Baltimore area gaming convention reminder

This Saturday is the annual Barrage one-day gaming convention near Baltimore, Maryland, for those Charge readers who are in that region. For more information, click here.

Civil War version of Stratego

For Christmas, my son, daughter-in-law, and grandson gave me a copy of the new Civil War variant of the timeless classic board game, Stratego. I had a copy of the original game when I was a teenage and loved to play it. The classsic game pitted two fictional plastic armies, one red, one blue, against one another in a chess-like setting where pieces captured their opponent based upon a numerical strength value.

Retrospective

For me, 2007 was among the best years of my life. Our family maintained good health, and we enjoyed a number of milestones, including my daughter’s engagement and her college graduation, my oldest son becoming a college professor, and my other son making progress toward his PhD. I traveled to Europe a couple of times, as well as a number of visits to Civil War battlefields. Two of my Civil War books were published, and I had a wonderful vacation in the Poconos with my grandson and other family members.

From a Civil War perspective, the Johnny Reb Gaming Society published all four quarterly issues of Charge! on time and within budget. We introduced a number of new writers, who provided some fascinating articles and interesting scenarios. Work continued on the maps for the upcoming Brother Against Brother scenario book.

2008 should be a good year, with the planned publication of the fore-mentioned scenario book, as well as four more issues of Charge! We already have some really good articles lined up, but could always use much more material, so PLEASE send in your ideas.

Here’s wishing you a great year! May your dice be red hot and your Coca-Cola ice cold!

Two new WWII Osprey titles released!

Osprey Press continues to expand their prolific range of World War II books. Because my father was a WWII vet, I have always taken a strong interest in reading accounts of the war, particularly in areas he fought in or specific topics he enjoyed. Among the latter were the German “buzz bombs” and “V-bombs,” weapons that were designed to strike England and terrorize the population.

Enduring Valor back in print!!!

Many of you are aware that Chicago-area graphic designer and digital printer Ivor Janci and I have collaborated on four Civil War scenario books, three of which have appeared in print already, with the fourth one coming late this year. Ivor and I are pleased to announce that, due to popular demand, the two volumes of our popular Enduring Valor: Gettysburg in Miniature have been reprinted and are again available for sale.

Accepting articles for May and August hard copy issues of Charge

Debi and I are now accepting articles for the next two issues of Charge. With our duaghter’s upcoming wedding this summer, we want to get these issues filled out and put to bed as early as possible so we can concentrate on the wedding plans. We have a few articles already received for each issue, but are always looking for more material!

Here are some ideas:

* Johnny Reb 3 or similar regimental-level ACW scenarios

* Unit histories and painting guides

* Reviews of new Civil War wargaming products you have purchased

* After-action reports with photos of your ACW games

* Campaign games

* House rules you use to add to the enjoyment of Johnny Reb gaming

* Original articles on tactics, weaponry, and other ACW-related facts

* Wargaming strategies – how to win at Johnny Reb 3 and establish dominence on the gaming table versus your opponents without cheating or whining. For example, when to use skirmishers effectively, attack formations and when to use them, etc.

* Photos of your finished terrain, and how you constructed it.

You get the idea! Now, get out your PC and start typing!

Louisiana Tigers at Gettysburg

In researching a manuscript I am now completing, I found several descriptions of the Louisiana Tigers at Gettysburg. Those readers who are familiar with my wargaming book, Enduring Valor: Gettysburg in Miniature, know that in playtesting and photographing my scenario for the fight near Kuhn’s Brickyard (the Coster’s Last Stand scenario), I depicted Harry Hays’ boys as wearing the zouave uniforms that Wheat’s Tigers had worn early in the war.

Move over, John Burns!

Aged War of 1812 veteran and former Gettysburg constable John Burns is often reported to be the only civilian to take up arms to fight with the Union Army at Gettysburg. Such an assertion is not true, however. The 12th Massachusetts had its own “John Burns” in its ranks as it fought along the Mummasburg Road north of Gettysburg. A slender boy the soldiers estimated to be sixteen had tagged along when the regiment marched through Emmitsburg, becoming enmeshed with Company A.

He went into battle on Oak Ridge on July 1 and was wounded in the arm and thigh by Confederate fire. The boyish volunteer was carried beyond the crest of the ridge and given water. He was later taken away to a field hospital, and his comrades never heard from him again. Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Cook recalled, “His very name is unknown; for he was never mustered into service.”

Cook may have never known the civilian’s name, but J. W. Weakley survived his wounds. One of eight children of an eccentric indigent mountaineer, the illiterate Weakley later enlisted in the 13^th Pennsylvania Cavalry. In November 1864, the unsung Gettysburg hero drowned ignominiously when he suffered an epileptic seizure and fell into in a camp cesspool.

Adapted from Human Interest Stories of the Gettysburg Campaign, Volume 2.