"Civil War Era -- Who Would You Game With?" Topic

Hey all…I've been a lurker on here for the past couple years but wanted to thank everybody who unwittingly helped me take my first steps into the world of 15mm ACW gaming. As a convert from that English sci-fi minis game that shall remain nameless, I can say this part of the hobby has been a breath of fresh air and for the last two years I've been gobbling up all the rulesets I can find…Black Powder, (R)F&F, Longstreet, Across a Deadly Field, etc. and have even managed to suck a few friends into the fold as well.

I've always been deeply captivated by the civil war and since I started gaming it, I've been catching myself musing over a question I thought I might pose to you all. If you could break the boundaries of time and space and spend an evening playing your preferred ruleset with any one figure from the civil war era, who would it be?

Thinking past the obvious answers of Lee or Lincoln (both of whom would be great in their own right) in an effort to come up with a #1, I've developed a shortlist of candidates good and bad:

The Good:

1. Jackson -- Once he got over the fact that the rules won't let troops move 24" a turn he'd be a solid gamer, even if he wasn't too keen on the table-talk.
2. Chamberlain -- I'd love to pick his brain and I bet he'd write one hell of an AAR.
3. JEB Stuart -- I think he'd be tickled by the whole idea of wargaming in general and his minis would probably have top-notch paint jobs.

The Bad:

1. George McClellan -- Would probably show up late to avoid having to play at all.
2. Joe Hooker -- Would most likely get through half of the game before leaving to go and find a strip club.
3. Ben Butler -- I would have to keep my eye on him the whole time and check his pockets before he left.

Thoughts?

Good:
Longstreet: as long as you could maneuver off the edge
Buford: Would probably want a pretty and accurate table
Thomas: thoroughly professional, gets the big picture and the small

Good and Bad
Bragg: could get into a rules argument with himself

Bad:
Any of a variety of Political Generals (both sides) "I'm just here for the votes"

Good
Cleburne
Thomas

The Interesting
Sherman
Hood
Fremont
Sheridan
Johnson

I think I already game with a few Lincolns – they show up and spend their time telling tall tales and dirty jokes only interrupting themselves to ask why we haven't gotten any more done.

Hancock.

First, my Great-great grandfather, Brig. General George Washburn.

Then, Emory Upton.

Beauregard. A Man who'd cheat to lose.

I would love to game against McClellan. Think how easily you could fake him out. He would be convinced I had more troops hidden on the table somewhere.

I'd love to sit down and play a game with both Grant and Lincoln. It would have to be the most enjoyable afternoon ever. I wouldn't care if we finished even one half a turn, just as long as they would tell some great stories and answer a few of my questions.

Porter, Longstreet, J.E. Johnston, Rosencras

Sickles, hands down!

I'm with you avidgamer…as great as it would be to get to play a game with them and see how someone who was actually there would react to our modern interpretations of movement, morale and combat, I would probably end up annoying the hell out of whoever my opponent was with all of my questions because I'm sure the last thing they'd want to talk about would be the war!

Mallen – Your Beauregard comment made me spit my coffee.

Yes! Sickles is a big yes!

Don

McClellan – spends his evening painting figures, never seems to actually get a game in.

…

…

Uh, oh, I'm McClellan.

Custer – spend the game charging anything that moved (there are a couple of guys in our group who are like that)

Hood – same thing but charged anything – doesn't have to move

Joe Johnson – make sure that the back door swings open because he will maneuver thru it

Mosby and Forrest – they'd beat you before you knew they were there

Kilpatrick – Get as many of his own troops killed as possible

Rodbodrum: Great topic!
For the Union:
Hooker
Hancock
Phil Kearny
Sheridan
Custer
Richardson
Kilpatrick

For the Confederates:
Lee
Hood
Stuart
Jackson

Thanks, John Miller

Surprised no mention of Reynolds?

Inkbiz: As to Reynolds, your right of course. He completely slipped my mind. Thanks, John Miller

Yes! Sickles is a big yes!

He's a player, but not a wargamer. That said, in my youth I would have loved to "game" with him. I am certain if Sickles were alive today he would be a great aficionado of "Gentlemen's' Clubs."

As for the question:

Chamberlin if I wanted a really interesting evening.

Siegel if all I wanted to do was win.