"AAR - Seven Pines" Topic

Howdy,

I ran a playtest of my Seven Pines scenario twice at Lexicon over the weekend. Game played using Volley & Bayonet with 15mm figures. I used "linear bases" rather than square, just cause I thought it looked better.

On Friday,

Hill's Division through itself upon the southern end of the Union IV Corps along the Richmond-Williamsburg Road. The attack exhausted Hill's Division, but also exhausted Casey's Division. Hooker's Division from III Corps moved up to support Keyes' IV Corps, as Longstreet arrived to carry on with Hill's attack. Longstreet scattered Casey, routing Naglee and Palmer's brigades. Hooker formed his line to contain the breakthrough, with Kearny arriving to balence local strength.

Meanwhile, on the northern flank Whiting began his attack on Couch's Division, just as Sedgwick's Division crossed the grapevine bridge to reinforce.

Huger entered the table, in the south, on the last turn of the game, but his presence on the battlefield did not affect the outcome.

In the end, both sides had a division exhausted, none collapsed. Total losses (before regrouping 22 Federal SP, 15 Confederate. So casualties 5,500 Federal, 4,000 Confederates. Strength engaged – Federal: 15 brigades, 78 SP, so 39,000 vs. Strength engaged – Confederate: 16 brigades, 66 SP, so 33,000 (not counting Huger). It was an engaging and suspenseful game, much fun. Local successes stymied by the arrival of reinforcements.

Photos:

Terrain, view from NE (also initial deployments):

Hill's attack:

Hooker forms line, Longstreet attacking:

Whiting begins attack:

Evening situation:

Ponder on,

JAS

Howdy,

In the Saturday battle, Hill's initial attack was more restrained. The decisive action was in the north, Whiting attacked into deluge of Federal fire (sizzling hot dice, 7 hits from three brigades on a single turn). Whiting's division exhausted, collapsed. Casey's Division also exhausted. Huger did not even get on the table in this one.

Confederate losses: 40 SP, Union: 16 SP, so casualties 10,000 Confederates dead, wounded, or captured, vs. 4,000 for the Union. A much bloodier battle, yet still a near run thing with Couch and Kearny's divisions near exhaustion.

Ponder on,

JAS

Great pictures, nice after action report.

Thank you, they were fun games.

JAS

Howdy,

The Scenario Map:

Ponder on,

JAS

JAS,

Very nice.
What size bases did you use for your 15s?

Tom

Howdy,

I sabot F&F bases (1-inch width) onto the V&B bases with rubber cement.

The bases shown in the pictures are actually 4x2 inches, rather than 3x1.5 inches. With V&B consistency within the game is more important than slavish devotion. One reason I like V&B so well, is the flexibility. Yes, I know I'm a heretic.

My 7YW figures are 6mm on 2x1 inch bases.

Ponder on,

JAS

From the Confederate player after Saturday's game:

"The south could have won if it hadn't been for those lousy dices!"

I agree that the linear formation looks better.
I'm going to give it a try.

Howdy,

I still treat them as mass stands in regard to strength and dice.

Also, I'm careful so dismounted cavalry look different than infantry, as the dismounts (light horse rule) are a linear stand for strength and dice. Not an issue for Seven Pines, but will be in other early war ACW scenarios.

Ponder on,

JAS