28MM ACW: BATTLE OF NEW BERN 1862

I finally managed to get the far end of my wargames table cleared of projects or detritus and this inspired inspired me to do another ACW battle.  So during March I staged the Battle of New Bern 3 times.  The first game we tried out Kevin Calder’s Bonnie Blue Flag rules and the other 2 games we used Black Powder with some of the amendments from Glory Hallelujah.  All the members of the Gothenburg Gamers took part in at least one of the games along with Iain Gale who visited for the last game.  The figures used came from my collection and those of Donald Adamson, Ray Neal and Dave O’Brien.

All 3 of the battles resulted in a Union victory but of different scales.  Tim Watson has published a detailed account of our second game on his blog at

http://moth107.blogspot.co.uk/2018/03/another-night-another-ambrose.html

Union form up along the highway

Zouaves lead the attack

Union carry the lines on rebel right

The mighty fort in action - completely ineffective!

Union pour thru the weak point in Confederate centre at the railway line

Here is the OB and troop ratings for the Black Powder games along with a note of the Glory Hallelujah extra rules that we used.  The BP games were fought using 66% move distances and ranges.  The Confederate breastworks counted as an unclear target giving a -1 to hit , +1 saving throw and a +1 extra support for the defenders.  Fort Henderson at the river end of the Confederate line counted as an earthwork fort.  The Union squadron represented by a monitor was just there for show and photos.

CONFEDERATE CinC 8 BRIG GEN L O’B BRANCH	Type	Weapon	H_H	Shooting	Morale	Stamina	Special
BRIG LATHAM 7
7TH NC	Infantry	Rifle	6	3	3	3
26TH NC	Infantry	Rifle	6	3	4	3
27TH NC	Infantry	Rifle	6	3	4	3
33RD NC	Infantry	Musket	6	3	4	3
4 GUN BTY	Artillery	6pdr SB	1	3-2-1	4	2
BRIG BREM 7	Infantry	Rifle	6	3	4	3
35TH NC	Infantry	Rifle	6	3	4	3
37TH NC	Infantry	Rifle	5	3	4	3
28TH NC	Infantry	Musket	5	3	4	3
4 GUN BTY	Artillery	6pdr SB	1	3-2-1	4	2
BRIG HARDING 7
1/2ND NC CAV	Cavalry	Pistols	6	2	5	2	Unreliable
2/2ND NC CAV	Cavalry	Pistols	6	2	5	2	Unreliable
LOCAL MILITIA	Infantry	Musket	5	3	5	2	Unreliable
4 GUN BTY	Artillery	6pdr SB	1	3-2-1	4	2
FORT THOMPSON 7
Fortress Artillery 2 gun bty	Artillery	Siege SB	1	3-1-1	4	2	In Fort

UNION CinC BRIG GEN AMBROSE BURNSIDE 8	Type	Weapon	H_H	Shooting	Morale	Stamina	Special
1ST BRIG FOSTER 7
23RD MA	Infantry	Rifle	6	3	4	3
24TH MA	Infantry	Rifle	6	3	4	3
25TH MA	Infantry	Rifle	6	3	4	3
27TH MA	Infantry	Rifle	6	3	4	3
10TH CT	Infantry	Rifle	6	3	4	3
6 GUN BTY	Artillery	6pdr SB	1	5-3-1	4	2
2ND BRIG RENO 7
21ST MA	Infantry	Rifle	6	3	4	3
51ST NY	Infantry	Rifle	6	3	4	3
51ST PA	Infantry	Rifle	6	3	4	3
9TH NJ	Infantry	Rifle	6	3	4	3
2 GUN BTY	Artillery	6pdr SB	1	2-1-1	4	2
3RD BRIG PARKE 7
8TH CT	Infantry	Rifle	6	3	4	3
11TH CT	Infantry	Rifle	6	3	4	3
4TH RI	Infantry	Rifle	6	3	4	3
5TH RI	Infantry	Rifle	6	3	4	3
River Squadron 8	Arm Gunboat	Lt Art No Effect		2-1	4	3	Heavy wooden vessel

BLACK POWDER ACW AMENDMENTS USED

Charges

Cavalry can charge cavalry under initiative.

All other charges must be ordered.  If the charging unit is in the frontal arc of the target it receives a -2 command modifier except if it is a cavalry vs cavalry charge.

Cavalry cannot charge infantry or artillery frontally unless they are disordered or shaken.

Support

Infantry cannot support cavalry and vice a versa.

Cavalry

Cavalry get free mount/dismount at the start or end of their movement.  Dismounted they count as skirmishers.

Passage of lines

Advancing units: when 50% of the unit passes thru a friendly unit within 24” of the enemy have to take a ‘For God’s Sake Come On’ test.   This is done by testing against their morale value.  If the unit has no casualties or either unit has a commander attached there is a +1 modifier to the dice roll.  If the score equals or exceeds their morale value the unit passes thru normally.  If the score is 1 less than their morale value they halt immediately they pass thru the other unit.  If the score is 2 less than their morale value they halt immediately they contact the other unit. If they fail next turn count result as a -1 failure.

The History from Wikipedia

The Battle of New Bern (also known as the Battle of Newbern) was fought on 14 March 1862, near the city of New Bern, North Carolina, as part of the Burnside Expedition of the American Civil War. The US Army's Coast Division, led by Brigadier General Ambrose Burnside and accompanied by armed vessels from the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, were opposed by an undermanned and badly trained Confederate force of North Carolina soldiers and militia led by Brigadier General Lawrence O'B Branch. Although the defenders fought behind breastworks that had been set up before the battle, their line had a weak spot in its centre that was exploited by the attacking Federal soldiers. When the centre of the line was penetrated, many of the militia broke, forcing a general retreat of the entire Confederate force. General Branch was unable to regain control of his troops until they had retreated to Kinston, more than 30 miles (about 50 km) away. New Bern came under Federal control, and remained so for the rest of the war.

view of Union Centre and right

Union River Squadron

Another attack on the centre of the Confederate line