This is the third installment in a three part series depicting a playtest for one of the Alt-History scenarios from Death Valley. Parts one and two can be found here and here. The action here starts with the 1400 turn; see my previous articles for the 0800-1000 and 1100-1300 turns.

As was true of Parts 1 and 2, I generally avoid game terminology for the sake of producing a true-to-life narrative. Although the mechanics are thus obscured, readers should rest assured that the narrative reflects only what happened in the game. Sometimes the descriptions go beyond a literal reading of the rules, but I’d argue that such cases represent reasonable interpretations of game events. For example, this version of GBACW does not deal with prisoners, yet I make reference to them, as it is reasonable to assume that in many cases strength point losses represent captures rather than casualties. Any passages seemingly at odds with published GBACW rules reflect either scenario rules or changes to the series rules appearing in the next edition of the rulebook.

The one exception is the liberty I take with historical personalities, including invented dialogue. These fanciful interludes serve to indicate the rationale behind player decisions and offer the reader reflections on the action.

For the sake of continuity I follow events in a given sector throughout a turn before moving on to another sector. That seems preferable to following the activation chits wherever they might lead.

Key to the battle graphics:

• Red arrows represent forward or lateral movement or advance after combat, and point at the moving or advancing unit.
• Yellow arrows represent retreats or retrograde movements, and point at the unit conducting the retreat or movement. A long yellow arrow pointing to no unit indicates a Rout.
• Red boxes identify formations or units playing a key role in particular events.

1400

Thomas Jackson’s Valley Army has battled John C. Fremont’s Mountain Department forces for five hours without a clear decision. Near Cross Keys the Union troops of Fremont’s own division have weathered all Confederate attacks and are now prepared to press their advantage. The Union left, however, is hard pressed, as Charles Winder’s crack Stonewall Brigade and the southern cavalry under Thomas Munford relentlessly drive Henry Bohlen’s brigade back through the wooded terrain along Conger’s Creek.

Jackson has no supply train. Many units are low on ammunition.  Two regiments are completely depleted. Yet the Valley Army must neutralize Fremont’s offensive power before hazarding a retreat south toward the depots along the Virginia Central Railroad. If ever there was a time to “Give them the bayonet”, this is it, but the morning and early afternoon have told heavily on the Confederate left wing’s fighting power. William Taliaferro’s new arrivals have also been hard hit. Jackson’s offensive hopes thus rest on Winder, Munford, and Isaac Trimble. He will send all his artillery to the left to bolster John Patton’s and Dick Taylor’s beaten brigades.

John Fremont, on the other hand, can now imagine the possibility of a great victory. If he can cut Jackson’s retreat rout, the enemy army must dissolve. His own division retains a good measure of offensive power and is ready to wield it. But Fremont cannot ignore Louis Blenker’s predicament. Fremont orders Blenker to fall back and post Julius Stahel’s brigade as a shield for Bohlen’s, so that the latter can reorganize. 

The Battle’s Eastern Sector

Blenker and his three brigadiers waste no time. Henry Bohlen pulls his entire brigade into the woods west of Conger’s Creek, except for 74th Pennsylvania. Rather than moving back, the 74th loses 50 men being tumbled back into an appropriate position after a brief firefight with 5th Virginia. Half of 4th New York, the brigade’s attached cavalry, takes a rearguard position east of the creek on a byway 300 yards northeast of the Kline farmstead. Bohlen’s main body begins restoring order within its ranks.

Julius Stahel’s brigade starts to extend northward to cover Bohlen’s disorganized units. The move proceeds slowly over cut up, wooded terrain, but the Confederates fail to intervene. Covering fire provided by Stahel’s 45th New York drives back Taliaferro’s 10th Virginia, thus enabling Dilger’s battery and elements of 41st New York to disengage without enemy interference. John Koltes pulls his remnant back, as well. Here, too, the movement is complicated, but again the enemy fails to stir. Such good fortune is at least in part due to the Union artillery’s accurate gunnery. While Bohlen’s artillery begins the long trek back to its brigade, Stahel’s and Koltes’ artillery doesn’t have as far to go. Indeed, Koltes’ 13th New York battery is already on good ground and provides covering fire versus Elzey’s 13th Virginia. The shot & shell is on target, and the 13th takes losses, the survivors hustling back to the nearest woods. A little later Koltes’ guns drive Taliaferro’s 37th Virginia to ground, thus delaying any possible pursuit by the Confederate center.

The Valley Army finally begins to move. Taliaferro can do no more than attempt to rally his stunned brigade (see part 2, 1300 Turn). Most of Winder’s brigade pursues the retreating foe, but the going is slow in line of battle. By the time he closes the gap, Blenker has established a strong position with 27th Pennsylvania’s 600 men deployed in a first line ahead of Bohlen’s brigade.

The cocky 5th Virginia decides to test the Yankee line, pulls to within effective smoothbore range, and lets fly at the 27th. Its leaden hail is fierce, but the Pennsylvanians make a stand, and their answering fire is deadly, knocking another chink in the Stonewall Brigade’s armor. The 5th’s lines waver, and to Winder’s horror knots of men from various companies start running to the rear. He gives chase, brandishing the flat of his sword, but cannot intercept them all. Fortunately the hemorrhage soon stops on its own, but it is a bad omen for the Valley Army. The Keystone State men try to press their advantage, aided by oblique fire from the 8th New York. The remaining Virginians, however, stand like rocks despite the confusion, and their return fire cuts the Pennsylvanians down in windrows.

Isaac Trimble drives his brigade forward, but only 15th Alabama encounters resistance. Unfortunately it’s very tough resistance, costing this deep south unit 25% of its strength. Nevertheless, they have caught up with the Yankees, and if Trimble can reinforce their effort, the bloody investment may prove worthwhile.

The Confederate cavalry swings far to the north to take its place at the right end of the line. Reinforced by a battalion of the 6th Virginia and Ashby’s three horse artillery tubes, Munford’s 500 men have a momentary edge on the 400 troopers of Bohlen’s 4th New York. That edge may not last long, however, as Bohlen’s six-gun battery is coming up fast. Ashby’s battery opens up on the battalion of 4th New York at the extreme left of the Union line. The gunners raise a cheer as enemy riders prove unable to control their mounts amidst the bursting shell. Munford’s troopers excitedly move forward, preparing to pounce.

Meanwhile, Taliaferro tries to restore his shaken brigade’s confidence. He eventually succeeds and resumes his advance in two lines, with 37th and 10th Virginia in front and the weakened 23rd Virginia behind. Finally there’s a ray of hope. The 10th Virginia  bursts through a patch of woods, coming abreast of Trimble’s left and confronting 41st New York’s right-hand battalion, which numbers only 150 men. The southern fire buckles the enemy and Taliaferro senses this is his moment. He waves the 10th ahead , and suddenly it’s a chase. The New Yorkers hurriedly pull out, leaving 50 men in the hands of the jubilant Virginians, who have driven a wedge between Stahel and Koltes.

Stahel pulls back part of his right wing in response, including 41st New York’s intact battalion. Covering for the New Yorkers is the veteran 13th Pennsylvania, “The Bucktails”,  who successfully dodge a hail of fire from 15th Alabama. But 29th New York on the left of Koltes’ line is to disorganized to respond, although outflanked. This is the price to be paid for leading inexperienced troops into battle.

Arnold Elzey’s brigade can do no more than advance its line so as to keep abreast of Taliaferro on the right and George Steuart’s brigade on the left. It takes cover in low ground along a Mill Creek tributary, not far from the Flory house.

The Battle’s Western Sector

John Patton is still holding down the Valley Army’s extreme left wing. It’s a sensitive post and Patton ventures nothing that could compromise his brigade’s grip on the Keezletown Road. Orders are having a tough time reaching Steuart’s brigade, and it lies low. Schenck’s strongest remaining unit is less than 150 yards away. General Ewell, responding to his left-wing brigadiers’ dire messages, rides to Taylor’s command post and finds the Louisianan’s line in shocking condition. Together the two begin to restore order to the shattered units.

And not a moment too soon, as Fremont’s division begins its “probe”. Robert Schenck’s brigade is not slated to participate, but 32nd Ohio conducts a harmless firefight with 44th and 58th Virginia. 5th West Virginia, one of Milroy’s big regiments, is still feeling the effects of previous fighting. The brigadier must have it in line for any serious push, and so pauses to rally it. 3rd West Virginia also engages Steuart’s men. It pushes 44th Virginia back with losses, but not before a hot counter-fire from 58th Virginia disorders its own ranks. Clusaret’s role in the probe is even more tentative. 8th West Virginia trades ineffective volleys with Patton’s men, but 60th Ohio falls back out of effective small-arms range, coming abreast of its sister regiment. The plain fact is that Patton and the artillery supporting him have the Keezletown Road locked down. If Fremont is to break through in this vicinity, it will have be to Patton’s left, through Taylor or Steuart.

58th Virginia continues its fight against Fremont’s left wing, throwing back 3rd West Virginia and breaking 32nd Ohio’s alignment. This exhausts their ammo supply just as Milroy is at last ready to move. He summons 5th West Virginia and the dismounted 1st West Virginia cavalry. Both units march by the left flank, reforming their line so as to strike the 58th’s left flank. They volleys and disconcert the Virginians, and Milroy quickly follows up with an assault. His 650 men bowl over the Virginia regiment, which heads for the rear in disorder, stopping on a line with the 44th Virginia. Milroy’s blood is up, and his mob throws the 58th back again, then proceeds against the 44th and finally scares off Taylor’s right wing before halting in the woods south of the road from Cross Keys to the Flory House. Only a thin rebel line now separates Fremont’s men from Mill Creek and the Confederate rear.

1500

At Fremont’s command post on the extreme left of his own division, aide-de-camp Colonel Albert Tracy hands the latest report to the Pathfinder, seated at a camp desk in front of his headquarters baggage wagon. “Sir, Milroy has attacked and overrun the Rebels that were pinning Schenck’s brigade. He reports prisoners from three regiments of Ewell’s division.” Fremont scans Milroy’s handwritten note and wrinkles his brow. “That’s all very well, Tracy, but he seems to have plunged ahead with only part of his brigade, and indicates that he’s ‘several hundred yards in advance of the division’. I’m not quite sure where that is.  If Ewell counterattacks, we may need to pull Milroy’s chestnuts out of the fire.”

Tracy has been with Fremont since the latter’s days as head of the Department of the West. He ventures a counterpoint. “Sir, General Blenker has reported his division under heavy pressure. Would it not be prudent to send him help instead? If General Milroy has thrashed the Confederates as he claims, perhaps the danger to his command is of a lesser order.” Fremont turns to face his aide-de-camp. “Yes, Tracy, it would indeed be prudent. Notify Schenck, Clusaret, and Milroy’s unengaged regiments to march by the left flank until they make firm contact with Blenker, but have one column sweep far enough south to support Milroy. Perhaps we can help both him and Blenker”.

Across the field, Richard Ewell is a man in shock. Three of his brigades are so damaged, they should be sent to the rear immediately. But he cannot do that, and this turns his shock to dismay. Ewell hurriedly scribbles Isaac Trimble a note: Division smashed.  Do not hazard too much. Ewell cannot risk his division’s only remaining viable force.

A little over a mile away a courier delivers a written report to Sandie Pendleton, the leading light on Jackson’s staff. Pendleton’s heart sinks as he reads it, and he hurries to his chief. “Sir, Ewell reports three of his brigades defeated. The closest support is General Taliaferro’s brigade. Should we send Taliaferro to Ewell?” If Jackson is ruffled by this news, he does not show it. “Lieutenant Pendleton, General Taliaferro is engaged alongside  General Trimble. It will not do to assign him another mission until his work here is completed. Inform General Ewell that he must hold on. Help will come.”

The Battle’s Western Sector

Colonel Tracy forwards Fremont’s orders to Schenck, Clusaret, and those of Milroy’s regiments left behind. The prescribed movement begins immediately. Schenck’s brigade leads the way, followed by Milroy’s available regiments. Milroy has sent 1st West Virginia back toward the main line, so contact with his isolated 5th West Virginia is easily restored. On the right wing Clusaret’s brigade falls back to the division’s artillery line, supported by Schenck’s two errant regiments, neither of which is in any shape to accept an offensive assignment.

Milroy initial efforts to restore order to the 5th West Virginia fail. The 25th Ohio thus takes up a supporting position to its right rear, while Schenck forges ahead. His 55th and 32nd Ohio deliver a 1-2 punch versus Steuart’s 58th Virginia, costing the beaten regiment half its remaining 200 men. Fremont’s move to the left has thus partially protected the impetuous Milroy, although it has quite a distance to go before doing the same for Louis Blenker.

Ewell’s tired troops refuse to give up. Elzey’s scouts inform him that Schenck’s flank is dangling in the air, and Elzey rouses his men for another effort. 31st Virginia maneuvers its way into Schenck’s rear and charges forward, but 13th Virginia’s remaining 150 men have already hit 55th Ohio with a galling flank fire. The 55th has now lost 70% and takes shelter with the 32nd Ohio.

The rattle of musketry to his right inspires Richard Taylor to strike Milroy’s isolated and still disordered 5th West Virginia. 6th Louisiana charges through the woods versus the Yankee flank, but the 5th successfully wheels right and guns downs the 6th’s front rank. The remaining Louisianans pause only momentarily and then grapple with their foes in a hand-to-hand contest. The West Virginians fall back, but the 6th Louisiana has had enough, its remaining 250 men fleeing the field. Taylor takes refuge with the 9th Louisiana, his last intact unit. Still he refuses to give up. He knows Milroy’s troops must be tiring and leads the 9th forward against 5th West Virginia. The result is bloodier than previously, but this time the West Virginians are the ones who flee. The surviving Louisianans cheer their commander, but Taylor’s haunted expression sends a chill through anyone close enough to see it.

The Battle’s Eastern Sector

Once again Jackson’s troops allow Louis Blenker the time he needs to prepare for combat. Henry Bohlen is tasked with rallying most of his brigade, but performs wonders and sidles his units to the left as they reform. Julius Stahel orders 27th Pennsylvania to take position in the resulting gap, but the right of that regiment wants one more crack at 5th Virginia. It pays heavily for its arrogance and retreats in disorder, ending up to the rear of its intended spot. Its sister battalion plugs the gap between the brigades, at the same time shielding its comrades.

The Bucktails are now a Forlorn Hope, sandwiched between Trimble’s and Taliaferro’s troops. They hunker down while the 41st New York to its left and rear attempts to drive at least Trimble’s troops back. The struggle is bloody but inconclusive. The artillery concentration centered on the Armentrout house also fails to slow the Rebels, who answer Battery C, West Virginia’s shells with a long-range fire hot enough to drive the gunners under their limbers.

Koltes again rallies his remaining troops. The 29th New York is unwilling to await Taliaferro’s next move and takes 10th Virginia under fire. Once again the result astonishes Koltes. 10th Virginia seems to visibly sag as great gaps appear in its ranks. Its return fire is utterly without effect, and a spontaneous cheer erupts along the 29th’s line. It is as if the Confederates suddenly feel all the accumulated fatigue of the previous three weeks. While Blenker shifs his forces, dealing or taking an occasional blow, only Thomas Munford goes forward to do battle. Bohlen’s cavalry on the extreme left falls back before his advance, a maneuver that disorders the inexperienced troopers, but leaves the four Parrotts and two 12-pound howitzers of Battery I, 1st New York, unmasked. Munford can only hope that Ashby’s artillery can suppress the enemy’s artillery, which otherwise will halt his advance in its tracks.

The Valley Army’s right wing at length kicks into gear. Taliaferro concentrates his whole brigade versus the 29th New York and severely wounds it, pushing it back with a renewed drive later on. Further north Winder grinds his way forward versus Stahel’s brigade, maintaining particular pressure on 27th Pennsylvania.

But it is Isaac Trimble, the sexagenarian commander of Ewell’s only brigade capable of offensive combat, who ignites the high drama in this sector. 21st North Carolina’s forward battalion still has some cartridges in its pouches and squares off with 41st New York. The results are too dire for either formation to stand its ground, and both retire. 16th Mississippi, Trimble’s most powerful unit, then comes up on the brigade’s right. It does battle with the 45th New York, suffering severely but sowing disarray in the enemy ranks.

Trimble hurries to the scene and assesses the situation. Despite Ewell’s instructions, he knows his men’s capabilities and orders the 16th to assault. At the same time, the 15th Alabama crosses a ravine and scrambles up its far side versus the completely isolated Bucktails. 100 of them quickly surrender, but the other 50 hold their ground versus six times their number. It is a heroic but doomed gesture. The Alabamans escort these 50, too, to the rear. 45th New York also fails to stand, and the haggard 16th Mississippi corrals 50 Empire State prisoners as it advances, only to run into the 41st New York.

16th Mississippi is unsteady, but Trimble sees that the 41st New York is in similar shape and orders an attack. The Mississippi mob rushes the New Yorkers. Though ordered to stand, the 41st runs for the rear. Such a development was inevitable, given the quality of Stahel’s troops, and the wonder is that this is his first real setback. The 16th advances to the edge of the woods, only to fall back again as Dilger’s battery positioned further west sends it a leaden greeting. 

1600

Fremont has left his command post and joined Milroy’s 25th Ohio. Colonel Tracy tags behind him, protesting, “General, I must advise you that this is a most dangerous place. The army cannot afford to lose you at this time.” Fremont will have none of it, as his new location also affords him the best access to his subordinate commands he’s had since the battle’s early stages.

Reports arrive. Schenck’s brigade has taken severe damage. Milroy is in better shape, but his troops are very tired after fending off two headlong Louisiana assaults. Clusaret’s messenger brings the most interesting information. “Sir, the Rebs have massed their artillery along the Keezeltown Road, with a brigade in support.” Fremont asks, “And what of our own artillery?” The young lieutenant replies, “Most of it is behind reverse slopes; the Rebs don’t seem to have the stomach for taking it on.”

Thus Fremont may be able to count on stalemate on his far right. In the center neither army has any formed lines. Off to the left Blenker has more or less held his own against Jackson’s attacks. Fremont’s orders for his left remain in force: fall back as necessary rather than allowing the enemy any flanking leverage.

A mile further east Stonewall Jackson is making his way to Trimble’s rear area. He encounters a pallid Richard Ewell. “General Ewell, what is troubling you?” Ewell responds with a quiver in his high-pitched voice, “I am not well, General Jackson. My division has been destroyed today, and we have no certainty of success. I fear for all our futures.”

For all his taciturnity, petty displays of pique, and ruthless will to victory, Jackson has an inner kindness. Ewell’s plight visibly affects him. “General Ewell, your division has held open our retreat rout all day. You may be proud of it, sir. There is still time before nightfall to round up stragglers; I pray your command will thereby benefit to the extent of it once more being capable of combat. For now, however, look to Trimble’s brigade, and let us smite our foe”.

Jackson rides on. By sending the artillery to the left he has sealed the Keezletown Road against any enemy attempt to push forward, while at the same time positioning the guns to make a clean getaway come nightfall. But his tired troops must bend every effort to finishing the job of incapacitating the enemy, or the coming retreat could prove a nightmare. Unfortunately, Jackson has outrun most of his staff. His shortage of couriers may have a serious impact on the energy with which his command conducts its fight versus Blenker’s division.

The Last Act

John Patton is another frustrated brigadier. His troops have taken heavy losses, and up ahead the Yankees have enough artillery to shred any assault. But he must do something, and so has 48th Virginia conduct a left-oblique, skirting the enemy guns, so that it can develop Clusaret’s resistance. The Virginians do indeed “develop” it and end up hugging the earth as the leaden messengers zip by. Patton’s probe elicits a full scale counterattack from Clusaret. By the time it ends, the southern brigade is as impotent as Ewell’s three brigades in this part of the field. Jackson’s artillery does what it can to assist, but terrain obstructions and half-empty limbers hamper its effectiveness.

Signs are no more favorable for Taliaferro’s 37th Virginia, which takes heavy losses in a fight with Stahel’s 39th New York. The New Yorkers do not come away without damage, and the rest of Taliaferro’s brigade advances to do battle with it, but a deep ravine deep slows its progress.

Henry Bohlen’s troops may lack their enemy’s experience, but he has plenty of them, and their fire knocks 33rd Virginia back. Having suffered a 60% loss during the course of the afternoon, the 33rd is essentially finished for the day. Tom Munford can see his troopers will not prevail over the Yankees, and he pulls back in two stages, first to dead ground, then past the Vance house. Bohlen gives chase, but when the southern cavalry disappears into the woods, he wheels his infantry to the right and trades volleys with Winder’s right wing. Nothing comes of this fight other northern hearts swelling with pride at having faced the best of the South and done well.

The rest of the Stonewall brigade, however, demonstrates what the Best of the South can do. 2nd, 4th, and 5th Virginia blast the 27th Pennsylvania and 8th New York, both of Stahel’s brigade. As 8th New York’s line staggers with the loss of 100 men, the Rebel Yell erupts as the men of the 4th and 5th scramble up the slope with leveled bayonets. The New Yorkers skedaddle, but panic breaks out and they stream to the rear, disrupting 27th Pennsylvania and Bohlen’s 58th New York. The spreading rot results in a mini-rout as 50 men from the 27th Pennsylvania also head for the rear. The Virginians are ecstatic, but pause to prepare for the next round. Stahel’s brigade is more or less ruined. He orders his vulnerable units back another step, while he and Blenker stiffen 39th New York’s resolve as it confronts Taliaferro’s 23rd Virginia. Indeed, the 39th avenges Stahel’s honor when it inflicts massive losses on the 23rd before outflanking the 37th and throwing it back with losses.

The retrograde movement by Stahel’s other units does not help them for long, however. Trimble goes forward with a battalion of 21st North Carolina, Ewell at his side. The Tar Heels don’t have a cartridge to their names but prepare to charge 45th New York. This draws canister fire from Dilger and the 2nd New York battery. The gunners shoot right over the 45th New York’s heads, the New Yorkers being in a swale formed by a Mill Creek tributary. The ricochet is a little too close for comfort, and the 45th panics and bolts for the rear. The terror they inspire prompts 27th Pennsylvania to do likewise, and now 500 Union soldiers are running as fast as their legs will carry them. The 60 year-old Trimble rises in his saddle, waving his hat in jubilation. His men wildly cheer. Tears of joy stream from Richard Ewell’s eyes at this, his defeated division’s vindication. But the Tar Heels do not pursue. A mounted messenger has ridden up to Ewell with Jackson’s orders to withdraw. The fight is over; the Valley Army must seek ammunition and sustenance. It will fight again another day.

Conclusions

In this section I will employ game terminology to assess the scenario and the course of this test.

So, who won? Fremont not only held his ground but went far to nullify the Valley Army as an effective force. Three of Fremont’s brigades are “Combat Ineffective” (CI), including two of Blenker’s three brigades. Thus, Blenker’s division is also CI. Three of Ewell’s four brigades are CI, as is one of Jackson’s.

As I stressed in the narrative, Jackson had to defeat Fremont to ensure an unhindered retreat south toward Confederate supply depots. He didn’t succeed, as measured by the fact that Fremont has one effective division remaining. The scenario’s victory conditions award Fremont one victory level shift in his favor for this outcome. Victory Points for Fremont were:

• 3 for knocking out enemy guns
• 20 for CI enemy brigades (5 for each brigade)

Jackson earned 15 VP for the three CI enemy brigades. Thus, the Union outscored the Confederates by 8 VP, good enough for a Marginal Victory. But the Victory Level shift in Fremont’s favor nets the US a Tactical Victory. And so it was.

Clusaret’s brigade, however, came very close to being technically CI during the final turn of the game. Had Clusaret failed to rally one of his units, or had the CSA artillery not been dogged by poor fire rolls as it targeted that unit, the outcome would have been equal in terms of CI brigades, and Fremont would have had no Combat Effective Divisions, resulting in a Draw.

Reflections on Confederate Tactics. The scenario presupposes that Jackson’s supply train was left stranded on the other side of North River. Thus, the Valley Army cannot resupply ammunition, a significant handicap. Tactically speaking, this restriction presents the CSA player with a sharp dilemma:

• He can fire despite the risk of ammo depletion. If he disorders the target unit, he may then be able to Shock with a prospect of the enemy incurring a 2nd Disorder and possibly Routing. As Fremont’s units are not crack troops, their chances of disordering are correspondingly higher.
• He can rely on Infantry Charge.

Ammo depletion in Death Valley is a two-step mechanism (soon to replace the four-step mechanism described by previous editions of the series rules). Step 1, “Low Ammo”, incurs a -2 Fire die roll modifier. Step 2, “No Ammo”, prohibits any fire. Yet the CSA conducted plenty of fire combat in this game, because units in good order may Retreat Before Shock without penalty, unless under Attack Orders or shocked by mounted Cavalry. Therefore, relying solely on Infantry Shock may win ground, but that is all it will do. Meanwhile, the big northern regiments are free to pound away at the Rebs whenever they get the chance. Thus, I believe the CSA player must use Fire Combat judiciously.

The game’s Memorable Moments. Any GBACW player will probably agree that the system is capable of generating a few local disasters per game. There were several here:

• Taylor, an “Aggressive” brigadier, rolled a Loose Cannon when attempting to change orders. The required Charge badly hurt his brigade.
• Steuart lost a 4-strength point unit in one Fire Combat (note: Return Fire rules in the next version of the rulebook allow non-phasing units considerably more choice of when to use that fire.)
• On the other side of the ledger, Friendly Fire (another new rule) led to the rout of two of Stahel’s big infantry regiments in one action.

As a fan of the series I found the scenario tremendously exciting. I hope GBACW players will enjoy it.

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Articles in this Series: Part 1  Part 2  Part 3