The 33rd Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment Emerald Guard

Hi Team
Today I'm posting about a Confederate Regiment, the 33rd Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment.
The regiment earned immortality at 1st Bull Run but I'm depicting them as they would have appeared at or after Gettysburg in 1863.

 ABOVE and BELOW: The 33rd advancing under fire.

As usual, they are based on 40mm square MDF with 'Golden Gel Medium' flocking paste (Coarse Pumice) which was coloured with 'Jo Sonjas' Burnt Sienna . The base was then dry brushed with Citadel 'Karak Stone' and finished with MiniNature grass tuffs and Army Painter Battlefield Grass.

The miniatures are mostly PERRY MINIATURES Plastics 'Confederate Infantry' but there are also a few PERRY, OLD GLORY 2nd EDITION and SASH AND SABER metals in there.
Flags are from FLAGS OF WAR.
I have based these chaps for playing LONGSTREET but they could easily work for BLACK POWDER or other rules.

As usual I obtained the following information from Wikipedia and checked it against my resources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/33rd_Virginia_Infantry


33^rd Virginia

The regiment was organized and mustered into service soon after the secession of Virginia on 17 April 1861. It was formed of ten companies, which included men from Hampshire, Shenandoah, Frederick, Hardy, Page, and Rockingham counties. Two of these counties, Hampshire and Hardy, seceded in 1863 from the state of Virginia, forming part of the northeastern Panhandle of West Virginia.

The ten companies were:

1.A - Potomac Guards (Hampshire Co.)

2.B - Toms Brook Guard (Shenandoah Co.)

3.C - Tenth Legion Minute Men/Shenandoah Riflemen (Shenandoah Co.)

4.D - Mountain Rangers (Winchester, Frederick Co.)

5.E - Emerald Guard (Shenandoah Co.)

6.F - Independent Greys/Hardy Greys (Hardy Co.)

7.G - Mount Jackson Rifles (Shenandoah Co.)

8.H - Page Grays (Page Co.)

9.I - Rockingham Confederates (Rockingham Co.)

10.J - Shenandoah Riflemen(Shenandoah Co.)

 Originally, the regiment was commanded by Col. Arthur C. Cummings, though it would change hands many times through the war. The 33rd, along with the 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 27th Virginia Regiments, formed the famous 'Stonewall Brigade' under the command of the legendary Stonewall Jackson. The average height of a soldier in the regiment was 5'8", and the average age was 25 years; these figures fluctuated greatly as the years progressed.

 ABOVE and BELOW: I've based the 33rd as a big 10 base unit. Confederate units tended to be larger than their Federal counterparts on the whole.

 ABOVE and BELOW: All ten bases in line.

 
Action at 1^st Bull Run (1st Manassas)

When the Union and Confederate armies engaged near Manassas Junction, Virginia on 21 July 1861, General Jackson and his brigade earned the nickname "Stonewall" when, as they retreated to reform along Henry House Hill, Gen. Barnard Bee cried out to his ailing troops: "There stands Jackson like a stone wall. Rally behind the Virginians!" Eight of the ten companies in the 33rd were present.

At the height of the battle, it was Jackson's first brigade, and more specifically, the undersized regiment of Colonel Cummings that turned the tide of battle with a well-timed charge against an exposed artillery battery. The successful capture of the guns is thought to be largely because, due to the lack of formality in early war uniforms, Jackson's men were dressed in blue, just like their Federal counterparts. Though the 33rd Virginia succeeded in capturing the guns, the number of men that made the charge (only about 250) were unable to maintain possession and were forced to retreat. The charge had halted the steady advance of the Union Army up to that point, and precipitated further charges by Jackson's other regiments. By day's end, the actions of the 33rd led to the complete rout of the Union Army, and played a major role in immortalizing the brigade.

The cost of immortality for Cummings' regiment was high. Of the 450 men who were present at the battle, the 33rd would suffer 43 killed and 140 wounded

The 33rd Virginia remained in the Stonewall Brigade in Thomas J. Jackson's Second Corps until the restructuring of the Army of Northern Virginia after his death in the spring of 1863. It was then put under Richard Ewell's command until the spring of 1864, when it dissolved at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House.

Action at GETTYSBURG

Arriving late in the evening of 1 July, the brigade to which the 33^rd belonged spent much of the second day skirmishing on the far Confederate left. It would not be until the next day that the 33rd would see real fighting. At 3:00 a.m. on the morning of the 3rd, the regiment was aroused and marched off with the rest of the brigade towards the enemy position atop Culp's Hill. After daybreak, the regiment advanced in line of battle towards the enemy who was "strongly intrenched in a most advantageous position." The regiment advanced up the slopes of the hill advancing "in intervals" as the men took cover behind rocks and trees as they advanced. Although the regiment exhausted its ammunition within an hour or two, at least part of the 33rd remained engaged for almost five hours, as partial supplies were received upon the field. During this portion of the fighting, Captain Bedinger of the Emerald Guard was killed while advancing towards the enemy. Captain Golladay, in temporary command of the regiment after the battle would write that Bedinger's body had fallen perhaps the closest to the enemy's lines.

Sometime around noon, the regiment was withdrawn from the slopes, reorganized and replenished with ammunition. The regiment was then moved several hundred yards to the right, and another advance was made upon the enemy. The fighting was intense and lasted only a half-hour or so before the regiment was withdrawn again and marched to the rear for a short rest until mid-afternoon. Again, the regiment was aroused, reequipped and marched to a position farther to the right of the line. From this time until nightfall, the regiment was only engaged in skirmishing after which the day's survivors quietly retired. Upon the field were left many whom Golladay considered the "flower of the regiment." Twenty-three percent of the 236 men who fought at Gettysburg were killed, wounded, or missing.

On 3 July, the Stonewall Brigade lost one of its former commanders, Richard B. Garnett, who was killed during the infamous 'Pickett's Charge,' possibly due to an injured leg that cause him to ride a horse into the battle.

As Lee began his long retreat in the rain on 4 July and 5, five members of company E, some of whom had been wounded two days before, were captured at Waterloo and Chambersburg. By the time the 33rd had re-crossed the Potomac and moved into camp around Orange Court House, the regiment numbered only 90 men. With the death of George Bedinger and the only Lieutenant, Patrick Maxwell, absent sick, Captain D. B. Huffman of Co. G, 33rd Virginia Infantry assumed temporary responsibility for the shattered Emerald Guard. On 31 August 1863, the 33rd was again mustered to be paid.

Longstreet at last.

ABOVE: Part of my force. Louisiana Tiger Zouaves followed by the 18th Georgia Regiment
Hi Team
Well I've finally done it. I finally got around to playing a game of LONGSTREET. For those that don't know, LONGSTREET is the latest offering in the Honour Series of wargame rules by Sam Mustafa. Previous offerings have been LASALLE and MAURICE. I'm a big fan of Sam's two previous sets and you can find plenty of AARs on my blog if you are interested.
LONGSTREET is Sam's American Civil War rule set, the previous sets covering the Napoleonic and 'Age of Reason' periods. As you've probably guessed each set is named after a particularly noteworthy General Officer of the period being gamed.
It just so happens that Lt Gen James Longstreet is probably the confederate officer I've been most interested in for quite some time.
I purchased these rules as soon as they were available but unfortunately due to illness I've not had the opportunity until now to actually play a game. Fortunately however my gaming buddy Stan and his beautiful family ended up spending Christmas and Boxing Day with my family and we both we keen to squeeze in a game.
I'd just finished basing some Confederate and Union troops, and Stan had brought with him his ACW collection. Neither of us however had any cavalry, so it was destined to be an infantry dominated affair with a battery on each side.
Much to my shame I was going to have to use troops with unflocked bases but at least they were painted.
We had both read through the rules but I'd never played a game and Stan had only played about one or two games previously.
We settled on playing a scenario and dice roles resulted in the 'Meeting Engagement'.
Graciously Stan allowed me to pick a side, so I chose the side of the Confederacy.
Both sides would consist of three large ten base battalions of infantry and one three piece Artillery Batteries consisting of two six pounders and a howitzer.
All infantry would be EAGER RECRUITS for simplicity and the year would be 1863.
In LONGSTREET the year you are fighting in is of importance as certain advantages will be enjoyed by either the Confedreates or Union sides. For example early in the war (1861 to 62) the Rebs have the advantage. Later in the war (1864-65) the Union become more dominate. 1863 sees both sides fairly even, and this showed in our game.
Preparation for play is very straight forward. Each side is activated and maneuvered through the use of a 'hand' of six cards which is maintained at that level by drawing the appropriate number of cards from you deck consisting of cards based on the side you're fighting for and year you are fighting in.
The battlefield was dominated by a hill on my left flank and a few fields of standing crops in the centre. Three clumps of wood covered my right flank.

 ABOVE: The battlefield with my boys arriving from the upper left and Stan's Yankees arriving from the lower right.
BELOW: A close up of my troops. The 8th Virginians closes to camera

The battle itself was a rather straight forward affair. The Federals moved up between the 'Three Pond Woods' and the open ground to their right. I suspect their plan was simply to stand their ground and shoot me up. The Federal Battery was deployed on the Federal right, and I thought my best option was to rush my Battery forward over Boxer Hill and bring enfilade fire onto the Yankee line.

 ABOVE: My brigade advances and is met with the first shots of the day from the Union Battery.
BELOW: "BOOM BOOM BOOM"!

 

ABOVE: The Thin Blue Line.

The Louisianans' were to have the privilege off capturing the Federal artillery but someone failed to notice the swampy ground directly between them and the Yankee guns, (Stan played an 'interrupt card' that resulted in the swampy ground being 'discovered') . They were a mixed lot these boys from the Pelican State being the dregs from the 'Tigers' and some fresh faced firemen from Baton Rouge (See Below).

 BELOW: As the Rebs advance they are surprised to find a swamp.

As the  Louisianans' contemplated what they were going to do about the swampy ground before them the remaining Confederate infantry pressed forward determined to settle the matter with the bayonet!
Meanwhile the Confederate Battery finally came into action and started a duel with the Yankee gunners.

 Immediately the 8th Virginians in the centre of my line unleashed a "Rebel Yell" and hurled themselves at the Federal 'Irish' Regiment. The Irishmen stood their grand manfully and the result saw the Virginians driven back a considerable distance.
BELOW: Hot Yankee lead greets Rebel Cold Steel.

 The 18th Georgia Regiment on my right were more successful. They drove off the Yankees they met but soon found themselves confronted by the Federal Regiment that was held in reserve and the reformed Yankees they had had the better of earlier.
BELOW: The 8th Virginian are driven back by the Irish, and the 18th Georgians are about to be monstered by two Union Regiments. Meanwhile the Reb Zouaves agonised what to do about the swampy ground. Apparently no one wanted muddy boots.

 As the 18th Georgians were grudgingly but steadily driven back by the more numerous yanks the 8th Virginians edged forward and engaged the Irish in a musket duel that they steadily got the better of.
As this unfolded the Confederate Gunners also proved to be better at their trade than their Union counterparts and soon wiped out the Union Battery for the loss of one base (two guns) of their own guns.
Suddenly the Irishmen received some confusing orders, or maybe their Colonel decided that an advance was appropriate. Either way they found themselves disordered when part of their regiment blundered into the swampy ground.
It was at this point the Rebel Zouaves decided to throw caution to the wind. With the Union Battery knocked out they unleashed themselves on the Irishmen.
The Louisianans charge inflicted heavy casualties on the Irish and sent the reeling back.
BELOW: The situation after the Louisianan attack through the swampy ground into the Irishmen.

 At this point the Federal commander called it a day. With only one base away from breaking and the Rebs now with the initiative (my turn about to commence) the writing was on the wall.
I was 3 or 4 bases away from defeat myself.
BELOW: The situation at the end of play. Two of the three Union Regiments reduced to half strength or below and their artillery destroyed. The Georgians were down to only 30% strength!

 BELOW: The dogged 18th Georgia Infantry.

My conclusion:
LONGSTREET gave an excellent and 'flavoursome' game. One might ask "Why don't units rout"?
I guess it comes down to this. When units are forced to fall back by the bayonet they can be considered "Driven Back" (a short fall back move dictated by a low numbered die roll) or routed (a high die roll). It's assumed that once they have fallen back the required distance the Officers, Sergeants and other NCOs have got the remainder back into some semblance of order and back into the fight. This seems consistent with my readings of the conflict.
The card driven system ensures a quick paced and exciting game. You never know what spanner your opponent will throw into your gears with an 'interrupt' card.
All the game mechanisms are very straight forward with rolls to hit and then Kill when shooting.
Hand to Hand combat is a little more complicated but is quickly picked up.
The player has the option of using cards to remove some 'Kills' but in doing so might have to give up a card or two that really could prove useful later on. Decisions decisions,...
I HIGHLY recommend LONGSTREET for those that have a hankering for battling Regimental to  Brigade level games in the American Civil War.
All Miniatures were a mix of PERRY MINIATURE (both Plastics and Metals), some Sash and Saber Miniatures and Old Glory 2nd Edition Miniatures. Most of the Rebs were painted by Fernando Enterprise
Comments Welcomed!
Cheers

My "TOO FAT LARDIES" projects

Above: A Fenlon Miniatures Union Soldier. The Only 28mm ACW figure in my collection; until recently!
With the purchase of a copy of Too Fat Lardies: TERRIBLE SHARP SWORD and SHARP PRACTICE I've launched into gaming the War Between the States. The figure was painted using the ARMY PAINTER system of "Base colours, Dip, and Spray".

Hi All
Well, I've started mustering the troops for my two new projects, namely WW1 and the American Civil War.
I'll be using TOO FAT LARDIES rules for both; "Through The Mud And The Blood" for WW1 and the SHARP PRACTICE expansion "TERRIBLE SHARP SWORD" for the ACW (obviously).
First I whipped out my OLD GLORY Army Card (40% OFF! WooooHooo), and purchased about 300 15mm WW1 British and German Infantry and about 6 tanks each; plus a swag of Heavy and Light MGs.
(I'll purchase the Artillery from either Peter Pig or QRF Miniatures, as Old Glory doesn't have any Artillery ready to go yet).

Ever since I saw the movie "THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE" (the version with "John Boy Walton" in it), I've had an interest in the American Civil War. The Movies "GLORY", "GETTYSBURG" and "GODS AND GENERALS" really cemented in my mind I had to get some Rebs and Yanks and "have at it".
For my 28mm ACW project I purchased my Artillery Pieces and Cassions from OLD GLORY; 6 Guns and 6 Cassions for about $19.20 per pack was just to good an offer to pass up. I also purchased an Old Glory 2nd Edition "Boxed Set" of Confederate "Firing Line", (38 miniatures for $22.80!!!). Hopefully they will arrive within the next couple of weeks.
In addition to the OLD GLORY stuff I also purchased some Perry Plastics:
108 Infantry and 12 Cavalry, all from WARLORDS GAMES in the form of their special "Infantry Brigade Deal". They arrived today!
With FREE POSTAGE and no VAT I got them for less than $76.00! I also purchased from MIND GAMES in Melbourne a can of ARMY PAINTER "Navy Blue" to spray my "Billy Yanks".
BELOW: The Warlord Games Infantry Brigade Deal and a Can of ARMY PAINTER Navy Blue


But I still needed to get some Perry Metals, so I also ordered:

1 x ACW28 Confederate Infantry in 'shell jackets' skirmishing
1x ACW29 Union Infantry in sack coats skirmishing
1 x ACW37 Confederate Infantry command running
2 x ACW38 Confederate Infantry in ‘shell jackets’ running, right shoulder shift
1 x ACW39 Confederate Infantry command standing
1 x ACW40 Union infantry command in sack coats standing

So that gives me about 200 Infantry, 12 Cavalry and 6 Guns and Limbers / Cassions.

Now, I'm aiming to have per "side" about 150 infantry, 12 Cavalry and 3 Guns (and 12-15 Gunners) per side.
I also will need about 3 mounted Officers and Dismounted Cavalry at a 1:1 Ratio to mounted; (so that's 9 Dismounted Troopers "fighting" and 3 horse holders with 12 horses per side).

With that in mind my next order from the PERRY's will be :

1 x ACW3 Union Generals mounted
2 x ACW7 Dismounted Union cavalry skirmishing
1 x ACW8 Dismounted Confederate cavalry skirmishing
1 x ACW9 Union horse holder, plus 4 horses
1 x ACW10 Confederate horse holder, plus 4 horses

And just to add som e variety, and to provide the gunners for my OLD GLORY Artillery Peices I'll get the following miniatures from SASH AND SABER

1 x CS10 Horse Holder and 4 horses

1 x US10 Horse Holder and 4 horses

1 x US3 Federal Artillerists

1 x CS3 Confederate Artillerists

That should take care of my Dismounted Cavalry and Gunners!

All I will need then to finish my mounted arm is 12 "Mounted" Cavalry, (either another box of Perry Plastics or maybe some SASH AND SABER metals)

That leaves me to russel up the last of the infantry and 3 more Mounted Officers.
Hmmmmm,.... do I go with the OLD GLORY 2nd Edition Box sets ( about 3 boxes ought to do it), or a mix of Perry Plastics and Metals?

Maybe a mix of Perry Metals and OG2nd Ed!?
Or, maybe some Sash and Saber metals,....
This isn't going to be easy.
Cheers