Battle of Mardon. Part Three. Turns 11 through to end.

TURN ELEVEN - Confederate Activation


The attack on the flank of the farm continues.

The survivors of the frontal assault pull back.

Two hits are scored on the Union lead brigade.

Ineffective counter-battery fire.

The newly arrived Union division take a pounding from the prepared Confederates. Infantry fire causes two hits on the lead cavalry brigade, the counter-battery fire hits the still limbered cannon and temporarily disables it.

The Union infantry brigades take hits, but it could have been much worse, the rebel artillery missed completely.

TURN TWELVE - Union Activation

The union artillery at the farm is limbered up as the infantry brigades start to form a formidable line on the flank.

The lead rebel brigade, reels from musketry hits, down to two elan.

With rebel cavalry in the open the Union troopers charge into the attack.

By the hills, the Union infantry open up and score hits on the defending rebel infantry.

The cavalry battle swirls and each side registers a win, one Union brigade is now spent, but the other wins the melee and pushes the rebels back.

TURN THIRTEEN - Confederate Activation

The artillery opposite the farm fires its last shot before retiring at the limbered Union artillery, but fails to score a hit.

The cavalry battle is resumed.

The spent Union brigade is destroyed, but the other Union brigade once again pushes the rebel horsemen back.

The Union artillery has a charmed life, surviving unscathed from muskets and cannon.

The infantry both take another loss.

TURN FOURTEEN - Union Activation

The limbered Union artillery takes up a position on the flank of the rebels attacking the farm.

The Union infantry brigades storm up the hills in a wild charge.

Mixed results, as the right flank pushes the rebels back, but the left flank is itself pushed back down the slope.

The Union cavalry charge again, but honours are even and they have to fall back, but the rebel brigade is now spent.

The battlefield at the end of turn fourteen.

TURN FIFTEEN - Confederate Activation

Badly mauled rebel units limp from the field.

Union cavalry charged in the flank, there can only be one outcome.

They are sent packing, down to a single elan.

Both the dismounted troopers and the infantry brigade, fail to register a hit.

Two brigades almost spent, but two still at full strength.

After successfully repulsing the Yankee charge up the hill, they pour musket fire into them.

The same on the other hill.

The Union artillery deployed, but was destroyed before firing a single shot!

TURN SIXTEEN - Union Activation

Fired on from two sides by three units, and only two casualties recorded on this rebel brigade.

The Union troops assaulting the hill fall back with just a single elan remaining.

Opposite the other hill, the third brigade moves onto the flank, but it is probably too little too late.

TURN SEVENTEEN - Confederate Activation

The rebel troopers and infantry, once again fail to find their targets.

Artillery fire causes two hits.

The 'Rebel Yell' echoes off the side of the hills as they pour down the hillside into the Union troops.

(Poor photo, sorry) The already weakened Union brigade is destroyed, but although the other is reduced to just a single elan, it does force the rebels back uphill.

A better photograph.

TURN EIGHTEEN - Union Activation.

Although winning the battle at the farm, the Union now have no hope of capturing the hills.

The newly arrived division has lost its two cavalry brigades, artillery and one infantry brigade, one other is down to one elan  so unable to continue. The divisional commander retreats from the field with what is left.

Realising that the reinforcing division has not only failed to capture the objective on the hill, it has also retreated. Leaves the Union Corps commander with no option but to abandon the field to the enemy.

A final shot of the battlefield.

Could the Union have won this battle, very doubtful. They had a slightly smaller number of units overall and with only one division making it to the battlefield from the start, were always up against it. The Confederate player could have just sat and waited for the Union to do something, as already ahead on VP's he only needed to hold the hills.
That would have made for a pretty boring game, hence the attack on the farmhouse.

I enjoyed both the campaign map play and then the resulting battle. I shall certainly do both again.

Battle of Mardon. Part Two, Turns One through Ten.

TURN ONE - Confederate Activation.

Using the reserve move, two brigades each of infantry and cavalry, move rapidly down the hills and across the road onto the flank of the Union division at the farm.

The artillery opposite the farm opens up and scores three hits on one brigade of infantry!

TURN TWO - Union Activation.

No point rolling for reinforcements as the earliest they can possibly arrive is turn 6.

To counter the move by the rebels, the Union cavalry brigade dismount and take up position at the edge of the wood.

The artillery scores two hits on the infantry mustering for an assault.

TURN THREE - Confederate Activation

The assault commences on the farm.

The flanking brigades also advance whilst the two cavalry brigades dismount and take up firing positions opposite the wood.

Artillery fire was ineffective.

TURN FOUR - Union Activation

Artillery battery concentrates on the central rebel brigade and misses with the lot.

On the flank of the farm, the dismounted cavalry score three hits on their opposite number, which devastates them.

TURN FIVE - Confederate Activation

All three brigades press on and reach the road.

The shattered rebel cavalry troopers are pulled out of line and one of the infantry brigades turns to face the troopers in the wood.

TURN SIX - Union Activation

Reinforcement roll = 4. No good.

The Union brigade on the right flank is forced to turn and protect the exposed flank. The other three brigades and the artillery open up on the rebel brigades. All take hits, but the central brigade is destroyed by a combination of musketry and canister fire.

Showing the drop of elan for the rebels.

The flank brigade now faces the oncoming rebels.

On this occasion the dismounted troopers score no hits.

TURN SEVEN - Confederate Activation

The shattered rebel cavalry brigade, remount and pull back to the hills.

The artillery engages in counter-battery fire, but no hits.

The brigade on the right flank fire with no effect on the defending infantry.

A different story on the other flank, the Union brigade taking two hits and reduced to just two elan.

A return to poor marksmanship, as the rebel brigade scores no hits.

The troopers in the wood, survive unscathed by a volley from the rebel troopers, but take two casualties when hit by a volley from the infantry.

TURN EIGHT - Union Activation

Reinforcement roll = 1 Success.

The reinforcements have arrived at the edge of the table, not on it as is shown, I have just placed them there for convenience, they will appear properly next turn

Pounded by volleys from two Union brigades, another Confederate brigade is destroyed.

The final brigade of the assault also takes two hits and is down to just two elan. The attack on the farm is not going too well.

The flank brigade scores a hit on the rebels.

The dismounted troopers also have a single success against the rebel troopers.

TURN NINE - Confederate Activation

The previously unemployed rebel cavalry turn to face the new threat.

The rebel artillery engages in counter-battery fire and scores a hit.

Temporarily putting the Union battery out of action.

The last infantry brigade down to two elan, fires but misses.

On the flank, more success as musket balls drop Union troops of the flank brigade.

The tough Union troopers are finally destroyed by carbine and musketry from two units.

TURN TEN - Union Activation

The reinforcing division now deploys. Three brigades of infantry opposite the hills, the artillery and two brigades of cavalry on the flank.

With the rebel brigades ahead of them destroyed, the two Union regiments wheel and move to the flank to face what is now the main threat.

Another hit on the sole surviving infantry brigade of this division, renders it incapable of further offensive action.

A volley puts two more casualties on the faltering flank attack of the rebels.

The battlefield at the end of turn ten. The Union division at the farm is more than holding its own, the rebel division opposite it has seen all three of its infantry brigades destroyed. the troops sent to assault the flank are not doing much better either.

The Union infantry swarm over to the flank to stem the faltering rebel attack.

However, the newly arrived Union division faces a difficult task.