Mikata Ga Hara 1572

After cleaning up and packing away the Shiloh battle, onto the gaming table pops up a Feudal Japanese battle.  This time, we look at the 1572 Battle of Mikata Ga Hara.  The scenario is based partially upon the scenario from Commands & Colors' Samurai Battles. 

Background

The Battle of Mikata Ga Hara, which took place in December 1572, was a significant conflict during Japan's Sengoku period. Takeda Shingen, seeking to expand his influence, invaded the territory of Tokugawa Ieyasu.  This invasion was partly motivated by Shingen's resentment towards Ieyasu for forming an alliance with Uesugi Kenshin and severing ties with the Takeda clan.

As Takeda Shingen moved his army south into Totomi Province, Tokugawa Ieyasu dismissed the advice of his generals and prepared to intercept the Takeda Army.  Defeating Tokugawa was not the Takeda Army’s primary objective.  Shingen was content with simply passing through the province on his way to bigger spoils.  Still, outnumbered by Takeda Shingen’s army, Tokugawa Ieyasu would not permit Takeda to pass through the province unchallenged.  To prevent Takeda’s passage, Ieyasu drew his army up on the high plain at Mikata Ga Hara.  Although outnumbered in both foot and horse to Shingen, Ieyasu figured an early strike against the Takeda vanguard might catch the enemy by surprise and put the Takeda army off balance.

Historical Battle
Takeda's Advance: Shingen led a large army of 27,000 troops into Totomi province, capturing several castles along the way.

Tokugawa's Response: Despite being outnumbered, with only 10,000 troops including reinforcements from Oda Nobunaga, Ieyasu decided to confront Shingen's forces.  Shingen feigned a retreat, luring the Tokugawa forces onto the Mikata Ga Hara Plain Ieyasu attempted to use a crane wing formation, but Shingen countered with a superior young formation. The Takeda cavalry overwhelmed the Tokugawa forces, resulting in a decisive victory for Shingen.

The Tokugawa army suffered heavy casualties, losing over 1,000 soldiers including several key vassals Ieyasu narrowly escaped back to Hamamatsu Castle, thanks to the sacrifice of some loyal retainers.  This battle is considered one of Takeda Shingen's greatest victories and one of Tokugawa Ieyasu's most significant defeats.  Despite this major setback, Ieyasu managed to regroup and eventually became a key player in the unification of Japan.  The battle demonstrated Shingen's tactical prowess and the effectiveness of the Takeda cavalry, while also highlighting the resilience of Tokugawa Ieyasu in the face of adversity.

In a change of pace, the first game will see Mark (Mud Blood and Steel) join me via Zoom for a remote two-player game.  Rather than umpiring, I actually get a chance to command.

The stage is set.  Next time, we find out how I did!

Shiloh: Walking A Tightrope

On Monday, elements of Postie's Rejects gathered to refight the Battle of Shiloh.  In the first battle, Richard and Lee took command of the Federal Army while Ray and Steve commanded the Confederate Army.  In that first engagement, the Rebels steamrollered Sherman by crushing the Federal Right and then turning in to roll up the line.  Despite some success by Hildebrand and Raith on the Federal Left, Sherman figured he had no chance.  To test that theory, the fellas asked for a rematch and swap sides.  In this trial, Richard and Lee lead the Confederate Army while Ray and Steve take up the reins in leading Sherman and his division into battle.  Who will see victory today?  Please read on!

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!

Isolated, 53 OH holds Rhea field.

As the battle opens, the Confederates push forward on the left.  Cleburne leads his brigade into Shiloh Creek while Pond brings his brigade up on Cleburne's left.  McDowell counters Cleburne's advance by moving forward to contest the crossing.  Separated from Cleburne's command opposite Shiloh Church, two regiments work their way forward on the right toward the 53 OH and Rhea Field.  Rather than attacking north in support of Cleburne, Anderson orders his brigade to cross Shiloh Branch to the east in support Cleburne's detached regiments.  Immediately, Anderson comes under artillery fire as he negotiates the heavy terrain of the creek.  Federal artillery fire from the high ground plows into the dense columns.  Casualties are heavy.  Both Russell and Johnson's Brigades are positioned to the rear in reserve while BG Clarke positions two reserve batteries on the rise south of Shiloh Creek.

Rebel attack begins!

Anderson comes under artillery fire.

McDowell moves up to challenge Cleburne
as Rebel artillery takes position on the high ground.

Two Rebel brigades in reserve.

Having countered Cleburne's initial move into the creek by moving his brigade forward, McDowell with support from one of Taylor's batteries holds his ground.  Fighting intensifies as more Confederates come up.  McDowell's rifle-armed men outrange Cleburne's smoothbore muskets and Rebels are picked off from a distance.  Cleburne vigorously attacks out of the creek's dense underbrush.  His attack is repulsed with heavy casualties.  Cleburne’s Brigade is broken in the fighting. McDowell fares not much better but at least he still holds the ground.  Over on the Federal Left, the 53rd is driven back from Rhea Field as two regiments push into the now abandoned Federal camp.  The Rebels bypass the Ohioans’ camp and move on.

Cleburne attacks...

and is repulsed!
Many dead line the banks of Shiloh Creek.

53rd pushed back into Shiloh Creek.

Seeing Cleburne repulsed to his right, Pond brings up his brigade in support.  As Pond negotiates the difficult ground of the creek, McDowell pushes forward his third regiment to hamper the crossing.  Storming out of the creek's rough embankments, Pond pushes two of McDowell's regiments back from the stream.  Fighting is heavy as one Federal regiment is destroyed.  Pond continues forward until he is under sight of the Federal guns.  McDowell's regiment, now positioned out on the right, quickly joins the retrograde action in order to form a speed bump against turning the Federal Right. 

Pond attacks!

McDowell is driven back
as Pond brings up more troops.

McDowell tentatively holds the end of line. 

While fighting is increasing on the Federal Right, Confederates are seeing lighter resistance as they move up to Shiloh creek to the east of the Corinth Road.  Cleburne's two detached regiments and Anderson's Brigade come under fire from Federal guns on the high ground to the north.  Back on the Federal Right, however, McDowell's defense is becoming desperate.  With McDowell falling back, Buckland is tasked with holding the high ground.  Sherman's Right Flank is in jeopardy.

Confederates move up on the right at Rhea Farm.

Pond goes "All In"...

and McDowell recoils.

Federal Right is tenuous...

while Pond presses on!

With Cleburne's assault stalled in the center, Clarke orders forward two of his reserve batteries and Russell's Brigade.  The guns roll over the bridge and deploy on Cleburne's Right.  Buckland is given a taste of canister.  Buckland holds as Sherman sends for Raith to plug the hole in his line at Shiloh Church and drive off those damn guns.  He obeys and the guns are overrun.  Fighting is desperate all along the Federal line as pressure mounts upon McDowell and Buckland.  The odds are too great against McDowell.  Despite a desperate and costly defense, McDowell's Brigade breaks and heads for the rear.  McDowell is dead on the field.  The Federal Right is turned!

Bring up the guns!

Heavy fighting in the center.

McDowell and Buckland under relentless pressure!

Odds not looking good...

and McDowell finally breaks!

Raith takes the Rebel guns at the bridge.

With McDowell destroyed and the Federal Right turned, Pond sets his sight on Buckland.  Advancing up the hill, one of Taylor's batteries is overrun and one of Buckland's regiments scattered.  Fighting his way down the length of the ridge toward Shiloh Church, Pond overpowers the remnants of Buckland's Brigade.  In a last defense of his position, Buckland falls.  His brigade is broken.  Only Hildebrand from Sherman's Division remains viable.  Raith comes up to stem the Rebel tide on the left and center but the situation is dire.  Impossible really.  In one last shove, Pond pushes into Hildebrand.  A Federal battery is overrun and one of Hildebrand's regiments scatters.  When the smoke clears, Hildebrand is discovered laying among the dead.  With all three of Sherman's brigades broken, this battle is lost. 

Pond presses on!

Buckland is destroyed...

as is Hildebrand.

Well!  Another rip-roaring fight at Shiloh Church!

With the Confederates managing to successfully break Sherman and win this battle, the Federals only broke on the last guaranteed turn of the game.  The fighting was hard and desperate throughout and losses high on both sides of the ledger.  Seeing three Federal brigadiers dead on the field attests to the ferocious fighting.  At times, Ray seemed like a one-armed paper hanger trying to plaster over cracks appearing in his line.  Hard fighting and a great battle to watch unfold and develop.  Drama on every roll of the dice.

While I tip my cap to all of the players for a very entertaining game and close contest, congratulations go to Richard and Lee for earning their hard-fought victory.

Well done guys and thank you!

To read Richard's account of the battle from the Confederate perspective, please visit, Shiloh Revisited.  

In Between

As the calendar ticks down to the end of October, I find myself in between a number of projects and draws for attention.  A handful of projects are In Work but not many have jumped over to the Completed side of the ledger.

A brief summary of what is currently on my plate includes:

Great Wargaming Survey 2024 Edition

The data for the 2024 GWS appeared in Dropbox yesterday.  Usually, the data file is dropped in early September shortly after the survey closes.  This year, there was a two-month delay.  Respondent counts are way down from last year.  Will this reduction in response distort any of the trends seen in prior years?  Stay tuned.

Battle of Shiloh - the final act

The final game in the series of Shiloh battles played out on Monday.  The game featured Postie's Rejects swapping sides in a "grudge" rematch.  Great battle and some good fun.  Writing of the battle report awaits.

Painting Desk

Activity at the painting desk has been hit and miss of late.  Work on two dozen British cavalry sees final stages toward completion.  Painting mostly wrapped up this morning with staining and basing left to accomplish before moving on to something else.  Looks like more FPW Prussian infantry are up next.

Mikata Ga Hara - Next game up 

Having cleared the gaming table of Shiloh and all of its accompanying detritus, gaming focus switches gears with a return to Feudal Japan.  My Samurai armies have not seen action in a long, long time.  For a change of pace, play goes back to Basic Impetvs on hexes for the first of possibly a number of battles in this period.  First up is the 1572 Battle of Mikata Ga Hara.  First game is on the schedule for Friday.  Looking forward to the action in which I take a hand at commanding the Takeda Army.

That wraps up this short update.  Expect to see progress on one of these four fronts next time.  Or, maybe not!

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.