Third Winchester

[pmuskett]

After spending two days in the valley with the CWT muster in Winchester. Walking the ground of 3rd Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek. I was anxious to get Death Valley by GMT games on the table. https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/240905/death-valley-battles-shenandoah/forums/66

Here is the Confederate set up.

Union will be arriving at the top of the picture. More to follow.

Phil

 

[pmuskett]

End of Turn 1. Wilson is arriving to begin attempting to clear the canyon. (Blue at top of picture) They will dismount the next turn and begin their advance. Wright's 6th Corps is about an hour behind them.
Ramseur has ordered up Pegram, supported by two batteries. Munford's cav is moving to the left out of the picture.

 

[Belfoured]

End of Turn 1. Wilson is arriving to begin attempting to clear the canyon. (Blue at top of picture) They will dismount the next turn and begin their advance. Wright's 6th Corps is about an hour behind them.
Ramseur has ordered up Pegram, supported by two batteries. Munford's cav is moving to the left out of the picture. View attachment 486484

The DV Expansion is worth getting, as well.

 

[pmuskett]

I have got that one too. Played to devil out of Piedmont on that one.

 

[pmuskett]

End of the 0700 turn. Getty's VI corps division has arrived and are moving to the left to try and turn Ramseur's right. Wickhams Confederate Cav has arrived on the left of Ramseur to hopefully secure the Confederate left.
(note. The cubes on the counters are my way of keeping track of fatigue actions. White is one move, Green is two moves, Yellow is three. Yellow is the first step in adding fatigue to the units.)

 

[pmuskett]

End of 0800 Turn. My terrible Confederate play has practically destroyed Pegram's brigade. My only bright spot is Johnson's cavalry moving around the Union right. But...
Here comes Rickett's Union Division to support the right. Bidwell hit Pegram hard and shattered his little brigade. Getty's other two brigades will take care of Godwin and continue pushing toward Winchester.

I am disappointed I only got one tour done today. Lots of research on upcoming tours plus Cedar Creek research was distracting me too.

 

[pmuskett]

Taken me a few days to finish the 0900 turn, but I finally finished it last night.

This turn all the 6th Corps arrived on the field. Getty to left, Ricketts to the right and Russell is going up the middle. Wilson's Union Cavalry are still having problems with the Confederates. Creating a little bit of a log jam in the valley.

The Confederates on the other hand are barely hanging on. Godwin attacked the left flank of Getty, temporarily driving it back, but Getty's men reformed. Pegram's brigade is desperately looking over their shoulders for reinforcements. But not arriving yet. Soon, but may be too late. Wickham was beginning to threaten the Union right, but Rickett's is about to put a halt to that.

Hope to start 1000 turn after the Alabama - Tennessee game.

 

[pmuskett]

Wow. How life gets in the way of having fun. Finally got back to this game last night after returning home from Winchester. Doing some more playtesting down there on a new GBACW game on the Wilderness. I forgot to take pictures yesterday.

In the current scenario, The XIX corps has arrived, and I am probably making a big mistake sending them to the south. But two other divisions are arriving to send where needed. Getty has almost achieved a breakthrough out of the woods, but Ramseur still holds the line. Wilson's cavalry is holding its own but only in this turn did they begin to advance.

Gordon has arrived for the Confederates. He will have to hold off Rickett's and Russell. The Cavalry is barely hanging on.
More Union and Confederate reinforcement's coming in the 1100 turn. Trying not to think about all that Union Cavalry arriving later that is coming in from the north.

 

[pmuskett]

Got another turn in today. Between research, housework and dog walks, I got this one done. Been a good day.

XIX Corps is arriving and pushing to support Getty, who still can't seem to crack Ramseur's line and break into the open fields. Wilson's Union Cavalry has almost wiped out one of Lomax's cavalry brigades. Rickett's is taking care of the other Confederate Cavalry. Gordon's division is going in this next turn and that should take care of Wilson. Rodes division is out of the picture but coming in behind Ramseur to give him some relief.

 

[pmuskett]

The 1200 turn is in the books. Union Efficiency draws were 1 for Wright and 1 for Emory. Thorburn had a 2, but because of the traffic jam could not get on the board.
The Union continued to plow ahead. Godwin's NC brigade stopped the Vermonters, before they themselves had to fall back. Pegram's NC brigade was eliminated. They stood their ground but cost them dearly. Ramseur will have to answer too Early for that. Rodes division has arrived as has Gordon's so not going to be an easy advance to the Second Woods. Starting to hear lots of Union Cavalry to the north though.

I am not so sure the Confederates can win this scenario, no matter how bad the Union Infantry is bogged down.

Union divisions Ricketts, Getty and Russell all advanced. Wilson's cavalry is slowly getting out of the way. Getty did advance into the clear, but the Rebs brought up some guns. So might be interesting the next turn.

 

[pmuskett]

End of the 1300 turn. Thunder of Union cavalry coming in from the north.
Began preparing for their arrival. Probably to late.

Confederate left is folding, only a line of artillery is holding it together. Rodes and Gordon are pressing into the center, hoping to shatter the VI corps. This could buy the Rebs some time.
The XIX corps is moving to the left, Crook's army is advancing up the middle to hit Rodes and Gordon.

 

[pmuskett]

Reached the end of the 1400 turn. Union Cavalry has arrived and threatening the Confederate Left. I think I have moved ample troops to counter them. Awaiting the mass cavalry charge which will be coming in the next turn or two. Star Fort and Fort Collier are occupied. Moving Ramseur to the stone wall just behind the South Woods.

To the east. Getty's Union division is collapsing, after its morning struggle with Ramseur and now Rodes. Confederate line is still holding. XIX Corps, Grover's men, are moving into attack Rode's right.