Issue 29 The Official Newsletter of the Johnny Reb Gaming Society $5.

00

Battle of Honey Hill

Modeling sunken roads
“Black Powder” rules review
Surprise in the Forest
And much more!

Steven Hofner (Order #35311104)

 1
Welcome to “CHARGE!”
This is the official newsletter of the Johnny Reb
Gaming Society, an international association of
miniature wargamers who use regimental-level
rules such as the Johnny Reb gaming rules
developed by John Hill. The newsletter will
provide a quarterly forum for exchanging
information regarding the rules, original
wargaming scenarios written with JR in mind,
and historical articles of general interest to the
regimental ACW gamer.
US membership in the society is $20 per year,
which will partially cover the cost of assembling,
printing, and mailing the newsletter. Dues are
payable via money order or personal check,
which must be made out to Deborah Mingus
(society treasurer and secretary). Our mailing
address and e-mail address are as follows:
The Johnny Reb Gaming Society
1383 Sterling Drive
York PA 17404
jrgsnl@comcast.net
We welcome your submissions of articles,
scenarios, advertising, and related information,
as well as letters to the editor. The copyrighted
name Johnny Reb is used by written permission
of John Hill.
Table of Contents
The Battle of Honey Hill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .2
The Battle of Honey Hill
A Regimental Fire & Fury Scenario . .10
Surprise in the Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
The Battle of Front Royal, VA . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Second Manassas Terrain Boards . . . . . . . . . . 27
After Action Report:
Shiloh ACW Game Using “Black
Powder” Rules . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Shiloh Impressions . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
DIY Terrain Tip
Sunken Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Coming attractions in CHARGE! #30
Larry Reber’s scenario for Grierson’s Raid;
interview with Ivor Janci, and much more! Terry
Cabak on how to design effective wargaming
scenarios and beautiful maps.
Scenarios! Product reviews and more!
Steven Hofner (Order #35311104)
From the Editor’s Desk
It has been a beautiful autumn here in south-central
Pennsylvania. I have spent some excellent time at
various Civil War battlefields, and have quite a list of
those I have been to this fall, including Ball’s Bluff,
Gettysburg, Chancellorsville, Wilderness, Second
Fredericksburg, Fredericksburg, Salem Church, and
many others. Of particular interest have been several
visits to Manassas, where I am still planning to break
down the battle into bite-sized regimental pieces for
wargamers, similar to Enduring Valor and Undying
Courage.
I have been busy as well with business travel, which
has given me a chance in hotels and airplanes to
polish my latest manuscript, Gettysburg’s
Controversial Old Confederate General, Gov.
William “Extra Billy” Smith of Virginia. I have an
agreement in place with Savas Beatie LLC to publish
this title. This marks my third book on Jubal Early’s
division in the Gettysburg Campaign.
In this issue of Charge, we bring you an excellent
regimental level scenario for the Battle of Honey
Hill, SC. This is a fascinating battle to wargame, with
Georgia militia and their goober beans, a U.S. naval
battalion, black troops, and other specialty units. My
good friend Doug Rogers and I played Honey Hill
back in the late 1990s at a now defunct wargaming
store in Madison, Ohio. We had a blast. Lowell
Hamilton’s new scenario looks fun. While written for
Regimental Fire & Fury, it is readily adaptable for
Johnny Reb 3 and other similar rule sets.
Jim Kopchak and Doug Rogers take a look at using
the Black Powder rules for ACW combat, in this case
Shiloh.
Also in this issue is an original scenario by Brad
Butkovich, who has emerged as the most prolific
designer of Johnny Reb 3 scenarios in the present
day. Brad has three scenario books in print, and all
are excellent. They can be purchased as digital
downloads from the Wargame Vault.
By the war, Wargame Vault now sells all back issues
of Charge from issue #1 through #24 for only $2.99
each – a 50% savings off the cover price! Why not
pick up those back issues you may have missed?
Scott L. Mingus, Sr.
 2
and is used to pin enemy forces in place and/or
“Hatch, why in h--l didn’t you flank them on draw reinforcements away from the true
their right?” - MG William T. Sherman. objective. The ever-cautious Halleck had subtly
altered Sherman’s request, reducing it to a less
THE BATTLE OF HONEY ambitious and less decisive objective.
HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA
Wednesday, 30 November 1864
by Lowell D. Hamilton

Union Strategic Objective

In early November 1864, Union MG William T.

Sherman was in Atlanta, Georgia, which he had
captured in early September, finalizing plans for
his next campaign. He was determined to
march his ―army right through the South‖ as
―proof positive that the North can prevail in this
contest‖. The plan Sherman proposed and won
approval for was a route of march from Atlanta
to ―the seashore at Charleston (South Carolina) Brigadier General John P. Hatch
or Savannah (Georgia)‖.
Commander of the Coast Division
Union Operational Objective
The Union Force Assembles, Sails and Deploys
On 11 November 1864, Sherman requested
support for his campaign by telegraphing Union
Foster, with the help of Rear Admiral John A.
Chief of Staff, MG Henry W. Halleck in
Dahlgren, quickly organized a force - the Coast
Washington, D.C. He stated, ―I would like to
Division - that included 5,000 soldiers and about
have (Major) General (John G.) Foster
500 Sailors and Marines under the command of
(commander of the Union’s Department of the
Union BG John P. Hatch. The division and
South) to break the Savannah and Charleston
brigades were provisional organizations made
(rail) road about Pocotaligo (South Carolina)
up of hastily assembled units stationed along the
about 1 December.‖ The Savannah to
Atlantic Coast from Charleston to Florida. The
Charleston railroad was the line of supply and
Coast Division sailed on 27 November 1864
communication for the two objectives of
from Morris and Folly Islands near Charleston
Sherman’s campaign. The first objective was to
and headed for Hilton Head, South Carolina.
break the 102-mile long railroad to interrupt
The division rendezvoused with other troops at
supplies and reinforcements that could reach the
Hilton Head and then departed in the early
enemy on his front and the second was to cut
morning of 29 November up the Broad River.
the rail line to prevent the escape of
The plan was to disembark at Boyd’s Landing,
Confederate LTG William J. Hardee’s 10,000-
march the nine miles to the Savannah and
man force defending Savannah.
Charleston Railroad located one mile beyond
Grahamville (present-day Ridgeland), South
Unfortunately, Halleck muddled Sherman’s clear
Carolina, and then physically occupy the
and succinct request when he passed it on to
railroad, tear up the tracks, burn railroad
Foster. Writing to Foster, Halleck said Sherman
buildings and destroy nearby railroad bridges.
―wishes you, if possible, to cut the Savannah
and Charleston Railroad‖ but then Halleck
The ―Friction and Fog of War‖ quickly destroyed
added the muddle, ―at all events a
the Union plans for 29 November. Early morning
demonstration on that road will be of
fog delayed the start of the convoy and
advantage‖. A military demonstration implies a
hampered efforts to locate and land at Boyd’s
threatening move toward an enemy position but
Landing. Once ashore, the Union’s lack of
not necessarily the occupation of the position

Steven Hofner (Order #35311104)

 3
accurate maps coupled with inept (or devious)
local guides lead to aimless marching and
counter-marching throughout the day. Union
soldiers, sailors and marines marched up to
fifteen miles during the day and into the night
only to advance a total of three miles toward the
railroad, ending the day still seven miles short of
their objective. The Coast Division had missed
its best opportunity to reach the Savannah and
Charleston Railroad virtually unopposed.
Lieutenant Colonel Charles J. Colcock
The Confederate Response South Carolina 3rd Military
District Commander

Fortune smiled on the Confederates throughout

the 29th since the only units available to oppose
the Union’s 5,500-man Coast Division were
small vedettes of the 3rd SC Cavalry (246 men)
dispersed to guard possible landing sites and
four batteries of artillery (415 men) deployed to
guard the three avenues of approach to
Grahamville. The Confederates used this
reprieve to organize a defensive force to oppose
the Union incursion.
The following map is reproduced courtesy of
North and South Magazine.
The defense of the Savannah and Charleston
Railroad was the responsibility of the 3rd South
Carolina Military District Commander, LTC
Charles J. Colcock. Alerted by the vedettes, the
32nd GA and 47th GA Regiments were ordered by
Hardee (in Savannah) from Charleston to
Grahamville via the Savannah and Charleston
Railroad. BG Charles Chestnut’s 350-man SC
Reserve Regiment in Augusta, Georgia was
ordered to Grahamville but would not arrive until
midnight on the day of battle, while BG
Lawrence S. Baker’s 1,960-man NC Brigade
traveling from North Carolina would began
arriving just before daybreak on the day after the
battle.

Steven Hofner (Order #35311104)

 4
The nearest infantry units that could reach the
area in time were the 1,880-man GA Militia
Brigades and Battalions under the command of
MG Gustavus W. Smith, presently on a north
bound train heading for Savannah. Smith’s
entire GA Militia Division was scheduled to make
the trip to Savannah from Macon, Georgia but a
lack of rolling stock limited all but two brigades
and two battalions from making the journey.
The train carrying the GA Militia units arrived in
Savannah at 0200 on the day of battle. Aware
of the emergency, Hardee ordered the GA Militia
units to continue with the 50-mile train ride from
Savannah to Grahamville.
At first, Smith resisted at sending his Georgia
troops beyond the borders of his state to fight in
South Carolina. Smith’s GA Militia Division had
recently fought a disastrous battle on 22
November where they made a frontal assault on
Sherman’s entrenched veteran rearguard at
Griswoldville, Georgia. Smith’s Division suffered
more than 600 casualties to the Union’s 95. His
troops were exhausted having traveled from
Macon to Savannah. With the direct path
blocked by Sherman’s forces, the circuitous
route entailed a rail journey of 95 miles, a 55-
mile road march in 54 hours and then another
200-mile rail ride to reach Savannah. After
Hardee explained the situation, Smith consented
and continued on the 50-mile train ride to
Grahamville although without prior approval to
move his GA Militia units from the state.
Georgia Gov. Joseph E. Brown later approved of
the deployment after learning the details.
On the morning of the battle, Wednesday, 30
November 1864, Confederate forces formed
around Grahamville and the nearby Savannah
and Charleston Railroad Depot. Colcock had
planned to be married this day but left his bride
to be in Savannah the night before.
Accompanied by elements of the 3rd SC Cavalry,
he rode nearly 50 miles to arrive in Grahamville
at 0700. In addition, other elements of the 3rd SC
Cavalry and artillery were arriving from various
points and at 0800 elements of Smith’s GA
Militia began arriving by train from Savannah.
The 47th GA also arrived by train from
Charleston in time to march to Honey Hill and
form on the Confederate right flank between
1100 and 1200. BG Robertson’s reinforcements
arrived on the field at 1630 as the battle
Steven Hofner (Order #35311104)
sputtered to a halt. They were held as a reserve
in case the battle resumed.
Smith arrived at 0800 and put Colcock in charge
of selecting and preparing the most
advantageous defensive position to engage the
Coast Division. Colcock was an inspired choice-
-before the war he was a local planter, had
founded the Savannah & Charleston Railroad
which he was defending, and was intimately
familiar with the area of operations.
Confederate Delaying Actions
Colcock chose to delay the Union forces by
deploying two companies of his 3rd SC Cavalry
and two Napoleons of LT Zealy’s artillery section
on the Grahamville Road east of Honey Hill.
The Coast Division was advancing methodically
along the Grahamville Road as they finally had
discovered the correct route to the railroad.
Fighting an inspired delaying action from three
different defensive positions, the small
Confederate force delayed the enemy for two
and one-half critical hours, allowing the GA
Militia and SC Artillery units time to occupy and
prepare the Honey Hill fortifications shortly
before the arrival of the advancing Coast
Division.
Honey Hill-Confederate Main Line of Defense
The site Colcock chose as his main line of
defense was an old position of fortifications at
Honey Hill, located three miles east of
Grahamville. The mile-long fortifications were
constructed when GEN Robert E. Lee
commanded the area from November 1861
through February 1862. Two artillery redoubts
were built, rifle-pits were constructed on both
flanks and trees were cleared from the front of
the improved positions to provide clear fields of
fire. The fortification had not been maintained
since 1862, but it had not deteriorated and was
still viable.
Colcock ordered the bridge on the Grahamville
Road over Euwah Creek dismantled as his
troops finished preparing the fortified position
just minutes ahead of the Union advance. He
then informed Smith that all was in readiness
and tendered his resignation from further
command, as Smith was the senior commander
on the field. Smith replied, ―No, Colonel, you
 5
have prepared so fine an entertainment that you
must receive your guests.”
The Confederate position was strong in the
center but weaker on the flanks. The Honey Hill
artillery redoubt was an open earthwork with
embrasures for four guns and extended two
hundred feet on each side of the Grahamville
Road. The terrain immediately in front of the
artillery redoubt was comparatively open. At 150
yards to the front, the shallow, sluggish Euhaw
Creek (two feet deep and 20 yards wide)
opened up into a marsh on both sides with a
heavy growth of trees and dense underbrush
that ran along the frontage of the entire position.
The obvious approach to the Confederate
position was by the Grahamville Road but the
Union commanders were completely unaware of
the existence of the earthworks despite the fact
they had been built over two years before.
For the past day and a half, Hatch and the Coast
Division were opposed by small skirmishing
elements of the 3rd SC Cavalry and, at times,
two guns. In each action, the Confederates were
either repulsed as they skirmished along the line
of communication leading to Boyd’s Landing or
fought a delaying action as the Federals
advanced along the Grahamville Road, however
this situation was about to change.
The Battle of Honey Hill-Tactical Level
The Grahamville Road approaching the
Confederate position made a sharp turn to the
left as it passed through the thick forest and
swamp. The improved positions were nearly
invisible to the Federals as they entered the turn
and advanced along the road in march column.
At 1100 the Federal column rounded the turn
and the Confederates opened fire on the column
with canister and musketry. The Union troops
were repulsed and the Battle of Honey Hill had
begun.
Hatch spent the next hour forming a line of battle
with BG Potter’s 1st Brigade on either side of the
Grahamville Road and drove the Confederate
skirmishers from the thick woods back into their
improved position. Then at about noon
regimental commanders on their own initiative
began to make uncoordinated and mostly
unsupported attacks on the Confederate works.
These attacks continued through out the
afternoon.
Steven Hofner (Order #35311104)
The 35th United States Colored Troops (USCT)
regiment made one unsupported charge up the
Grahamville Road to Honey Hill and was
repulsed. The 55th MA (Colored) regiment then
charged up the Grahamville Road to Honey Hill
three times, each charge with 5 of 8 companies
in field column. The second assault received a
supporting charge on their left flank from the
127th NY. All three of these charges were
repulsed. The 25th OH regiment charged
unsupported on the Confederate rifle-pits north
of Honey Hill and was repulsed. Each assault
was repulsed and defeated in detail as the
Confederates were allowed to concentrate
sequentially their fire on one Union attack at a
time. Between and during these assaults, the
front line Union regiments engaged the
Confederate position with small arms fire. The
Confederates noted that the Union uphill fire
usually passed over their heads and did little
damage while their downhill fire was much more
effective.
Adding to the confusion of battle, COL Hartwell’s
2nd Brigade (Colored) arrived on the field and
was thrown in behind Potter’s 1st Brigade as
(unneeded) supports instead of being deployed
as a tactical maneuver element to turn the
Confederate position. Command, control and
communication (C3) in the thick forest and
swamp was difficult enough without further
erosion of C3 by the intermingling the two
brigades with one another.
The Union artillery was actively employed
throughout the day. Battery B, 3rd NY was
unlimbered at the ―Crossroads‖ of the
Grahamville and Wood roads, the only place
from which Union artillery could easily target
Honey Hill. The forest was thick and the enemy
was invisible until they fired. Union guns, on
lower ground, aimed at the discharge of smoke
from Confederate guns firing from Honey Hill
that were seen over the intervening trees, often
firing over their own infantry. Battery F, 3rd NY
later replaced Battery B, 3rd NY when Battery B
began to run low on ammunition. Both New
York batteries were engaged from 1100 to 1600,
when their ammunition was nearly exhausted.
At 1600 they were replaced with the six-gun
Naval Battery that continued to fire until dark.
 6
The after action reports mention the Spencer-
armed 4th MA Cavalry Company activities during
the battle. They apparently scouted the road
network north of the battlefield to protect that
flank and perhaps find an avenue of approach to
turn the enemy’s flank. The 1st NY Engineer
detachment was tasked with repairing the
docking facilities at Boyd’s Landing to expedite
the unloading of troops and supplies.
Meanwhile, the 26th and 32nd USCT, elements of
the 54th MA (Colored) and 102nd USCT, Battery
A, 3rd RI and a section of the Naval Battery
guarded the line of communication back to
Boyd’s Landing.
Union Defeat and Withdrawal
At dusk (1720) the Union retreat commenced.
The Union forces skillfully withdrew by defensive
bounds covered by infantry and artillery taking
most of their wounded and equipment with them.
The 127th NY and 102nd USCT along with one
section of the Naval Artillery formed the rear
guard and remained at the front, keeping up a
slow fire with artillery. By 1930 the main body of
the Coast Division was beyond pursuit and the
rear guard withdrew. There was no Confederate
attempt at pursuit—the troops were too
exhausted from the long trip to the battlefield
and the ensuing battle.
Casualties reflected the results of the battle. The
GA Militia avenged and reversed the casualties
suffered at the Battle of Griswoldville. The Coast
Division reported casualties of 88 killed, 623
wounded (of which 147 were slight wounds),
and 43 missing for a total of 754. LTC Charles
C. Jones Jr. in his book Siege of Savannah
claims Confederate loses of 4 killed and 40
wounded (not all units reporting their casualties).
The day following the battle a Savannah
newspaper (Republican) stated, "Our loss was
between 80 and 100 killed and wounded." In his
after action report, Smith wrote, ―Our loss in
every arm of service was 8 men killed and 42
wounded.” If the higher casualty figure is used
(more reasonable) then the Confederate
casualties represent 4% (100 / 2,680) of the
committed force and only 13% (100 / 754) of
Union casualties.
Steven Hofner (Order #35311104)
Participant Assessment of the Battle
Hatch, the Coast Division commander, wrote,
“The affair was a repulse owing entirely to the
strong position held by the enemy and our want
of ammunition.” Potter, commander of the 1st
Brigade, wrote about his troops, ―Nothing but
the formidable character of the obstacles which
they had to encounter prevented them from
achieving success.‖
Not surprisingly, Union Officers in junior
commands held a different view. CPT Soule,
55th MA (Colored) in his account of the battle
says, "The generalship displayed was not equal
to the soldierly qualities of the troops engaged.
There appears to have been a lack of foresight
in the preparations." CPT Luther B. Mesnard,
commander of B Company, 25th OH, wrote in his
diary,
“Our troops were badly handled, no generalship,
strategy or tactics. As a diversion in Sherman's
favor the fight may have amounted to a little, but
nothing to what it would have if we had brushed
the rebs away and cut the Savannah and
Charleston Rail Road, as we could have done
under an efficient commander.”
Confederate viewpoints reflect the positive
outcome of the battle. Smith praised his troops
writing, “I have never seen or known of a
battlefield upon which there was so little
confusion, and where every order was so
cheerfully and promptly obeyed, and where a
small number of men for so long a time
successfully resisted the determined and oft-
repeated efforts of largely superior attacking
forces.”
LTC Charles C. Jones Jr., in his book Siege of
Savannah, opines, "The victory at Honey Hill
released the city of Savannah from an
impending danger, which, had it not thus been
averted, would have necessitated its immediate
evacuation."
Historical Assessment of the Union Campaign
Looking back on the battle, CPT Luis F. Emilio
wrote in his regimental history of the 54th MA
(Colored), ―It would seem with the light of the
present that our position was as strong for us to
hold as was the enemy's. This granted, the
natural criticism is, would not the battle have
 7
been better fought to have held the position with
a portion of our troops and pushed out the main
body well on one flank or the other, drawing the
enemy from his work to fight us and preserve his
communications?”
In May 1884, CPT Charles C. Soule, 55th MA
(Colored), wrote two articles that appeared in
the Philadelphia Weekly Times. An eyewitness
to the battle, he listed the following shortcomings
of the Union leadership.
Port Royal, South Carolina on the Broad River
and the base of operations for this campaign
was captured on 7 November 1861. A little over
three years later, the Coast Division sailed up
the Broad River in heavy fog with one competent
pilot to lead the invasion fleet to Boyd’s Landing.
Elements of the fleet ascended the wrong rivers,
ran aground or waited for the fog to clear before
arriving at Boyd’s Landing later in the day on 29
November. When they did land, they had no
accurate maps of the area of operations to guide
them quickly to their objective, the Savannah &
Charleston Railroad near Grahamville.
Consequently, they wondered around lost the
rest of the day and into the night, missing the
best opportunity to destroy the railroad.
Reconnoitering US Navy expeditions ascending
the river during the three years of occupation
would have trained more pilots and familiarized
them with the soundings and rivers to avert the
problems encountered with the fog. These
expeditions could have also carried US Army
scouts or engineers to reconnoiter the
surrounding road network and create accurate
maps. In fact, many slaves in the area of
operations ―rallied to the colors‖ and jointed the
USCT regiments that operated in the area of
operations. These ex-slaves could have been
used to guide the leading elements of the
invasion.
On the morning of the battle, Potter’s 1st Brigade
was under orders to march before daylight to
Grahamville and destroy the railroad. The march
began at 0900 instead, which permitted the 3rd
SC Cavalry and Zealy’s artillery section get in
position to fight a two and one-half hour delaying
action that allowed the Confederates to occupy
the Honey Hill position just ahead of the Union
forces. Perhaps Potter’s men were still
exhausted from the prior day of marching and
counter-marching which only ended at 0200 that
Steven Hofner (Order #35311104)
morning. Perhaps he was waiting for the
artillery or COL Hartwell’s 2nd Brigade (Colored)
to appear before proceeding. Whatever the
reason, another opportunity was missed to
advance unopposed toward Grahamville. A
battle might still have been fought but it would
have been fought beyond the fortifications of
Honey Hill in more open terrain.
CPT Soule went on to criticize the ―irresolution‖
of the reaction to the Confederate delaying
action,
the “inaction which left a line of battle without
orders and made no systematic attempt at
reconnoitering and turning the enemy’s flanks”,
and the “bad judgment which ordered” (or
allowed)
“single regiments to charge successively by a
narrow road upon a strongly fortified position,
defended by artillery and infantry”. The blame
rested on Hatch “who was present at the front
and directed operations during the day.”
In January 1865, Sherman toured the battlefield
with Hatch and asked him, “Hatch, why in hell
didn’t you flank them on their right?” MG Jacob
D. Cox summed up the battle in his 1898
volume, Sherman's March to the Sea-
Campaigns of the Civil War series; “It was a
fresh instance of the manner in which irresolute
leadership in war wasted the lives of men by
alternation between an ill-timed caution and an
equally ill-timed rashness.”
It is easy to criticize the leadership of Hatch and
he deserves much of it. However, remember the
muddled orders that Halleck passed on to
Foster, Hatch’s commander, ―…at all events a
demonstration on that road will be of
advantage.‖ In his mind, Hatch may have
believed that he carried out his orders by
demonstrating and drawing Confederate forces
away from Sherman’s March to the Sea. He
certainly fought the battle as if it were a
demonstration. The 754 Union casualties
represent 16% (754 / 4,720) of the committed
force, a high percentage for a demonstration. If
Hatch thought he was conducting a
demonstration, he apparently didn’t keep his
subordinates ―well in hand‖ as they attempted to
fight a battle.
 8
The Union did not coordinate and conduct their
attacks in such a manner that might have
stretched the Confederates to their breaking
point. The Confederates took advantage of the
Union mistakes and conducted an excellent
defense of their position. The delaying action
was inspired, the coordination between the
artillery and infantry was flawless and the spirit
of the soldiers, exhausted as they were, was
superb. Praising his opponents, Soule summed
it up thus, “On their side it was all good
generalship and good luck; on ours it was the
reverse.”
Bibliography
Anderson, George, Chattanooga Choo Choo;
Honey Hill, Zouave! Magazine, Vol. 4, # 2,
Summer 1990, pp. 17-20, 26. (Regimental
scenario)
Anderson, George and Toews, Ryan, Across a
Deadly Space; Honey Hill, Potomac
Publications, 1998, pp. 29-31. (Regimental
scenario)
Cox, MG Jacob D., Sherman's March to the Sea
- Campaigns of the Civil War series, 1898.
Field, Ron, American Civil War Marines 1861-
65, Osprey Publishing, Elite #112, 2004, pp. 21-
3.
Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, Vol. 4, Part
2, Weider History Group, 2006 (reprint of 1884-
1887 edition), pp. 668-669
Beckman, W. Robert and McDonald, Sharon S.,
Heroism at Honey Hill, North and South
Magazine, Vol. 12, # 1, Feb 2010, pp. 20-30, 35-
43.
Emilio, CPT Luis F., A Brave Black Regiment:
The History of the 54th Massachusetts, 1863-
1865, Boston Book Co., Boston, MA, 1894.
Jones, Charles C. Jr. (Late Lieut. Col. Artillery,
C. S. A., and Chief of Artillery
During the Siege), The Siege of Savannah in
December, 1864, and the Confederate
Operations in Georgia and the Third Military
District of South Carolina During General
Sherman's March from Atlanta to the Sea,
Albany, N. Y., Joel Munsell, 1874, pp. 32-43.
Steven Hofner (Order #35311104)
McNair, Robert B., The Battle of Honey Hill,
South Carolina, November 30, 1864 and the
Opening Days of the Broad River Campaign,
Western Carolina Historical Research, 2nd
Edition, 2010.
Note: This is the single best publication on the
Battle of Honey Hill. Anyone serious about the
battle should possess this book, $25.00 + $4.80
shipping.
Robert B. McNair
Western Carolina Historical Research
557 Highland Park Drive SW
Aiken SC 29801-3703
http://sites.google.com/site/wchr97/
Riddle, Keryn L., Prepare Fer to Get!: American
Civil War Scenarios, Vol. 1, Honey Hill,
Reynella, Australia, 1990, pp. 46-49.
(Regimental scenario)
Scaife, William, The March to the Sea, Blue and
Gray Magazine, Vol. 7, #2, Dec 1989,
pp. 29-32.
Scaife, William, The March to the Sea,
Washington Printing Co., 1989, pp. 55-67.
Stone, H. David, Vital Rails: The Charleston &
Savannah Railroad and the Civil War in Coastal
South Carolina, University of South Carolina
Press, 2008, pp. 210-225.
Visit the web-site listed below for written after
action reports of the battle, orders of battle,
personal accounts of the battle, a summary
description of the battle, a complete listing of
Union casualties, maps and diagrams,
photographs and links to related web-sites.
http://www.dcnyhistory.org/gary/hhbattle.html
Thanks
Thanks to Michael Montemarano, the senior
Regimental Fire & Fury ―Rules Lawyer‖, who
proofread this article and improved it.
A special thanks to Rich Hasenauer, designer of
Regimental Fire & Fury, who also proofread this
article and created the superb scenario map.
A super-special thanks goes out to my wife,
Peggy. She is an English Major (lucky for me)
who ―scrubbed‖ the text with the eye of a non-
wargamer and improved its clarity and grammar.
 9

Order of Battle, Honey Hill, South Carolina Confederate Order of Battle

Union Order of Battle st

1 Division, Georgia Militia, MG G W Smith
(On the field but relinquished battlefield command)
Coast Division, BG Hatch (Poor) (4,720, 14 guns)

Engineer rd
3 South Carolina Military District Commander, COL
st
1 NY Engineers Battalion (1 company) Colcock (Gallant) (3,120, 12 guns)
(Rebuilt docking facilities at Boyd’s Landing) (Battlefield ―division‖ commander)
Cavalry Cavalry, MAJ Jenkins
th
4 Mass. Cav., CPT Hurlbut (Vet RP 40) rd
3 South Carolina Cavalry (Vet RC 240)
(1 company, not engaged) (guarding line of communication (four companies, unattached)
on the northern flank)
th
st 47 Georgia Infantry, LTC Edwards (Vet RM 400)
1 Infantry Brigade, BG Potter (Able) (3,040) (unattached)
th
56 New York, LTC Tyler (Vet RM 440)
th
127 New York, COL Gurney (Vet RM 640)
(7 companies) st
1 Brigade Ga Militia, COL Willis (Able) (1,240)
th
144 New York, COL Lewis (Vet RM 480) st
1 Georgia Militia (Trn RM 320)
(8 companies) nd
2 Georgia Militia (Trn RM 400)
th
157 New York, LTC Carmichael (Vet SM 160) th
5 Georgia Militia (Trn RM 320)
(5 companies) Georgia Militia Battalion (Trn RM 200)
th
25 Ohio, LTC Haughton (Vet RM 520)
nd
32 USCT, COL Baird (Trn RM 480) Georgia State Line Militia Infantry Brigade, COL Wilson
th
35 USCT, COL Beecher (Brave Col.) (Vet SM 320) (Able) (320)
st
nd 1 Georgia State Line Militia (Vet RM 160)
2 Infantry Brigade (Colored), COL Hartwell (Gallant) nd
2 Georgia State Line Militia (Vet RM 160)
(1,040)
th
54 Massachusetts, LTC Hooper (Crk RM 320) Battalions of Infantry Reserves, MAJ Cook (Gallant)
(8 companies, 2 not engaged (Crk RM 240), guarding line (320)
of communication at Bolan Church) Athens Local Defense Battalion, MAJ Cook
th
55 Massachusetts, LTC Fox (Trn RM 520) (Trn RM 160)
(8 companies) Augusta Local Defense Battalion, MAJ Jackson
nd
102 USCT, COL Chipman (Trn RM 200 (Trn RM 160)
)(5 companies, 2 not engaged (Trn RM 120), guarding rear
against stragglers)
th
26 USCT, COL Silliman (Trn RM 160) South Carolina Artillery “Battalion”, CPT Stuart (Able)
(8 companies, not engaged, guarding line of (160)
communication at Boyd’s Landing) Beaufort Artillery, CPT Stuart (Vet HS 40)
th
34 USCT, LTC Marple (Trn RM 320) (one section-- two X 12-pound Napoleons)
(8 companies, not engaged, guarding line of Lafayette Artillery, LT Zealy (Vet HS 40)
communication at Boyd’s Landing) (one section—two X 12-pound Napoleons)
Palmetto Battery A, LT Scruggs (Vet HS 20)
Artillery Brigade, LTC Ames (Able) (160) (one section-- one X 12-pound Napoleon) (Vet HH 20)
rd
Battery B, 3 New York Artillery, CPT Mesereau (one section-- one X 24-pound Howitzer)
(Vet HS 80) Palmetto Battery G, LT Manget (Vet HS 40)
(two sections--four X 12-pound Napoleons) (one section-- two X 12-pound Napoleons)
rd
Battery F, 3 New York Artillery, LT Titus
(Vet HS 80)
(two sections--four X 12-pound Napoleons) Reinforcements, BG Robertson (Poor) (440)
rd
Battery A, 3 Rhode Island Artillery, CPT Hamner (arrived on the field at 1630, as the Union was withdrawing
(Vet LR 60) and formed the reserve)
(one section--three X 10-pound Parrotts, not engaged,
guarding line of communication) nd
32 Georgia Infantry, LTC Bacon (Vet RM 240)
nd (1 battalion, not engaged, arrived after battle, unattached)
2 Fleet Brigade, CDR Preble (Able) (480) Kirk Rangers Cavalry Company (Vet RM 120)
Sailor Battalion, LT O'Kane (Trn RM 160) (2 companies, not engaged, arrived after battle,
Marine Battalion, 1LT Stoddard (Trn RM 200) unattached)
(3 Companies) German Battery, CPT Bachmann (Vet HS 80)
Naval Artillery Battalion, LT CDR Matthews (Able) (two sections--four X 12-pound Napoleons, not engaged,
(Trn LH 120) arrived after battle, unattached)
(three sections--six X 12-pound light ―boat‖ howitzers)
(one section--two X 12-pound light ―boat‖ howitzers (Trn
LH 40) (not engaged, guarding line of communication at
Bolan Church)

Steven Hofner (Order #35311104)

 10
The Battle of Honey Hill, SC
A Regimental Fire & Fury Scenario
by Lowell D. Hamilton
MG William T. Sherman’s request for support
read, “I would like to have General Foster to
break the Savannah and Charleston road about
Pocotaligo about 1 December.” This scenario
simulates the Union attack on the Confederate
defensive position at Honey Hill, South Carolina
and assumes that the original intent of
Sherman’s request was passed on to Foster
through Halleck without embellishment or
alteration. It further assumes that Foster briefed
Hatch, the Coast Division commander, who in
turn thoroughly briefed his infantry, artillery and
naval commanders of the campaign’s
operational objective and tactical plans.
The Union has 13 turns (1200-1500) to
maneuver through difficult terrain and break
through the Confederate defensive position. If
the battle continues beyond 1500, the Union will
be hard pressed to reach the railroad three miles
away at Grahamville before sunset (1720).
Meanwhile, 2,300 Confederate reinforcements
are racing to Grahamville and will arrive at
midnight through 0700 on the morning after the
battle. The Confederates must delay the Union
advance at Honey Hill, protect the railroad and
then unite with the arriving reinforcements to
drive the invaders away.
Terrain
Map Scale. The map is scaled for 15mm
miniatures at 12‖ (300 yards) per grid-square
requiring a 5’ X 7’ table. I game with 6mm
miniatures and its easy to convert the map scale
from 15mm to 6mm. Using the 6mm map
legend, draw a 440-yard grid over the map. In
6mm scale, each 440-yard (1/4 mile) grid-square
represents 12‖ or 3’5‖ X 4’9‖ table. The black
portions of the Confederate fortifications shown
on the map are extant.
Game Scale. Infantry and cavalry stands
(mounted or dismounted) = 40 men, gun stands
= 2 guns (a section), 1‖ = 25 yards (36.6 yards
at 6mm), 1 turn = 15 minutes.
Roads. All the roads are rated Poor. Units
moving along the roads in march column or
Steven Hofner (Order #35311104)
limbered move at the Open Ground rate. There
is no ―road bonus‖ rate. Line of sight is based
upon the terrain around the road.
Honey Hill and Contour Lines. Honey Hill is
rated Open Ground. Units defending in charge
combat on higher ground will add one for
Favorable Ground. Line of sight is blocked if it
passes through any part of Honey Hill. The line
of sight is not blocked along the contour line
running north and south along the Confederate
battle line but is based upon the terrain
surrounding the contour line.
Euhaw Creek and Streams. The Euhaw Creek
and the two unnamed streams are rated Broken
Ground. All infantry and dismounted cavalry or
dismounted leaders may cross the creek and
streams at any location. Dismounted cavalry or
dismounted leaders that cross a creek or stream
may not remount until they return to the side of
the creek or stream on which they dismounted.
Artillery in any movement mode and mounted
cavalry or mounted leaders are prohibited from
crossing the creek and streams. Euhaw Creek
and the streams were wide (20 yards) and
shallow (2 feet or less) with marshy ground
extending on both sides. There are no intact
bridges or fords on the Poor roads for artillery,
mounted cavalry or mounted leaders to cross.
Units defending in charge combat against an
attacker that crossed a creek or stream add one
for Favorable Ground. Line of sight is open.
Rifle-Pits. Rifle-pits are rated Broken Ground.
Infantry and dismounted cavalry deployed
behind rifle-pits are considered in Full Cover and
subtract two when targeted. Artillery
unlimbered behind rifle-pits subtracts one for
Partial Cover when targeted. Units defending in
charge combat add two for Strong Position.
Line of sight is clear to units occupying rifle-pits
but to units behind them, line of sight is based
on the surrounding terrain.
Artillery Redoubts. The two artillery redoubts
are rated Broken Ground when crossed. The
large artillery redoubt was 400 feet wide and
open to the rear (technically, it was a redan) and
was located about 100 yards from Euhaw Creek.
A maximum of 4 guns total (counting the 1/2 gun
stands or a damaged gun stand as 1 gun each)
may occupy the large redoubt.
 11
Two guns may occupy the small northern
redoubt. Guns fire with their normal 15-degree
arc of fire and may pivot normally to fire from
within the redoubt. The artillery redoubts are
considered a Fortified Position and subtract
three when targeted. Units defending in charge
combat against attackers charging a redoubt
add two for Fortified Position and also add one
for Favorable Ground if defending higher
ground. Note: This is an exception to the rule
stating that these modifiers are not cumulative.
Guns also apply add one for Supported Guns if
a friendly unit is within 2‖ (1.5‖ at 6mm) or
subtract one for Unsupported Guns if there is
no friendly unit within 2‖ (1.5‖ at 6mm). Guns
may also be supported in charge combat by an
infantry or mounted cavalry unit in line of battle
within 2‖ (1.5‖ at 6mm) behind the guns and
count their numbers in the Outnumbered
calculation. Confederate infantry units can
occupy an artillery redoubt if there are no
artillery units in the redoubt. Line of sight is
clear to units occupying the redoubts but
blocked to units behind them.
Open Pine Forest. Open pine forests are rated
Broken Ground. Units in extended line are
considered in Full Cover and subtract two
when targeted. Other units are considered in
Partial Cover and subtract one when targeted.
Units defending in charge combat add one for
Favorable Ground against attackers charging
through open pine forests. Line of sight is
limited to 10‖ (7.5‖ at 6mm) when passing
through open pine forest.
Thick Forest. Thick forests are rated Rough
Ground. All units may move through thick
forests but artillery must be unlimbered and
hand hauled through thick forest, 2‖ (1.5‖ at
6mm) per turn, leaving the limber behind on a
road. Gun stands hand hauled away from their
limbers are considered fixed guns in charge
combat. Units in extended line are considered
in Full Cover and subtract two when targeted.
Other units and unlimbered or hand hauled
artillery subtract one for Partial Cover when
targeted. Units defending in charge combat add
one for Favorable Ground against attackers
charging through thick forest. Line of sight is
limited to 4‖ (3‖ at 6mm) when passing through
thick forest. Command radius is 4‖ (3‖ at 6mm)
for mounted and dismounted leaders.
Steven Hofner (Order #35311104)
Swamps. Swamps are rated Rough Ground for
all infantry, dismounted cavalry and dismounted
leaders. Swamps are rated Impassible Terrain
for artillery in any movement mode and mounted
cavalry and mounted leaders. Dismounted
cavalry and dismounted leaders that cross a
swamp may not remount until they return to the
side of the swamp on which they dismounted.
Units in extended line are considered in Full
Cover and subtract two when targeted. Other
units are considered in Partial Cover and
subtract one when targeted. Units defending in
charge combat add one for Favorable Ground
against attackers charging through swamps.
Line of sight is limited to 10‖ (7.5‖ at 6mm) when
passing through swamp but remember
command radius is 4‖ (3‖ at 6mm) for
dismounted leaders.
“The Crossroads”. Union artillery may
unlimber at the Crossroads of the Grahamville
and Wood Roads and target enemy units in the
thick forest or the artillery redoubt on Honey Hill.
A maximum of 4 guns total (counting a damaged
gun stand as 1 gun) can be deployed at the
Crossroads. Union artillery at the Crossroads
may fire over their own infantry on lower ground
to target the artillery redoubt. Subtract one
when unlimbered artillery is targeted at the
crossroads.
Leader Command Radius. The Leader
Command Radius is 8‖ (6‖ at 6mm) for mounted
leaders with a clear line of sight to a unit.
Command Radius is reduced to 4‖ (3‖ at 6mm)
for attached leaders, dismounted leaders or a
line of sight passing through thick forest.
Friendly Map Edges. Broken Union units must
retreat toward the eastern map edge between
roads A and C and stop at the edge. Broken
Confederate units must retreat toward the
northern or western map edge between roads D
and E and stop at the edge. If a Broken unit that
halted at the table edge fails to Reform in the
next Maneuver Phase, its remaining stands are
removed from play and count towards Heavy
Casualties and Greater Losses.
 12

Union forces. Total Combat Arms Stands
represent a force of 4,720 men with 14 guns.
Off-road Union infantry units starting the game
on the board are all in line except for the
Marines who are in extended line. On-road units
are in march column or limbered.
Reinforcements appear at the designated time
at the designated entry road (A) in march
column or limbered. Before the game starts, the
Union players must commit the entire 2nd
Brigade to Road A, B or C. If Road B or C is
chosen, the 2nd Brigade reinforcements are each
delayed by one turn.
Confederate forces. Total Combat Arms
Stands represent a force of 3,120 men with 12
guns. All Confederate infantry units starting the
game on the board are in extended line. Guns
in redoubts are unlimbered and guns behind
Honey Hill are limbered. Reinforcements are
shown on the Honey Hill Time & Reinforcement
Chart. They either appear at the designated
time on the designated entry road (D or E) in
march column or limbered.

Order of Battle

The following stands are required to play Honey Hill:

Stand Type Union Confederate

Infantry 98 53
Infantry Command 13 10
Cavalry 0 7
Cavalry Command 0 2
Artillery (Gun with Limber) 7 7
Artillery (Gun without Limber) 0 0
Dismounted Cavalry 0 6
Dismounted Cavalry Command 0 2
Horse Holder 0 1
Brave Colonel (Dismounted) 1 0
Brigade or Artillery Leader 5 5
Division Leader 1 1
Corps Leader 0 0
Army Leader 0 0
Dismounted Leader 4 5
Ammunition Wagon (Small Arms) 1 0

Total Stands 130 94

Total Combat Arms Stands 118 79

Heavy Casualties (20%USA / 25%CSA) 24 20

Steven Hofner (Order #35311104)

 13
Victory Conditions
One side must achieve more victory conditions
than their opponent to claim victory. Inflicting
Heavy Causalities, Greater Losses and
capturing a Key Position are victory conditions
as follows:
Heavy Casualties. The Union player achieves
one victory condition if Confederate forces lose
20 troop and gun stands (25%). The
Confederate player achieves one victory
condition if Union forces lose 24 troop and gun
stands (20%). After an army reaches its
threshold for Heavy Casualties, all units
subtract one in subsequent maneuver checks.
Greater Losses. A second victory condition is
achieved after an army reaches both its Heavy
Casualties threshold and is also suffering
Greater Losses than the enemy. Subtract two
from the maneuver check for as long as this
condition lasts.
Key Position Lost. The Honey Hill artillery
redoubt (X) is a Key Position. One side
achieves this victory condition if at the end of the
game they were the last side to have friendly
units occupying the Honey Hill artillery redoubt.
In addition to being a victory condition, each turn
after all Confederate units are driven out of the
Honey Hill artillery redoubt and is occupied by
Union forces, all Confederate units subtract
one in subsequent maneuver checks. If all
Union units are driven out in a later turn and
Confederate forces occupy the redoubt, the
modifier is reversed and all Union units subtract
one in subsequent maneuver checks. The
subtract one modifier always applies to the last
side to lose possession of the Honey Hill artillery
redoubt.
Special Scenario Rules
Ammunition supply. Confederate units cannot
replenish ammunition after suffering a low on
ammunition effect. Union infantry units can
replenish small arms ammunition (only) after
suffering a low on ammunition effect by being on
a road and within 12‖ (9‖ at 6mm) of the
ammunition wagon or within 4‖ (3‖ at 6mm) in
the woods. The small arms ammunition wagon
arrives on turn 5 at road A and only moves on
roads at the rate of 12‖ (8‖ at 6mm) per turn.
Steven Hofner (Order #35311104)
Sailor and Marine Battalions. The Union
Sailor and Marine Battalions may only form two
formations, march column or extended line.
They were given one or two days at most of
infantry training prior to sailing and their mission
was to provide infantry support for the Naval
Battery.
Unit Labels
Unit Chain of Command. The chain of
command is represented by label color. Each
brigade (X) leader and all of the units he
commands have the same color. The division
(XX) leader’s label has a unique color but can
command any unit as a Provisional Commander.
The three artillery leaders (Arty Ldr) in the game
only may command same color gun sections.
They cannot provide Provisional Command to
infantry or cavalry or to other artillery units of a
different color band.
Unit Name and Size. Any name of the unit is
identified on the top of the label, often followed
by the unit size: XX division, X brigade, Bn
battalion, Co company or a letter (B, 3 NY)
representing a battery. Gun labels represent a
two-gun section and each gun stand has a label.
Often the name of the commander is the unit ID.
If there is no unit size shown, it represents a
regiment.
Unit Experience. There are three levels of unit
experience in the scenario, from highest to
lowest:
Crack Veteran Trained
(Crk) (Vet) (Trn)
54 MA 56 NY Marine Bn
Vet RM Trn RM
Crk RM 11--9--6 5--//--4
8--5--3
1-1//.5-.5 1-1//.5-.5 1-1//.5-.5
All unit types-infantry, cavalry and artillery-have
a unit experience level and all three levels
represent die roll modifiers on the Maneuver,
Musketry & Cannonade and Charge tables.
There are no Green (Grn) units in the scenario.
 14
Weapon Type—Small Arms. There are three
small arms weapon types in the scenario: Rifle Unit Effectiveness. There are three levels of
Musket (RM), Rifle Carbine (RC) and unit effectiveness, from highest to lowest: Fresh
Smoothbore Musket (SM). Small arms in the – Worn - Spent. These levels are expressed
rules have up to four range bands, 4”--8”--12”-- with the numbers on the unit label (8--6--4). The
16” (3”--6”--9”--12” at 6mm). 8 represents the number of 40 man stands
when the unit is Fresh at the start of the
Smooth scenario (8 stands X 40 men = 320 man unit).
Rifled Rifled Bore As stands are lost during the battle, a unit will
Musket Carbine Musket become Worn when it reaches 6 stands and
(RM) (RC) (SM)
Spent when the unit has 4 or less stands
47 GA 3 SC Cavalry 157 NY remaining. All three levels of unit effectiveness
Vet RM Vet RC Vet SM are die roll modifiers on the Maneuver and
10--8--5 Dismounted 6--5--3 4--3--2 Charge tables. Infantry and cavalry are rated for
1-1//.5-.5 1-1//.5-0 1//.5-0-0 unit effectiveness but guns are not.
Dismounted Leaders. Union players must
The white label below the unit label shows the dismount leaders to move them across the
fire point value at each range band for each Euhaw Creek, streams and swamp. Included is
stand in the unit. Close range fire points are a set of leader labels for dismounted leader
shown in red while long-range fire points follow stands. Mounting or dismounting is free of
the ―//‖ and are shown in black. movement cost. No labels are provided for
Hatch, Brave Colonel (already dismounted) or
Weapon Type—Guns. There are three gun artillery leaders (guns cannot cross creek,
types in the scenario: Light Howitzer (LH), stream or swamp).
Heavy Howitzer (HH) and Heavy Smoothbore
(HS). Guns in the scenario fire up to three, four Regimental Battalions. The 127 NY is split
or five of the six range bands, 4”--12”--36”-- into two battalions, A & B. I recommend splitting
48”--60”--72” (3”--9”--27”--36”--45”--54” at 15+ stand regiments into two equal or nearly
6mm). equal battalions for ease of maneuver. Treat
both battalions as independent regiments in all
Light Heavy Smooth respects.
Howitzer Howitzer Bore
127 NY / A 127 NY / B
(LH) (HH) (HS)
Vet RM Vet RM
Naval Scruggs Scruggs 8--6--4 8--6--4
Section-1 Section-1 Section-2 1-1//.5-.5 1-1//.5-.5

Trn LH Vet 1/2 HH Vet 1/2 HS

5-3//3-0-0-0 6-4//3-2-0-0 5-4//3-2-1-0
Gun batteries contain 2 or 3 stands each
representing a two-gun section with a label. The
white label below the unit label shows the fire
point value at each range band for each gun
stand. Close range / canister fire points are
shown in red while long-range fire points follow
the ―//‖ and are shown in black. Note: Scruggs’
Section-1 consists of one HH (1/2) and section-2
consists of one HS (1/2) and both fire with 1/2
fire points (rounded down). If damaged, they are
removed from the game and count toward the
Victory Conditions of Heavy Casualties and
Greater Losses.
Miscellaneous. Two Quick Reference Sheets
(QRS) are supplied with the rules and have the
fire point values and range bands for both
musketry and cannonade. The information
below the unit labels was added to speed the
game for players and Game Master. If the
labels are too cluttered, just trim them off when
they are mounted.
Game Length
The game is played in 13-turns starting with the
Union player turn at 1200 and ending with the
Confederate player turn at 1500. The weather is
clear and hot. Sunset (twilight) is 1720.

Steven Hofner (Order #35311104)

 15
Designer Notes
Obtaining play balance in this scenario was
difficult. Competent Union commanders usually
will defeat competent Confederate commanders
if the scenario follows the course of the actual
battle. To prevent a Union ―cake walk‖, some
adjustments were added to make the scenario
more balanced.
(1) The Confederate Militia units were
originally rated Green before they were
increased to Trained. This is a
questionable adjustment although
research found the Georgia State Line
Militia Brigade to be a Veteran unit.
(2) The Confederate rifle-pits were
increased from Favorable Ground to
Strong and the artillery redoubts were
increased from Strong to Fortified with
the addition of the Favorable Ground
modifier when defending higher ground.
This is a reasonable adjustment.
(3) Robertson’s reinforcement arrival was
advanced three hours from the historical
time (1630) to a play balance time
(1315). Union reinforcement times were
also advanced slightly and an optional
entry road rule was added to broaden
the ―front‖. This compresses the battle
into a smaller time span and makes for
a more exciting game with all players
getting into the action quicker.
(4) The original scenario was a 21-turn
game (1200-1700) but was too long for
a convention game and was fought to a
decision well before 1700. The 13-turn
game compresses the action and forces
the Union to break through with enough
daylight left to reach and destroy the
railroad (three miles away) before
sunset (1720). The 2,300 Confederate
reinforcements arriving later that night
would be too late to save the railroad.
Steven Hofner (Order #35311104)
(5) The Heavy Casualty level for the Union
was decreased from 25% (30 stands) to
20% (24 stands). This adjustment is
reasonable since in Hatch’s mind he
was conducting a demonstration rather
than a battle. This adjustment means
the Union will have command and
control (maneuver check) problems
sooner and make moving and
coordinating attacks more difficult.
(6) The 3rd SC Cavalry was posted on the
far Confederate left flank with one gun,
just off of the northern map edge and
was not engaged in the battle after their
delaying action in the morning. This unit
now appears as a reinforcement on turn
3 but the gun remains in place. This
adjustment is somewhat reasonable as
Colcock could order them to support the
defense of the Honey Hill position when
he learns the actual size of the Union
force. Colcock was the former
commander of the 3rd SC Cavalry.
Union players must be patient and carefully
maneuver their units into position before
assaulting the Confederate works. There are 13
turns, plenty of time to set-up a strong attack on
a broad front using the optional entry roads.
Stretch out the Confederate defenders then
attack across the whole front. Use the Crack
unit to spearhead the main attack. When you
break the line at some point, exploit it and flank
the works. Or, if you are feeling lucky, you can
attempt a quick strike at Honey Hill with the 1st
Brigade before the Confederates can shift their
forces to better defend Honey Hill but this
strategy can be risky.
Confederate players must maneuver their units
to protect the Honey Hill artillery redoubt at all
costs. Use Colcock (Gallant+1) at the Honey Hill
position to assist maneuver checks. Try to keep
a reserve in support 2‖ (1.5‖ at 6mm) behind the
artillery units in the Honey Hill redoubt and add
their numbers in charge combat. Losing this Key
Position subtracts one on all maneuver checks
and will decrease your maneuverability. If you
try to defend the entire line equally, your line will
be broken more easily. Use the 3rd SC Cavalry
as a mobile reserve to plug gaps or delay
flanking maneuvers if the line is broken.
Robertson’s Command is the reserve force that
arrives at the most critical location.
 16
Honey Hill Time & Reinforcement Chart
All reinforcements enter on the road in march column or limbered.
Before the game starts, the Union players must commit the entire 2nd Brigade to enter at Road A, B or C.
If Road B or C is chosen, the 2nd Brigade reinforcements are each delayed by one turn.
Robertson’s Command enters on turn 6 at E in order of march: cavalry - infantry - artillery.

Turn Time Union Phase Confederate Phase

Move First Move Second
1 1200
2 1215 COL Hartwell, 55 MA at A
3 1230 102 USCT at A 3 SC Cavalry at D
4 1245 54 MA at A
5 1300 Ammunition Wagon at A
6 1315 BG Robertson’s Command at E
7 1330 LCD Matthews, Naval Battery at A
8 1345
9 1400
10 1415
11 1430
12 1445
13 1500

Please address questions, comments, corrections, suggestions or errata to: lowellhamilton@hotmail.com

[Editor’s note: Watch for more Regimental Fire & Fury scenarios in the future from Lowell Hamilton, as
well as ideas on how to convert and swap scenarios between JR3 and RFF. We at the Johnny Reb Gaming
Society congratulate Rich Hasenauer on the publication of RFF, and we look forward to further
expanding the available body of regimental-level scenarios for Civil War miniature wargaming. The
more, the merrier!]

Steven Hofner (Order #35311104)

 17

Steven Hofner (Order #35311104)

 18
Union Honey Hill Order of Battle Labels
SmallArms
Coast
1X 2X 2 Fleet X
XX Ammo
Hatch Wagon Potter Hartwell Preble
Gallant
Poor -1 Turn 5 @ A Able 0 Able 0
+1
Dismounted leader labels

35 USCT
Beecher
Brv Col
1X
+1
127 NY / 127 NY /
Potter 56 NY A B
144 NY 157 NY 25 OH 32 USCT 35 USCT
Vet Vet Vet Vet Vet Vet Trn Vet
Able 0
RM RM RM RM SM RM RM SM
13--10-- 12--10--
11--9--6 8--6--4 8--6--4 12--9--6 4--3--2 8--7--6
7 8
1-1//.5-.5 1-1//.5-.5 1-1//.5-.5 1-1//.5-.5 1//.5-0-0 1-1//.5-.5 1-1//.5-.5 1//.5-0-0

B, 3 NY B, 3 NY F, 3 NY F, 3 NY
Section- Section- Section- Section-
2X Arty Ldr
1 2 1 2
102 Vet Vet Vet Vet
Hartwell 55 MA 54 MA Ames
USCT HS HS HS HS
Gallant Trn Trn Crk 5-4//3-2-1- 5-4//3-2-1- 5-4//3-2-1- 5-4//3-2-1-
Able 0
+1 RM RM RM 0 0 0 0
13--11--
5--//--4 8--5--3
9
1-1//.5-.5 1-1//.5-.5 1-1//.5-.5

Turn 2 @ A Turn 3 @ A Turn 4 @ A

Naval Naval Naval

Section- Section- Section-
Arty Ldr
1 2 3
2 Fleet X Matthews Trn LH Trn LH Trn LH
Sailor Marine 5-3//3-0-0- 5-3//3-0-0- 5-3//3-0-0-
Preble Able 0
Bn Bn 0 0 0
Trn Trn
Able 0 Turn 7 @ A
RM RM
4--//--3 5--//--4
1-1//.5-.5 1-1//.5-.5

Steven Hofner (Order #35311104)

 19
Confederate Honey Hill Order of Battle Labels

1XXGA 1XXGA State Line GA 1 X GA

Mlt Mlt X Reserve Mlt
X
Colcock Colcock Wilson Cook Willis Robertson
Gallant Gallant
Able 0 Able 0 Able 0 Poor -1
+1 +1
Dismounted leader labels

Stuart Zealy Manget Scruggs Scruggs

Section- Section- Section- Section- Section-
Arty Ldr
1 1 1 1 2
Vet Vet Vet Vet 1/2 Vet 1/2
Stuart
HS HS HS HH HS
Gallant 5-4//3-2-1- 5-4//3-2-1- 5-4//3-2-1- 6-4//3-2-0- 5-4//3-2-1-
+1 0 0 0 0 0
Artillery Redoubt Honey Hill Reserve, Honey Hill Northern
Damaged Redoubt
Damaged

State Line GA
X Reserve
1 State 2 State Athens Augusta
47 GA Wilson Line Line
Cook Bn Bn
Vet Vet Vet Trn Trn
Able 0 Able 0
RM RM RM RM RM
10--8--5 4--3--2 4--3--2 4--3--2 4--3--2
1-1//.5-.5 1-1//.5-.5 1-1//.5-.5 1-1//.5-.5 1-1//.5-.5

1 X GA
Mlt
GA Mlt
Willis 1 GA Mit 2 GA Mlt 5 GA Mlt 3 SC Cavalry
Bn
Trn Trn Trn Trn
Able 0 Vet
RM RM RM RM
8--6--4 10--8--5 8--6--4 5--4--3 Mounted 6--5--3
1-1//.5-.5 1-1//.5-.5 1-1//.5-.5 1-1//.5-.5 No fire or cold steel
3 SC Cavalry
Vet RC
Dismounted 6--5--3
1-1//.5-0

Turn 3 @ D

Bachman Bachman
X Section-1 Section-2
Robertson Kirk Rngrs Cavalry Co 32 GA Vet HS Vet HS
Poor -1 Vet Vet RM 5-4//3-2-1-0 5-4//3-2-1-0

Mounted 3--2--// 6--5--3

No fire or cold steel 1-1//.5-.5
Kirk Rngrs Cavalry Co
Vet RM
Dismounted 3--2--//
1-1//.5-.5

Robertson's Command Turn 6 @ E

Steven Hofner (Order #35311104)

 20
out of visibility. Brigade commanders should
Surprise in the begin within an inch of any regiment in their
brigade. The division commander can be placed
Forest anywhere within the deployment area.

1862
By Brad Butkovich

Background

In the confused fighting in a forest, two

divisions have a surprise encounter. The side that
prevails might provide the army with the decisive
breakthrough for the day!

Game Overview
Breakthrough in the center!
There are two uses for this game. First, it Victory Conditions
is an excellent introductory scenario for 3-4
players, or two players of they are up to handling Victory goes to the side that forces the
two brigades at a time. Second, this game is ideal other off the board, or with the most Victory
for playing with hidden movement (page 62 of the Points. Casualties inflicted upon an opponent are
JR3 rulebook). Stalking through the forest, not worth Victory Points, as are the Victory Locations
knowing where your enemy is or his strength, can on the map. Located on page 32 of the JR3
be a challenge and quite tense. rulebook, the point values are as follows:
The map is 3’ x 4’, and designed for 2-4 Each regiment, battery, and brigade
players. The game begins at 12:00 PM in the commander are worth 2 points
afternoon, and ends at 2:00 PM, Turn 7, or when
The division commander is worth 4 points
one side loses.
If any unit or officer is removed from the board
due to the affects of combat or morale, the Victory
Terrain
Points are awarded to their opponent. Also,
remember that after a brigade or division loses
Most of the map is light woods for
40% of its points value it can no longer advance.
visibility and cover. Use the broken terrain
After 60% loss it must begin to withdraw from the
movement rate. The slopes of the hill should be
field.
woods terrain for movement, since it combines
Locations A and B are worth 3 Victory
both the woods and the upward grade. However,
Points each. To receive the points for Location A,
it is still light woods for visibility. The creek in the
no enemy unit may be within 2 inches of the fence
center of the map shallow and requires only an
surrounding the farmstead. For Location B, no
additional inch of movement to cross it. However,
enemy unit may be within 2 inches of the base of
its small banks are steep, and provide an
the hill. If an enemy unit is within range of these
additional cover bonus for those regiments that
Locations, neither side collects the Victory Points.
stay in the creek. Therefore, with the woods DRM
Officer figures cannot be used to control Victory
of -2, the total Target cover DRM would be -3. Wet
Locations.
and uncomfortable, but better than being shot!
Optional Rules
Deployment
Regiments are modeled after forces
engaged during the mid-war period. For a
In this generic scenario, no one side of the
different feel consider changing the number and
map is specifically Union or Confederate. Players
morale of one side or another, and varying the
should agree upon the sides before the game
weapons on individual regiments. For early war
begins. Opponents should start at least a foot
scenarios, have more regiments on one or both
away from each other, which in woods should be

Steven Hofner (Order #35311104)

 21
sides equipped with smoothbore muskets. For
later war scenarios, have more elite regiments,
and both sides uniformly armed with rifle-
muskets.

This game is included in the scenario book

Musketry Like Thunder, published by Historic

Imagination. Also in the book are ten more
fictional scenarios covering several tactical
situations commonly encountered during the Civil
War. It is available as a downloadable ebook in
.pdf format from Wargame Vault.
www.wargamevault.com

Order of Battle

Use the following order of battle for this

scenario. Feel free to modify the regimental
strengths up or down for even numbers of figures
per stand (8, 12, 16).

Steven Hofner (Order #35311104)

 22

Union

1st Division 40% loss/ 60% loss

Major General [+2] 12 pts./ 18 pts.

1st Brigade Strength Status Armament 40% loss/ 60% loss

Brigadier General [+1] 52 4 pts./ 6 pts.
1st Union 11 Veteran Rifle
2nd Union 16 Veteran Rifle
3rd Union 14 Veteran Rifle
4th Union 12 Veteran Rifle

2nd Brigade Strength Status Armament 40% loss/ 60% loss

Colonel [+1] 51 5 pts./ 7 pts.
5th Union 9 Veteran Rifle
6th Union 10 Veteran Rifle
7th Union 10 Veteran Rifle
8th Union 10 Veteran Musket
9th Union 12 Veteran Rifle

Artillery Status Armament 40% loss/ 60% loss

Battery A Veteran 3 sections 10 lb. Parrots 2 pts./ 3 pts.
Battery B Veteran 3 sections 12 lb.
Napoleons

Confederate

First Confederate 40% loss/ 60% loss

Division
Major General [+2] 12 pts./ 18 pts.

First Brigade Strength Status Armament 40% loss/ 60% loss

Brigadier General [+1] 47 4 pts./ 6 pts.
1st Confederate 11 Veteran Rifle
2nd Confederate 12 Veteran Rifle
3rd Confederate 13 Veteran Rifle
4th Confederate 11 Veteran Musket

Second Brigade Strength Status Armament 40% loss/ 60% loss

Brigadier General [+1] 58 5 pts./ 7 pts.
5th Confederate 14 Veteran Rifle
6th Confederate 12 Veteran Rifle
7th Confederate 11 Veteran Rifle
8th Confederate 11 Veteran Musket
9th Confederate 11 Veteran Rifle

Steven Hofner (Order #35311104)

 23
Artillery Status Armament 40% loss/ 60% loss
First Battery Veteran 2 sections 12 lb. 2 pts./ 3 pts.
Napoleons
Second Battery Veteran 2 sections Mixed guns

Steven Hofner (Order #35311104)

 24
The Battle of Front Royal, VA
at Nashcon 2010
By Cory Ring
I had been wanting to try my hand at some
custom, specialized terrain for my 15mm Johnny Reb
games and I decided to use Nashcon 2010 for this
purpose. Normally I use a cloth mat with Styrofoam
hills underneath, and that looks great, but it lacks the
true 3D look of streams, sunken roads, etc. that I was
looking for. I made the decision with only about four
weeks to prepare for the con, so I needed a scenario
that was small enough to complete quickly! My
second goal was to be able to fight a scenario at the
con that could be decisively concluded in the time
slot frame of 4 hours.
The classic Front Royal 1862 scenario (found
in the original JRII box game scenario booklet) was
small enough to meet my goals….well actually it was
so small that I decided that the players would play the
battle once, then switch sides and play it again! It
also includes some random elements, like the arrival
of a train, burning bridges, etc. that make each game
unique.
I already had the troops all painted and ready,
as well as the buildings, trees and fences. I used a
Steven Hofner (Order #35311104)
piece of old N gauge train track for the tracks in the
game. I still needed to build the terrain board, and
find a way to make realistic looking rivers and hills.
After some rummaging around my garage I found a
2x4 wood board to use as my base board. Some
additional rummaging yielded some pink styro-foam
pieces. These were cut down to size and glued to the
base board, as well as a few hills. I made sure to put
some weights on top to prevent warping and air
bubbles…..I’ve seen that really mess up some guys
work! I let that dry for a couple days, all to the
amusement of my wife who was wondering what
project I had started on that was taking up half of the
garage!
Once the Styrofoam was securely glued
down, I lightly traced the terrain features onto the
board. I then got out my trusty old scrap of sand
paper and sanded down the outline of the rivers
(these I sanded down pretty deep), the roads, the
edges of the hills, and a few patches of rough ground.
After everything was sanded, I painted the whole
board dark brown and added sand to the paint while it
was still wet. After it dried this gave me a great
textured surface to dry brush. I then added two lighter
shades of brown and tan to the board. I thought the
“dirt” surface looked great and then it was time to
add the grass. I just spread out some glue on the
board in small areas and started throwing flock
randomly!
The rivers were painted in a mix of green and
blue and I glued some rocks and bushes along the
banks. I poured a lot of clear Elmer’s glue into the
river basin, hoping that when it dried it would give
the river some depth. I had a problem here, and it was
a good learning experience for me…..the glue kept
slowly running out of the river ends. I had blocked
the river ends with some plastic and tape, but to no
avail. Next time I think I’ll just wait to cut out the
river ends until after the glue has dried. I did get
some glue to stick however, and although the rivers
weren’t as “deep” as I wanted, they still looked
“wet”. I also had to build two wooden bridges to
build to go over the river and I built these quickly
using a little spare balsa wood and glue. So more or
less the terrain was ready and it was time to get the
troops out and get ready to fight the battle!
The scenario, “The Battle of Front Royal”,
involves a small vanguard of Stonewall Jackson’s
army attempting to capture two vital bridges over the
Shenandoah River. These bridges are defended by a
tiny union garrison, who are tasked with either
driving off the attacking rebels, and/or burning one
the bridges to prevent the Confederates from crossing
the North or South Fork of the Shenandoah. I have
played this scenario many times and it’s always a
 25
nail-biter! The scenario can be usually be played in
about an hour and it is always decisive, due to its
victory conditions. Some of the random elements that
make the game unique include rules for burning the
bridges (the Yanks need to set them on fire!),
extinguishing bridge fires (put out that fire Rebs!),
isolation (for units on the opposite side of a burning
or captured bridge), and train robbery (the LA Tigers
will ignore their orders and charge and plunder the
train if it arrives during the game (1/3 chance each
turn). Whew!
Terrain board
The Union forces (for JR1 & JR2) consist of
only 2 green regiments of 20 figures (posted in a
forward position near the South Fork bridge), 1 tiny
battalion of 10 figures (positioned on a hill to the rear
protecting the North Fork bridge), and a section of
10# Parrott artillery. Leading the troops is Col. John
Kelly (+1). This isn’t a whole lot to work with! The
Yankee commander has to come up with a plan pretty
quick since he’s be under attack on turn one! I also
like the feel you get in a game when a player only has
3-5 units to control, since I find that they play more
cautiously since they don’t have any cannon fodder!
The Confederate forces come onto the south
edge of the table on turn one. They have a unit of 20
figures, an elite 15-figure unit (the LA Tigers), and a
battery 6# guns, all lead by Col Bradely Johnson
(+1). On turn three the Rebs get Brig Gen. Richard
Taylor (+1), two more 20’s and the 6th Maryland Cav.
The infantry units enter on the south edge, but the 6th
Maryland cavalry can enter anywhere on the west
edge of the board, south of the North Fork. This is
really the Rebs “secret weapon”, and if used correctly
(with some hot dice thrown in too of course), can be
a game winner.
I scheduled the game to run in the first
session on Friday afternoon. I like to get in to the con
early and have plenty of time to set up the game and
then look around the dealer’s room and chat with
Steven Hofner (Order #35311104)
friends. My friend Chris met me at the con to help
me carry in the troops, and I was surprised to see two
friends from Tallahassee there, John and Ken, who
had the made the drive up early in order to play in the
game. So, we now had all the commanders ready and
we sat down at the table and started rolling dice!
In the first game, John took command of the
Union forces while Ken and Chris played the Rebs.
John and Ken have a lot of experience with the JR
system, but Chris was new to the game. The first
game started with John basically retreating the Union
forces to concentrate around the second bridge.
While this was happening they got pretty well shot up
and then charged by Ken playing the first wave of
Rebs. The whole thing was starting to look like a
disaster for the Union, until the little ten-man Union
unit came down off the hill and set fire to the second
bridge. The bridge burned a turn and was not
extinguished, and then on the second turn a rebel unit
commanded by Chris was ready to move onto the
bridge to try to extinguish it, but failed their morale
check to go onto a burning bridge! The bridge burned
to the ground and the Yanks had saved the day, even
though the majority of their troops had been shot up
and/or routed! The train never appeared in the game
and the LA Tigers kept their composure!
The bridge has been set on fire and will not be
extinguished by the Rebs
We changed commands around for the
second game. Ken played the Yanks, Chris took the
first wave of Rebs and John took the Rebel
reinforcements. Instead of retreating his Yanks, Ken
held the line. It worked out well for him since the
train showed up early and the LA Tigers were forced
to charge into the teeth of two holding Union units
and were shot up pretty bad, effectively removing
them from the game. Chris’ second unit was then
shot up by the two Yankee units and by turn two or
three Chris’ force had been destroyed. This made it
hard on the John rebel reinforcements since they now
 26
had to fight their way up the table. With the front
looking somewhat secure, Ken disengaged one of his
units to cross over the first bridge and moved down
the small unit off the hill to light the second bridge on
fire.
with JR, but weren’t current players. One old
grognard told me that JR was the first miniatures
game that he had ever played! We had to turn away a
few last minute walk-up gamers, which was
unfortunate, because the scenario was so small. I
think I will run a slightly larger game next year,
which can accommodate 6 or so players. I already
have a Chickamauga or Vicksburg scenario in mind!

Did You Know?

th
Col. William ―Extra Billy‖ Smith of the 49 Virginia briefly
commanded Jubal Early’s brigade at Second Manassas.
The union holds the line with one unit and sends Smith, the Governor of Virginia during the Mexican War,
the other to the bridge had commissioned Early back then as a major, and now
reported to him. Smith would rise to general under Early
and during his second term as governor would try to get
At this point things were looking good for Robert E. Lee to fire Early during the 1864 Shenandoah
the Yanks and it looked like the Rebs were going to Valley Campaign.
be in for a tough day…but then the cavalry showed
up. Through some awesome dice rolling the cavalry
was able in the next two turns to charge a Yankee
unit on the bridge, rout it, and capture the bridge. Ken
started to suffer from some continued bad die rolling
at this point and his unit on the other side of the
bridge was routed by artillery fire. What had looked
like a sure Union victory had in a turn or two
completely turned around and the Rebels were able to
capture both bridges and win the game. Wow…don’t
you love playing JR?

Rebs about to capture a bridge

So we had a great time playing the scenario.

The Rebels won a game and the Yanks won a game.
A lot of gamers came by and made positive
comments on the rules set, terrain board, figs, etc. I
got the impression that a lot of gamers were familiar

Steven Hofner (Order #35311104)

 27

Second Manassas Terrain Boards

By Bill Moreno

My club (South Florida Miniature Gamers) did our

annual Civil War Weekend August 21-22. For the
game I ran Second Manssas from the original Fire &
Fury Eastern Battles Scenario Book. I thought you all
may enjoy some shots of the completed terrain. I
used a lot of fencing and cornfields which I have
purchased from Doug Kline at Battlefield Terrain
Concepts as always.

The terrain boards were sculpted from cheap white

foam boards purchased at Home Depot. I have my
own methods for water and roads which I have Lucinda Dogan
discussed with all of you at one time or another and I
used just about every single technique I have learned
over the years to make this board. This one has
about forty individual pieces of elevation on it. It was
a pain in the keister to build but the end result is
pretty pleasing to the eyes.

The Dump

Dogan Ridge

The Schoolhouse

Did you know?

Groveton
Richard S. Ewell lost a leg during the Battle of
[Editor’s note: SMG’s website is well worth a Groveton. He would be out of the army for many
visit if you are a gamer in South Florida. months, but would return as a lieutenant general in
http://www.soflgamers.org/index.html They commander of part of Stonewall Jackson’s old corps.
keep their calendar of games on-line, and
invite the public to stop by and say hello!]

Steven Hofner (Order #35311104)

 28
After Action Report:
Shiloh ACW Game Using
“Black Powder” Rules
By Jim Kopchak and Doug Rogers
Being an American Civil War (ACW) history buff
and re-enactor for 15 years, most of my gaming
interests focus on playing American Civil War
games. Consequently, I like to try new rule systems,
which include this period.
I recently setup a game at our clubs (NOWS) mini-
convention using Black Powder as the rules. The
ACW scenario is from the rules book, which lists
others from the 1700’s to the late 1800’s since Black
Powder is generic. Five players were in my game and
Doug Rogers controlled the Union Center. Doug and
I are co-authoring this article and I will focus on rule
mechanics as best as I understand them. Doug will
describe how the game played using Black Powder.
The rules are hardbound, published in 2009 (UK),
and contain 80+ pages. They seem designed for
25mm figures or larger at regimental level play and
uses 6-sided dice to resolve actions. It adapts to
smaller size models and I used my 15 mm figures for
the game. This worked fine, since the game was
played on a 6-foot wide x 12-foot table as suggested
in the rules book.
Adjusting move rates to the width of the table is
important in Black Powder because line infantry may
move three times (36”) in one turn depending on die
rolls. A smaller width table significantly reduces the
distance to reach objectives if move rates are not
Steven Hofner (Order #35311104)
adjusted. The 12” move rate is used for a 6 foot wide
table. If five feet, infantry should move 10”and if
four feet wide, it should move 8”. Also weapons
ranges need adjustment to keep shooting distance in
balance.
One division was used on a side and requires about 3
hours playtime. Each division in the game was
composed of three brigades as follows:
Yankee Left: 3-infantry regiments, 1-cav. Regiment,
1-battery (12lb)
Yankee Center: 4-infantry regiments
(One is in skirmish formation to the front)
Yankee Right: 4-infantry regiments, 1-battery (12lb)
(Most Yankee units start asleep in camps near the 6-
foot table edge. Each brigade is ~3 feet apart).
Opposite them on the other 6-foot edge were the
following Rebel units:
Rebel Right: 3-infantry regiments
Rebel Center: 4-infantry regiments, 1-battery (12lb)
Rebel Left: 3-infantry regiments, 1-battery (12lb)
(The Rebs are organized & ready to attack knowing a
Yankee skirmish line is somewhere in front).
The Rebels are attacking and must take two of the
three Yankee objectives for a partial victory. One
objective is located on the left, one in the center and
one on the right and all are located about 1-foot in
from the Yankee’s 6-foot table edge.
An overview of the rules follows to better understand
the significant impact die rolls have on a game.
Players must prepare for this during play in which a
string of bad rolls has a dramatic result on movement,
shooting, melee & break tests. This happened in my
game three hours into the fight. It was obvious the
game was over after a series of poor rolls on the
“Break Table” resulted in two infantry units out of
three breaking and being eliminated from one side. I
have put the game sequence into 5-steps to help
explain the rules, which have several novel concepts.
It must be decided which side goes first. This side
moves and fires all units first in its turn for the entire
game since there is neither turn initiative nor
opportunity fire except if charged. Consequently, the
Defender usually goes first & completes steps 1-5
below. The side going second now completes its turn
by following the 5-steps below. This completes one
full turn. The US side went first in this scenario.
 29
Step 1: Broken Brigade Check. A Brigade is
“Broken” if 50% or more infantry units are gone or
shaken. Other units in that Brigade cannot advance,
reorder or recover if shaken and must retire one move
if within 12” of a foe. If 50% of brigades are
“Broken” the Army retires and that side loses. (In my
game to determine broken status, I count units that
are gone and not those that are only shaken).
Step 2: Initiative movement: Units starting 12”or
less from a foe may make one free move within 45º
of the enemy without receiving an order at Step 3.
Step 3: Issue Orders: This requires forethought
about how to order a brigade, what orders to give,
and where to go. Then, 2d6 are rolled to determine if
the order is executed. The roll total is compared to a
CO# (8 in this game). If the roll is greater, the order
fails & no more orders are given by that CO! Below
is the procedure:
Orders are suppose to be verbal, and are performed
before another one is given. I used my JR 3 chits
(face-up) and marked where units go to. Typical
orders are:
Advance, Charge(C), Fall-back,
Rally (H) or Follow Me(FM)
Only a single unit starting 12” from an officer may be
ordered to “Rally” or “Follow Me”(see pg. 3).
The rules say formation change must be a given
order, but may also be part of another order.
 Decide to order each unit (brigade, part or whole
brigade) and then give one order to:
1). The unit (regiment in this game) you chose
from the brigade or
2). Part of the brigade* or (units in a brigade
part must stay within 6” of each)
*Brigades may be divided into two parts so a 5-
unit brigade may divide into 1 & 4 or 3 & 2 parts.
3). The whole brigade (to order a whole
Brigade, all units must start & end in 6” of each)
(In these rules, a brigade may have Infantry, Cavalry
and Artillery units).
 The CO has a Command number (CO#). (It’s 8
for all COs & CnCs in this scenario).
Steven Hofner (Order #35311104)
Two 6-sided die are rolled to determine if the
order is followed and also how far the unit(s) moves.
This order is executed before another is issued!
(The CO# is modified (see rules) so it may not end up
at 8).
If the sum of the 2d6 is the CO# or less, the unit,
brigade part or brigade carries out the order. And if
the sum is the CO# or one less (8, 7), it moves once,
if two below the CO#, it moves twice and if three or
less (5, 4,3,2), it moves three times, but only if you
have placed the chit or identified the exact spot you
want to move to if placed out that far (except if
ordering a “Follow Me” order) !
If the roll is greater than the CO#, the order is not
carried out and that Commander cannot give any
more orders! No unit, brigade part or whole brigade
that failed to execute an order can be ordered again
that turn.
(If rolls a 12, another 1d6 roll is made on a
Blunder Table causing random movement).
The Division General is the C-n-C and also gives
orders to a unit, brigade part or entire brigade if it had
not yet been given an order! These orders are issued
last. A die roll is made to determine if the order(s) is
executed and if fails, no more are issued- the order
phase ends (If rolling a 12, check the blunder table).
The “Rally” or “Follow-Me” order is issued by a
Commander or the C-n-C to a single unit but only if
meeting all these conditions:
 The officer starts a turn 12”or less from the unit
 The officer has not yet issued a failed order
 The unit has not been given an order
This may be the first order issued to a unit or ordered
anytime after. The problem is that once issued, the
CO cannot give out any more orders because he is
too busy with this one unit The Commander rolls 2d6
just like any other order. If the roll is successful, he
moves 12”or less, attaches to the unit and then yells
“Rally around me” or “Follow Me”. If the
Commander fails it cannot attach to the unit. It does
not matter if the roll is successful or not, the CO
STOPS issuing orders!
 Rally means the CO attaches to the unit, one
casualty marker is removed If more than one, and it
Holds its position. This helps recover a unit from
being “Shaken”. Shaken means a unit reached is
 30
Stamina number of casualties (Usually 3, but varies)
Being shaken causes negative modifiers to die rolls.
 Follow Me means the CO attached to the unit and
it may move three times As long as the CO passed
its CO number. It does not matter by how much he
passed. If he rolled an 8 or a 5, the unit moves up to
36”and you do not need to announce the order
before hand so you may move, charge etc…
(officers that ATTCH to a unit may become targets-
see page 4)
 After all orders are issued by COs & the CnC,
they may move up to 48”.
In summary of Step 3, a unit, part of a brigade or
brigade is given an order, and rolls 2d6 when added
must be at the CO# or lower to execute the order. If
the roll is higher, it has failed to execute the order
and that Commander cannot give anymore orders to
any part of its Command (apparently the CO staff
goes dysfunctional).
Unit(s) or brigades that failed to execute the order
cannot receive new ones that turn, so cannot
Advance, Charge, Change Formation or Fall back,
but only Hold its position. It’s allowed to fire and
melee normally. The CnC gives orders last to units
that did not receive orders yet that turn. Officers
move last.
Example: if the CO gives one order to a whole
brigade and it fails the execution roll, the CnC cannot
give another order to it since all units in the Brigade
have failed the order. But if a player decides to order
only part of the Brigade or to order individual units,
then the CnC could issue orders to those that did not
yet receive an order that turn. However, if the CnC
issues an order and it is not executed successfully, no
more orders are issued now ending the Command
Phase.
Each order is issued and executed before another
order is issued.
This completes Step 3.
Before explaining shooting, it is important to note
that the charge move and advance move distance is
the same, the only difference being in action:
A unit ordered to charge, chooses an enemy unit to
charge and moves into melee if able to make contact.
The unit ordered to advance marks a spot on the
Steven Hofner (Order #35311104)
battlefield and attempts to advance to this spot. It
cannot exceed the distance marked even if rolled for
more movement and cannot go into melee. It stops 1”
from a foe.
Step 4 Shooting: The side going first fires all units
first unless it charged. In that case some enemy units
may fire a closing volley first at close range before
the Charger fires. Some units (skirmish) may Evade
one move back instead.
Bases are not counted to shoot and bases are not
removed if hit. Casualty figures are used to show
casualties and 3 usually indicate a unit is “Shaken”
(see below)
To fire, most medium infantry units roll 3-six sided
dice(3d6’s). Smaller units roll 2d6 and larger ones
4d6. These rolls are doubled in Melee. One Artillery
battery fires 3, 2, or 1 die depending if its close (in
6”), medium or at long range.
To score a potential hit, units need a 4, 5, and 6 on
each die rolled. These numbers are modified on a “To
Hit Modifier” table depending on different conditions
such as being at Close Range, which is 6” away or
less. As an example, this is a +1 modifier, which
means that you add a pip to the die roll so to hit the
target is now a 3, 4, 5, and 6 on each die. If the table
indicates -1, it mean a pip is taken away. So now 5 or
a 6 is a hit for each die rolled.
In addition if a “6” is rolled, the target is Disordered
(DO). One DO marker is placed on the unit no matter
how many 6’s are rolled. DO units cannot move at all
during its next player turn. This can be disastrous
since double dice are rolled (6d6 instead of 3d6)
when firing on a flank, or on the front or rear of a
march column! It reorders at the end of its own
player turn, not always at the end of the full turn (i. e.
the DO penalty is paid one time during its next own
players turn).
After calculating the number of hits on the target,
saving rolls are made equal to the number of hits and
these are called Morale Rolls. These saving rolls are
made for every hit. A hit is cancelled for each die
generating a 4, 5 or 6. A Morale Table is consulted
before rolling to modify these numbers, like in
shooting.
For example, if rolling 3 dice as typical for infantry
fire and 2 hits are scored, the target rolls 2 saving
dice and if rolling 4, 5, or 6 on both the hits are
cancelled. For every hit that is not cancelled, a
 31
casualty marker is placed on the unit and even though
the hit from rolling a 6 may be cancelled, the
Disorder (DO) remains.
This leads us to discuss Stamina and Shaken. The
Stamina number (St#) is the amount of permanent
casualties a unit takes and is then Shaken. The
Stamina number is usually 3 for medium infantry and
so when a unit reaches this number of casualties it is
Shaken! If this unit received 4 casualties or more it
takes one check on the “Break Table” that turn. Once
taken, if the unit survives, extra casualties above the
stamina # are removed.
The details on when and how to take a “Break Test”
are listed in the rules book, but in general 2d6 are
rolled and added together. Then -1 for each casualty
over the stamina number, another -1(far) or -2 if a
casualty is by artillery, -1 if Disordered and -1 if
shaken by closing fire if charging. These are
accumulative.
Once the die roll is modified, if results are a 4 or less,
the unit is eliminated from the game. If greater than 4
up to 6, the unit moves back one or two times. If the
result is 7 or more, the unit holds. If an officer is
attached and that unit is eliminated, the officer is
gone. Also, if the unit exceeds its stamina number
having an attached officer, roll 1d6 for each number
over the stamina #, and a 6 kills the officer. Excess
casualties over the stamina number are now removed.
Step 5 Melee: If a unit charges the enemy’s front
(which is 45º from each outside edge) and makes
contact, a Melee ensues. It is important to note the
rules imply that the charging unit’s bases match up to
charged unit’s bases, base-to-base if charging its
front and means units match-up center to center
before the melee. If two same sized units want to
charge an enemy front, only one could make contact
with a defender of the same size. If the second unit
charges it stops next to the Charger and can only
offer support to the Charger in contact. How smaller
units match up when charging larger units and vise
versa is covered in the rules.
Line units must have their own front facing a
defender’s front, flank or rear to charge these
positions. Up to 4 units may charge a single
defending unit if each unit starts its front facing each
one of these positions. Skirmishers cannot charge line
troops, but may charge skirmish units. Skirmish units
have front facing all around them (360º) and so when
skirmishers charge a skirmish unit, the charger(s)
contact it from all four directions no matter how the
Steven Hofner (Order #35311104)
units face. There are no flank or rear penalties since
skirmish units have no flanks or rear. This is
important to keep in mind when playing with
skirmish units.
Also, the width of a unit in skirmish formation
compared to a line is not listed in the rules, however
scenarios show a typical skirmish unit covering about
30 inches (2½ feet ~over 3 times the front of a line
unit). Assuming that 25mm figures are mounted on a
1½” wide bases, and six bases are a medium infantry
unit in line, then skirmish bases are about 4”apart
(1½” x 6 + 5 spaces 4”apart=29”). If a skirmish unit
of regular troops is charged to its front, it contracts
into a 9” line and is contacted by one unit in front to
melee. It cannot fire a closing shot since its forming
into line. This is in reference to troops described as
regular, which dominates the ACW.
If playing in other periods, this skirmish rule appears
to work differently for what BP calls “Irregular
Units”. These are war bands such as Indians or Zulu
type units etc…. The rules are not very clear about
this, but Irregular units have a default formation that
Zulus or Indians always stay permanently in which is
skirmish or a war band. The width of these two
formations is not defined for irregular units so if its
width is double or triple a line unit width, apparently
two or three line units could feasibly charge its front
on this kind of single irregular unit, allowing a lot
more die rolls against it in melee. I am sure there is
plenty of discussion on the Internet to clarify this,
which I have not yet viewed.
The width of irregular warbands and units must be
clarified by the game master when playing scenarios
using regular and irregular units. I have been told by
fellow gamers that if this is not understood by a game
master, then Zulus or Indians (warbands) etc. may
incorrectly form into a line & fight melees like
regular units in skirmish generating unrealistic
results.
Also keep in mind that after a charged unit fires its
closing fire, the charging unit rolls saving rolls and
then a Break Test if required. If successful the
charger then fires back at the defender before melee.
This can be overlooked, but is clear in the player turn
sequence. Remember that two player turns equal one
full turn. I have been conditioned to call these player
turns phases, but the rules use the words “player
turns”-don’t get confused as I did!
Once the charged and charging unit fires and any
ensuing Break Tests are completed, then there is
 32
melee. The melee hit numbers are 4-6 and modified
on a melee table. Charging is a +1 so 3-6 are hits.
Flank and rear attacks are a penalty to the charged
unit and are -1 to its Melee hit numbers decreasing to
5’s & 6’s.
Shooting dice are doubled in Melee. Most infantry in
line roll 3d6 to shoot so in melee they roll 6d6. Both
sides roll at the same time and both roll saving rolls.
The casualties each unit inflicted to the foe from the
Melee, are added to its combat factors such as being
supported by other friends in 6”(+1 per unit). The
higher number side wins the Melee. The loser must
check on the Break Table.
I attended a seminar by the co-authors of Black
Powder at Historicon, and several addendums
covering specific time periods are being planned to
help fine tune the rules for those eras. The first is on
the ACW and another on the AWI. They are also
considering ECW, Colonial, and Ancients all of
which seem possible once the basic framework of the
rules is learned.
The second part of this article, which follows, is
written by Doug Rogers and describes how Black
Powder’s game mechanics played out in the ACW
game at the NOWS mini-con in June.

As an example my unit inflicts 3 casualties on you

and you 2 on me. So far I win by one, but now lets
add up combat factors. You are supported by units
within 6” on the right, left and to the rear= +3. You
add your 2 hits you inflicted on me and add 3 for a
total of 5. You win 5 to 3. I lose and make a check on
the Break Table. If I hold we are locked in melee for
the next player turn and other units may contact the
enemy if a space is open to the sides or rear. No unit
can be added to the front.

This completes a summary of Black Powder and

provides enough information to give readers a good
idea of how the rules play. I had played several Black
Powder games at Historicon 2010 and found the
beauty of the rules lies in the fact that you can play
Did you know?
almost any era having a good understanding of how
they work. I felt motivated to play many different One of the leading Union generals at Shiloh was
time periods I never would have attempted before Lew Wallace, who would later gain fame as the
and felt very comfortable in the games. author of the popular historical novel, Ben Hur?
I participated in one of the colonial games at Another Union general named Wallace, in this
Historicon (Into the Bush Again-1878) run by John case William H.L., was mortally wounded at
Shirey from the Potomac Wargamers who knows the Shiloh. He was just one of more than 13,000
rules very well. I was able to play his scenario easily Federal casualties. The Rebels lost more than
and adapt from ACW to this colonial period game. I 10,000 in what at the time was one of the
was in control of three Boer skirmish units and was bloodiest battles in American history.
charged repeatedly by 10 units of Xhosa (Zulu like
units). Since they were trying to win by getting off
my side of the table, I held on-and-on by good rolling
and although my units were almost destroyed at the
end, the British line troops came from the opposite
side of the table and destroyed the Xhosa resulting in
a colonial victory.

The rules as is are generic, but offer many options in

the back to adjust them to a certain era. This requires
some prior knowledge of that period to use the
options provided to give the correct feel to the battle.

Steven Hofner (Order #35311104)

 33
Shiloh Impressions
“NOWS Mini-Con”
June 18, 2010
Berea, Ohio
By Doug Rogers
Battle of Shiloh by Thure de Thulstrup
My son Dave and I participated in a test game
run using “Black Powder” rules GM'd by Jim
Kopchak of NOWS against Rick Dunn and other
volunteers. I commanded the Union center while
Dave was ordering the Union right. While Dave
had a non-crossable waterway to shield his camp
with only a bridge to defend, I was charged with
holding the center with only three regiments and
a battery of Napoleons. My initial impression
was that it was going to be hot work against
superior numbers of Rebels. Movement
promised to be fast with the activation rules as
described, and I expected the Secesh to be on me
in no time.
The Confederates had to control five of nine
zones for a victory, and both sides started in
control of three zones. As it turned out, after
some initial fast advance by the Confederates in
my front that blew away my skirmishers, their
activation rolls were poor, slowing them to a
snail’s pace. I felt frustrated for the Rebs on the
center and their left. Their left flank could not
get out of column in the woods and took several
turns of direct fire from Dave's guns from his
side of the stream.
Steven Hofner (Order #35311104)
I had little problem activating my brigade as a
whole and got them moved up to defensive
positions on fence line and woods edge with the
battery. Dave crossed the stream with two of his
regiments initially and held the rest in reserve in
camp. Our Union left formed on fence line in
front of their camp with more effort.
After a lot of attempts to activate and move up to
firing and charge range in the center, my units
were assaulted. They wavered but held. Dave
was contacted in a faltering advance on our right
as Rebs belatedly occupied the middle zone.
With my focus on the center and right I did not
follow our left closely, but heard reports of a
deep Confederate advance with heavy firing and
charges to take the middle ground. The result
was that the entire Rebel brigade routed leaving
Union troops in command of the middle ground.
With game turns up, the result of the Union
holding half the battlefield against heavy odds
resulted in a Union victory.
Maybe it was knowing the actual history of
Shiloh, or the complete reversal of initial
expectations given the wide range of possibilities
“Black Powder” offers to create FOW, but the
flow of the game and results seemed strange.
The inability of the Confederates to mount a
stronger attack due to the activation problems
completely bogged them down making it
frustrating for them and not interesting/exciting
for us on the defense.
The consensus was that serious adjustment was
needed to use these rules for this period. It has
potential for being a fast game for conventions,
but this didn't prove out this time.
 Christopher
Maes 2008.
This
miniature Bridgehead Breakout 34
wargaming
Simply flock the two Ridge pieces to
scenario may (Play Area 4’ x 6’)
be match your own choice of terrain
photocopied flocking, and then assemble and glue
the
or otherwise reproduced for personal use only. No person shall reproduce and/or snakeforrail
distribute fencing.
profit I built
without written mine during
permission of the author. All rig
N C a single evening.

AA The BTC Ridge pieces are 14 inches long

and 4 ½ inches wide. The ridge pieces
can be placed on both sides of your
model road to form the side banks of
DIY Terrain Tip the sunken road; or if terrain space is
limited, the ridge pieces may be placed
abutting side-by-side.
Sunken Road at Antietam
“Bloody Lane”
Larry Reber
GettysburgSoldiers.com
B
For your next Antietam scenario, here is
a quick and easy method of building an
attractive and useful terrain piece
depicting the Sunken Road,
D
remembered as the “Bloody Lane”.

For the materials list, only three items are

needed to assemble the parts of the
sunken road, and are available from
Battlefield Terrain Concepts (BTC) who
advertises here in the pages of CHARGE.

You will need two of the BTC Ridge SL-4

(cast resin hill) and one package of BTC
Snake Rail Fence Kit. Total cost should
be under $60.
Antietam Sunken Road photo by Scott Mingus.
Bloody Lane image by Alexander Gardner,
courtesy of the Library of Congress.

Steven Hofner (Order #35311104)