"Lombardy Studios 1st battle of Bull Run book" Topic

Dear all
Just a quick note to recommend Mr Lombardy's booklet [20 pages] on the above
He very kindly arranged postage of a hard copy to the UK [total price under GBP10.00 paid via paypal & arrived in 6 days!] following Bill's kindly intervention in providing contact details

If any overseas TMP's would like a copy Mr Lombardy has kindly given me permission to share his mail to contact him and request a copy at "dana dot lombardy at g mail dot com"
US TMP's can just go direct to their site
lombardystudios.com

Once I've had chance to read it I shall come back with a review

Gary

One of my most cherished items in my library. The battle maps are some of the best I've seen. Drawn with the wargamer in mind.
I look forward to your review Gary.

John Hill gave me a copy some years back. A great reference book.

Well this took longer than anticipated – my apologies

So, you get a 20 page A4 softback booklet which was intended as a "notebook" for the national park
[so very much the sort of thing you'd buy as at a visitor centre gift shop]
There is a a one page introduction to the start of the conflict leading up to the battle
This is followed by a double page map spread from Winchester to Washington and Harpers Ferry to Warrenton showing the strategic movement with thumbnail sketches of the commanders
This is followed by a double page simple explanation of the infantry, artillery & cavalry & how they were organised, equipped and fought
There is then a double page spread of the two armies organisation listing divisions, brigades and regiments with thumbnail sketches for each brigades action
Then there is a double page map showing the initial deployments and intended movements with explanatory notes
These are followed by 3 double page maps of the battle as it unfolded, up to noon, the early afternoon battle for Henry Hill & the repulse of the Union army. These scale out at roughly 4 miles x 3 miles in area. Again each map has notes and movement indicators so you can follow the ebb and flow of the units.
The booklet then finished with a page conclusion and small bibliography & a page of analysis.
The rear cover has a map of the battlefield national park.

Now as you can imagine in 20 pages you're not getting a huge in depth publication covering every nuance of the battle and I suspect that a lot of folk with an interest in the ACW will probably know about the battle.
But as a beginner to the war [I've pre ordered the Warlord epic set] it's absolutely fantastic as a beginners guide. The organisation chart is simply & clearly laid out and provides a start to collecting, the maps are wonderful and more than sufficient to provide a wargames table layout.

So in conclusion, I thought it was an excellent booklet, very useful for myself for what I need, and an ideal starter booklet for a youngster. Merely add some 1/72 plastic figures and you'll have a simple and cheap introduction to starting wargaming [I'd have loved to have received something like this as a kid for xmas or birthday].

Gary