Robinett Report

This was a short battle without much subtlety. The Battery area and the road had to be seized in order for the Confederates to claim victory. Preventing these goals would give the victory to the Union men. Mike (CSA Phifer), Eddie (CSA Cabell), and I (CSA Moore) played on the Confederate side. Our plan was to engage the our right flank, press in the center, and attempt to advance on our left wing. The Union brigades of Fuller and Doyle were commanded by Gary while Carl directed the troops in Pohl's brigade. Their plan appeared to be "cling to the walls and fences" at all costs.

The battle went as scripted, more or less, with Cabell moving a firing line against Pohl's Union troops and remaining there for the duration of the engagement. Moore's Confederates engaged Battery Robinett with skirmishers as the heavy guns of the battery repeatedly ripped holes in their thinned lines. Meanwhile, Doyle's Federals were slowly ground down by the very accurate fire of Phifer's Confederates. Without support from other brigades on their respective sides, Phifer's and Doyle's fight became the deciding factor in the battle. It was as if the two armies were ready to sit back and watch the struggle from across the stream.

In the end, Mike's "hotter" dice allowed the Elite troops in Phifer's brigade to maximize their advantage on Doyle's Federal troops. Once the 50 Illinois left the field, after falling below 25% strength, and the other units withdrew from the fence line it was only a matter of time. Eventually, the remaining two regiments failed dispersal rolls and Doyle's brigade left the field. This left two battered Union brigades trying to hold the line. The guns of Battery Robinett had fallen silent @2:00pm as the gunners had been killed by infantry fire.

We played the entire game in @4 hours (11am to 3pm) and it was declared a minor Confederate victory as casualties would have compelled the Union to withdraw before they were overwhelmed by the Confederates.