GREAT BATTLES OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR · 2014-01-13 · After the CSA movement, there is nothing left in Turn 1. Advance turn marker to 2, and it us the Union half of the turn

GREAT BATTLES OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR

First Turn Examples in Cedar Mountain

with Russ Gifford

Playing the GBACW System

On this installment: • Understanding Command Control in

GBACW– Divisional Level Command– Brigade Command– Detaching Brigades

• Moving from Off Board• Importance of Formations

Part 3 Goals

Playing the GBACW SystemUnion Command

Sequence of Play:First Player

Who Does What?

Initial Command Phase Phasing Player ChecksMovement Phase Phasing Player MovesDefensive Fire Phase Non-Phasing Player firesOffensive Fire Phase Phasing PlayerRetreat Before Melee Phase Non-Phasing PlayerMelee Phase Phasing PlayerAmmo Resupply Phase Phasing PlayerRally Phase Phasing Player Removes

Pins, Rally TroopsFinal Command Phase Phasing Player Replaces

Leaders


Important!Though the Union is designated the first player, on Game Turn 1 the Union player’s first turn is skipped.

Getting Started


What this means: The Union player sets up on board, then play will pass

to the Confederate player for their first player turn.

Getting Started


Looking at the Union set-up, as per the Exclusive rules: Areas are defined for each Union Brigade.

Union Setup


To Move, Regiments have to be in command radius of their Brigade Commander

For the Brigade Commander to move normally, they must in command of their Divisional Commander.

Union Command

Banks (Army Commander) Any Range to Divisional Commanders

Auger (3 Brigades) 5 hex Command RadiusWilliams (2 Brigades) 6 hex Command RadiusBayard (Independent)


The Areas are marked on the map, and here.

The Divisional Commanders can setup with their division, and Banks with anyone.

Union Setup


Looking at the Union set-up, as per the Exclusive rules.

Union Setup

Right Flank Deployment –

William’s Troops

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Ignore the fact that in this picture Bayard’s Troopers were Dismounted. They Mounted before I started the game!


All Infantry units are starting in column, all arty are limbered, and the Cavalry is Mounted.

Union Setup

Left Flank Deployment –

Auger’s Command


In GBACW:

Formation

Troop Type Formation Good for:Infantry Line CombatInfantry Column Road Movement

Artillery Unlimbered Fire CombatArtillery Limbered To Move

Cavalry Unmounted Fights as Line InfantryCavalry Mounted Fast, and can Charge


Can expend Movement Points to change formation during the turn.

Or can choose Formation at start of the game.

See the GBACW Module on Formations for more details.

Formations


Since the Union player’s first turn is skipped in Cedar Mountain, following Union setup, we start with CSA Turn 1.

• On the first turn, the Confederate player checks the Order of Battle roster to determine troops that enter and sets them up.

Next Step


The Order of Battle shows us which troops enter on which turns and which hexes.

Confederate Turn 1


The OB says Early’s Brigade enters Turn 1 on hex 2934.

Confederate Turn 1


Other turn 1 entries:White’s Comanche Cavalry unit enters on 4032.

And Ewell’s Division, consisting of Trimble and Forno’s Brigades, also enter on hex 4032.

Confederate Turn 1


Units must enter on the designated hex.

Off Board Entry

These troops are off board, in column,

preparing to enter on hex 2934


Units enter as through they are stretched out on a road or trail.

Entry Hexes

Note: Command Does not apply first turn units

enter on board. BUT plan ahead anyway. Notice that Early still

has all of his brigade in command!



Entry Hexes

These troops are off board, in column,

preparing to enter on hex 2934



Entry Hexes

First unit on pays road movement for hex

2934, next one pays 1 road hex off board, third pays 2 road hexes off

board, etc.


Early’s troops move on in the same order as the off board line up.

Confederate Turn 1


At a half-point per hex on the road for column movement, the lead unit makes it to hex 2326. All the units make it on board, still in column.

Confederate Turn 1

Note started first, but chose to not move as far so he is in position

for command next turn.


Ewell’s troops will enter on hex 4032, but this is only a trail, not a road as in the previous example.

Confederate Turn 1


Since trail movement is only 1 MP, only six units enter this turn! (And White’s Comanche's were the first unit!)

Confederate Turn 1


Once movement begins, treat all moves as costing movement points - even off-board hexes!

Confederate Turn 1


After the CSA movement, there is nothing left in Turn 1.

Advance turn marker to 2, and it us the Union half of the turn.

In the Initial Command Phase, the Union player checks that his Brigade Leader’s are within command, and then the Brigade Leaders see if their regiments are in command.

Turn 1 Ends


It starts with the Command Phase.

Union (start of Turn 2)

Williams has both Gordon and Crawford

in his 6-hex command range.

Playing GBACW Games

Stepping through the turn:Command Phase.


Crawford has all his troops in his 5 hex command range.

Playing GBACW Games

Stepping through the turn:Command Phase.


Gordon has all his troops in his 4 hex command range.

(Gordon’s other regiments are here, under Williams and

Banks)

Playing GBACW Games

Stepping through the turn: Command Phase.


Bayard’s Brigade is Independent but his

troops must still be in his 3 hex range.

Playing GBACW Games

Stepping through the turns:Command Phase.


Auger’s has all his Brigade

Commanders in his 5-hex range.

Playing GBACW Games

Stepping through the turns:Command Phase.


And the Brigade Commanders are easily in range of

their troops.

Playing GBACW Games

Before the Command phase ends, Auger detaches Greene’s Brigade.


Playing GBACW Games

That means next turn, Greene does NOT have to be in Auger’s Command Integrity Radius to be able to move – though Greene’s troops do have to be in Greene’s radius.

Detached Brigade Notes

Playing GBACW Games

• To detach, a brigade’s Leader must currently be in command of the Divisional Leader.

• Each Division may ONLY have ONE brigade detached at any time.

Notes

Playing GBACW Games

There is no penalty for detachment in Cedar Mountain. (Other exclusive rules in the GBACW system reduce the detached regiments’ morale by 1.)

Notes

Playing GBACW Games

The Union player now enters the Movement Phase, and executes something close to the plan we saw outlined last session.

Union Moves, Turn 2

Greene, from Area 1

Prince, from Area 2 Geary, from

Area 3

Crawford, from Area 4

Gordon, from Area 5

Bayard, from Area 6

Independent Cav, from Area 1

Independent Arty, from 5 & 6

The position at the end of Union player turn 2:

(first Union turn)

Greene (detached)

Prince (Auger)Geary (Auger)

Crawford (Williams)

Gordon (Williams)

Bayard (Independent)

Blue is Williams, Red is Auger. White means

independent or detached.

Cedar Mountain

End of Union Turn 2

Playing GBACW Games

Nothing to do in the last part of the turn, but it is important to note:

Take care placing your Leaders at the end of the your movement. With Command Control at the start of each turn, you will check for Command before you move again.

Union Moves, Turn 2


Start: Checking for command –Early’s troops are all in command.

Confederate Turn 2

Use one column marker to note all units in column on road march.


Ewell has both Forno and Trimble in command.

Confederate Turn 2


And Forno has all his regiments within 3.

And Trimble has his within 5.

Confederate Turn 2

Playing the GBACW SystemCedar Mountain

End of Confederate Turn 2

In Confederate turn two Movement, Early moves up to the first Victory hex.



Garnett and Taliaferro entered on turn 2 at 2934, the same as Early had on turn 1.



Forno and Trimble continue their advance up the trail.


End of Confederate Turn 2 –Reverse angle

Start of Union Turn 3

Is Everyone in Command?


On this CD, I gave you the opening examples of playing Cedar Mountain.

These are the things you need to get started in Cedar Mountain. The moves here were not the best – you can certainly improve on this opening!

Your Next Step?


In the next segment, the Union troops move up to contest the Victory hex!

Because it will show the close up of the CSA position, a good practice now is for you to move the CSA troops forward yourself and see how your choices differ!

Your Next Step?

Free Extras

Cedar Mountain:Scenario Card (PDF)

(Modeled after the later ASL scenario cards, presenting Exclusive Rules and Reinforcement arrival.

Victory Tracker v3 (Excel)(Calculates LOS; Tracks Casualties, BCE, VP Hexes,

and Determines Level of Victory!)Exclusive Rules (PDF)

Support Items for Cedar Mountain

http://www.russgifford.net/PDFs/CedarMountainSC.pdf

http://www.russgifford.net/CMBlankSheet.xls

http://www.russgifford.net/PDFs/CedarMountainRules.pdf

Created By:

Russell Gifford

Victory Trackers and Scenario Cards for:

Battle of MonmouthBattle of CorinthCedar MountainPea Ridge

Training Sessions for:

Learning Advanced Squad Leader (15 sessions)

Learning the GBACW Game System (ten sessions)

Documents

GREAT BATTLES OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR · 2014-01-13 · After the CSA movement, there is nothing left in Turn 1. Advance turn marker to 2, and it us the Union half of the turn