Deshler's "Texas" Brigade

Finally, after many fits and starts, I've completed another Confederate brigade for my 15mm ACW forces which are based on portions of the Union Army of the Cumberland and Confederate Army of Tennessee during the spring and summer of 1863.

This one is the "third" brigade of  Pat Cleburne's division of Hardee's Corps, Army of Tennessee.  Commanded by Brigadier General James Deshler, it consisted of the following regiments:  19th/24th Arkansas, 6th/10th Texas Infantry/15th Texas cavalry (dismounted), and 17th/18th/24th/25th Texas cavalry (dismounted).  After Deshler was killed at Chickamauga, the brigade command was assumed by Brigadier General James A. Smith and later by Colonel, then Brigadier General, Hiram Granbury.

Deshler's Brigade in a reinforced line formation

 My 15mm ACW forces are organized for the "On to Richmond" rules where the basic maneuver unit is the brigade.  Each stand depicts about 300 infantry.  With Deshler's Brigade being about 1800 strong, there are six stands in it.  The reinforced line is one of the formations allowed in the OTR rules.

Here's another view showing the "Cleburne" style flag carried by the regiments of the brigade.  Even though there are three combined regiments in this brigade, I only use one flag.  The miniatures, with two exceptions, are 15mm Old Glory figures.  The two exceptions are the mounted and foot officers.

Here's a close-up of one of the stands.  I've depicted the brigade in newly issued uniforms from the Columbus, Georgia, depot.  It is a light gray/brown with infantry blue cuffs.  I used Folk Art Barn Wood as the base uniform color with Americana Uniform Blue on the cuffs.  For more information on this uniform, as well as pictures of surviving examples, see Geoffrey Walden's excellent on-line article "Confederate 'Columbus Depot' Jackets."  This uniform will also equip another of my soon to be painted Confederate brigades, Helms' "Orphan" Brigade of Breckinridge's Division.

Once More into the Yellow Sea

Last month (on March 2, to be precise) I ran a pre-dreadnought game that pitted my Russian and Japanese fleets against each other.  The scenario was a Russian breakout from Port Arthur which the Japanese were trying to prevent.

The ships are all 1:2400 scale from Panzerschiffe and were acquired as a single lot many years ago.

The rules we used were David Manley's "Broadside and Salvo" which is included in his "White Bear/Red Sun" campaign rules, available from the Wargame Vault.

The Russian fleet steams forth in three parallel squadron lines.  The closest and center squadrons are all battleships while the far squadron is cruisers.

The Japanese commanders plan their encounter.  They also had two squadrons of battleships and one of armored cruisers.

One of the Japanese battleship squadrons alters course to bring more guns to bear.

Damage is taken by one of the Japanese armored cruisers.

Russian cruisers (center) get into knife range of Japanese battleships and cruisers -- not a good place to be.

And the lead Russian cruiser pays the ultimate price, exploding in a tall plume of smoke and fire (courtesy of Litko).

A second Russian cruiser joins his mate in Davy Jones' locker.

The Russians begin to break off the action, returning to Port Arthur with their tails between their legs.

Although the Russians lost, both sides had a good battle.