Howdy,
I ran a playtest of the McDowell scenario for the upcoming scenario book, "A Storm in the Valley 1862." The game was played using Volley & Bayonet, battalion scale (1 base = 1 regiment) with 15mm figures. There were six players, each ran a brigade.
A start Milroy & Schenk were on the west side of the Bullpasture River, with Ed Johnson's Division was on Sitlington Hill. Historically, the Federals launched a spoiling attack to delay Jackson's advance. In our game Schenk was to demonstrate on the lower slopes of Sitlington's Hill, while Milroy turned the Confederate flank via Hall's Ridge. The terrain was difficult, fording and crossing a contour each cost half a move.
As the Confederate reinforcements arrived, Campbell's brigade went left, while Taliaferro faced Milroy.
The game ended with a Union victory, Scott's brigade suffered heavily and their morale collapsed, while Campbell's brigade was exhausted. Schenk was also exhausted. We played the full 12 turns of the scenario.
Photo 1 shows a map of the battlefield with the scenario action highlighted.
Photo 2 Terrain, view to the NE
Photo 3 Schenk's initial deployment
Photo 4 - Milroy crossing the Bullpasture below Hall's Ridge
Photo 5 Initial Confederate deployment
Photo 6 Milroy on Hall's Ridge
Photo 7 Taliferro facing Milroy
Photo 8 Campbell flanking Schenk
Photo 9 Final positions, CSA left flank
Photo 10 Final positions, USA left flank
It was a very fun game.
Ponder on,
JAS
prepares to do some regimental-level ACW gaming.
