Sailing to Glory

Today, we tried another couple of games of Sails of Glory, using my 'Powder Monkey' solo rules to run the french fleet.

We chose a 1st rate, the HMS Ville de Paris (Phil) HMS Vanguard, a 74 (me), and finally, Lawrence ran HMS Terpsichore, a frigate.We started in line ahead.

The British squadron.

 We started upwind of the French, sailing beam on to it.

 The French 1st rate Commerce de Marseilles led the french 74 Le Berwick and the frigate Courageuse.

 In fear of shunting Ville de Paris, my 74 turned out of line.

The French, with good spacing between ships, continued upwind. 

HMS Terpsichore followed my lead and turned to starboard. 

By now, the french were getting close enough to 'smell the garlic!' 

 My plan to sandwich Commerce de Marseilles between Ville de Paris and Vanguard now looked unlikely to work.

 Commerce and VPD exchanged close range fire, my 74 fired at long range.

 Terpsichore now turned to rejoin the battle.

In the first volley, Commerce took light damage only from our fire.

 Ville de Paris took serious damage.

The squadrons passed, but Ville de Paris attempted to board Courageuse. 
His marines were, however, driven off by French musketry.

My 74 meanwhile, unable to reply, was shredded by the combined fire of Commerce de Marseilles and Le Berwick.2 fires and 2 leaks meant my crew would be fighting to save the ship rather than fighting the French! 

 Ville de Paris had an ineffective parting volley as she passed Courageuse.

With the French virtually untouched,and two of our ships crippled, it was decided we would withdraw. Another victory for the solo system!

Having time, we then decided on a refight, the French were as before.

We reversed our order, Terpsichore in the lead, followed by Vanguard and Ville de Paris, we were able to start close together as the fastest ships were in front!

Once again, we started upwind of the French, beam on to the wind.

The French continued on moving close to the wind.

Surprisingly, the frigate Terpsichore remained in front, instead of moving round the French?

A frigate v frigate action was her best option, I thought...

The French turned as we closed, poor Terpsichore took a lot of French fire.

My Vanguard failed to get in range to assist her against Le Berwick, Terpsichore was ablaze, her crew struggling to effect repairs.

At the rear, HMS Ville de Paris fired on Le Berwick.

All the ships now started turning to try and get a good broadside off.

HMS Vanguard nearly got caught by Le Berwick!

Ville de Paris turned on the pursuing Courageuse, Vanguard turned out of range of Commerce de Marseilles to chase Berwick.

Commerce was distracted by the retreating Terpsichore, however, her broadside caused almost no damage! 

I, meanwhile had tacked Vanguard upwind to get a stern raking shot on the Berwick!

3 leaks!- with this damage on top of her previous damage, she foundered!

Vanguard then turned on Commerce de Marseilles, who was now bracketed with HMS Ville de Paris to her front (Courageuse had struck),so she decided to withdraw, despite only being lightly damaged.
(She had no real chance against our 1st and 3rd rate ships of the line)

A British victory! - and a prize frigate to boot!

This was the first time we have beaten the solo rules!!!!

Pennsylvania Sharpshootin'

Today, we set out to do an ACW skirmish game using my 'State of War' rules

However, it rapidly turned into a sort of 'Mini Campaign' - until we got a result!

I started off with a reduced company of 65 Pennsylvanians, I was tasked with dislodging an even smaller (though higher quality) Confederate company of the famous 'Louisiana Tigers'.

Sounded simple enough?!

The 'Tigers' set up in a small wood and some farmhouses.

My Feds 1st platoon started out of sight behind more woods. 

The second platoon started to their right, also in cover. 

 2nd platoon advanced towards a small hill overlooking the Confederate right. 

 Hearing the Union advance, the Tigers moved to line the farm fences.

 The US first platoon had formed into 3 lines, planning to assault the farm with successive lines shooting in quick succession.

Opposite the Confederate wood, 2nd platoon began to line a hillock and wood edge, which would give them a 3:1 advantage in shooters. 

The Tiger's reserve section moved to try to reinforce the front line. 

 The Tigers in the wood moved left to make room for them. 

Too late! - The Federals were ready to open up.

Their Lieutenant scanned the wood edge with his telescope. 

On the other side, the Union troops were also in position. 

The Union Captain prepared to drum the 'Attack'. 

 Seeing their position was likely to be overrun in short order, the Tigers fell back and abandoned the settlement, looking for a better defensive line.

The first table we randomised was pretty...

..But would be a nightmare to defend against a larger force! 

 The next table appealed to the Louisianans, and they set up on a wooded hill.

 ..and in a wood to their right.

 The Federal arrival was behind a large wood, facing the Rebel positions.

 Seeing the risk of my men engaging the half company on the wooded hill, the Tigers in the wood broke cover and ran to converge their forces. 

 The men on the wooded hill moved forward to cover their move.

 The Federals, unhurried, moved towards their preferred firing positions. 

 ...Though one Union section spotted the Tigers breaking cover, and opened fire at long range.

 Amazingly, four of the Rebs fell,-- great shooting, boys!

 The Union's advance continued.

 The last section waited to reload before moving on.

Leaving their dead, the Tigers continued their move.

 The new arrivals were shepherded into the new firing line.

 The Union had no reason now to hurry, so sedately set up just inside the wood edge. 

 The Tigers were ready, waiting for their enemy to appear.

 The Federal line set up in the wood... 

 ...but still waited for their errant section.

 Moving at the run, these were soon in position behind a large rock.

 Next turn, the federal line stepped forward and fired, as one.

 No reserve line, this was an all or nothing attack.

 The waiting Rebels returned fire almost simultaneously with them.

 Almost half the Tigers fell to an amazingly accurate volley from the Pennsylvanians (Incredible dice rolling here!) 

 In response, the Union only suffered about 10 dead and wounded.

These were mostly in the Union centre. 

As the Federal line rapidly reloaded for another volley while the smoke cleared, the surviving Tigers retreated, taking their wounded with them.

Being brave men, they walked off, no-one ran.

They will be back!