Shiloh - A stubborn East Flank

We played a 15mm ACW game of "Across A Deadly Field" yesterday. It was a refight of the same scenario I ran at Nashcon, but this time we used three stand 15mm figure units instead of two stand  25mm figure units. The scenario was written by John Hill and portrays Albert Sideney Johnston's vicious mid-morning attack on the Federal brigades of Stuart, Williams and McArthur. I believe this scenario will be included in the ADF - Western Scenario book from Osprey next year.

This is a small scenario for ADF which is perfect for two players.  Dean took the Feds and I played the Rebs. Turn one saw a general CSA advance (although it was slooooowwww through the woods and ravines) and almost no firing, with the Feds reacting to some of the Rebel movements.

Each turn in ADF has a lot of "play" in it  since one side has an "action" and then the other side may "react", and then the active side takes another "action". Once the active side has completed all of its actions, the opposing side now becomes the active side. It's a great game mechanic that really causes the player to plan out and prioritize his actions carefully.

Turn two opened with some CSA and USA artillery fire and and a Rebel charge that got stopped and thrown back, but another massed  CSA brigade charge broke the Union line near the peach orchard and caused one unit to rout and a couple other units to shake. We paused the game at that point to fire up grill for some lunch. By that time a couple other gamers had showed up and we just kept grilling and talking gaming into the evening and it was too late to return to the game before everyone had to go home. It was a great day of ACW gaming, friends and BBQ and we all planned to do it again soon!

The mat was commissioned by John Hill and I think it really looks fantastic! These might be available commercially later this year.

Here are some pics from the game:

Some of McArthur's brigade moving up to support the Union line near Larkin Bell's field.

Dean West moving his troops.

The Union  Brig Gen Stephen Hurlburt surveying the grim situation.

My friend Chris photo-bombing me (in black shirt) and Dean in my gaming room.

The big rebel charge that broke the Union line. I think if we would have played a few more turns, Dean could have easily stabilized the situation.

The Union gun line of four batteries holds the center. These guns were firing through the camps keeping the Rebs at bay.

An overview of the game during turn two. The Rebs have punched through the center of the USA line, although they are now exposed themselves! I think Dean would have cleaned this up quickly had the game continued. This is about the point where we stopped to BBQ.

After the battle....

Good Gaming - Cory

15mm Naismith ACW

I fell in love with the 15mm Naismith Design miniatures back in the late 80's. As I recall, I was at a convention in Jacksonville, FL (Suncoast Skirmishes)  and one of the vendors had a case full of these figures. Up until that point, I had only been painting 15mm ACW figures like Stone Mountain, Minifigs, Falcon, Donnington, etc. I walked up to the vendor and the Naismith figures just jumped out and slapped me! They were highly detailed, full of character and well animated. By today's standards they are not the best 15mm figures you can buy, but in the late 80's I would have ranked them at the top.

My old 1990 Navwar catalog 

 I was in college at the time and didn't have a lot of money, so I just bought a few packs. I remember placing a mail order a few months later after I was able to save some extra "miniatures money" and picked up a few more units. I think I sold some along the way (which I regret) but I still have quite a few of these old, cherished units in my collection.

Navwar are still in business, but from what I can tell they don't manufacture the 15mm ACW figures any more. I'm guessing the molds wore out, which is common with older ranges. If anyone knows the exact details of why they don't offer the ACW range anymore, or if anyone else does, please let me know! Here is a link to their website - http://www.navwar.co.uk/nav/


So basically I have been trolling eBay looking for these figures. They do pop up every once in while and I try to snatch them up! Here are some pictures of some packs I recently picked up:

I got these for steal on eBay! This will be enough for a unit and a few mounted generals.

AC 1 - private, campaign dress, kepi, advancing

And here are some pictures of the mounted command figures painted. I'll post pics of the infantry units when they are finished.

Two USA command stands and two CSA stands. These will likely serve as divisional or Corps commanders.

Great sculpting for 15mm figures! 

A Federal General

The four stands I finished recently. They will be put to good use soon in another Shiloh game.

15mm Naismith

Next to an old apple orchard built by my friend Bob Freeman.