Iron Brigade & Federal Cavalry

A few nights ago I put the finishing touches on a large batch of Union troops.  My goal is to eventually have a command stand for each of the five Iron Brigade regiments along with about thirty additional 40 x 40 'Black Hat' stands.  Theoretically, these 40 x 40s could be broken down into two stands each for use with Regimental Fire & Fury. In addition to those I've finished in this batch,  I have about ten Sash and Saber Iron Brigade Stands.  I'm about eight stands from my goal.

I've also completed twenty dismounted Union cav stands.  I'd really like to run a McPherson's Ridge game someday, so I figured I'd feature a part of the Gettysburg battlefield that Buford had 4 regiments (5 stands each) concentrated around the Chambersburg Pike.  Other than this scenario, not sure if these stands will ever see much action.

I have perfected a method of painting Union troops fairly quickly yet still pretty good looking, subsequently allowing me to finish these quicker than previous batches. This batch has just about everything under the sun including Sash & Saber, Dixon, Foundry, Redoubt, and even my first go at Front Rank.  For anyone reading this looking for tips on choosing lines to mix and match, stay away from mixing (at least on the same base) Redoubts and Front Ranks with smaller lines like Sash & Saber and Old Glory.

Regimental Fire & Fury AAR

Last Thursday night the Baron was under the weather, so Scott L. and I stayed north and played out a small Regimental Fire & Fury scenario in his basement. I really don't know these rules as well as I'd  like to and will probably use them anytime I host (whenever that may happen) in the future, so this served as a nice opportunity to learn them. We kept it pretty simple with each side going into battle with a veteran brigade (one regiment featured a brave colonel) of nine stands each and a field gun battery of two stands. 

CSA and USA enter the field.

 Rebs on Union right attempt to ford a river bisecting the field while a small battery unlimbers on a knoll.

Two regiments of the Iron Brigade move on the Rebel right.

The 84th N.Y.S.V. regiment and a Union battery set up to block the rebs from crossing the ford.

Fighting on the Union left ensues and casualties begin to mount for the yankees.

CSA regiments spill across the ford and begin inflicting casualties on the Union right as well.

The 84th N.Y. is repulsed.