Annnnnnd I'm Back!

 Just back from my annual visit to my family, who have also settled in a Maritime province, a mere 500 km trip.  I used to drive it but these days I ride a bus and let someone else stay alert for 5 hours.

A shot taken while on an early morning walk. My brother lives in a city while his son, his daughter and their Aunt (my sister) live in the land of  farms, forests, cottages, and tourist attractions where they were born some 40± years ago.

The first snow of the year is falling prematurely but it should let me get a game set up, once I have shoveled the driveway...and steps...and....never mind, I have a general idea sparked by one of the recent suggestions. 

"Had any troubles from the natives Stationmaster?"  "None at all gentlemen, I think your railway patrols have helped" 

Meanwhile.....wait...did I see something move up in the hills? Maybe I will have a game soon!

Yup. Thought so.

I just need to clear the junk that collects on my table when there's no game set up, figure out the forces, the scenario and victory conditions, and get it set up for Friday or Saturday. (Last dog show of the year.)

Battle of Black Cherry Ridge: Conclusion

With one Union battery silenced, some of the Rebel guns began to pound the Yankee infantry as the Rebel infantry advanced. Could that thin blue line hold?

YeeeeHa!

On the Confederate right flank, two brigades were faced with an orchard on a hill and a stream to cross under fire before they could drive the sole Yankee brigade out of a wood and break the Federal line. 

As the sun began to sink, the casualties on both sides were growing and a gap appeared to be opening in the middle of the Yankee line.  General Kinch decided to throw his last reserve into the fight to break the enemy's line and drive them off the hill. For the first part of their advance, four Confederate batteries could fire from hill to hill over the infantry's heads to silence the remaining battery and cut up their infantry supports.  

Too late!

As the reserve began its march forward, two battered attacking brigades, one on either side of the gap, suddenly broke after prolonged, bloody, fighting. There was nothing to do but call back the brigades still in fighting order and prepare for the chance that a Yankee counter attack might follow.

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Now to work on the hills and the painting of the border and then another game

Battle of Black Cherry Ridge Part1

The battle began with an impressive artillery barrage by six Rebel batteries, answered by three Northern batteries.  

The three Southern front rank brigades then marched forward with supports advancing to take their place.  

In short order, a bloody and prolonged firefight began.

On the Confederate right, the terrain broke up their approach and they soon found themselves fighting and even force with the cover of various orchards and a small river to cross under fire. 

With many of the Rebel batteries masked by their own infantry, one of the reserve brigades was ordered forward to silence and capture the Union guns.

To be continued.......