Midwestern wargamer and scenario designer Lowell Hamilton has contributed another well crafted regimental-level ACW scenario for Regimental Fire & Fury. This one covers the July 1864 Battle of Bald Hill (pictured above) from the Atlanta Campaign. The scenario appears in Issue #34 of the Charge! newsletter published each quarter by Debi and Scott Mingus of York, Pennsylvania, as a courtesy to the membership of the Johnny Reb Gaming Society.

Lowell has produced full-color labels for each unit in the battle. Note the labels in the photograph of the terrain table shown above. These labels help identify the regiment or battery, as well as key commanders and leaders, and provide information on strength, morale, etc. as a playing aid. They are color-coded to help easily identify which brigade each regiment belongs with on the table (for command and control, etc.).

Download the printable Excel file by clicking the link below.

Copy of Bald Hill OoB-1

A patrol of Confederate cavalry crosses over a stone bridge over Goose Creek in Loudoun County, Virginia, in 1863 in this miniature depiction by Scott Mingus of York, PA. Figures and house painted by my friend  Larry Reber of www.gettysburgsoldiers.com.

A 15mm depiction of Col. William “Extra Billy” Smith running the color guard of the 49th Virginia into a fence during a misguided drill in the late summer of 1861 near Camp Pickens at Manassas, Virginia. Smith’s sense of military drill left something to be desired at that early stage of the war. He would have a distinguished career as a colonel, only to be promoted to brigadier general and have a not-so-stellar performance in that role. At Gettysburg, he was the oldest general in the battle. At the same time, he was the governor-elect of Virginia. Smith is the subject of a new book i have written.

A Confederate field hospital at Gettysburg on July 2, 1863. This is the McLean barn, painted by my friend John Mayer of Gettysburg, Pa. The actual barn still stands on the battlefield just north of the Mummasburg Road. It was a hospital for O’Neal’s brigade of Alabama infantry.

Phil and Robin Spera have assumed ownership of Dave’s Baggage Train following Dave’s passing away. They are offering all Johnny Reb Gaming Society members and CHARGE! blog readers a special 10% discount for all orders placed between now and Cold Wars 2012! Simply mention the code word “scott mingus discount” when you place your order to receive this special pricing. Visit their website at Dave’s Baggage Train and then decide what you want to order. Talk with either Phil or Robin, and receive your discount when you order. Or, you can e-mail Phil at phil@davesbaggagetrain.com.

I have used this system for several HMGS-East conventions, and have added to my collection of trays and cases. Here are photographs at some of my Civil War miniature wargaming items as stored in the trays that I purchased for use with the carrying cases.

Here is a quick look at the armies in their new home. They are mounted on metal bases for Johnny Reb 3 and the plastic army trays are lined with magnetic sheeting. Figures were painted by Scott Mingus and by Larry Reber of Gettysburg Soldiers.

And now a few more pix…

Individual trays are available from a variety of sources, including from eBay, in various depths. I use a combination of 1″, 2″ and 3″ deep plastic or heavy laminated board trays. Most of the 10mm ACW houses shown above were painted by John Hill and Doug Kline of Battlefield Terrain Concepts, which also provided the stream/river sections at the top of the photo (I lined the banks of these model pieces with clump foliage, grasses, downed tree limbs, etc.). I prefer 10mm houses with 15mm figures for the Johnny Reb 3 gaming system I use.

The Plano tackle boxes fit this storage system perfectly and provide additional storage for a couple of bucks from the local Gander Mountain store. Cornfields in the lower box are from Battlefield Terrain Concepts.

Here, the figures, houses, fields, accessories, dice, tape measures, etc. are all packed up and ready for the next public wargaming display! The art print to the left of my reenactor’s uniform is Columbia Bridge Burning, signed by artist Bradley Schmehl, and is the cover art from my latest book, Flames Beyond Gettysburg: The Confederate Expedition to the Susquehanna River.

The smaller case fits perfectly onto the wheeled, handled one for easy movement. No more lugging heavy totes around with mismatched sizes of cardboard boxes or plastic bins. Much easier now that I am in my early 50s!

For several other photographs of my basement wargaming and board gaming room (aka to my grandson as “Grandpa’s play room”), please see my earlier blog entry.

Osprey Publishing has issued Volume 25 of their “Raid” series, this one entitled Ride Around Missouri: Shelby’s Great Raid 1863. Written by former archaeologist and now full-time writer Sean McLachlan, the book covers a daring raid into Missouri by the Confederate Iron Brigade cavalry under famed leader Jo Shelby. Shelby, a devout pro-secessionist, had fought and killed Kansas “Jayhawkers” before the Civil War, and had served in some of the earliest battles in the Trans-Mississippi Theater. He had never forgot his passion for Missouri, however, and itched at a chance to lead a raid into the state to liberate it from Yankee rule. Governor-in-exile Thomas Reynolds and other Confederate officials were titular only, because the state had never seceded from the Union, and Federal troops maintained firm control over most of the state. Shelby hoped to change that.

In July 1863, the war news was discouraging for most Southerners — Vicksburg had surrendered; the Mississippi River was under Federal control; Robert E. Lee had lost a major battle in Pennsylvania at Gettysburg; and none of the border states had joined the Confederacy. Federals pushed deep in Arkansas and seized Little Rock. Shelby launched his raid to disrupt the oncoming Yankees. After several small engagements, Shelby managed to break through pursuing Federals and ride back into the Confederacy.

McLachlan gives a thorough overview of the strategic situation, the troops involved in the raid, some insight into Jo Shelby’s personality and previous experience, and the Northern (and Southern) reaction to the daring incursion. Lavishly illustrated, like all Osprey books, Ride Around Missouri includes an array of vintage period photographs, original maps commissioned for the book, bird’s-eye views, first-person accounts drawn from primary sources, and the usual excellent color illustrations of men, uniforms, equipment, and events.

The book is 80 pages, including the index and bibliography. It’s a useful addition to your wargaming or Civil War library. It is available at leading hobby retailers, book dealers, and on the Internet direct from Osprey or via amazon.com.

Ride Around Missouri: Shelby’s Great Raid 1863

Sean McLachlan

Osprey Publishing, October 2011

ISBN 978-1-84908-429-1

I have recently completed a small vignette for my wargaming table, as well as to use to attract attention to my table when I am selling and signing my Civil War books I have written. This scene shows a Pennsylvania German farmer, let’s call him Jacob, nervously guarding his barn as he spots a distant dust cloud which indicates the arrival of Confederate foraging parties in his neighborhood. “Here come the Rebels!” has been the cry for weeks, and they have not come.

Until now, that is.

Jacob has failed to take his horses to safety (they are in the stable in back of the barn). He will attempt to negotiate with the raiders. He has a yellow membership card to the Knights of the Golden Circle, knows their secret password and identifying hand signals. For this information he has paid $1 to a couple of men from New York City who have visited his farm. They sold him the ticket and secret signs and told him the Rebels would leave his personal property, livestock, and horses alone if he showed them he was a member of the Southern-sympathizing K.G.C.

Click on the photos for better views of old Jacob and his farmstead.

Jacob trusted the fast-talking men from the big city, but he’s anxious and becoming more uncertain as he sees the Rebel cavalrymen approaching his farm lane. The cause for his concern? The soldiers are leading Jacob’s neighbors’ horses, and they had purchased the protection on the same day as Jacob.

As the Rebels ride up and dismount, Jacob stares into a cocked pistol. The ticket is knocked from his hand, and a Confederate mocks, “We don’t need that right now.” One of them goes to his barn and begins to get his horses; another starts knocking down his fence and heads for the cattle.

This scene from a typical Pennsylvania barnyard is from Scribner’s Magazine in May 1872. Jacob’s farm and many others in Franklin, Fulton, Adams, Cumberland, and York counties had been heavily raided by the Rebels during the Gettysburg Campaign in June-July 1863.

Confederate Major General Jubal A. Early commented in his memoirs about the Pennsylvania farmers waving their golden tickets and making the strange hand gestures: “These things were all new to us, and the purchasers of these mysteries had been badly sold.”

Some time ago I reviewed John Zabawa’s Gettysburg Miniature Soldiers, one of my favorite stores in Gettysburg. Click here to see the photos of John’s previous store, which occupied less than half the space he now has since he expanded into a vacated adjacent business. Here are some photos I took today in Gettysburg as I dropped off some of my Civil War books to John (he now carries my autographed books Flames Beyond Gettysburg and the Louisiana Tigers in the Gettysburg Campaign, as well as the ACW naval rules River Wars which I edited and published).

Enjoy!

John carries an impressive line of plastic model kits and figures, as well as some vintage board games (check out the Panzer Blitz and Panzer Leader games on the bottom shelf!)

Playsets are among the specialties of Gettysburg Miniature Soldiers, both vintage 1960s Marx sets and newer more modern playsets.

John also carries used gaming accessories and figures, as well as new issues. He has several lines of 15mm ACW wargaming figures and accessories, including the new Blue Moon figures.

Perhaps the best part of John’s store is the toy soldier wall — so much eye candy to look at!!!! So many memories of old plastic figures I had as a kid 9and still have!).

John also sells Warhammer and other fantasy gaming sets, as well as various rules, supplements, etc.

Check out the sailing ship! That would be a cool toy for my grandsons!

Gettysburg Miniature Soldiers (John Zabawa)
200 Steinwehr Ave
Gettysburg, PA 17325

Phone: (717) 338-1800
Fax: (717) 338-1808
Email: Contact Gettysburg Miniature Soldiers

Here is a link to John’s website for Gettysburg Miniature Soldiers.

A typical Johnny Reb 3 terrain table; this one by Scott L. Mingus, Sr. of the Johnny Reb Gaming Society.

Lowell Hamilton is a long-time wargamer and gamemaster who is known for putting on his own excellent Civil War gaming layouts. He has been a leading proponent of my fellow HMGS Legion of Honor member Rich Hasenauer’s fine new rules set, Regimental Fire & Fury, which has rapidly gained popularity since its publication. There are literally hundreds of Johnny Reb scenarios that have been published over the past two decades (including several dozen that I have written). With a new generation of gamers moving over to Regimental Fire & Fury from the original brigade-level Fire & Fury, as well as many converts from the dozens of competing regimental-level ACW regimental rules sets, it has become clear that there is a growing need for a quick guide to adapting the older scenarios to make them usable for Regimental Fire & Fury.

Lowell recently filled that need with a fine article which first appeared in the limited hard copy print run of the JRGS’s Charge! quarterly newsletter. He has graciously allowed me to reproduce his original article, with Rich’s graphics and layout, here on my wargaming blog so that a much wider audience may enjoy his work.

Click here to download Lowell’s guide to converting Johnny Reb scenarios to Regimental Fire & Fury. You will need a .pdf reader (many are available for free on the Internet) to read this file. Thanks Lowell!

Converting JR to RF&F Article

And, keep in mind that the Johnny Reb Gaming Society accepts scenarios and strategy guides / painting guides / etc. for ALL regimental-level rules sets, not just Johnny Reb. So, please contact scottmingus@yahoo.com if you have fresh material for our consideration.

Enjoy!

Here are a few photos from my 15mm Civil War wargame at Fall-In 2011 on Saturday morning in Lancaster PA. This view looks south from the northern edge of the battlefield toward the Rummel Farm (top center) and Cress Ridge (top right).

We had 7 players for the game; all are long-time members of the Johnny Reb Gaming Society and are veterans of many Johnny Reb 3 wargames at HMGS conventions over the past decade. The scenario was adapted from my book Enduring Valor: Gettysburg in Miniature.

Click on each photo to enlarge it for easier viewing and more details. I apologize for the picture quality; lighting was not great and I did not have a tripod set up (and autofocus was off unfortunately). At least you get an idea of the table layout.

Virginia dismounted cavalry approach the Rummel Farm.

Custer’s Michigan Wolverines man the Federal  skirmish lines in the left center. In the foreground are some of McIntosh’s brigade.

Here is a part of McIntosh’s rather small brigade at the start of the game in the Lott Woods.

Low Dutch Road in at the left bottom. Looking to the southwest toward the Rummel Farm (right center) and Cress Run.

Here are a series of photos taken in the early afternoon of the first day of the annual HMGS Fall-In miniature wargaming convention in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Attendance seemed a bit lower than usual, but the enthusiasm level was very high in the gaming venues. There were several high quality games being presented from all sorts of military periods.

This year’s theme is Cavalry: From Horse to Helo’. Games represented medieval cavalry, Civil War, Napoleonics, Gnome Warfare, VietNam and AirCav, Custer and Little Big Horn, etc.

Click each photo to enlarge it for better viewing.

A peaceful Vietnamese village. The residents hear the sound of approached U.S. helicopters. Here comes the AirCav!

A World War II tank game set in the early years of the war. The British versus the Germans somewhere in France. Clouds of “dust” are being kicked up by the armored vehicles.

Gnome Cavalry heads for the closest railway spur.

Here is the list of Civil War miniature wargames to be played this year.

F-331 – “Everybody for himself & Devil take the hindmost!” – Belmont, 7 November 1861

Fri. 11:00:00 AM, 5 hrs, 5 players

GM: Kaleb Dissinger

American Civil War 15mm, Rules: Fire and Fury Regimental

The recently promoted Brig. General Grant received orders to take his expeditionary force south from Cairo, along the Mississippi and threaten the Confederate forces near Belmont. The use of his new timberclad escorts would aid in quickly surprising his enemy. But Leonidas Polk’s Confederates had advantages in numbers and defenses, and were not about to give up control of the river without a brawl.

F-301 – 3rd day GETTSYBURG CALVARY FIELD - Theme Game

Fri. 1:00:00 PM, 4 hrs, 8 players

GM: Paul Olszanski

Sponsor: Fire & Fury Games

American Civil War 15mm, Rules: regimental fire and fury

1863 3rd day of the battle of gettsyburg. Pickett tries to work his way around the union flank and is met by Custer and friends

F-286 – Red Beans and Rice

Fri. 5:00:00 PM, 3 hrs, 12 players

GM: Gary Coyle

American Civil War 1:600, Rules: Steam and Sail Navies

What if the Confederates at Fort Jackson and Fort St Phillips had been a bit more effective contenting the Mississippi with Farragut?  What if CSS LOUISANNA and CSS MISSISSIPPI had been ready?  What if an aggressive commander in New Orleans determined not to let the city fall?  What if?

Kid Friendly

F-155 – Brice’s Crossroads

Fri. 6:00:00 PM, 5 hrs, 8 players

GM: Roxanne Patton and NOVAG

American Civil War 15mm, Rules: Fire and Fury: Regimental

Nathan Bedford Forrest… a man to be reckoned with. In the summer of 1864, Forrest posed a serious threat to William Sherman’s march on Atlanta. His ability to appear at will and evade destruction lead Sherman to say “…Forrest is the very Devil…” To deal with this threat, Sherman sent B.Gen. Samuel Stugis on an expedition into Mississippi with a large force of cavalry and infantry to lure Forrest into battle. On June 10th under a broiling Mississippi sun, Sturgis’s men trudged though thick mud from recent rains toward Brice’s Crossroads where his cavalry had set up a bridgehead across the swollen Tishomingo Creek. Predictably, Forrest arrived first…

Not for children under 16

F-239 – Big Battle Cry – Gains Mill – June 27,1862 - Theme Game

Fri. 7:00:00 PM, 2 hrs, 8 players

GM: Richard Borg with Mike Panko

Sponsor: AH/Wizards/Hasbro

American Civil War 28mm, Rules: Big Battle Cry

In Big Battle Cry the overall commanders will direct the battle & field generals will carry out the orders. Played on 5″ hexes with 28mm ACW figures, Lee is attacking Porter’s V Corps at Gains Mill. Historically disjointed attacks through the day were followed by a coordinated assault that broke the Union line. A desperate charge by the 5th US cavalry could not halt the breakthrough.

Adult Supervised Children Only Please

F-217 – Battery Wagner July 11, 1863 Before Glory

Fri. 7:00:00 PM, 4 hrs, 8 players

GM: Phil Viverito and Band of Gamers

Sponsor: LMW Works

American Civil War 28mm, Rules: Sieges

The Union assault on Morris Island South Carolina has advanced across three quarters of the Island and basically only Batteries Wagner and Gregg remain in the hands of the South defenders of Charleston. TheUnion has decided to launch an assault against Wagner and it will be the job of the defenders to with stand the on-slaught of Yankee Steel against Rebel shot and shell. Tons of guns and figures to face off in the sands of Morris Island. Entire battery will be used.

F-195 – Look, Sarge, It’s A Hornet’s Nest

Fri. 7:00:00 PM, 4 hrs, 11 players

GM: Eric Schlegel with James “Tank” Nickle & Kurt Schlegel and the HAWKs

American Civil War 10mm, Rules: A Union So Tested (Look, Sarge, No Charts ACW)

6 April 1862.  General Grant’s Army of the Tennessee was camped near Pittsburg Landing, TN awaiting the arrival of General Buell’s Army of the Ohio, so that their combined armies could begin the invasion of Mississippi.  Unfortunately, Albert Sidney Johnston, commanding the Army of Mississippi, decided not to wait for them and launched his own assault, surprising and routing Grant’s two greenest divisions.  Come and refight the bloodiest battle of the war (so far).  Can the Rebels drive the Yankees into the Tennessee River or can Grant rally enough troops to hold until Buell arrives with reinforcements?

Younger players welcome with a participating adult.

***

S-338 – “First Manassas for Families” – July, 1861. - Theme Game

Sat. 9:00:00 AM, 3 hrs, 8 players

GM: Brendan Watts with Edward Watts and MNA (Monday Night Adventurers)

American Civil War 25mm, Rules: “There Stands Jackson…”

Kid and family friendly introduction to wargaming the War Between the States using modified rules from Matt Fritz’s Junior General website (inspired by our recent family trip to the Manassas Battlefield Park).

Kid and family friendly. Helpful if kids can read simple rules or have adult present.

S-298 – “The Angle” at Gettysburg; 3 July 1863

Sat. 10:00:00 AM, 4 hrs, 10 players

GM: John McConnell with John Wilk and Northern Virginia Gamers (NOVAG)

American Civil War 28mm, Rules: Brother Against Brother

Long lines of gray-clad troops make their way slowly across the fields toward a small copse of trees while shells come screaming into their ranks. They need to cover ground quickly! When they get to their objective, they must drive the bluecoats off of Cemetery Hill. The defenders need to inflict enough damage to keep from reaching that goal.

Age 15 or older if not accompanied by an adult.

S-101 – Gettysburg’s East Cavalry Field - Theme Game

Sat. 10:00:00 AM, 4 hrs, 6 players

GM: Scott Mingus

Sponsor: The Johnny Reb Gaming Society

American Civil War 15mm, Rules: Johhny Reb III

On July 3, 1863, Confederate general J.E.B. Stuart clashed with Union cavalry a few miles east of Gettysburg in the largest cavalry clash on Northern soil during the entire Civil War. Union Brig. Gen. George Armstrong Custer led his Michigan Wolverines on a memorable charge. Mounted infantry with rifles, cavalry with Spencer repeaters, units with pistols and sabers, and the Boy General – this scenario has it all. Adapted from Enduring Valor: Gettysburg in Miniature.

S-189 – Look, Sarge, It’s the Largest Cavalry Battle of the Civil War - Theme Game

Sat. 3:00:00 PM, 3 hrs, 4 players

GM: James (Tank) Nickle with Eric Schlegel & Kurt Schlegel and the HAWKs

American Civil War 10mm, Rules: A Union So Tested (Look, Sarge, No Charts ACW)

Sheridan’s cavalry is raiding against the Virginia Central Railroad during the 1864 Overland campaign.  Wade Hampton’s cavalry intercepted them at Trevilian Station, leading to the largest all cavalry battle of the American Civil War

Younger players welcome with a participating adult.

S-299 – “The Angle” at Gettysburg; 3 July 1863

Sat. 3:00:00 PM, 4 hrs, 10 players

GM: John Wilk with John McConnell and Northern Virginia Gamers (NOVAG)

American Civil War 28mm, Rules: Brother Against Brother

Long lines of gray-clad troops make their way slowly across the fields toward a small copse of trees while shells come screaming into their ranks. They need to cover ground quickly! When they get to their objective, they must drive the bluecoats off of Cemetery Hill. The defenders need to inflict enough damage to keep from reaching that goal.

Age 15 or older if not accompanied by an adult.

S-163 – The Battle of Prairie Grove – December 7, 1862

Sat. 6:00:00 PM, 5 hrs, 6 players

GM: Richard Hasenauer

Sponsor: Fire and Fury Games

American Civil War 15mm, Rules: Regimental Fire and Fury

Confederate General Thomas Hindman with an army of 11,000 men, marched in winter through the mountains of Northwest Arkansas, in an attempt to place his army between two smaller Union forces under Generals Francis Herron and James Blunt. The Union army barely managed to unite on the battlefield, in one of the hardest fought battles of the Civil War.

S-222 – Gettysburg, East cavalry field, July 3, 1863 - Theme Game

Sat. 6:00:00 PM, 4 hrs, 7 players

GM: Dan Stokes with Tim Stevens & Patrick Mazingo and Mason Dixon Gaming Group

Sponsor: Your Hobby Place, Martinsburg  WV

American Civil War 10mm, Rules: Fire and Fury Regimental

The East Cavalry Field fighting was an attempt by Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart’s Confederate cavalry to get into the Federal rear and exploit any success that Pickett’s Charge may have generated. Union cavalry under Brig. Gens. David McM. Gregg and George Armstrong Custer repulsed the Confederate advances. Refight the battle with over 200 stands of cavalry.

S-166 – The Sound of Silence, Battle of Iuka 1862

Sat. 6:00:00 PM, 4 hrs, 6 players

GM: Tom Cusa

American Civil War 15mm, Rules: Carnage&GloryII

In an effort to crush half the Confederate army in Mississippi, Grant has divided his Army.  As soon as Rosecrans makes contact the rest of the army will advance

S-190 – Look, Sarge, It’s Fleetwood Hill - Theme Game

Sat. 8:00:00 PM, 3 hrs, 6 players

GM: Kurt Schlegel with Eric Schlegel & James “Tank” Nickle and the HAWKs

American Civil War 10mm, Rules: A Union So Tested (Look, Sarge, No Charts ACW)

The Union cavalry is trying to locate the Army of Northern Virginia.  In so doing, they run into Jeb Stuart’s cavalry near Brandy Station in the largest predominantly cavalry battle of the American Civil War.

Younger players welcome with a participating adult.

S-339 – “The Union Strikes Back”" -  1864. - Theme Game

Sat. 8:00:00 PM, 3 hrs, 8 players

GM: Ed Watts and MNA (Monday Night Adventurers)

American Civil War 25mm, Rules: “Brother Against Brother”

The Confederate advance force has chased the local militia down the pike with hopes of looting their crossroads town. Perhaps your Union regulars could overpower the headquarters guard and capture the Southern generals holding a war council at the old tavern before their troops show up in strength.

Kid with adult friendly.

American patriot. Lawyer. Politician. Third Vice President of the United States. Killer of Alexander Hamilton. Traitor. There are many labels to which Aaron Burr has been called throughout history. Despite these many labels, there have been relatively few books on Burr’s life which have been comprehensively written and attempted to solve the mysteries surrounding him, until now. Controversial American forefather Aaron Burr’s life is wonderfully dissected by highly acclaimed author David O. Stewart in his new book American Emperor: Aaron Burr’s Challenge to Jefferson’s America. Finally, historians and readers alike can get a better understanding on the polarizing Burr, his life, and his tragic fall from political stardom, wealth, sterling reputation.

Broken into 28 highly illuminating and capturing chapters further examining Burr’s puzzling life, and each written in masterful and easily readable prose, American Emperor is a must read for anyone who is curious about Burr, American history, biographies, or anyone else who is interested in reading about a controversial and conflicted life.

Stewart provides the readers with a great introduction to the main figures involved in the comprehensive, well-researched, and captivating story divided into two parts. American Emperor begins in during the 1800 Presidential election against Thomas Jefferson and the growing disdain between Burr and Hamilton that ultimately ended in the infamous duel that ultimately took Hamilton’s life. Burr dreamt of taking control of Spanish territory and leading an insurrection in the lands culminating in the creation of a new government in a new nation. Stewart brings forth the tragic tale of Burr’s betrayal by his closest ally General James Wilkinson which led to his imprisonment and prosecution for treason.

In Part II of American Emperor, Stewart brilliantly portrays Aaron Burr’s trials, his unrelenting dream, his lengthy European travels where he sought support for a military expedition to liberate American colonies from Spanish rule, and finally, his tragic final years on Earth avoiding creditors and his last failed marriage to Eliza Jumel. In the appendices, Stewart provides the readers with the infamous cipher letter, the indictment in the United States v. Aaron Burr case, and Treason Clause in the United States Constitution.

Published by Simon & Schuster, David O. Stewart’s American Emperor would be a great addition to anyone’s bookshelf. Highly captivating, Stewart does an excellent job portraying Aaron Burr’s controversial life, his trial, his unrelenting dream and ambition to free Spanish-controlled American colonies, and his tragic final years on Earth.

This new masterpiece by Stewart, author of other great historical works such as Impeached: The Trial of President Andrew Johnson and the Fight for Lincoln’s Legacy and The Summer of 1787: The Men Who Invented the Constitution, is available for purchase online through most websites including amazon.com, and is available through most bookstores.

American Emperor: Aaron Burr’s Challenge to Jefferson’s America

David O. Stewart

New York: Simon & Schuster, 2011

410 pages, photographs, appendices, end notes, index.

Hardback, dust jacket.

ISBN: 978-1-4391-5718-3

About the reviewer: Dr. Thomas M. Mingus teaches at Central Pennsylvania College near Harrisburg and on-line classes for Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. The co-author of Human Interest Stories of the Civil War, Mingus is a direct descendant of a soldier in the 1st New York Regiment of infantry during the American Revolution.

Diorama of a dead Confederate sharpshooter in his rock nest at Devil’s Den during the Battle of Gettysburg. This Civil War diorama is at the Gettysburg Diorama Center (formerly Patriot Point) on Steinwehr Avenue.

Long-time Johnny Reb Gaming Society member Robert Sweeney has patiently indexed every issue of the hard copy Charge! quarterly newsletter from #1 to #30.

His searchable Microsoft Excel database can be found here:

Charge! index – Excel

Here is the same file as a .pdf version:

Charge! Magazine Scenario Listing

Charge! Magazine Article Listing-1

Thanks Bob!

The 14th Brooklyn Militia (also known as the 84th New York Infantry) was one of the more colorful units in the Union Army of the Potomac. They fought at Gettysburg, including a spirited charge on July 1 in the fields west of town across the Chambersburg Pike. They later were on Culp’s Hill as reinforcements. Pawel has brilliantly painted these wee figures, which appear on his friend Maciek’s wargaming blog With Zeal and With Bayonets Only.

Another famed unit at Gettysburg were the Pennsylvania Bucktails, which sported the tails of white deer in their headgear as a unit symbol. Many of the men were deer hunters from the mountains of west-central Pennsylvania.

Another view of the 14th Brooklyn – note the impressive amount of detail Pawel captured at the tiny 10mm scale.

The figures are Minifigs and Pendraken.