The Road to Yorktown: Peninsula 1862

Game five and six are the last of my Peninsula games for now.  They are due to be fought next week but since the planning is all done I decided to blog this to help me keep track and focus on the individual games.

The Campaign bit...

Last time in the Peninsula:

... saw a long awaited win for the Union, but against only a weak Confederate Company.  

Virginia Hospital as seen 1882

Alas Colonel Quincy Ewing Whitmore of the 7th VA Infantry was felled by a ball to the chest and is currently residing in the Chimborazo Hospital, Richmond VA.  His Doctors have recommended a Mint Julep* and grits diet.  He will be out of the game for six months.  The feint strains of a banjo waft from the terrace...

(*  The mint julep is a mixed alcoholic drink, or cocktail, consisting primarily of bourbon (or some other spirit), sugar, water, crushed or shaved ice, and fresh mint. As a bourbon-based cocktail, it is rumoured to have been invented by Colonel Quincy Ewing Whitmore  at a party in Kentucky during the hot summer of 1842.  The origin and composition of grits is still a mystery)

Civilians:

Old Dr Meade - Fiercely partisan, for the South

Aunt Hamilton  -  Civilian is assaulted by one of your men

Big Sam, a slave who wants to escape  -  Will give information on the enemy deployment

Mammy, an escaping slave

March 20th 1862

The 11th Massachusetts send out four Companies, north from their camp, along the Yorktown road.  

At 8am they reach the Morrison farm, and a company is sent to capture Seaford, and secure the flank of the marching column.
Here they encounter Mammy, an escaped slave being held by Morrison who has captured her and wants the bounty.  Mammy claims there are no Confederates this side of Yorktown.   The Parson wants to send her south to Fort Munro, but Mammy rolled a 12 and has taken a real shine to the Captain.  She offers to guide the 11th over the terrain towards Yorktown.

By 10am the column reaches the Hamilton Farm.  Old Aunt Hamilton claims that she has been assaulted by Sergeant Winston D. Groper.  Groper claims that he was searching for hidden weapons.  The Parson will have to watch that boy...

Big Sam, a slave on the Hamilton place is also encountered and volunteers to lead the Union forces to an unguarded ford to the east.  Captain Crane takes his company that way.

The Parson with two remaining companies heads for the Yorktown bridge.  The York river is an obstacle that needs to be crossed, but the 11th Massachusetts discover the redoubts built by the Confederacy to the north of the position.  Old Dr Meade (who rolled a four) a fiercely partisan Southerner is encountered and tells them that he will be fixin' up their wounds shortly!

The Parson sees that the way to Yorktown is clear, and crosses the bridge with a single company, only to find that the 7th Virginia has moved up to face him in a defence in depth game.

Captain Crane meanwhile, lead by Big Sam, crosses the York unopposed at a newly discovered ford, but faces a fight against the New Orleans Zouaves who march out of Yorktown, approaching to face him in an encounter battle...

Game Five

The Parson has a six company Union force of the 11th Massachusetts, facing a Confederate force of a similar size.  The York River is a difficult obstacle, so the bridge is the only real way over.  
Captain Farthingdale has his work cut out for him on this terrain.

Game 6

Captain Crane faces a four group Zouave Company, and an emplaced gun.  He has a five group company.

The fence lines are light cover, as is the peach orchard.