Lardie Workshop 12/8/23

 The following games were played during the Lard Workshop held on 12/8/23 at Nottingham Trent University as part of the BHGS Games Day

I played ‘Morning Glory on the Combahee’ during the morning session and ‘Last Sword is Drawn’ during the afternoon.

 

Morning Glory was based on a Union raid up the Combahee river during the American Civil War to rescue slaves from the riverside plantations.  The raid was accompanied by the famous abolitionist Harriet Tubman who had scouted the plantations along the river and organised a slave revolt to coincide with the arrival of the Union forces.  Historically 850 slaves were freed, of whom 150 subsequently joined the Union army (think of the movie ‘Glory’).

 

I joined the Union. Our objectives were to protect the fleeing slaves and burn the plantation to the ground.  As a bonus if we could bring the slave owners to justice Confederate morale would be severely damaged.  It transpired that General George E. Pickett had also chosen to spend the day by the banks of the Combahee in the company of his latest southern Belle. 

 

The game started with Union troops deploying onto the swampy banks of the Combahee and the arrival of Confederate cavalry and horse artillery at the Northern edge of the board.  Union skirmishers advanced towards the local ferry intent on destroying it while the main body of the Union infantry (a black regiment) advanced directly towards the plantation screened on their left by a second unit of skirmishers. 

 

 

The Confederate cavalry rushed towards the Union landing point intent on rounding up fleeing slaves as they outflanked and cut off the union forces. 

 

 

Meanwhile, the accompanying horse artillery moved to a firing position to dominate as much as possible of the battlefield.  The Union Skirmishers moving in support of their infantry opened fire on the gun as it deployed hitting the leader and hampering further operations.

 

The Union skirmishers advancing on the ferry triggered the arrival of a second unit of Confederate cavalry who had been encamped on the south bank of the river. 

 

 

This unit now started to escort General Pickett’s buggy across the bridge over the river.   They were quickly engaged by the heavy guns of the Union Riverine and small arms fire from the skirmishers.

 

 

The cavalry ensured General Pickett safely crossed the river but took heavy casualties from the Riverine and skirmishers, eventually breaking and routing from the field.

 

Back on the plantation the confederate cavalry rounded up a number of slaves and pressed on into the wooded area on the banks of the Combahee threatening the flank of the main Union force who had now entered the plantation proper and were providing cover for the fleeing slaves.  The planter and his wife ran for their lives.

 

The main body of the Confederate infantry now arrived marching down the road to secure the escape of General Pickett and advancing through the plantation to drive off the Union forces.

 

 

By now the riverine field of fire was largely screened by trees, buildings and the Union infantry line and offered little further support.

 

With the arrival of the senior Confederate leader the Confederate gun began to pour canister into the union line and their skirmishers. Mrs. Tubman rallied the troops and the Union line held. 

 

 

The skirmishers on the plantation were now suffering from a strange kind of command paralysis as their leader wasted time fussing about his expensive (10 bucks!?!) new hat as it blew off.

 

Nevertheless the Union line and their skirmishers were causing significant casualties on the Confederate horse artillery who broke and ran.  Confederate morale was wavering

 

The Confederate cavalry now stalled in the woods, allowing the remainder of the Union infantry to deploy in front of them and bring them under fire. 

 

Despite bravely enduring the Union fire the cavalry broke and galloped back to the safety of the plantation buildings.  They were quickly followed by the planter’s daughters who picked up their crinolines and scampered off.

 

 

After making hard work of it the skirmishers at the ferry had succeeded in setting fire to the ferry and moved to protect the left wing of the main Union force.

 

As the game ended the slaves were slowly making their way to freedom.  General Pickett and the planter’s family had made their getaway and a major fire fight was developing across the plantation.  Confederate morale was close to breaking and the ferry had been destroyed.   The game was therefore declared a Union victory.

 

 

The afternoon affair was much less epic but infinitely more heroic as the Kitayama clan tried to retrieve their honour from the temple of the Tchanaya clan. 

 

The evil Tchanaya clan had murdered the Kitayama Daimyo and stolen his sacred katana.  The bravest of the Kitayama warriors (now reduced to the level of Ronin) have sworn to retrieve their ex-master’s sword from the Tchanaya temple.

 

 

The Katana had been placed in the care of monks who were tasked with consecrating the weapon as a new Tchanaya relic.

 

Each side consisted of six swordsmen and also present were the temple monks attempting to carry out their ordained task.  I took the side of the Kitayama.

 

The Kitayama heroes rushed ferociously into the temple precincts heading directly for the sacred sword but it was not unguarded!  Tchanaya warriors appeared as if by magic from the shadows of the temple.  The Tchanaya leader imperiously challenged his Kitayama opposite number to a duel.

 

 

This neutralised both major players but allowed the other Kitayama swordsmen to move towards their prize. Soon the temple rang with the sound of desperate battle.

 

 

Inspired by his ancestors the Kitayama leader began to get the better of the wicked Tchanaya headman, scoring hits and breaking down the Tchanaya armour.  Both combatants separated to draw breath.  No quarter was given and battle was soon rejoined. 

 

 

Elsewhere the first casualty was a Kitayama swordsman cut down in a pool of blood. Tiring and suffering from blood loss from many minor cuts other warriors also began to drop until finally the Tchanaya leader was cut down, the Tchanaya warriors lost heart and fled leaving the Kitayama victorious.

 

Both games are highly recommended albeit Sidney’s Flashing Blades rules are yet to be published.