The Battle of Boxville

As a result of some arm twisting by Alan Saunders I have been persuaded to post a fun scenario that may be of interest. We have played this twice with totally different results each time.

The scenario has 4 independent forces appearing from the four corners of the table with conflicting victory conditions, in some cases for forces on the same side!!

CONFEDERATE INFANTRY

Withers  E
        Anderson    9 7 5
        Chalmers E  8 5 3
        Loomis     12 9 6
        Rains    E  9 6 4

CONFEDERATE CAVALRY

Sandy
        Wilson    7 5 3
        Kepel     7 5 3
        Beatty  E 8 5 3
        1 Horse artillery stand

UNION INFANTRY

Wood
        Wagner  8 7 5
        Fyffe   8 6 4
        Harker  8 7 5
        1 Artillery stand

Palmer
        Cruft  E 6 5 3
        Hazen    7 5 3
        1 Artillery stand

UNION CAVALRY

Hanson
        Freman  10 8 5
        Hardy   10 8 5
        Willis   9 7 5
        1 Horse artillery stand

The terrain is not very critical, a cross-roads in the centre with with roads towards the corners, two of them in the SE corner. A railway from the NE corner through the town to the W edge. The hills and woods should cover the entry and exit points, and some defensive terrain between the town and SE corner are all that is required. An attempt at an ASCII map is included. (Editor's Note: The map below was created from the ASCII map provided.)

A table size of 8 feet by 6 feet is required for standard rules distances. Normal terrain rules apply, the railway can provide cover and defensible ground to units touching it when the enemy is on the other side.

PLAYERS SHEETS

CONFEDERATE INFANTRY

Your half starved division is on a grand raid to gather supplies. You have scraped together an assortment of transport to carry off the Yankee supplies you believe are in Boxville. The idea is to be in and out before the Federals have a chance to react, but you have a funny feeling that things might not be that easy.

Enter on turn 1 via roads in SE corner in march column in any order. Exit where you came on.

SPECIAL RULES

Wagons

Move at infantry road speed and must stay on roads Each wagon has a capacity of one unit of stores The wagons must be attached to a brigade, one brigade may have all 4 attached

Collecting Stores

4 stands from a non spent brigade per unit of stores for one move (both phases) must not be fired upon.

Victory Points

10 points for each unit of stores collected .

You are returning from a most unsuccessful cavalry raid which has achieved nothing of note except expending a lot of ammunition. The result of a combination of relatively green troops newly equipped with Spencer magazine carbines. Your object in passing through Boxville is to replenish supplies. If you can find and beat some decent size Confederate forces or better still capture some rebel equipment before returning home so much the better.

Enter in SW corner in any formation exit via NE corner arrive move 2

SPECIAL RULES

Low On Ammunition

This will occur on a throw of 8, 9 or 10 and be permanent until you have resupplied that brigade. To resupply takes half a move in contact with supplies. firing is possible while resupplying but there must be no combat during your phase or the adjacent Confederate phase. Half a unit of supplies is used per brigade resupplied.

CAPTURED WAGONS (10 VICTORY POINTS)

To capture a wagon you must get a part or all battery captured result on the brigade it is attached to.

You are returning from a most successful raid with all the loot you can possibly carry. Your reason for returning via Boxville is to destroy the Union stores there.

Enter from NW corner on move 3 and exit via SE corner

SPECIAL RULES

Destroying Stores

2 stands from an non spent brigade per unit of stores for one move (both phases) must not be fired upon.

Destroying Train

2 stands from a non spent brigade for a full move (both phases) parent brigade must have won any combats

Victory Points

10 points for train destroyed .
5 points for each unit of stores destroyed.

Due to the all too familiar failure of Union forces elsewhere you are currently on a rescue mission to save some stores that look like falling into Rebel hands. These are currently at Boxville guarded by one of your brigades. You have scraped together enough rail transport to move a brigade and intend to use this to remove the stores. Any stores you cannot move are to be destroyed.

A second division is providing support but your corps commander considers this too minor an operation to be involved with.

• 1 brigade from Wood's division in Boxville may face in any direction and has plus 1 on manoeuvre dice while in the town.
• 1 brigade on train enters move 3 from the NE.
• The third brigade and artillery followed by the Palmer's Division on the road from the NE corner on move 4

SPECIAL RULES

Railway Movement

Loaded with infantry at infantry road speed Empty or loaded with stores at cavalry road speed can turn around in Boxville or move in reverse at half speed. Leave train as for a change of formation from road column. While on the train if fired upon factors as per road column no cover.

Loading Stores

4 stands from a non spent brigade per unit of stores for one move (both phases) must not be fired upon. The train has the capacity for 4 units of stores.

Destroying Stores

2 stands from a non spent brigade per unit of stores for one move (both phases) must not be fired upon.

Victory Points

10 points for each unit of stores removed.

Umpire Notes

• There should be at least 4 players. If the infantry units are shared a further 2 players can be accommodated.
• There is no limit on the number of turns but the game will probably not last more than 10 turns
• The different forces on the same side should not be aware of the others victory conditions.
• The game starts with the Confederate infantry arriving on table.
• At least 10 markers to represent stores should scattered about Boxville but only 6 actually exist, the true situation can be revealed at the appropriate moment. I used artillery low ammo markers for the stores.
• The 4 wagons can be represented by limbers if necessary

The second game had the Confederates not only failling to get any stores but actually had some wagons captured, they did destroy the train as a slight compensation.