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Sedgwick Attacks: Salem Church (May 3, 1863)

2024-08-01T21:14:27-04:00

Vendor: Revolution Games (II)
Type: Board Games
Price: 96.95

Designer	Claude Whalen
Publisher	Revolution Games (II)
Players	1-2
Playtime	120-480 mins
Suggested Age	14 and up
Additional Info	403567/sedgwick-attacks-salem-church-may-3-1863 http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/403567/sedgwick-attacks-salem-church-may-3-1863/forums/63

May 3rd, 1863 is a somewhat forgotten day in ACW history but it had 21,357 casualties and was the second bloodiest day of the American Civil War. Part of that day's butcher bill involved General John Sedgwick's VI Corps. General hooker was losing possession of the Chancellorsville Crossroads and he ordered Sedgwick to advance out of the Fredericksburg, take Mayre's Heights and come up behind Lee's army at Chancellorsville. It was a tall order but Sedgwick was able to take Marye's Heights, which had been impregnable four and a half months ago, and suddenly the way to Chancellorsville looked open.

Sedgwick continued on his way but immediately started looking over his shoulder, worried about Early's Confederate forces. They had retreated from their Fredericksburg positions but were reforming in Sedgwick's rear. Sedgwick then makes a mistake and stopped to reshuffle his troops for his advance towards Lee's forces. He traded time for strength Cadmus Wilcox showed real initiative and conducted a skillful delaying action with his Confederate troops. AL the while, troops sent by Lee rushed to help Wilcox's small Brigade. Sedgwick was now heading for an ambush and his Corps was in much bigger trouble than he realized.

Sedgwick Attacks gives players the chance to do what Sedgwick couldn't, get to Hooker's aid. Should the Union trade time for fresh troops or shoud he push on with his bloodied troops leading the way? Three different scenarios give the players a chance to find out. The game is specifically designed to be a playable regimental-scale simulation of the battle that can be completed in a long evening. It allows the players the immersive experience of tactical combat without the heavy rules normally found in such games. while also delivering a comprehensive experience of limited intelligence and unexpected events. The game features "Blind Swords" chit-pull system, which emphasizes the the "FOW's" of military conflict: fog-of-war, friction-of-war, and fortunes-of-war. With each chit pull, players will be challenged to make tough decisions based on their assessment of the situation at that moment. This yields an environment of tense action and constant surprises - an environment that will challenge each player.

—description from the publisher

Thunder At Dawn: The Battle of Wilson's Creek (August 10, 1861) (Boxed Edition)

2023-05-05T05:40:20-04:00

Vendor: Revolution Games (II)
Type: Board Games
Price: 99.95

Designer	Claude Whalen
Publisher	Revolution Games (II)
Players	1-2
Playtime	240-480 mins
Suggested Age	11 and up
Honor	2021 Charles S. Roberts Best American Civil War Board Wargame Nominee
Additional Info	340473/thunder-dawn-battle-wilsons-creek-august-10-1861 http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/340473/thunder-dawn-battle-wilsons-creek-august-10-1861/forums/63

Thunder At Dawn is the 5th title of the Revolution Games Civil War Series using the Blind Swords system.

On August 10th, 1861 the first major battle of the Trans-Mississippi theater, and the second major battle of the American Civil War, was fought near Springfield, Missouri. Three rather green forces (one Union army and two Rebel forces) met at Wilson’s Creek and clashed on “Bloody Hill. Little did they know how bloody the war would be.

The commanders were also new to this level of fighting and two novice errors shaped the historic battle. The Union commander, General Lyon, detailed his battle plan to his commanders and then was talked into dividing his smaller force in two at the last minute. The Rebels had dissention amongst Generals McCulloch and Price over whether they should attack immediately or not. After cancelling an advance to attack the next morning (August 10th), they forgot to repost pickets when they returned to their camps. This mistake left them open to the Union surprise attack the next morning. After great initial success, the Union forces ran low on ammunition, lost General Lyon and ended up leaving the field. It didn’t have to be that way as the Union forces had a very good chance of conducting a successful “spoiling” attack. The “What If” scenario gives the Union player a chance to adjust his strategy and win the battle.

The game is specifically designed to be a playable regimental-scale simulation of the battle that can be completed in a long evening. It allows the players the immersive experience of tactical combat without the heavy rules normally found in such games, while also delivering a comprehensive experience of limited intelligence and unexpected events. The game features the Blind Swords chit-pull system, which emphasizes the three “FOWs” of military conflict: fog-of-war, friction-of-war and fortunes-of-war. With each chit pull, players will be challenged to make tough decisions based on their assessment of the situation at that moment. This yields an environment of tense action and constant surprises – an environment that will challenge each player.

—user summary

Components:
-22 x 34 inch Map
-176 x 5/8 inch Counters
-Full Color Exclusive Rulebook
-Series Rulebook (Black and White)
-5 Player Aids
-Box or ziploc bag
-2 Dice (Boxed Version)

Kernstown (Boxed Edition)

2023-05-05T05:19:00-04:00

Vendor: Revolution Games (II)
Type: Board Games
Price: 88.95

Designer	Claude Whalen
Publisher	Revolution Games (II)
Players	1-2
Playtime	120-480 mins
Suggested Age	13 and up
Additional Info	285436/kernstown http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/285436/kernstown/forums/63

On March 23, 1862 and then again on July 24, 1864 the area around Kernstown, Virginia witnessed clashes between Union and Confederate forces. The Pritchard House and Pritchard's Hill were central to both battles as they abutted the Valley Turnpike.

At First Kernstown, Stonewall Jackson erred in taking scouting reports at face value and so he unknowingly attacked a superior Union force. With Union Commander James Shields laying wounded back in Winchester, Colonel Nathan Kimball ignored Shields' orders and managed, and mismanaged, the battle his way. Though Jackson's men ran out of ammunition and fled the field, Stonewall's only tactical loss became a strategic victory as Union Commanders overestimated the size of Jackson's force. The Union forces could have crushed Jackson, stopped his Valley Campaign before it really got started and perhaps allowed McClellan to end the war in 1862.

On July 24, 1864, Union Commander George Crook ignored his scouting reports and ordered his forces to attack what he thought was a small body of Confederate cavalry and skirmishers. Generals Jubal Early and especially General John Breckinridge led their forces well and routed Crook's men. Only the failure of the Confederate cavalry to cut the Union retreat routes prevented the annihilation of Crook's army. Better Union leadership and troop placement could have made this battle much harder for the Confederates to win.

Kernstown is a game simulating the fighting on March 23, 1862 and July 24, 1864 around Kernstown. The game is specifically designated to be a playable regimental-scale simulation of these two conflicts and some scenarios can be completed in a long evening. This is the fourth ACW game published by Revolution Games which features the "Blind Swords" chit-pull system. This mechanic emphasizes the three "FOW's" of military conflict: fog-of-war, friction-of-war, and fortunes-of-war. With each chit pull, players will be challenged to make tough decisions based on their assessment of the situation at that moment.

Components: One 22x34" map; 2 x 5/8" counter-sheets (352 counters); Rulebooklet; 5 charts/playeraids; Box or ziploc bag; 2 dice (Boxed version only).

Game Information: Complexity: 6 out of 10. Solitaire Suitability: 6 out of 10. Time Scale: 20 minute turns. Map Scale: 150 yards per hex. Unit Scale: regimental. Players: one to two, best with two. Playing Time: three to ten hours depending on scenario.

—description from the publisher

Map by Rick Barber
Counters by Charlie Kibler
Box by Mark Mahaffey