Wargaming British Intervention in the American Civil War with Volley and Bayonet

 

Part 1: The British Army and Canadian Militia

 

Introduction

 

On several occasions during the American Civil War the United Kingdom came close to recognising the CSA or intervening. These rules are designed to allow a British Army to stand on a wargames table using Volley and Bayonet. Volley and Bayonet was chosen as it allows large scale actions to be fought.

 

The British Regular Army

 

The British Army went through a long night during the period 1816-1852, becoming a shadow of its former self and not much more than a very well armed and equipped colonial constabulary. However, in the decade prior to the American Civil War the British fought two major wars, against Russia and the Sepoy Mutineers, as well as several minor wars, reforming the British into a hard European Army. Added to this, as a result of the Mutiny, the British Army absorbed the Indian Army, bringing in a wealth of combat experience.

 

Infantry

 

Since our default setting is the Union/ Confederate soldier, we must compare the British to them. The average American (of either flavour) regiment is either Morale 4 or 5, and probably “Poorly Trained”. Thus, following the unpublished “Age of Raglan” (details on the Volley and Bayonet list) supplement, we rate normal line infantry as Morale 6, with exceptions being Morale 7. Some are probably rated “Shock” as well (in particular the Highlanders). The British are still quite linear and use Linear (3” x 1.5”) bases, however they still move 16” instead of 12”.

 

One thing that VnB doesn’t address is the huge disparity in shooting accuracy and the far superior training (and experience) in light infantry tactics the British had. To simulate this, the British regulars all count as Sharpshooters and hit on a 5 or 6 rather than on just a 6 (Cleburne’s CS Division IMHO should have the same bonus), and as Skirmishers (receiving a saving throw).

 

The British should be rated as 60% exhaustion. They are universally armed with Enfield muzzle loading rifles.

 

Infantry Organisation

 

The basic building block of the British infantry is the Battalion. A battalion at full strength (12 Coys), with it’s organic logistics was about 1,300 strong. However, depending on the Bn, 2-4 Coys were left at home to act as a depot. In 1860, a Battalion still had Flank Companies, but these ceased to be designated during the ACW. Thus as an estimate each Battalion should have 2 SP on the Regimental Scale (1SP = 500 men/ 6 guns).

 

A Brigade normally consisted of 3 Bns, thus a full strength line Brigade would be 6-6. Divisions were normally 2 Brigades. However, while great pains were made to make sure brigades deployed at full strength, the normal Brigade strength is probably closer to 5SP.

 

Cavalry

 

The British tended to regard America as a poor place for Cavalry to operate, however if a major army is sent it’s likely a Cavalry Division or two would accompany it.

 

The British Cavalry was in a strange state of flux. During the Sepoy Mutiny beachloading rifles had been used by the British cavalry in India, but Lt Gen the Lord Cardigan’s disastrous time as Inspector-General of Cavalry had retarded his line of development until 1861, when the Westley-Richards breachloading rifle was introduced. Armament was a sabre, revolver (or two), saddle pistols and either a Breachloading Rifle of a Lance (for Lancer regiments)

 

The British are thus prettymuch European style shock cavalry, however, due to American infantry not being trained to form squares, the American infantry always suffer the -2 penalty for non-stationary infantry vs cavalry, unless they qualify for flank secured status. They also always count as heavier when in a melee with American cavalry, and all qualify for Shock status.

 

British cavalry are very elite, and most units are Morale 7. They have 60% exhaustion.

 

The standard British cavalry brigade is 9 squadrons (3 regiments), and approximately 1,500 strong. Thus a normal cavalry brigade is 7-3 Shock. In a campaign game, to simulate the loss of horses, 50% of lost SP aren’t automatically regained after the days combat.

 

Artillery

 

The British artillery are organised as standard 6 gun batteries (although they had a rocket section in addition, more on this later). They are generally Morale 6, 60% exhaustion.

 

The normal gun used by the Royal Artillery is the 12 pounder Armstrong Breachloading Rifle. These are considered normal rifled heavy guns, but their breachloading status allows for a higher rate of fire (+1 die, so 2/3 instead of 1/2 in fire combat). If stationary they have a saving throw. Due to their status as long term regulars I’m tempted to allow them a +1 on the to hit roll.

 

British Artillery is generally organised with a firing battery per brigade, and an ammunition battery per division.

 

Rockets

 

For every 6 batteries (round nearest) of field artillery, the British get a Rocket Battery (actually a centralisation of the rocket sections of other batteries). This consisted of 6 firing units for 24 pounder Hale Rockets. They count as heavy artillery with a maximum range of 20” and a minimum range of 4”.

 

Canadian Militia

 

Canada in fact had two different militia organisations. For ease of use we will label these Volunteers and Militia.

 

Volunteer Infantry

 

The Volunteer Infantry was forming at a frightening rate. Before the ACW this consisted of upto 5,000 men paid for a couple of weeks a year, and possibly the best trained militia on the continent. Within weeks of the Trent Affair, dozens of Battalions were forming to fight the Yankie, within a month another 30,000 had enlisted, and there were waiting lists waiting on the shipment of arms and equipment from Britain. By 1866 56 Volunteer infantry battalions existed.

 

They had not the extensive training in Light Infantry tactics or musketry of the British regular (although more than the typical US Volunteer). Thus we’ll rate Volunteer Infantry as Morale 5 normal troops. A normal Canadian volunteer Bn was only around 500 strong (1SP), but each brigade had 5 Battalions. They have 50% exhaustion.

 

Volunteer Cavalry

 

The Canadian cavalry was not shock cavalry, but irregular cavalry much like Union Cavalry. They should be treated like Union Cavalry.

 

Volunteer Artillery

 

A number of volunteer field batteries existed (around 18). They had double the training of the most volunteers, and were noted on exercise as being extremely apt with their guns.

 

Treat them as normal Morale 5 artillery with Smoothbore Field Guns.

 

Militia

 

Canada had 500 militia Bns in 100 Regiments, but they were nothing like full strength. Although on paper each was around 1,000 strong, there were split into 1st and 2nd class. Only the first class were normally considered for the field force, the second class being garrison only troops.

 

Of these 500 SP of troops, about 35% probably turned out (175 SP). Of those about 100SP are 1st class and 75 2nd class. The problem of uniforming them and arming them was very accute. Over time these became disbanded and new volunteer battalions replaced old militia regiments.

 

They are rated as Morale 4 PT with 40% exhaustion.

 

Higher Organisation

 

The British tended not to form Corps (although towards the end of the Crimean, ordered to divide the army into 2 Corps were made). The highest formation should be a division of 2 brigades, with 2 artillery batteries.

 

The Canadian Volunteers have formations of their own, basically the same as the British Divisions.

 

Canadian Militia is likely to be attached directly to regular formations.