Two Flags One Nation Teaser: Seminary Ridge Assault

I have to go into work late today so what better way to spend the morning than to reset the Seminary Ridge assault from Sunday and have at a few rounds of Norm's excellent "Two Flags One Nation" ACW rules!  Jonathan F's outstanding Quick Reference Sheet for TFON was also put to the test today as I remembered he sent it to me last year.  It helped enormously with recalling important tidbits in the rules I might have otherwise missed.  Let's get to the action!

Perrin's Brigade deployed - the Artillery is masked and must redeploy

I went at this problem the same way Brian did on Sunday, favoring the Confederate right rather than assault straight into the teeth of 2 Union batteries across open ground!  The right has a large wheatfield offering some cover for the boys to assault over.  The rebels spend their first turn positioning the South Caroline regiments for an assault against the extreme Union left on Seminary Ridge.  No random events occur.

Union shooting is extremely effective and cuts down General Scales in the first volley!  Scales' Brigade goes disordered in the cornfields in front of Seminary Ridge.  The Union artillery also wreaks havoc on the lead Regiments. 

Scales is dead.

 Besides some issues with out of command Regiments, Scales' Brigade will have to appoint a new commander and this will take some sorting out.  A little bit of half-hearted shooting back at the Yankees and you'd be mistaken for thinking that the Rebels could not pull this attack off!

 It's a different story on the Rebel right, however.  Pender supports the assault against the Union left and personally coordinates the attack.  The 12th South Carolina goes in with their sister Regiment, the 13th SC supporting them.  It's a textbook assault and Biddle's 80th NY are sent reeling back, disordered and with 2 heavy casualty markers.  The cover is a blessing as the Rebels roll a ton of "6"s and overwhelm Biddle's 80th NY Regiment!  They have a toe-hold on Seminary Ridge and it's only Turn 2!

The 12th SC would be mentioned in dispatches from today's assault.

80th NY thrown back in disorder with 2 HCs.

The Union troopers of I Corps spend their next turn rallying where appropriate, shooting at the rebels but a counterattack by the 80th never materializes.  It will turn out to be a wasted opportunity.  By the way, Scales' Brigade has sorted itself out now and appointed the deputy commanding officer as the new commander who joins his beleaguered North Carolinians in the cornfield.

The overall situation.  Note the solid line of Confederates advancing on the right.  Scales' Brigade on the left is spread out and needs to consolidate.  This presents an interesting tactical problem with the concept of Brigades supporting Brigades during a division assault.  

 The next turn the Rebels launch another of the South Carolina Regiments against Seminary Ridge and again the attack, this time against the 142nd Pennsylvania, is also successful in pushing the Yankees back.  The Rebels storm the ridgeline, taking up their former adversaries positions!

Note the disorder marker!  Another seemingly bloodless advance by elements of Perrin's Brigade.

 This brought up an interesting rules question.  If a commander is killed, but the Division commander is still alive and also sharing a hex with the unit, does the brigade still go disordered?  I played this out as a "yes" as Biddle is cut down after the untimely retreat of the 142nd Pennsylvania.  Doubleday and his staff personally rallied the men on the backside of Seminary Ridge!

Of note, we are on turn 4 and 2 x General Officers have already been killed.

More Rebels on the ridge now

 And so that's how we left the field.  The bottom of Turn 5 with the Union being pushed off.  They will need to swiftly counterattack next turn before the Rebels can establish their supporting Regiments on Seminary Ridge.  If I remember correctly, this was a similar problem faced at Oak Ridge during last year's TFON fight - where the Rebels were able to make swift and violent assaults, but were forced back due to an inability to consolidate their gains.  With that fresh in their mind, the Confederate junior officers are feeding as many men forward as time and distance will allow! 

Meanwhile the Union troopers must counterattack quickly as their backs are to the wall with an attacking Rebel Brigade right in front of them.  If the Union can counterattack quickly and push the South Carolinians off the ridge, they'll be able to position reserves behind them for supports.  Right now, I Corps is spread thinly and cannot support its defending Regiments on the left.

Rebels pouring onto the Ridgeline!

This has been a great game so far.  I am eager to press a local Union counter attack to see how it goes.  After a turn of ineffective shooting against the Rebels on the ridge, the men will have to go in with the bayonet if the position is to be saved. 

Jonathan's QRS was a Godsend for this game!  As I spent much less time flipping through the rules and much more time playing.  I am a little rusty on the disorder principles, replacement of Brigade commanders, and I feel, just like last time, that I need to play a bunch more rounds before I can properly use the Division command stand.  He can do alot of things, but I feel as if I need to be more comfortable and "dangerous" with the rules before I can exploit all of the things he can do for units.

Anyways, hope you enjoyed this "teaser" which I hope to finish this week.  Alright I am off to work!