Battle of Resaca

„... The Battle of Resaca was part of the Atlanta Campaign of the American Civil War. The battle was waged in both Gordon and Whitfield counties, Georgia, May 13–15, 1864. It ended inconclusively with the Confederate Army retreating. The engagement was fought between the Military Division of the Mississippi (led by Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman) on the side of the Union and the Army of Tennessee (Gen. Joseph E. Johnston) for the Confederates. ...“

My first game (Altar of Freedom) with my newly painted 10mm ACW union Infantry. We refought the Battle of Resaca, I was in charge of the centre of the union, a tough bunch of divisions, but I was given Palmer a hesitant commander, who lacked the much needed activation points to move his units. The rebel positions were behind quickly dug up fortifications on hills and they enjoyed a good and able commander.

The first couple of turns, I made good progress, but then the ‘Palmer‘ character trait came to bear and my units danced back and forth over the river, while being shot at from an enthusiastic Rebel commander, if somewhat unwilling to move. To my left I must witness the retreat of several divisions in the face of the enemy, for "re-deployment purposes". I won‘t disclose the name of the gentleman here, but he rehabilitated himself later by storming the fortified position in front of the bridge to Atlanta, while Rebel reserves were crossing, throwing the whole flank into disarray in doing so. Which was the objective part of the Union's victory condition and so won the battle single handedly, I hesitantly must admit.

The complete battle field after 1st deployment

The Union is advancing

Mr Palmers hesitant lot

on the way to break the centre

slowly over the river (the brown fluffy tie)

despite rebel barrages still in good order

finally went of the river to take the enemy position

The lion rampant

We tested the new Osprey rules "Lion Rampant" this week, Jack, David, Bart and me. The figures are wonderfully painted and provided by David and Jack, mostly Claymore castings.

Both sides had a small retinue of foot knights, billmen and bowmen and the "Teutonics" played by David had also some heavy cavalry! The scenario was to hold on to a small hamlet in the middle of the field – and off we go!

First, I made rapid progress with my Commander to enter the village, but then a flank charge of the Teutonic Horse basically swept away my complete left flank. Bart tried a counterattack on the left, but just prolonged our suffering, in the end we lost, the commander and the village.

It is a nice set of rules with a potential for a lot of bloody havoc, as one decimates the forces of your opponent your troops melt away. I liked the fact that single figures were taken off as casualties. We surely haven't  tested all the finesse of the game in depth, but that just leaves room for more medieval tin can opening! A skirmishing game to my gusto.

Taste more blood on the following:
Barts:
http://asienieboje.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/lion-rampant.html

Jacks:
http://pioneerpainting.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/lion-rampant.html

Davids:
http://saxondog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/first-game-of-lion-rampant.html

the rest of the German Knights attack my bowmen

The Commander actually...

the Hamlet in our hands

Barts spearmen finishing off the enemy commander

Our flag before it was cut down

The German foot knights counter-counter attack

The Teutonic triumphant

All these knights were killed at he cost of half of our contingent

XII all done! Getty can come!

Yesterday, I finished my 10mms for the 12th for Gettysburg, so I decided to make them smile!

Minis by Pendraken, flags by Jack, corp logo by Heineken, and the terrain dressing and camera by me;

2 seconds into the club I already had the self declared uniform police at my heels - OK, OK,  light blue distinctions - not yellow (moooh me)! I repent and will change this maybe for the next time ... maybe ...
aaand... here some history mfffph for the disaffected:

At the Battle of Gettysburg, the XII Corps distinguished itself by its gallant defense of Culp‘s Hill.

On the afternoon of July 2 the corps was ordered by army commander M. to disengage from Culp‘s Hill and reinforce the Union line on its extreme left flank, near Little Round Top. S. persuaded M. to leave one brigade behind to hold the sensitive-critical position: G.‘s Brigade, of G.‘s Division. While occupying this position on Culp‘s Hill, with an excessively long line to defend and no other troops in support, G. was attacked by E.“ J.‘s Division, but the attack was successfully repulsed by his brigade. G., a civil engineer, had insisted that his men prepare impressive defensive works on the hill. Still, some of J.‘s troops effected, without opposition, a lodgment in the vacated breastworks of the XII Corps, and upon the return of those troops a desperate battle ensued to drive the Confederates out. After a long, hard fight the corps succeeded in re-occupying its works. On no part of the field did the Confederate dead lie thicker than in front of the XII Corps position. J.‘s Division, containing 22 regiments, lost in this particular action...