Preparation is all

Strike while the iron is hot comes to mind, the missus left for Glasgow yesterday and as you know I have some games organised for this weekend, I will also be chef for the weekend as well so I had a lot on my plate today. First thing was the Doctor, a quick run down and then back to the shops this afternoon, wait a mo thinks I, sign up, door locked and off I went early, do the shopping before the Doc then spend the afternoon mucking about with toy soldiers, genius! Customers, meh, the word Doctors should get me some sympathy.

When I did get back there were no irate villagers with pitchforks waiting for me and I only served about three before I closed for the afternoon, OK maybe a little more than three, eight, ish.

I set up the table tennis table and dug out my Geo-Hex which hasn't seen the light of day for some time, I have loads of it. The scenario is a Reb attack on a Union bridgehead at Castleman's Ferry and like the movies this is 'based' on that scenario, I had to simplify the terrain a bit and some of the troops take up more ground than in the map as they are not to scale on there, but overall it will certainly work. I decided to give the Rebs a couple of extra regiments as reserves but looking at the disparate Union forces 50% of whom are Poor or Green perhaps I shouldn't have, I have also given them a few larger regiments than shown in the scenario, again in the spirit of fair play, I may live to regret this because now that I put some thought into it I don't think the Union have ever won this battle.

Almost there.

 I have all sorts of little vignettes for ACW games which have no bearing on the game so as my opponents are making an effort to come here then I am making an effort to make the table a bit special, so you will see some of these groups here and there on the battlefield. I think this is the first outing for those pontoon wagons since I got them in the '90's. I also used my bridges which also don't get out much, the crossing are supposed to be fords and we dice for the state of the river before the game starts but they look good, better than a wee bit of mud coloured paper anyway.

Rebel HQ.

Union HQ.

The troops are ready.

  I decided to put everything up today rather than wait until tomorrow as I would not be disturbed and I have maps to do and a curry to prepare tomorrow or all we will be eating is lead.
 

It's the waiting that gets to you, steady, steady.

It is very pleasurable to spend some time with troops which may not have been in action for a while, memories flood back of past glories and defeats, of stalwart defenders and cowardly routers, and like Napoleon as I look at my regiments I see figures who seem to be old friends and I know them well. Whatever happens on Saturday it will be a good day for me.