Rear Guard (a Portable Wargame)

Introduction

The US Federal Army in New Wiltshire, commanded by General Wise, is in retreat, hotly pursued by General Gilder of the CSA. To buy time, General Wise leaves a Rear Guard to stall the advancing enemy. The honour of leading the Rear Guard is given to Colonel Silus "I may possibly return" McCarthy, the hapless officer who lost the day at Scrubyville Junction (see previous post).

General Gilder (CSA)

General Wise (US Army)

Game Mechanics

The game is based on Scenario 6 Rear Guard from Scenarios for all Ages (CS Grant & SA Asquith).
The Federal force is outnumbered and in position at the start of the game. The Confederate force enters in random 2 unit parties at random positions on their baseline. 
The CSA objective is to move a minimum of 50% (18 Strength Points) of their advance force across the enemy baseline by the end of Turn 15. The Rear Guard must attempt to stop this happening. Exhaustion Point is set at 50% also.

The Game in Pictures

US Army opening gambit

Col. McCarthy embedded with the artillery at Clarke's Farm

Turn 1 First CSA troops appear

Turn 2 The fight for Hill 1 has already led to casualties

Turn 3 The Sun comes out as more CSA troops arrive

Turn 4 Confederate cavalry attack Hill 1

Turn 5 More Rebels have arrived but they are not moving forward

Turn 6 The fight for Hill 2 begins...

and the fight for Hill 1 intensifies

By Turn 8 the CSA is beginning to move across the battlefield

Turn 10 The first CSA troops have moved beyond the baseline...

..and they control Hill 1

Turn 12 The Rear Guard have reached Exhaustion Point but keep firing

Turn 13 The Confederate's advance is unstoppable 

Turn 14 Union troops fight on but the CSA have achieved their objective

The Union Army of General Wise will now have to turn and fight with their backs to the river Potonale on the Northern border of New Wiltshire in a last attempt to stop General Gilder's march on Washington.