sides stay in position without retreating,  Close Combat will take place as normal.

The next illustration shows an attack on one end of a village. The French can only fire on the British stand to its front. The British stands can fire, but must deduct points for firing at an enemy stand in cover. If both sides stay in place, Close Combat will take place with the wall counting as “trench”.

In the next picture, the  British stand  ( marked with a yellow token ) can only fire on the French stand to its front. The French stand ( marked with a red marker) can fire on the British stand. The “ building” in the middle of the village stops the British stand ( marked in yellow) returning fire.  In Combat, the French stands can claim “ support” from each other.

The rule system I use does not allow artillery pieces within a village. However, should you wish to, or the scenario calls for it, then this is the rule I would use:

The gun within the village must remain static in that it cannot be realigned to fire on a different fire arc, or be removed from the village. If the gun suffers a “ move-back” it will not move but will deduct 2 points from its Firing die when returning fire. It will be destroyed by any less-than-half score from enemy artillery or, from Infantry fire or Close Combat with Infantry.

I hope the above will be of use in your wargaming activities. The figures are from Miniature Figurines. The cannon is from Peter Pig.

Battle of New Bern: North Carolina 14th March 1862

 This article is my personal interpretation of the battle. Any mistakes are my own.

By now the War was being waged in deadly earnest.. The Confederacy needed much of its supplies and weapons bought from countries abroad. The main currency used for purchase was cotton which had to be shipped out. In addition, the Confederate Government were sending out Commerce Raiders to attack any Union Merchant ships. 

 Lacking the large industrial capacity of the Union, this was the only way that the Confederate States could supplement the material needed to maintain their forces.

Previously, as the Civil War commenced, a Union General by the name of Winfield Scott came up with the  “ Anaconda Plan”. This was a strategic plan which involved expanding the Navy to blockade Confederate ports and, with the help of the army to attack enemy ports and river defences.

Along with the coastal attacks the plan also involved wresting control of the Mississippi River in order to cut the Confederacy in half. Five days before this battle, the Naval history of the world had been transformed when the first two opposing Ironclads had slugged it out in Hampton Roads making the wooden warship obsolete.

As part of the Anaconda plan and influenced by the historic naval battle that had taken place, the Union Government embarked on a major expansion of the Navy. This involved building armoured ships and “90 day gunboats”, so called because they were built that quickly.

In the meantime, the Union Navy was using any paddle steamers and screw powered vessels that could float in order to enforce the blockade and attack Confederate bases. New Bern on the Neuse river had lost its prestige as a major port. However it was still important in the protection of the railroad.

The line that ran through New Bern, went onto Goldsboro where it connected to the Wilmington Railroad, a major supply line to the  Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. 

 The Union General Ambrose Burnside commanded a Division of troops. With the help of The Atlantic Blockading Squadron, his troops had already taken Confederate forts on Hatteras and Roanoke Islands. These advances gave the Union Flotilla access to Pamlico Sound and Burnside was determined to take New Bern. The first step was to land troops just north of Slocums Creek.

Lawrence Branch, the Confederate General commanding at New Bern knew he had a tough job on his hands. His best troops had been pulled from the line to reinforce the Army of Northern Virginia. 

The remaining troops were not as well trained. Having pulled the remaining troops from a defence line closer to Slocums Creek, the line anchored on Fort Thompson was reinforced. It was here that the Confederates awaited the Union attack,.which soon materialised…

DEPARTMENT OF NORTH CAROLINA COASTAL DIVISION OF THE U.S. ARMY.

11,000 = 11points x 4 = 44 points.

C-in-C Ambrose Burnside  @ 1 point.

1st BRIGADE. 

General Foster @ 1 point.

10th Connecticut: 1 stand @ 3 points.

23rd Massachusetts:  1 stand  @ 3 points.

24th Massachusetts:  1 stand  @ 3 points.

25th Massachusetts: 1 stand  @ 3 points.

27th Massachusetts: 1 stand  @ 3 points.

2nd BRIGADE.

General Reno  @  1 point.

51st New York:  1 stand  @  3 points.

9th New Jersey: 1 stand  @  2 points.

51st Pennsylvania:  1 stand  @ 3 points.

21st Massachusetts:  1 stand @ 3 points.

3rd BRIGADE.

General Parke  @ 1 point.

8th Connecticut: 1 stand @ 3 points

11th Connecticut: 1 stand @ 3 points.

4th Rhode Island: 1 stand  @ 3 points.

5th Rhode Island:  1 stand  @ 3 points.

1st New York Marine Artillery Detachment:

2 stands of Light Foot Artillery @ 1pt = 2 points.

THE NAVAL FLOTILLA:

14 Gunboats each with 50 crewmen = 700 men = 0.700 pts x 4 = 2.8 or 3 points r/u.

3 Gunboat models, each @ 1 point = 3 points.

THE CONFEDERATE ARMY: 6,000 = 6pts x 4 = 24 points.

C-in-C: Lawrence Branch  @ 1 point.

26th North Carolina Infantry = 2 stands @ 1 point = 2 points.

33rd North Carolina Infantry = 2 stands @ 1 point = 2 points.

35th North Carolina Infantry = 1 stand @ 2 points.

7th North Carolina Infantry = 1 stand @ 2 points.

The Special Battalion ( a group of infantry scrapped together from other formations armed with shotguns and fowling pieces.) 1 stand @ 1 point.

27th North Carolina = 1 stand @ 2 points.

2nd North Carolina Cavalry = 2 stands @ 1 point = 2 points.

ARTILLERY;

6 Field Batteries = 24 Guns x 50 gunners = 1,200 gunners:

1.200 x 4 = 4.8 or 5pts r/u = 5 stands of Light Artillery @ 1pt = 5 points.

24 Static Artillery Pieces ( mostly at Fort Thompson.) and Fort Ellis.

24 x 50 gunners = 1,200 gunners.x 4 = 4.8 or 5pts r/u = 2 stands of Heavy Artillery @ 2pts ( Fort Thompson) and 1 stand @1 point at Fort Ellis.

Note: Due to a shortage of labour some of the battery positions never got completed, therefore I’ve only included Fort Ellis. Fort Thompson was fully established.

FIGHTING THE BATTLE.

This is a tough fight for the Confederates. Unless the Union player is very unlucky, it would be hard to loose. Therefore, the Confederate player can draw the battle.

* Game-Turns and dicing for the the Initiative Point are carried out as stated in the normal rules.

* The Confederate Player can move the guns normally in the defense works to the right of the line, but the guns within the forts cannot be moved.

* All the field cannon move at 2 squares movement in any direction.

*  All Infantry apart from the Dismounted Cavalry and the Special Battalion are Line Infantry. Therefore they can only be moved through the face of a square not a diagonal. The Light Field Guns, dismounted Cavalrymen and Special Battalion can move in any direction 

* The Cavalry are classed as Light Cavalry. They can move in any direction. Dismounted Cavalry are always 1 point less than their mounted selves. Therefore if the mounted Cavalry are 1 point, the dismounted Cavalry are zero points so just a basic die is rolled for the stand.

* The abatis in front of the Confederate lines is counted as” Trench” during Firing and Close Combat.

* The Union Infantry stands can be moved in The Creek, but only one square per move. They can still fire after moving whilst in The Creek. In the actual battle the Union troops pierced the Confederate lines via this creek.

* I don’t know if the Senior Officers on the Union side had horses but I have portrayed the Generals as such. However, the Generals can only move at two squares. The roads do not give any extra movement. The weather had been bad so the roads had turned to mud.

THE RIVER BATTLE.

The river flotilla was commanded by Stephen C. Rowan ( not represented ). The river had been rigged with obstacles including a line of hulks to force any ships into range of the guns.

* The hulks cannot be moved. The paddle steamers move at 2 squares speed ( measured from the front of the ship.) The ships guns have a range of 4 squares.

* To make things basic, both the forts guns and the paddle steamers can take two hits The ship or a fortress gun will take a hit on any low score. On the second hit the gun or the paddle steamer causes complete destruction.

VICTORY CONDITIONS:

The Confederates must stay in place for four Game-Turns. From the 5th Game-Turn onward the Confederates can retreat. They can only leave the table via the road junction marked ( TO NEW BERN) .

This is the spot where the bridge crosses the Neuse river. If 8 Confederate infantry stands manage to leave the board by Game-Turn 8  AND/ OR BEFORE ONE Gunboat makes it ( completely intact ) to the Confederate baseline the  battle is a draw.

Historical note: The Confederates were putting up a good fight. However when the Union Infantry penetrated the middle part of the line via the creek, some of the Confederate infantry panicked which triggered a general retreat. The cannon in Fort Thompson and Fort Ellis were spiked by the garrison troops before they left but the Union troops still captured a number of field pieces.

CREDITS.

All the figures are a mixture of Miniature Figurines and Peter Pig. The wagon and tent line models are from Peter Pig. The Fortress guns are also Peter Pig.

Fort Thompson was scratchbuilt from foam board and cardboard ( originally for an 18th century scenario). Fort Ellis is represented by a shop-bought enclosure purchased many years ago. The walls and hedgerow are from the Pendraken 10mm range of scenery..

The farm buildings were scratchbuilt from cardboard. The green scenery bases are from S and A Scenics. The hill sections: some were produced by Brian at Essex Miniatures and some were homemade from cork tiles. The railway track and bridge are scratchbuilt from cardboard and cocktail sticks. The trees are from various manufacturers.

The abatis was scratchbuilt from pan scrubbers cardboard and plasticine.

The plastic explosion markers are from Litco. The smoke markers are cotton wool.

The paddle steamers and hulks were made from card and foamboard. The paddle sections were two halves of a fruit juice carton lid. The stern of the boats are a piece of milk bottle top. The guns were made from plastic paint brush tubing and a berry pin. The supports  are made from cardboard stuck to a coin.

The Gunboat crew figures are from the Peter Pig Colonial range which also includes a ships wheel. The Naval Gun Crew figures are from the Peter Pig ACW range. All the flags are from the Peter Pig range.

The roads and rivers are cut from thin cardboard. The round MDF bases are from Minibits. The square stands are cut from picture-framing cardboard. The battle was fought on a 3 foot (90cm) x 2 foot (60cm) board marked out in 2 inch squares.