David R. Moody  - Sep 2, 2005 5:11 pm (#10703 Total: 10764)  
Last played: Gringo, Downtown, ASL, Band of Heroes, Grant Takes Command, 
Pirates, WMD, Lock 'n' Load (ANZAC expansion), Brandywine (GMT), B-17, 
Settlers of Catan, Down in Flames. Reading: The Supreme Commander 
(Stephen Ambrose). 	 

On the Table Wednesday night at Endgame in Oakland, CA: Grant Takes Command and Down in Flames.

Joe Oppenheimer and I hooked up for a couple relatively quick games in
our regular Wednesday night meeting. Grant Takes Command, from the
highly successful Great Campaigns of the American Civil War series,
covers the Overland Campaign from May 4 to June 4, 1864. We did one of
the smaller scenarios, Trevilian Station, covering Phil Sheridan's
attempt to wreck the Virginia Central Railroad in Louisa County then
link up with David Hunter's Yankee army in Charlottesville.
Historically, the effort ended at the battle of Trevilian Station,
considered by some to be the largest cavalry battle ever fought in North
America (others say that honor falls to Brandy Station, fought not far
to the north a year earlier). It's a short (5 turns, of which only the
Union gets to do anything on the first one) scenario, with only a few
cavalry units on each side, so it's good for an evening's play. 

We set up, and mounted up, after explaining the game to a few kibitzers
(one of whom had a copy of 'Diplomacy' under his arm and is starting to
play ASL--I put in a plug for the ASL tourney at ConQuest, which
welcomes newbies). As is my preference, I took the bluebellies, and
started them westwards along the North Anna. By turn 2 (June 9) my lads
had gotten ahead of the idle Rebs, but Joe pushed the march hard,
pulling his troopers in front of me and trying to block my crossings of
the North Anna. I pushed David Gregg's division across and got it to
Louisa Court House ahead of the Rebs, where (on June 10) they tore up
the railroad station. Wade Hampton attempted an assault with his whole
division, but only one brigade got going, and they were bloodily
repulsed. Torbert's division looped around to the north and occupied
Trevilian Station, wrecking the tracks there as well. 

Sheridan, meanwhile, had joined Gregg at Louisa Court House. Seeing a
chance to strike a blow on Hampton, who had retired behind Hudson's
Creek, Sheridan determined to push him aside. But he had the same
problems getting coordinated as Hampton, and was beaten back with minor
loss (June 11). 

With two stations damaged (12 VP worth) and one Rebel strength point
eliminated (3 VP) I needed now to either wreck Gordonsville or exit at
least two brigades off the west map edge for a big win. Joe's plan,
being outnumbered, was to try and harry me and also block my exit. He
sent Lomax's brigade up to Trevilian Station. I attacked with Merritt's
regulars and pushed him back (June 11). The way to Gordonsville and
Charlottesville lay open, but Joe got initiative on the last turn and
moved units into Gordonsville and once more next to Trevilian Station.
Sheridan turned round and rode for that place, launching a successful
assault that inflicted an SP loss on that Rebel brigade, forcing them to
retreat (June 12). 

By that point I had a Marginal Victory, and we called it. We could
easily see the historical result: Sheridan wrecked two stations on the
Virginia Central, fought three small actions (Louisa Court House,
Husdon's Creek, and Trevilian Station), but with his troopers exhausted
and the road west blocked, he decided to return to Grant's lines. A good
match, and a good warmup for the GTC tournament Sunday at ConQuest. 

After that we did the first March 3 strike in the Bismarck Sea
minicampaign for Down in Flames. My horde of bombers (B-17s, A-20s, and
B-25s) sank six Japanese freighters (including two we had damaged the
previous day) and damaged two more, as well as shooting down two Zeroes
(one by Tommy Lynch) with a loss of one Beaufighter shot down and one
P-38 flipped to Damaged. All bombers took hits, but none was flipped to
Damaged. One more mission to go--I need to get both remaining freighters
and a couple of the destroyers for a chance at Historical results. Maybe
next week, when we plan to do Brandywine (GMT). 

Tonight begins ConQuest, the big game convention in these parts.
Downtown tonight, ASL and B-17 tomorrow, Pirates of the Spanish Main,
GTC, and Band of Heroes Sunday. The drums are calling . . . my sword is
unsheathed . . . glory awaits . . .