Club Night - Black Powder ACW - The Battle of Woodwards Elbow

Yesterday we played a game of American Civil War using the Black Powder rules at the White Hart pub in Nottingham.

This is my first attempt at playing an American Civil War game using the Black Powder rules, I usually play Fire and Fury or Regimental Fire and Fury. We would be playing with my 6mm collection and using half ranges.

The forces for this fictitious engagement were as follows. The Staff Values, Armaments and Special Rules were randomised on a Brigade by Brigade basis.

Union Order of Battle

Major-General Thomas A. Rowley – Staff Value 8

First Brigade - Brigadier General Francis V. Randall – Staff Value 8

Unit	Type	Armament	HtH	Shooting	Morale	Stamina	Special
83rd New York	Large Infantry	Rifled Muskets	8	4	4+	4	Reliable
66th New York	Large Infantry	Rifled Muskets	8	4	4+	4	Reliable
5th Michigan	Large Infantry	Rifled Muskets	8	4	4+	4	Reliable
Detachment 1st US Sharpshooters	Small Infantry	Breech Loading Rifles	2	2	4+	4	Marauders, Skirmish, Reliable, Sharpshooters
4th United States, Battery K	Artillery	Rifled Artillery	2	3-2-2	4+	3

Second Brigade - Brigadier General George C. Burling – Staff Value 7

Unit	Type	Armament	HtH	Shooting	Morale	Stamina	Special
1st Massachusetts	Large Infantry	Rifled Muskets	8	4	4+	4
11th Massachusetts	Infantry	Rifled Muskets	6	3	4+	3
16th Massachusetts	Infantry	Rifled Muskets	6	3	4+	3
26th Pennsylvania	Infantry	Rifled Muskets	6	3	4+	3
Detachment 1st US Sharpshooters	Small Infantry	Breech Loading Rifles	2	2	4+	4	Marauders, Skirmish, Reliable, Sharpshooters

Third Brigade- Brigadier General J. H. Hobart Ward – Staff Value 7

Unit	Type	Armament	HtH	Shooting	Morale	Stamina	Special
20th Indiana	Large Infantry	Rifled Muskets	8	4	4+	4	Reliable
3rd Maine	Infantry	Rifled Muskets	6	3	4+	3	Reliable
4th Maine	Infantry	Rifled Muskets	6	3	4+	3	Reliable
86th New York	Infantry	Rifled Muskets	6	3	4+	3	Reliable
New York Light, 3rd Battery	Artillery	Smoothbore Artillery	2	4-2-1	4+	3

Confederate Order of Battle

Major-General Samuel R. Johnson – Staff Value 7

First Brigade - Brigadier General Basil C. Manly – Staff Value 8

Unit	Type	Armament	HtH	Shooting	Morale	Stamina	Special
8th Virginia	Infantry	Rifled Muskets	6	3	4+	3	Reliable Tough Fighters
18th Virginia	Infantry	Rifled Muskets	6	3	4+	3	Reliable Tough Fighters
19th Virginia	Infantry	Rifled Muskets	6	3	4+	3	Reliable Tough Fighters
28th Virginia	Infantry	Rifled Muskets	6	3	4+	3	Reliable Tough Fighters
1st North Carolina Artillery	Artillery	Rifled Artillery	1	2-2-2	4+	2

Second Brigade - Brigadier General Robert M. Anderson – Staff Value 8

Unit	Type	Armament	HtH	Shooting	Morale	Stamina	Special
8th Georgia	Infantry	Smoothbore Muskets	6	3	4+	3	Reliable Tough Fighters
9th Georgia	Infantry	Smoothbore Muskets	6	3	4+	3	Reliable Tough Fighters
11th Georgia	Infantry	Smoothbore Muskets	6	3	4+	3	Reliable Tough Fighters
59th Georgia	Infantry	Smoothbore Muskets	6	3	4+	3	Reliable Tough Fighters
Palmetto Light Artillery	Artillery	Smoothbore Artillery	1	3-2-1	4+	2

Third Brigade - Brigadier General Joseph A. Hambrick – Staff Value 9

Unit	Type	Armament	HtH	Shooting	Morale	Stamina	Special
3rd South Carolina	Large Infantry	Smoothbore Muskets	8	4	4+	4	Tough Fighters
7th South Carolina	Large Infantry	Smoothbore Muskets	8	4	4+	4	Tough Fighters
8th South Carolina	Infantry	Smoothbore Muskets	6	3	4+	3	Tough Fighters
15th South Carolina	Infantry	Smoothbore Muskets	6	3	4+	3	Tough Fighters

I played the Union forces and James Woodward took the Confederates. We were assisted by Andy and  Devonexile.

From a Union perspective I deployed from left to right; Burlings Brigade, Randalls Brigade then Wards Brigade which was commanded by Devonexile.

The Union forces made the first moves, Wards Brigade immediately occupied a village and surrounding fields to their fore, but the remainder of their forces did very little. The Confederates countered by occupying a line of walls to their fore, Manlys Brigade moved to counter Wards brigade.

The Union forces continued sluggishly, Burlings Brigade refused to move and Wards Brigade failed to bring up their artillery, Randalls Brigade started to engage the Confederates to their fore.

The Confederates spurred into action, Manlys Brigade rapidly advanced up their left flank smashing into the 4th Maine scattering them in their entirety, the New York Light, 3rd Battery was also swept away. 

With their left flank collapsing the Union troops were in trouble, Burlings Brigade again refused to move and the remaining troops from Wards command braced for the hammer-blow. 

The Confederate plans were all to naught though due to the resiliant nature of the 20th Indiana. These stalwards quickly accounted for two Regiments of Manlys Brigade. Burlings Brigade stood and watched while the Confederates crossed the wall line to sweep Randalls Brigade away, but the rebel plans came a cropper, despite being heavily outnumbered Randalls Brigade broke two Regiments from Hambricks brigade. With two broken Brigades things were over for the Confederates and they yielded the field to the Union forces.

The Union troops had lost one regiment broken from Wards Brigade as well as their guns, the Confederates had lost one regiment broken and one regiment shaken from Manlys Brigade and one regiment broken and one regiment shaken from Hambricks brigade - hardly substantial losses, but we will take our wins as they come.

I really enjoyed the game and think that we';; certainly do some more ACW with Black Powder.

Some photos from the game. All the figures are by Adler Miniatures and were painted by myself. The buildings, walls and fences are from Total Battle Miniatures

Manlys Brigade do not expect the resistance put up by the 20th Indiana

Randals Brigade engage the Confederates hiding behind the wall line

3rd Battery New York Light Artillery is caught limbered

The Confederates prepare to cross the wall to engage Randalls hard pressed Brigade 

The left flank of Randalls Brigade, Burlings brigade are skulking some way to the rear and ignoring the orders of their commander and of  Major-General Rowley who has intervened.