Description
Military Strategy Board Game of the bloody and pivotal battle at Antietam / Sharpsburg in the American Civil War. -For Men to Live Through
In this game, you will lead an army through a key historical battle in the musket era. With multiple players, you will run part of the army (Corps or Wing) on a team with other players. Unlike most games, you won’t have God like knowledge and control of everything. Like real generals, you will often not know what the enemy has, where they will attack from, when they will move or even when your own troops will move.
How do you win?
You win by sacking one of the enemy’s baggage trains or by inflicting 50% losses on their army first.
How does it work?
As you fight, your units take hits, fall back and become ‘Spent’. Spent units are vulnerable and easy to kill. You can unpack a baggage train to rally them back to Fresh, but unpacked baggage trains can no longer move. If the enemy sacks one or your baggage trains, you lose!
What makes this fun and very tense, is that all the pieces remain hidden on upright blocks. You can’t be sure which ones are fresh or spent, elite or poor grade troops. Where are the baggage trains?
Each command moves in random order by chit pull. This is very chaotic, just like real war. Who will move first? You can use your HQs to try to jump ahead or delay your move. Is it better to move first or last? It depends. Do you need to plug critical holes in the line or seize key terrain before the enemy does? Do you want the enemy to go first so that you can fall back and delay their advance? Or do you want the enemy to attack first so that you know where to commit your reserves? All combat is saved till the end of the turn. So movement during the turn is very fluid and up for grabs. Timing is everything.
In this battle, the Confederates are badly outnumbered and hard pressed. Their backs are up against the wall of the uncrossable Potomac river. They have better troops and good defensive terrain initially. If they are knocked out of those positions, their defense can unravel very quickly.
-“This battle is like a back alley, bare knuckle brawl!”
Historical Background
In September of 1862, Lee’s invasion of the North was grinding to an end. Though victorious, the Army of Northern Virginia was exhausted by continuous campaigning. After capturing Lee’s operational orders, McClellan moved with unusual speed, trapping Lee with his back to the Potomac River. Burnside drove hard to cut off Lee’s last route of escape.
Both sides fought with determined ferocity over this potentially war winning move. The battle at Sharpsburg, Maryland remains the single most bloody day in American history with 23,000 casualties.
“Such a storm of balls I never conceived it possible for men to live through. Shot and shell shrieking and crashing, canister and bullets whistling and hissing most fiend-like through the air until you could almost see them. In that mile’s ride I never expected to come back alive.” -Lt Col A.S. “Sandie” Pendleton, CSA
Rated Most Realistic & Accurate for:
• Command & Control limitations
• Fog of War -hidden units and chaotic move order
• Logistics -deployment crucial to victory and keeping your forces able to fight.
Used to train officers in the US military and in military academies around the world.
What the Professionals Play
Great for teams and solitaire play.
• Period style map.
• Kriegsspiel style, hardwood pieces.
Options
Divisions: Much faster setup and play time. Great for playing out at restaurants or pubs: Pub Battles!
Brigades: More precision and accuracy for troops & terrain. Playing with brigade blocks will take about 2-3 times longer.
Brigades blocks Only: Optional upgrade for players with Divisions. Includes updated rules & scenario.
Paper: A great way to get started on a budget. Folded and in a box.
Canvas: Real maps of the period were printed on canvas. This authentic, premium map is tough, durable and beautiful. Printed on 100 year, museum quality, archival canvas. It is water resistant, spill proof and lays flat and smooth. Truly a work of art. Canvas map games come rolled in a tube.
Robert Caplinger –
My first game was Custer Little BigHorn game, it was great, this even made me feel as though I was fighting one of the best Antietam games, simply.
Command post putting out fun, interesting and challenging games.
First game played was a Rebel win, second was a crushing defeat by them (against a inexperienced fellow with this system or type of game.
So it can be picked up quickly by anyone (if this guy Pete can…I should talk, I lost).
Historical and free setup and chit draw makes it never the same.
I’ve even added a few what ifs like taking extra blocks and using as a dummy till contact, or taking the extra Confederate and making them the Georgians at Burnside bridge as a help at the hill there on front line.
Oh well great game, gonna buy all the rest in the series pronto.
Mat (verified owner) –
One of the pub battles games that I get out the most. One evening, one battle.
Remarkable map – the trademark of Command Post game – and 2 different armies fighting each other in 8 turns. 2 armies not too big.
The rebels with 2 powerful corps defend the Sharpsburg sector.
McClellan’s unionists divided into many small corps have to attack and destroy Lee’s army.
Difficulties to command, difficulties to organize, difficult terrain for the unionists.
The rebels had to attach themselves to the terrain to resist and limit losses.
So a nice challenge for both sides in a game of 1H30.
A must have and quite affordable: a great success.
Which general are You ? Jackson or McClellan ?
Matthew Looby –
Makes you want to research the history because the play is fascinating. Indeed, this game comes highly recommended because anyone can learn to play, it’s that intuitive. All that matters is the game is a blast to play!
Charles Bunnell –
I’ve been wargaming since 1982 and I love this game. Here are my thoughts:
1. High solitaire playability – you don’t always have a group of like-minded wargamers around so it’s good to be able to play a quick game in a single night
or set the game up on a side table and slow play the game like you would a game of solitaire chess.
2. Playable system without rule overload – a short set of rules so you can get into the game – you don’t have to consult multiple pages of modifiers.
3. Good level of abstraction – I’m an American Civil War buff – and this game plays at the divisional and corps level. Wonderful game flow.
4. Not hindered by hexes – the map is detailed and facilitates movement and transports the player back to the outskirts or Sharpsburg – the Sunken Road,
Etc.
5. The quality of the game map and pieces – including the upgraded measuring stick and dice – and the game system translates into a strong value for
money. This game is worth the cost.
In summary – I love this game and highly recommend.
Lee Lowe (verified owner) –
My first purchase in the Musket Battles series is Antietam. These games have been on my radar for over a year but I eventually purchased one and glad I did.
What a great game!!
The components are excellent, love the canvas map and blocks.
The gameplay gives so much tactical depth without being rules heavy. The game is very immersive, I felt like a general ordering troops around.
Can’t wait to pick up my next game.
Thank you for a great system!
Redcoat (verified owner) –
I have been wargaming for thirty years and can safely say this is my top wargame system. There is a place for miniatures, hex games etc, but If I have to pick one, this is it. Fairly simply to play, yet feels like the most realistic experience of being a General during a battle. I spent 20 years as an Army officer and this is the only game that felt more like a real wargame vs. fun wargame. Coupled with the new Brigade pieces and quality of the components, this is the ultimate scotch and cigar game for me.
Hurry up and get the Bull Run brigade blocks made!