Brawner's Farm - An Australian Rebel

The Battle of Brawner's Farm saw action on the gaming table a second time.  Again, like Game #1, the battle unfolded remotely.  Rather than umpiring a two-player game pitched against two American players, in this contest I faced off against an Australian opponent.  Peter (Grid based wargaming) accepted the challenge to participate in a remote game.  

Peter and I managed a collaborative game years ago refighting the French & Indian War.  We teamed up with a combination of strategic play using a board game and tactical resolution using miniatures.  The campaign can be found at Montcalm & Wolfe.  Who still recalls that series?

With the 18 hour time zone difference, we decided upon a two-player game with me commanding one of the combatants.  Peter, from Melbourne, chose to command the Confederates under Stonewall Jackson.  I took command of elements of King's Division including Gibbon's Iron Brigade.  After guiding players from afar in the first Battle of Brawner's Farm game (see Battle for Brawner's Farm), I thought I saw opportunities for the Federals to gain a victory.  Well, not so much for gaining a victory as fighting not to lose the battle.  

Initial situation

How did I do?  Let us see...

Federals are marching toward Groveton
 on Warrenton Turnpike.

Gibbon's Iron Brigade wheels off the turnpike and begins
 to deploy on the eastern edge of Brawner's Wood.

Jackson arrives with 26 and 60 GA as Rebel guns
 swing into position on Stony Ridge.
Federals build an artillery fire base on the turnpike.

Baylor arrives to support Jackson
at the copse of trees in the center.

Gibbon draws deeper into the woods.

Confederate guns command the open field.

Rebels move up to support the guns as Gibbon sends
 a regiment and gun out to the east.

Federal troops preparing for action.

In a costly mistake, Federal guns move toward Brawner's.
They will be lost...

Rebels charge off the hill destroying one gun section.
Gibbon reinforces his right.

Has Doubleday's position been turned?
The center Federal regiment takes heat from guns
on the heights as a Rebel regiment attacks.

Rebels attack Doubleday after preparatory fire
from Brawner's Farm. 
One Federal regiment heads for the rear! 

Flushed with success, has the Confederate regiment
 advanced into a Hornet's Nest?

Yes!  Rebels are ejected from the woods.

On the Rebel left, Confederate reinforcements
 arrive in strength from Stony Ridge. 

With Rebels lining the high ground,
 can the Iron Brigade hold?

Situation about 7:30pm

With their left turned, Federals reel as casualties mount.

While the Iron Brigade holds on the Federal right preventing
 the Rebels from attacking Dogan's House, Doubleday's brigade
is destroyed in Brawner's Wood.  Gibbon is forced to retire. 

With Doubleday destroyed, the guns fall silent and Jackson and his Confederates are victorious at Brawner's Farm.  Congratulations to Peter for a finely played battle.  The Federals were regularly dancing to the Rebels' fiddle and mistakes early on cost the chance at victory.

Is the scenario too hard for the Federals to succeed?  Should Federal troops be allowed a reinforcement of either Patrick's Brigade from the west or Hatch's Brigade from the east to offer more balance?  We will see but first I would enjoy tackling the scenario again as written.  Better play on my part may yield a different result.  

This game was Peter's first try at a remote game and a new set of rules.  Despite the 18 hour time difference, I thought the game played smoothly with Peter jumping in and acclimating quite quickly.  After one or two turns, it was down to making decisions and rolling dice. 

Thanks, Peter!  Maybe I will taste victory next time?  I expect more from the Iron Brigade.