It is May 1861 and trouble is brewing in Missouri — a state deeply divided between Union and Confederate sympathies. In the pro-Union town of Little Framingham, Howdens Kitchen (the former county sheriff) has raised a regiment of militia and appointed himself Colonel. He is now sending out patrols to gain oaths of allegiance to the Union from the farmers in the surrounding countryside.
Meanwhile in pro-Confederate New Colchester, Ernest Sanders (who saw service in the artillery during the War of 1812) has been elected Colonel of the New Colchester Volunteers (NCV). In addition to the citizenry Colonel Sanders has been joined by various rowdies and ne’er-do-wells led by the villainous Canadian renegade, Major ‘Frenchie’ Simmons.
Eager to prove his worth, 2Lt MacDuff of the Little Framingham Militia (LFM) moves quickly to the ramshackle dwelling of Old Claus, a notorious drunk. Old Claus is happy to pledge his allegiance to the Union (whatever that is!).
As more Union troops advance towards Dead Tree Farm they are met by a withering fire from Maj Bill Payer’s Confederates supported by Frenchie Simmons. Col Kitchen has other business to attend to so the Union troops are led by his 2iC Maj Stone Waller. Waller has his column form line to exchange fire with the Confederates but it is an unequal firefight thanks to the woods providing the Confederates with cover.
Sergeant Pepper, leading a detachment of regular Union troops, supported by Capt Bob Float’s company of the LFM, leads his men through Dead Tree Farm in an attempt to outflank Bill Payer’s strong position in the woods. As he emerges from the farm he is met with a devastating volley from the massed ranks of Col Sanders NCV. His men are sent reeling back and Sgt Pepper is mortally wounded.
Col Sanders follows up to clear Dead Tree Farm of Capt Bob Float’s remaining Union troops.
On the other flank Capt Hans Holding’s Union skirmishers have been decimated by Frenchie Simmons’ ruffians. Capt Holding, 2Lt MacDuff and Maj Waller have been wounded. Frenchie leads his men forward in pursuit, giving space for an exploring officer (spy) to slip past the flank of the Union troops.
At this point the remaining Union troops begin to withdraw from the field. The strapping, silver tongued Lt Dan Daniels has a word with Mrs Root at Dead Tree Farm to ensure her allegiance to the Confederacy. With a glint in her eye Mrs Root is happy to oblige. The rather delicate Lt Sanders (Col Sanders’ son) makes less of an impact on Mr Root but no doubt Mrs Root will ensure her husband’s allegiance to the cause.
The game was played using Sharp Practice Rules. It was the first time any of us had used the rules before and after a slow first turn or two we soon got the hang of them and they gave an exciting game — the characterisation of the various leaders adding quite a bit of additional interest. The campaign will continue in February with the Union troops conducting a fighting withdrawal.
An excellent write-up, Major Simone, it was a great game, well presented and well run by you, Richard, it's always difficult doing something with a new set of rules that no-one knows.
Looking forward to the next 'incident' in the Missouri Border Wars.
What a great write-up of an exciting game! As the creator of the campaign and umpire of the game, I was quite concerned that it could be a complete flop, and as turn after turn went by without the Confederate forces (in the form of the New Colchester Volunteers) being able to respond (due to the nature of the delayed deployment rules for the defender), I was as concerned as the Confederate players that the game could be over before it had really begun! These concerns proved unfounded when the NCV finally turned up and steadily built pressure onto the Unionist LFM. I’m now looking forward to adding to the forces for both sides prior to the next engagement.