The struggle at the angle. Click for an overview of the Rebel lines.

This scenario initially brought WWI trench warfare to mind but there is no mention of MG's and barbed wire so I thought perhaps an earlier examples of siege trenches might serve. The easiest thing to hand was 15mm ACW and a few bits of earthworks that I had. This makes only the 2nd time in about 10 years that the lads have been out.

The rebs deployed with 2 regiments and 2 guns in the front line and a regiment split in two manning the place d'armes in the 2nd parallel.   The Yankees deployed 2 regiments of Zouaves in the front line backed by 2 other regiments in a second line and supported by 2 batteries of off table artillery.

The 1st assault came close to breaking in but reinforcements were rushed forward and the attack thrown back, The Zouaves rallied but then failed an order to advance and suffered heavily in the ensuing firefight. The 2nd line passed through and charged but were also thrown back and the whole brigade being spent fell back. An engineer was over heard suggesting that a mine be dug under the rebel lines...... 

The remnants of the Watch towers garrison huddle by the bridge as hordes of Saxons storm forward. (Click on the picture for a closer view)

Scenarios 20 & 21 were played on the same day with Jeff taking the role of the Saxon warlord Helgin with his Pictish allies and his son Jeffery playing the role of Duke Stephen of Fulford in the 1st game and then, since Duke Stephen was recovering from serious wounds, Brave Sir Jeffery in the 2nd game. Naturally, I took the role of Prince Michael of Valdur. I had accidentally left my copy of the scenario book, most of the intended scenery and some non-military characters behind in the country so had to improvise with what I had and my memory. The first game was setup with a border outpost overlooking crossing over the Malagorm River on the edge of Count Hubert's domain. When the vedette spotted a party of Pictish raiders emerging from the woods, they blew their horn as an alarm and closed up to deny the enemy the bridge. Initially they were successful but were overcome before the rest of the garrison could reach them. The young patrician in charge of the garrison had forgotten his shield in the confusion and when an arrow pierced him, the garrison scattered back. Luckily Duke Stephen, alerted by smoke from the beacon was at hand with more foot soldiers followed soon after by a patrol of mercenary Alans. By now the raiding force had grown as Saxons and Picts came howling out of the woods. Arrows and javelins flew thick and blows were exchanges but Duke Stephen's men held one bridge and Prince Michael with a small handful of men the other. Alas a Pictish arrow slipped past the Duke's shield and found a weak point in his armour. Falling from his white horse, his men grabbed the body and dragged him to safety, abandoning the bridge. Prince Michael could do nothing but cover his wounded uncle's retreat.  

This is the 1st game played (solo) in my "new", renovations not quite finished, permanent wargames room. A small division of the Red Queen's troops (3 battalions of line, 1 of light plus a battery of field artillery) are encamped beside the road through the Old Forest. A weary column of Blue troops is making its way down the road, Frontier Light Horse leading with a battalion of infantry, light infantry, guns and dragoons in a 2nd Brigade and 2 foot plus Blue Guards in the final brigade. Red's artillery quickly brought their guns into action as Blue's lead brigade deployed, cavalry masking the advance of the 3rd infantry down the road. Under a heavy fire the light horse charged, it was nip and tuck but eventually the fencibles repulsed them and musketry and canister sent the remnants fleeing. The Victoria Rifles crested the hill backed by the Green Tigers while the Buffs headed into the woods to block the road. Blue had some problems getting his 2nd Brigade on line but eventually the 2nd Dragoons pushed the rifles off the hill and sat there for the rest of the game eyeing the Red square protecting the flank of the guns. Blue's artillery finally made it forward and opened a heavy fire on the fencibles driving them back into the woods then turning on the Red guns. These refused to be drawn into counter battery and continued to lash out at Blue's infantry until battered into silence. On the right, a brisk counter attack by the Buffs drove off the 3rd infantry just as the Blue Guards came up. Supported by 2 line battalions, these drove the Buffs slowly back through the woods, both Brigadiers going down in the fight. The rifles fell back and joined the fight but eventually  numbers told  and General Turner was forced to order his remaining forces to retire leaving Blue the road through the forest. 

Following the failed rescue event, (see above) the pirates moved their prime hostage inland to a sequestered vale containing 3 hamlets each with 2 buildings. (click for an overview picture). The hostage was secretly assigned to one house by the simple expedient of dealing 6 cards facedown with the Queen of Spades indicating the hostage position. Captain Deadeye and 11 pirates were assigned as guards, 2 to a house to confound the Queen’s men. Captain Blunt, of the Devil’s Own, volunteered to lead a rescue party and was given a sergeant and 4 riflemen of the Victoria Rifles. This elite group, equipped with shooting, melee and morale bonuses, split into 2, crept up through the woods and checked out 4 of the houses. No hostages but the 8 guards were alerted and in a running fight, 2 pirates were killed along with the bold Captain Blunt, the blundering Sergeant Piper and Rifleman Tweed while 2 other riflemen skedaddled (since this required a 6 followed by a 6, it was naturally no surprise). The lone remaining riflemen, eyeing 10 pirates converging on his hiding place in the woods, took a quick vote and decided to report home for further orders. A fund drive to collect a ransom for Lord Dennis and his wife is underway.