Back to Sumeria

After wallowing in painting 15/18mm horse and musket figures over the last five months, something different finally pushed across the painting desk.  That something different sees a brief return to Ancient Sumeria in 28mm.

Today's offering shows 26 figures in four units.  These units comprise two stands of four skirmishers and two stands of nine massed bow.  Figures are all 28mm Newline Designs.

The brief Sumerian distraction will be followed up by more FPW Prussians and the first of SYW/WAS British cavalry.  Yes, looks like I finally begin work on a British army for this period.

On the gaming front, today sees a return to the very long-running AWI campaign with Matt as he rolls out the Battle of Bennington.  Matt and I have experienced a very long hiatus in this campaign so it will be a welcome return to old.  Monday sees a rematch of Shiloh in a remote game with Postie's Rejects before I clear the table of ACW and plan for the next series of games.  Since the 15mm Feudal Japan armies have not seen action in a very long time, that period is where I am headed next.

Finally, a panoramic photo of the Spokane River Gorge, the Monroe Street Bridge, and the Lower Falls taken on a loop walk on a mostly sunny and warm Saturday afternoon.

Now, time to refresh my memory on Rebels & Patriots before this morning's action with Matt.

Shiloh: A Masterful Defense

On Tuesday, Mark (Blood Mud and Steel), David (The Ragged Soldier), Chris (Horse and Musket Gaming), and Tony (Prometheus in Aspic) gathered to refight the battle the four of them fought out in September (see Shiloh and the Attack on Sherman).  All four players opted to retain their preferred sides as in the first game.  Mark and Tony took on Sherman's command while David and Chris settled into the roles of the attacking CSA.  Players each swapped commands within each army from the prior game.  For a brief background on the battle, see my post My God! We are attacked!    When the fighting opens, the general battle situation is illustrated in the map of the gaming table below.  The battle opens at 7:45am when the first wave of Confederate attacks breaks against Sherman at Shiloh Church.

Situation at 7:45am.

Before battle is joined, the Federal Army is enjoying a quiet Sunday morning in camp.  Patrols are sending back reports of enemy activity in front of Shiloh Church but these early reports are dismissed.  The 53rd Ohio continues sending reports that the enemy is advancing in large numbers to its front.  Sherman dismisses these reports until he can no longer do so as enemy artillery disrupts morning breakfast and prayers.  The Confederates are attacking!

Confederates approach Shiloh Creek...

while the Federals wait.

With the Confederates on the attack once again, will Sherman see victory as in the first clash?  Read on to find out!

 

The Rebels bring on their attack targeting Sherman's position on the north bank of Shiloh Branch Creek.  With high water in Shiloh Branch Creek, the Rebel lead brigade under Cleburne faces a tough challenge in negotiating the swollen creek.  Having his command split by the marsh around the bridge over Shiloh Creek, Cleburne's attack is uncoordinated.  Cleburne launches an unsupported assault against the defenders at Shiloh Church to begin the battle.  Two Rebel regiments cross the bridge in column and change back into battle line just before smacking into the defenders as they battle their way uphill and into the enemy.  This first attack is bloodily repulsed and the Rebs are sent packing back over the bridge.  Seeing the first assault driven back and with Rebels lining the creek, Sherman orders his division to step back to clear the camps.

Cleburne storms across the bridge...

and is bloodily repulsed!

Sherman's division steps back.

This is only one of Cleburne's problems.  His second difficulty is that his brigade is split by marsh with two regiments deployed to the east facing Rhea Field.  Isolated in Rhea Field from the remainder of Hildebrand's Brigade, the 53 OH is next to face combat.  In a short, sharp firefight, the 53rd pulls back to the heavy cover of Shiloh Creek.  Battle is joined!

The isolated 53 OH...

falls back from Rebel pressure.

Having now negotiated the obstacle that is Shiloh Creek, Cleburne comes on again.  Reaching the ridge, one Rebel regiment finds the Federal camp empty.  Surprised by the goods abandoned, the Rebels resort to looting (white cotton ball) rather than pressing on the attack.  To its right, Sherman's center brigade, under Buckland launches a counterattack to thwart Cleburne from taking the high ground.  One of Taylor's batteries is brought forward and Cleburne's assault along the Corinth Road is stopped short.  Over on the Federal Left, Hildebrand brings the remainder of his brigade up to the creek to cover the 53rds safe withdrawal while the Rebels stop to loot another camp. 

Cleburne attacks...

but the attack stalls.

Looting over fighting.

Hildebrand shores up the Federal Left...

while Confederates pause to strip the Federal camp.

Seeing Cleburne's attacks stall, Clark brings up his reserve artillery and sends Pond's Brigade over the creek to the left while Anderson's Brigade is brought forward to support Cleburne's remnants.  The enemy continues to fall back before the Rebel advances.  Confederate batteries take their positions on high ground opposite the Federal positions.

Pond and Anderson move forward.

With McDowell beating a deliberate withdrawal back to the rise in front of Ben Howell Field, Pond's Brigade stumbles into McDowell's now abandoned camps.  Rather than pressing forward with their advantage in numbers, the Rebels stop to loot!  Pond's attempt at outflanking the Federal position has likewise stalled.  Seeing large numbers of enemy milling about its camps, McDowell orders a vicious artillery barrage followed up by his infantry moving forward.  Pond's Brigade is cut to pieces as the Rebels fail to a reasonable defense.  The Federal Right looks secure for now.

Looting...

carries a high price.

As Confederate attacks grind to a halt on the left and center, traffic jams in the Confederate rear slow the arrival of reinforcements.  Elements of Cleburne, now reinforced by Russell's Brigade try to work around the Federal Left.  All of these attacks are stopped by Hildebrand's stubborn defense. 

Traffic jam!

Rebels work around Federal Left..

but their efforts are stymied. 

In one, last desperate attempt, Cleburne's 24 TN battles at Shiloh Church.  Attack after attack fails to dislodge the Federal guns.  With losses mounting, the 24th is vigorously attacked by two of Buckland's regiments.  The Tennesseans tumble back down the hill.  This battle is over...

Trying to take Shiloh Church in a last ditch effort..

ends in defeat.

Battle's end.

Holy Moly!  What a game!

Rather than witnessing the destruction of Sherman's Division on the banks of Shiloh Creek, Tony and Mark put together a masterful defense.  Giving up space for time, the pair of Federal commanders liberally utilized Reserve orders to counterattack at crucial points to flummox any and all Confederate plans for victory.  Mark and Tony have figured out how to bring units out of reserve at the best time to greatest effect.  We saw no wholesale destruction of Sherman's Division this time.  No Federal brigade was at risk of breaking.  Instead, Sherman chose where and when to counterattack or make a stand.  With artillery support and aggressive action, Sherman stopped every assault across Left, Center, and Right.  The Federal defense was given an assist by the Rebel proclivity toward looting.  No game yet has seen the level of looting as in this one.  The Rebel attack was stopped really before it could get going.  Chris and David were up against it from that first repulsed attack against Shiloh Church.

Masterful job, fellas, and great fun to watch unfold.  Thank you.   

Another Prussian Regiment on the March

While I have a game on deck for tomorrow in a refight of Shiloh, it seems that the play/paint balance has tipped in favor of "paint" for now.  Nothing wrong with this little redirect but it does seem odd not having more than one game per week.  In tomorrow's Tuesday Shiloh battle, a quartet takes to the field for a rematch (see Shiloh and the Attack on Sherman).  Players reprise their roles as in the first game.  Commands may swap but Mark and Tony command the Federals while David and Chris command the Confederates.  Should be fun!

Anyway, back to today's offering from the painting desk.

Today sees the second Prussian regiment mustering out from my fledgling expansion of the Franco-Austrian War project to include the Austro-Prussian and Franco-Prussian conflicts.  These 48 figures, in three battalions, march out as the 66th IR.  Figures are all 15mm Lancashire Games.  Nice figures!  The utilitarian uniforms make these figures easy to paint.  It is a good thing that they are easy to paint because a Prussian division requires four such regiments.  Expect more Prussians parading out before year-end. 

I continue to lag behind on battle reporting with one Shiloh battle yet to chronicle.  Since Reject Richard (Battle of Shiloh) and Reject Lee (Remote Wargaming) have both given their excellent perspectives on the battle, I suppose there has been no urgency or necessity to tap out my account of events.  I ought to remedy that oversight especially since the Rejects will reconvene for a rematch of this battle next week.

With Sunday seeing the probable end to 70F degree weather for the season, I took a long ride to enjoy the warm of the sun on my back.  Today, it is raining and I return to the indoor trainer.  For now, one last look at Upper Spokane Falls in the sun.

Hanover von Hardenberg

While still playing catch-up on one too many fronts, I amassed enough short painting sessions to post a second Hanoverian foot regiment.  This time, Regiment von Hardenberg marches out to take its post in the storage box.

Like the previous regiment in this push (von Sporcken can be seen here), von Hardenberg is composed of 22-foot figures from Old Glory led by a mounted Eureka mounted colonel.  With the arrival of von Hardenberg, that brings the total Hanoverian foot regiments up to ten.  Without digging too deeply into The Lead Pile to confirm, this may exhaust the supply of unpainted Old Glory Hanoverian foot.  May exhaust but I am not quite sure.  The Lead Pile is a bit disorganized at the moment with packets and boxes of figures spilling out onto the floor and overflowing the cabinet placed beside the painting desk.

Nearing 700 figures painted, thus far, in 2024, gives me pause when I look at the piles of figures awaiting their turn at the brush.  Based upon the realization that The Lead Pile looks no different with 700 fewer figures, gives little hope that this mountain can be conquered any time soon.  Well, likely not in my lifetime.  As stated by others before, I expect to die trying...

Has any reader been hit with this sobering thought of late?

Next up on the painting desk sees a return to 28mm Sumerians, 15mm FPW Prussians, and the start to a small SYW British Army to augment the Hanoverians.  I think there are a pair of Walloon Guards awaiting their turn at the brush too.  Of course, plenty of other figures as well.  I also have just about enough primed figures to last through a long, cold winter.  Still, I better prepare some more just in case.   

Sherman Attacked!

Having umpired a four-player game in the first Shiloh outing (see Shiloh and the Attack on Sherman) with the Rebels call off their attack, I was curious to try my hand at the scenario.  Mark (Mud Steel and Blood) cheerily obliged.  Since Mark commanded the Federal Left in that first game, he opted to take command of the attacking Confederates.  Could I duplicate the impressive Federal victory from Game #1?  Against Mark, my chances were not good.

As a reminder, the table layout was,

Battlefield

Army dispositions

The battle opens with the Sherman's Division encamped on the high ground along the banks of Shiloh Creek. The Confederates advance upon his position in strong numbers. The Rebel goal is to destroy Sherman while pushing the Federal Army away from the Tennessee River situated farther to the east.

Rebels advance!

Sherman at Shiloh Church.

For the advancing Confederates, Pond's Brigade moves forward on the left. Cleburne's Brigade advances astride the Corinth Road with the remainder of the Confederate Army coming up in support as space permits.  The first game witnessed an attack-slowing traffic jam develop.  Will we see this again?

Cleburne moves up. 

As the Rebels advance, first contact with the enemy is at Rhea Field where the 53 OH is encamped.  Having complained of enemy activity to its front all morning, the 53rd takes it on the chin as the Rebels pour out of the underbrush lining Shiloh Creek.  In a quick and sharp fight, the 53rd falls back.

The isolated 53 OH.

53rd retires with heavy casualties.

When Confederate guns open from the high ground opposite, Sherman orders his men back from the ridge.  Pond presses forward on the far left with his brigade and begins negotiating the cumbersome crossing of Shiloh Creek.  McDowell, on the Federal Right, readies for the attack he expects to fall.  To consolidate his split command, Cleburne orders his brigade to Rhea Field to join his two, detached regiments.  Anderson moves up along the Corinth Road to take the position in the center.

Pond swings out on the left.

Anderson moves up in the center
while Cleburne redeploys to the right.

Lead elements of Pond's Brigade
 splash across the creek.

To this early point in the battle, fighting was light with maneuver more the order of the day.  That was about to change!

Emerging from Shiloh Creek, the 38 TN attacks!  McDowell quickly throws in a second regiment to shore up the defense but its arrival is too late to turn the tide.  The Federals are driven back.  Having suffered heavy casualties in the fighting the 38 TN cannot withstand a vicious counterattack.  The Rebels are destroyed.  In response, the bulk of Pond's Brigade falls upon the Thin Blue Line.  McDowell is overwhelmed.  One regiment is scattered and a battery is overrun.  In minutes, Sherman's Right is gone!      

McDowell attacked!

Counterattack!

Counter-counter attack!

McDowell and remnants of his brigade are beaten back. 

With the Federal Right seemingly turned, attention now turns to compromising the other Federal flank while applying pressure up in the center.  Cleburne pushes the remainder of his brigade across the creek and into Rhea Field while lead elements push across toward the Hamburg-Purdy Road.  Russell's Brigade arrives on the battlefield and is immediately ordered to support Cleburne on the Confederate Right near Rhea Field.  These movements are hampered by the Rebels regularly stopping to loot the enemy camp.

Cleburne moves out to the right...

with Russell coming up in support.

Rebels arrayed for an assault upon Hildebrand. 

Having driven back McDowell and turned the Federal Right, Pond pushes on.  Despite a friendly fire incident that caused not much harm, Pond wrecks McDowell's Brigade and McDowell, himself, falls.  Pond turns to drive into Buckland's flank.  Pinned by Pond's flanking maneuver, Anderson storms the high ground to hit Buckland head on.  Facing high odds against, Buckland does not stand.  His brigade is wrecked as well! 

McDowell destroyed...

with Buckland collapsing soon afterwards.

Seeing Sherman's dire situation, Raith finally orders his brigade forward into Lost Field.  The field is aptly named because one of Raith's regiments and a battery are quickly lost!  Cleburne and Russell push on.  With Anderson fighting down the length of the ridge, Johnson's Brigade joins the fight and attacks up the Corinth Road.  Attacked by Johnson from the west and by Russell from the south, Hildebrand gives ground from the incredible pressure.  In the heavy fighting, Hildebrand's Brigade is wrecked.    

Raith makes a stand...

but not for long!

Hildebrand Attacked! 

Sherman, having all three of his brigades now broken, is forced to retire to the north.  He has held out as long as practical but this clash tips in favor of the Confederates.  Sherman almost held out just long enough too.  The game was on Turn 8, the last guaranteed turn of the game.  Sherman needed to hold out just a wee bit longer...  

Sherman forced to retire.

Victory to the Confederates and Mark!

Very exciting game and a pleasure to get a chance to command troops on the battlefield.  I was outplayed by Mark but early on, I thought the Federals had a chance to see victory.  Mark's play was relentless and he never offered me a chance to catch my breath.  Sherman was under attack all along the line, always!  Poor Sherman never seemed to have enough troops to stem the Rebel tide.  Was falling back from the ridge at first opportunity the right move for Sherman?  Well, it did negate Rebel artillery advantage and may have saved a few lives early on. As it was, the battle result mirrored the historical action quite closely with Sherman falling back to the north after having suffered heavy casualties.  Can Sherman do better?  I believe he can and I would enjoy trying again.

Great fun, Mark!  Thank you for the tough challenge!