1. Stacking
1. Terrain / Melee / FTH Limits
   
1. Table I
1. Mounted Melee
2. Hex-side Qualifiers
   
2. Stacking Order
3. "Road Column Formation" Stacking
4. Leader Stacking
5. Unit Facing (Optional)
6. Reserve Status (Optional)
   
2. Command & Control:  'Friendly' FOG (Advanced)
1. Brigade Officers
1. Base Brigade Command Range
1. In Command
2. Out-of-Command
3. Exceptions
2. Leadership Quality & Enhanced Command Range
3. Road Column Extended Range Chain-of-Command
2. Division Commanders
1. Base Division Command Range
2. Leadership Quality & Enhanced Command Range
3. Command Points (CP's)
4. Detachment / Attachment of Subordinate Brigades  (Optional)
3. Corps / District / Army Commanders
4. Detached / "Independent" Command
5. Leaderless / "Separated" Formations
6. Provost Troops / Leader Escorts
   
3. Offensive Melee Qualifiers
1. "Coordinated" Melee
1. Single Hex Coordinated Melee
2. Multiple Hex Coordinated Melee
2. Miscellaneous Melee Qualifiers
1. Road Column vs "Shock" Column
2. Isolated Units
3. Dismounted Cavalry
4. Mounted Cavalry
5. Skirmishers
   
4. Dismounted Cavalry Qualifiers
1. Restrictions
1. Command & Control
2. Melee Eligibility
2. Skirmishers
3. "Retreat Before Melee"
1. RBM Eligibility / Restrictions
2. RBM (PBEM) Routine   (Optional)
   
5. Mounted Cavalry Qualifiers (Advanced)
1. Mounted Reconnaissance Formation, V. 2.0
2. Mounted Line (Melee) Formation
1. Mounted Line Eligibility
2. Mounted Line Restrictions
   
6. Combat "Friction" - Phase-based Options
1. The Pin
2. Field of Fire Influence
   
7. Turn-based Qualifiers   (Optional)
8. Artillery Capture
9. Wagons
10. Breastworks
11. Surrender! (Optional)
12. Skirmishers (Advanced)
1. Skirmish Formation Defined
2. Stacking / Movement
3. "Skirmish Command Range" (SCR)
4. Fire Qualifiers
5. Melee Qualifiers
6. "Retreat Before Melee"
1. Eligibility
2. RBM (PBEM) Routine  (Optional)
13. Formation Combat Efficiency (Advanced)
    
1. Brigade
   
2. Division
   
3. Recovery (Optional)
14. Scenario OOB Mods (Advanced)
1. 1st Manassas / 1st Bull Run

Appendix i -- A Users Guide to ACW House Rule Essentials™
Appendix ii -- Setup Options (Recommended)
Appendix iii -- "Show Don't Tell" Wish List
Appendix iv -- Open Letter to John Tiller, 3-24-03
Appendix v -- A "Fair Exchange" (10-23-06 / 10-24-06)
Appendix vi -- References

Introduction

                                                        The Day After:  White Flag of Truce

                             Dunker Church--Antietam, September 18, 1862 ²

ACW House Rule Essentials™ offers a challenging manual override for the determined intermediate to grumpier grognard player alike, who seek increased historical realism and color within the fixed code and generic scope of John Tiller's "Civil War Battles" [HPS] series of games.

Please, also see Appendix i:   A Users Guide to ACW House Rule Essentials™ .

ACW House Rule Essentials™ targets

• a mathematically flawed, physically impossible battle-line model -- see "FTH" Stacking Limits & Open Letter to John Tiller (3-24-03).
• a fantasy "200 Foot" Command and Control routine -- see "II.  Command & Control - Friendly Fog-of-War" .
• M.I.A. tactical issues like (a) "Coordinated Melee" (b) Road Column vs Maneuver/Shock Column (c) Mounted "Line" Charge/Melee (d) Phase-based "Combat Friction" (e) Skirmishers: "Retreat Before Melee," etc., etc..

ACW House Rule Essentials™ gratefully borrow from Richard Berg's evolving, grand-tactical GBACW™ boardgame series, specifically, Terrible Swift Sword ©1976 & ©1986, 2nd Ed., Rebel Sabres ©1988, First Blood - The First (& Second) Battle of Manassas ©1989, Dead of Winter ©1990, and River of Death ©1999.   Additional sources include Battle Tactics of the Civil War by Paddy Griffith, ©1989, Fighting for the Confederacy by E.A. Alexander (ed. by Gary W. Gallagher) ©1989, The Civil War -- Time-Life Books, Inc. ©1984-85, The Library of Congress - Selected Civil War Photographs:  Library of Congress - Selected Civil War Photographs, and as further cited in Appendix vi -- References .

Example:  Berg's map scale is 150 yards / hex (Dead of Winter). Mr. Tiller's Campaign series map scale is 125 yards p/hex.  Stacking Limits for ACW House Rule Essentials™ is calculated by dividing Berg's stacking point (SP) limits (1200 SP's) by "1/6".  Thus 1200 SP's in clear terrain in Berg's Dead of Winter becomes 1000 SP's, thereby complementing Mr. Tiller's unit / map scale.

1. Routed units have no formation status, therefore may not stack with ordered (non-routed) units.  Routed units may, however, stack with other routed units in a hex - up to stacking limits as outlined in Table I.
   

"I have reviewed your proposed hex-side fire limitation rules and will consider them as an optional rule in a future release." --John Tiller (2-26-03)

             "Confederate dead lie [stacked] in heaps" ²

                                     Bloody Lane, September 1862

ACW House Rule Essentials™ provides the essential Hex-side (FTH) equalizer on Stacking Limits (see Table I below).  -- for an explanatory review, please, see "An Open Letter to John Tiller" (2-24-03).

ACW House Rule Essentials™ Table 1 (see below) also addresses careless gaps in Mr. Tiller's grossly generic stacking rules, which fail to make tactical distinctions between battle-line SP fire efficiency in clear terrain versus same in non-clear terrain hexes.

P=Prohibited

1. See Mounted Line (Melee) Formation (V. B.)
   
   
2. Hex-side (FTH) Qualifiers
   
   Introduction

A (single) unit may always ignore Table I FTH terrain hex-side limits to target its SP fire through a single hex-side - if only because hardwired constraints foil any hope to actually "split" a unit's SP fire so as to cover more than one hex-side of Mr. Tiller's fixed 3 hex-side ZOC expedient. 

With the above single unit hex-side limits in mind, ACW House Rule Essentials™ currently supports the following manual "split-fire" FTH override - please, see below - for larger single unit formations, aimed at tempering Mr. Tiller's otherwise un-tempered (missing) FTH limits.  


1. General Rule: A unit of 500 SP's or greater may only fire once through the same hex-side in any given turn.  In other words, it may only unleash its full / over stacked complement of lead through the same hex-side during a defensive fire or offensive fire phase - but not both - in the same turn and always at the phasing player's discretion. 

   Explanation:    Mr. Tiller's maximum 1000 SP Fire-Through-Hexside (FTH) stacking limits not only challenges all known physical laws that govern finite space within limited time constraints, it's pure make-believe.
   
   Permitting combat unit(s) and/or stacks to 'overstack' a single hexside, measuring 41.7 yds, twice in the same turn, no less -- i.e., both defensive and offensive fire phases - with a wall of unqualified small arms lead (1000 SP max) has long been condemned by House Rules as well as by attentive board / hex-based game designer(s) from the 1970's forward.  Please, review Table I - Maximum Fire-Through-Hexiside Limits.
   
   To contest Mr. Tilller's neglected (MIA or AWOL - take your pick) Fire-Through-Hexside Limits, current house rule abstractions will serve an essential manual override to compliment - again, please, be sure to review FTH Terrain Hex stacking limits:  Table I.   Also, see Open Letter to John Tiller.

   "We Can Do Better."

2. A stack of units may never combine more small arms SP's than permitted under "Maximum Fire-Through-Hexside" limits - as detailed in Table I.
   
   

EXAMPLES:

During a rather bloody Cedar Mountain(Campaign Anti-tank) fire phase -

• CSA 5th Va - Stonewall (95 SP's), 1st Tenn - Archer (179 SP's), and 14th Tenn - Archer ( 240 SP's) are stacked respectively from top to bottom in woods hex 22, 18.    Hex stack total = 514 SP's.  
  
  Keeping the following ACW House Rule Essentials™ in mind,

  ---- Infantry in Woods may stack up to a maximum of 650 SP's - as per Table I .
  ---- Fire-Through-Hexside (FTH) limits in woods is 250 SP's - as per Table I.
  ---- Units stacked in a hex must share the same Facing - I. E. (Optional).

  Thus with the above still in mind, no rebel regiment stacked in hex 22, 18 may combine SP's with another unit to execute fire through the same hex-side, because to do so would be a violation of FTH Limits in a woods hex as per Table 1 - not to mention, a general violation of the laws governing limited time within a finite space (doh!).
  
  Also note that the 5th VA lost its default "Skirmish" formation status as defined in XII. B. (General Rule) once it stacked with another combat unit.
  
  
  
• USA 8th Regiment - Prince (652 SP's) has deployed adjacent to the three CSA units as outlined above.
  
  Keeping the following ACW House Rule Essentials™ in mind:
  

  ---- The top-most unit in a hex must be targeted before the next unit stacked immediately beneath may be targeted as per Stacking Order - I.B. (General Rule)
  
  ---- Stacking Order may be ignored for any unit numbering 100 SP's or less stacked in a hex -- as per Stacking Order Exceptions I.B. 2. _c .

  Again with the above in mind, the USA 8th regiment may conduct one of the following four possible actions, during any [manual] defensive / offensive fire phase:
  
  
  1. Target 5th VA (95 SP's) unit.
     
  2. Target 1st Tenn ( 179 SP's) unit stacked beneath 5th VA - because 5th VA ( 95 SP's) stacked on top may be ignored as per Stacking Order Exceptions - I.B. 2 (c).
     
  3. Fire into CSA occupied hex 22, 18 no more than once in the same turn as per General Rule (because, USA 8th's combat strength exceeds the 500(+) SP limit.
     
  4. Target any CSA unit in the hex, including the bottom-most 14th Tenn (240 SP's) - only if previously fired upon by same in the immediately preceding enemy fire phase - see Stacking Order Exceptions - I.B.2 (b).
     
     
3. A single unit may always occupy a hex (doh!)- regardless of Table 1 stacking restrictions.
4. There are no limits to the number of leaders that may stack in a hex -- but, please, see Leader Stacking (I. D.) below.
   
5. A unit in Skirmish Formation may not stack with another combat unit - and still retain its "Skirmish" formation status as per XII.A. "General Rule".  Please, review Skirmishers Stacking / Movement (XII. B.).

Notes:

1. According to Mr. Tiller's battle-line model, an ACW combat unit as placed upon a hex-grid map possesses a three (3) hex-side "zone of control."
   
   
2. As corollary to (a) above, there shall always exist multiple-overlapping middle hexsides lying between any three sets of adjacent stacks.
   
   
3. Observation 1:   There is simply no physical or mathematical means for a 3-hexside battle-line to realistically target more than one-third of its 1000 SP maximum through a single hex-side, measuring 41.7 yards across.
   
   
4. Observation 2:   There is simply no physical way for three (3) stacks of 1000 SP's each in three (3) adjacent hexes to target more than one-third of their overlapping (3000 SP's) through the three hex-sides, measuring 125 yards across, constituting the middle stack's ZOC.
   
   
5. And, yet, this kind of make-believe is precisely what Mr. Tiller's battle-line model teaches.
   
   
6. Also, please review Appendix iv.
   
   
7. Concluding Observation:  "Hey, it's, just a game... stop yur 'plainin'! " 
   
   A wargame - to be slightly more precise. 
   
   I don't know of anyone to date - be it shill, sycophant, grognard, or die-hard fan - who has thought to defend a Gary Grigsby, Norm Koeger, Dr. Turcan, Richard Berg, David Landrey, or even John Tiller game from otherwise purposeful, constructive, hopeful criticism by claiming, "Hey, give it a rest, dude! it's just a frickin' wargame."  have you?  The year is / was 2008.   A PC can do more than we're seeing here.  A PC can do better.  We can and must do better.
   

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B.  Stacking Order --source: Terrible Swift Sword (TSS) ©1976

An essential complement to Hex-side (FTH) SP limits (see Table I above).

                                  U.S.A. Colonel Walker's Brigade
                              
  Stones River, January 2, 1863 ³

General Rule:  Only the top unit in a stack may be fired upon before unit(s) lying beneath - in descending order - may be targeted.  The effects of stacking order within a targeted hex is significant, hence, may not be ignored.   However, please, see exceptions (below).

1. Units in a hex may elect to change their stacking order at any time during the movement phase at no MP cost.
2. Please, see Combat "Friction"( VI. A. "The Pin") on the effects of Stacking Order on unit Formation Change / Movement.

EXAMPLE:   An artillery "crew" may only be targeted after all top (front-line) combat units in a hex have been targeted first - but, see exception  'b' below.

Exceptions:

1. Artillery "shot" (i.e., ordnance fire beyond a 3-hex "canister" range) ignore stacking order -- it may target any unit stacked in a hex.
   
   
2. A unit fired upon may always ignore stacking order to "return fire" - but, only in its next friendly fire phase.
   
   
3. Ignore stacking order for units numbering 100 SP's or less.

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C.  "Road Column" Formation Stacking --source:  TSS ©1976

Definition: "Road Column" is defined as a single, contiguous (adjacent) string of units marching in column formation along a pike, road, or trail. 

                                                                               "Marching Two Abreast"

   "12th Wisconsin Volunteers (approximately 1000 strong) march
   22 miles in 6 hours from Quincy, Illinois to Hannibal, Missouri."
   (January, 1862) ⁴

General Rule:  Combat units marching in road column may not stack.  A wagon shall be defined herein as a combat unit.

1. Infantry & Cavalry units moving in road column may not end their movement phase in a hex containing another combat unit.
    
2. Limbered Artillery sections / batteries may stack with other limbered artillery units up to the maximum stacking limits as per Table I .

Note:   Column units marching at the off-road movement rate may always stack up to the maximum stacking limits as per Table 1.    This formation might, perhaps, be better described as "maneuver" / "shock" column (i.e., vs "road" column).

IMPORTANT: 

• Please, review Road Column Chain-of-Command:  II.A.3.
• Please, review Offensive Melee Qualifiers, III. B. 1., prohibiting units that use (i.e., benefit from) pike, road, trail movement from initiating melee in the same turn.

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 D.  Leader Stacking --source:  TSS ©1976

                       "Final Council of War" --Shiloh, April 5th, 1862

   [left to right:  General's Beauregard, Polk, Breckinridge,
   Johnston, Bragg, Hardee.] ⁴

General Rule:  A Leader that ends his movement phase stacked in a hex may only stack with combat units subordinate to his command -- unless all units under his command have been eliminated, in which case he may stack with any unit.

This House Rule prohibits Mr. Tiller's unqualified permission to routinely stack leader units, willy-nilly, with combat units outside their command if only for the purpose of gaining the melee bonus.

1. A Brigade officer may only stack in a hex accompanied by at least one combat unit under his command.
2. A Division commander may only stack in a hex accompanied by at least one combat unit or subordinate officer under his command.
3. A Corps commander may only stack in a hex accompanied by at least one combat unit or subordinate leader under his command.
4. An Artillery officer may only stack in a hex accompanied by at least one combat unit under his command.
5. The Army commander may stack with any unit / leader under his command.
6. "Independent" units (i.e., units assigned "independent" status at the beginning of the game) may benefit from being stacked with any leader as per II.D. 1. (b) below.

IMPORTANT: 

• For the purpose of leader stacking, wagons are treated as "combat" units.
• A Leader may be stationed alone in a hex so long as he is to the rear of his command.
• A Leader may be sent forward of his command -- i.e., to conduct reconnaissance -- so long as he ends his movement phase at least five hexes from any sighted enemy unit.

Caution!  "Recon at Yur Own Risk, suh!" so the sign should read.

House Rules cannot guarantee the return of a high level commander's life or limb if found engaging in Stonewall-esque acts of reckless night-time intelligence gathering pursuits.  Indeed, getting leaded by a fearsome hail of blind musket fire should always be considered a dispiriting possibility without troop-issued night-vision goggles, eh?  You have been duly warned, General!

• There are no restrictions to the number of leaders that may stack in a hex.
• There are no restrictions to the number of leaders from different organizations that may stack in a hex.

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E.  Unit Facing (Optional) --source:  TSS ©1976

"The admonition that all units in the same hex must face in the same direction [within the context of a superimposed hex-movement-grid] is one that arises purely from a need to keep the game manageable. There is really no 'historical' reason why this should be a restriction, so if both players agree, feel free to ignore it. Be aware though, that it raises a host of tangential and entangling play questions that you are free to resolve on your own." --Richard Berg (Terrible Swift Sword)   

          Sherfy Farmhouse,  July 2, 6:20 P.M.                                                                                                                                  The Peach Orchard salient

             Brig.  Gen. Graham's 57th & 114th Pennsylvania                      Meade:   General, I'm afraid you are too far out.
          (Birney's Division),  lie low for cover, facing a far worse      Sickles:   However, I will withdraw if you wish, sir.
          fate (McClaws Division in the distance) to come. ⁵                  Meade:   I think it is too late.  The enemy will not allow you. ⁵

General Rule:  Units in a stack must face in the same direction at the end of the movement phase.

If a unit lacks sufficient MP's to meet the general facing requirement it may not stack in the same hex.

• Leader, Wagon, and routed units ignore facing dictates.
• You may also ignore facing restrictions if your OOB includes the "Co. Aytch" Regiment which formed 'square' at least once in order to thwart an almost mythic ACW Union cavalry charge?  -- "Co. Aytch," First Tennessee Regiment, by Sam R. Watkins, 1882 ( courtesy Project Gutenberg EBook)

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F.  Reserve Status --source:  River of Death ©1999

Reserve status permits the unimpeded use of Mr. Tiller's maximum stacking limits - overriding TABLE ITerrain Stacking Limits.  A good example for placing units in Reserve Status would be Heth's Division, during the night following the first day's heavy fighting.  

Please, see Combat Effectiveness Recovery (XIII. C.) for further historical application of Reserve Status.

General Rule:  Combat units may be placed in Reserve Status at no MP cost at any time during the friendly movement phase.

1. Units placed in Reserve Status may stack up to Mr. Tiller's maximum of 8 counters / 1000 SP's per hex, regardless of terrain considerations and Table I stacking restrictions.
2. Units placed in reserve must be
1. at least five hexes from the nearest enemy combat unit and out of the LOS of any enemy unit, or
2. at least ten hexes from the nearest enemy combat unit - without the LOS qualification as per above.
3. For Night Turns, the minimum distance (see "b" above) is reduced to five hexes.
4. A brigade whose units are either melee 'd or fired upon - from a four hex range or less - automatically lose their "reserve" status.
5. Units in "reserve status" must stack by formation type; i.e.,
   1. Limbered guns in reserve status may not stack with unlimbered guns.
   2. Mounted Cavalry may, however, stack with Limbered Horse Artillery.
   3. Cavalry may never stack with infantry units.
   4. Line infantry / dismounted cavalry may, however, stack with artillery units.
   5. Infantry in column and supply units may never be assigned "reserve status".
6. Units designated "reserve status" may not move.
7. Friendly units may never move through stacks assigned reserve status.
8. Units, just to be sure, may be placed in reserve status in any terrain.  

Notes:

• Under Berg's rules, units placed in "reserve" additionally lose fatigue at twice the normal rate and may attempt to recover stragglers.

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II.  Command & Control:  'Friendly' FOG (Advanced) --source: TSS ©1976/1986, GBACW™ Basic Rules 1990

   ". . . But, the splendid vista did not afford a clear view
of the right and left flanks, where the heaviest fighting occurred." ²

                General McClellan's uncertain HQ command 'vantage'

                                           Pry House--Antietam, September 17, 1862 ⁶

"A major problem, however, was that the techniques of staff work remained rather too personal - essentially verbal . . . but in the Civil War the lack of sufficient trained staff officers too often meant that the confirmation was left unwritten . . . The staff-work problem usually had a more serious effect upon offensive than defensive tactics . . . Orders went astray, conflicting chains of command interfered with each other, and golden opportunities were wasted." ¹⁶

"As miniature war gamers, we have far more knowledge and far more control over our troops than any historical commander has ever possessed. We tower over the battlefield like a 200 Foot General, taking in all and responding instantly." --The 200 Foot General (3-14-01)

"Controlling the The 200 Foot General does not mean reproducing staff procedure as a measure of battlefield efficiency. Instead, it means reproducing the many roadblocks to a commander's battlefield decision-making process.  It means reproducing battlefield doubt.

". . . Working with board games actually put me in contact with a gentleman named Richard Berg . . . [who] stated that friction was necessary, because if you don't have something to control the The 200 Foot General, then Robert E. Lee will never stand a chance at Antietam . . . The other thing that he also put into perspective . . . never deprive the player of the opportunity to do something stupid.  [laughter] So I always took that to heart." -- Colonel Bill Gray, The 200 Foot General (3-14-01).

Maj. Gen. Hooker (left) and Burnside                                                             Lee, Longstreet, and aide
Fredericksburg, December 13,1862 ⁸                              -- Marye's Heights,  December 13,1862 ⁸

ACW House Rule Essentials™ introduces Richard Berg's historically-abstracted 'friendly' "Fog of War" modeling as best as can be mustered, given the impediment of "fixed" programming code. 

Important:  For the purpose of determining the C&C effects of friendly FOG, please, ignore Mr. Tiller's "Command Value" rating - i.e., the upper letter tag on a leader unit's icon, used by Mr. Tiller to determine rally / morale die-roll checks.

General Rule:  The Leadership Value rating is the lower letter assignment on a leader unit's icon, albeit a subjective, static qualifier.  The Leadership value herein will measure applicable effects of 'friendly' FOG on movement and offensive fire/melee operations.  

• Friendly FOG House Rules require manual observance and calculation. 
• Friendly FOG House Rules are recommended only for the more determined intermediate to advanced war gamer.
• An officer's / commander's Leadership Value rating serves herein to qualify the impact of 'friendly' FOG on freedom of combat unit / formation conduct. 
• Mr. Tiller defines his Leadership Value rating (i.e. the lower letter on a leader unit's icon) as a leader's ability to motivate his troops with A being highest and F being lowest.  This, of course, is meaningless for all game play intents, given an AI routine long in neglect. 
• Keep the Leadership Value rating in mind, however, as you review Section II.

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A. Brigade Officers

 
          Brig. Gen. J. Pettigrew                  Brig. Gen. J. Davis                  Brig. Gen. S. Meredith                     Brig. Gen. L. Cutler

Base Brigade Command Range

General Rule: A Brigade officer's base [default] "Command Range" is 3 hexes for CSA and 2 hexes for USA.   The base brigade command range is the maximum, unadjusted number of hexes that a unit may be from its brigade officer in order to freely move and conduct offensive fire and melee assaults -- but, also see "Enhanced Command Range" II.A._2..  

An officer's CR may never extend through impassable terrain or un-crossable river or creek hex/hex-side .

1. "In Command" Combat Units

Infantry and cavalry function most efficiently when in Command Range of their brigadiers.  Artillery and wagons operate independently. --R. Berg

• may change formation
• may move - expending their full MP allowance
• may conduct offensive fire
• may initiate (offensive) melee



2. "Out-of-Command" Combat Units

Units not In Command are forced to act individually. -- R. Berg

• may only move "1" hex - but, see exceptions i, ii and iii below.
• may not change formation - see exceptions ii, iii, iv and vi below.
• may not conduct offensive fire - i.e., may only fire defensively.
• may not conduct offensive melee - but, see Mounted Cavalry - Miscellaneous Melee Qualifiers - III.B.4..

Exceptions:

1. Mounted Cavalry (on both sides) may always move freely regardless of command status.
   
   
2. USA mounted cavalry may move and/or dismount without need of being "In Command" - reflecting period USA doctrine wherein Union cavalry proved more adept (but not always, of course) as "mounted infantry" - however, see Dismounted Restrictions, IV.A1.c.
   
   
3. CSA mounted cavalry must be In Command as per Dismounted Restrictions, IV. A.1.a. in order to be eligible to dismount.
   
   
4. Dismounted cavalry may always mount, irrespective of command status.
   
   
5. A combat unit that begins the movement phase stacked with or adjacent to its designated Division, Corps, or Army commander is always considered to be "In Command".
   
   
6. Sharpshooters (SS), artillery, supply wagons, Corps, and Army commanders are always treated as being "In Command".
   

---

A Decade in Passing

. . . [as opposed to Mr. Tiller's 200 foot piece-de-fiction], which permits each and every unit on the map to behave as if directly wired to their Army HQ, fantastically unfettered and free to move as if wholly independent of any chain-of-command - coordinating maneuver, defense, and attack across the breadth and expanse of any battlefield with absolute self-assurance and towering self-control so long as the morale check can be avoided - avoided, at least, until the moment(s) of decision. 

To date, Mr. Tiller's program has failed to shed a critical, revealing light on the otherwise crippling effects of "Friendly FOG" on the seldom if ever so predictable cooperation and coordination of all brigade, division, corps, and army troop maneuvers upon a 19th century battlefield.   The command line between heavy-handed, control-freaking 200 foot micro-management and the world of make-believe 'historical' re-creation remains virtually indistinguishable in Mr. Tiller's games, from Talonsoft's Battleground to the current HPS campaign series of Civil War Battles.

Now more than a decade later, Mr. Tillers' 200 foot reliance on a "command and control" fantasy model, and, for all intents, a missing-in-action AI opponent, doesn't mean that his play-by-email sub-routine isn't still a gamey contest of individual wills, requisite patience, and anal-retentive piece-pushing; but these games - as played 'out of the box' - can never be taken seriously as historical, let alone educational, instructive exercises by the sober.  

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Brigade Leadership & Enhanced Command Range


        Brig. Gen. J. Archer                Brig. Gen. A. Iverson               Brig. Gen. J.S. Bowen                    Col. T. Devin                           Brig. Gen. T. Rowley

---




General Rule:   A Brigade officer's "leadership value" rating (i.e., the lower letter on a leader's icon) may increase an officer's base command range.



1. "A"and "B" leadership value brigade officers have their base CR increased by two hexes.
2. "C" and "D" brigade officers assume the default base CR as per II.A. General Rule above.
3. "E" and "F" brigade officers have their base CR reduced by one hex. 

EXAMPLES: 

• Brig. Gen. Archer's (CSA) base CR remains unchanged at 3 hexes -- i.e., CSA base brigade CR = 3 hexes, "D" Leadership value = 0; thus 3+0 = Archer's 3 hex command range.
  
  
• Brig. Gen Iverson's (CSA) command range is historically marginalized to 2 hexes -- i.e., CSA base brigade CR=3 hexes; "E" Leadership value = -1; thus 3-1 = Iverson's 2 hex command range, somewhat tipsy if observably staggering at that?
  
  
• Brig. Gen. J.S. Bowen's (CSA) - Campaign Corinth - adjusted CR = 5 hexes -- i.e., CSA base brigade CR=3 hexes, "A" Leadership value = +2; thus 3+2 = Bowen's 5 hex command range.
  
  
• Col. Devin's (USA) adjusted CR = 4 hexes -- i.e., USA base brigade CR=2 hexes, "B" Leadership value = +2; thus 2 + 2 = Devin's 4 hex command range.
   
• Brig. Gen. Rowley, like his replacement, Col. Biddle, share an adjusted CR of 1 hex -- i.e., USA base brigade CR=2 hexes, "E" Leadership value = -1; thus 2-1 = Rowley/Biddle's truly dismal 1 hex command range.
  
  
4. A Brigade officer's command range may be augmented by a divisional commander's Command Points (CP's) -- please, see II. B._3. below.

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1. Road Column Chain-of-Command

In this way, a long column of men can still be controlled by one leader. -- R. Berg

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Definition:  Road Column Formation is defined as a single-contiguous-string-of-adjacent-units in column formation, regardless of whether a road is present or not, belonging to the same brigade and/or division.

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General Rule:  Units in Road Column Formation may move without being in the immediate Command Range of their leader until the turn after they change formation - at which time all Section II ACW House Rule Essentials - 'friendly FOG' - qualifiers are conspicuously applied.

1. Units of the same brigade are considered to be "In Command" so long as each unit is in column formation, while remaining adjacent to another unit in column formation, and one of these units remains within the "Command Range" of their designated brigade officer.
   
   
2. For Road Column movement only:  each Brigade officer is considered to be "In Command" if he is within the command range of at least one other Brigade officer in the division; and one of the Brigade officers is in the immediate Command Range of the Division commander at the beginning of the movement phase.
   
   
3. Once a "road column" unit changes formation all "In Command" / "Out-of-Command" and exception qualifiers are to be observed as per Section II. A. 1..

   To Review:
   
   

   1. Maintain a single, contiguous line of (adjacent) units in column formation - in other words, observe the "Road Column Formation" definition outlined above.
      
      
   2. Place Brigade officers within your road column units such that each officer's adjusted command range forms a chain-link-command to one Brigade officer, who is in the command range of the Division commander, at the beginning of the player's movement phase.
      
      
   3. Observe all Road Column Formation Stacking restrictions as per I.C. .

General Rule: A combat unit / brigade or division officer that begins the movement phase stacked with or adjacent to its designated District / Corps / Wing Commander always enjoys "in command" status.

1. USA Corps / "District" Command Restrictions
   
   
   1. A USA division commander that begins the movement phase within the command range of his designated Corps / District commander OR within three hexes of his Army commander always enjoys "in command" status.
      
      
   2. A USA Division commander must begin the movement phase within the command range of his designated Corps / "District" commander in order to allocate command points (CP's) to his subordinate brigades as per II.B.3 above.
      
      
   3. An out-of-command USA Division commander may only move one hex

      Note: Where no Corps commander is present on the battlefield (e.g., Campaign Corinth, etc.), a "District" commander (e.g. Brig. Gen. W.T. Sherman - "Memphis District," Maj. Gen. Ord - "Jackson District," etc., ) may satisfy the U.S.A. Division Commander's "in command" requirement (to be eligible to detach / attach a subordinate brigade officer).

   Exception:   Please, see II.E.2. - "'Separated' / Leaderless Reinforcements".

2. CSA Division commanders enjoy "independent" command without qualification to their specific Corps Command status.
   

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   Reminder:   CSA divisions and only "detached" USA division(s) behave as "independent" commands.

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3. Corps Leadership Enhanced Command Range (Optional)


           Maj. Gen. E. Ord                        Maj. Gen W.S. Hancock                       Lt. Gen. R.S. Ewell
             "Jackson District"         

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1. "A" and "B" leadership value Corps commanders have their base command range (CR) increased by +2 hexes.
2. "C" and "D" leadership value Corps commanders receive a "0" command range benefit.
3. "E" and "F" leadership value Corps commanders receive a negative [-2] modifier to their base command range.
4. District Commanders receive no enhanced command range consideration.

EXAMPLES:

• Maj. Gen Ord (USA ) - "Jackson District" Memphis command, Campaign Corinth - is assigned the default 8 hex base CR, given a "C" Leadership value rating.   Remember: A "District" commander essentially serves in the same capacity as a "Corps" commander.
  
  
• Maj. Gen Winfield S. Hancock (USA) at Gettysburg wields a 10 hex arc of command -- i.e., base CR=8, "B" Leadership Value rating = +2; 8+2=10 hex command range.
  
  
• Lt. Gen. A.P.Hill (CSA) is dubiously assigned an adjusted 10 hex CR -- i.e.,  base CR=8, "B" Leadership value rating = +2; thus 8+2=10 hex command range.   This doesn't feel quite right, so please, consider further manual record keeping.

Suggestion:  Gen. Hill's "B" leadership value is arguably too high, recognizing not only his new Corps command status (as yet unproven), but an untimely, weakened physical condition at the time of battle.  Players may agree to manually tweak the OOB, keeping written records of any change(s) to Leadership Value ratings.  By our immediate example, Gen. A.P.Hill's Leadership Value rating would be downgraded to "C" (possibly even a "D" ?) rating, during the course of the three day battle of Gettysburg.  

• Lt. Gen. Ewell (CSA) - Gettysburg, is assigned the default 8 hex base CR, given an assigned "C" Leadership Value rating. Indeed, this feels just about right.
  
  
4. Army Commanders - Any combat unit or brigade/division/corps leader that begins the movement phase within three hexes of the Army commander always enjoys "in command" status.

1. Leaderless Units / Reinforcements
   


1. A leaderless regiment that enters the map must strive to link up with -- i.e., move within the "command range" of -- its assigned brigade officer/leader as quickly as possible and without delay.
   
   
2. If a leaderless regiment is unable to join his assigned brigade within two movement turns, he is assigned a temporary [virtual] "replacement" commander, enabling him to move freely and defend normally although still ineligible to initiate melee - with the exception of 'c' below - until successfully joining his parent command.

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Reminder:   Mounted cavalry are never required to be "in command" in order to move freely as per Section II.A.1. ( Exceptions 'i' ).

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3. A leaderless regiment may not conduct offensive fire / melee.


Exception:   Mounted Rebel Cavalry. 

Leaderless Rebel Mounted Cavalry may always conduct a Mounted Line Formation melee charge, ignoring the otherwise mandatory " in command" requirement - as per Mounted Line Formation Eligibility (V.B.1._b.). 

Mounted rebel cavalry must, however, adhere to all other Mounted Line qualifiers and restrictions as outlined in both V.B. 1. and V.B. 2..


2. "Separated" Brigades / Divisions

Introduction

There are several "what-if" (fantasy) scenarios within the Gettysburg Campaign game wherein a Union Corps (e.g., VIII Corps) enters the game with a number of "separated" (i.e., leaderless / out-of-command brigades), or in the case of USA Doubleday's division, an entire "separated" division.  

ACW House Rule Essentials™ requires that a "separated" formation be treated under a modified "out-0f-command" set of guide-less  - necessary to contest Mr. Tiller's otherwise "200 Foot" run amok (careless) behemoth from growing ever more a-historic.

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General Rule:  A Player's OOB that includes "Separated" commands (i.e., CSA/USA brigades/ USA divisions) -- whether stated or implied - shall be treated under a modified set of "out-of-command" restrictions and qualifiers as outlined below.

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1. If no parent command organization exists at the beginning of play for a "separated" formation, it will be assigned to a qualifying division / corps commander in play.
   
   A Qualifying Division / Corps command is defined as follows:
   
   
1. A maximum of three "separated" brigades may be attached / assigned to a single division commander.
   
   
2. A division commander may never have more than six (6) brigades assigned to his command at any time.
   
   
3. A maximum of one "separated" brigade may be attached / assigned to a corps commander.
   
   
2. The separated brigade / division leader shall, hence, be ordered to march by the most expeditious (direct/fastest) route available to his assigned commander.
   
   
3. If a separated brigade officer begins the game with "hold" or "delay" order - as tacitly implied within a scenario's design, he may only execute orders within a modified "out-of-command" set of rules as dictated below:
   
   
   1. A unit assigned to a separated brigade may not conduct offensive fire / melee.
      
      
   2. Exception:  In a scenario where a "Separated" formation (i.e., brigade/division) has been assigned - isolated and abandoned - to an offensive objective target / hex, in command status shall be reluctantly granted to the separated formation.
      
      
4. A unit assigned to a separated brigade may change formation.
   
   
5. A separated brigade officer / division commander may only expend the maximum number of MP's if:
   
   
1. the officer / commander moves to his immediate rear and in the immediate direction of his [newly] assigned division / corps commander.
   
   
2. the officer / commander remains within an 8-hex radius of his assigned (i.e., as indicated/implied by scenario design*) defensive objective hex at the start of the game.

* An objective hex is defined as any mutually-agreed upon hex-of-interest; i.e.,



• VP objective (as per scenario "Info" panel)
• key town center
• crucial crossroads
• vital bridge / ford
• local tavern stocked with coveted Guiness stout?, etc., etc..
  
  
6. Players shall pause before initiating play to agree upon which hex(s), if any, shall constitute a "separated" command's key objective hex(s).
   
   
7. A separated brigade / division leader shall automatically become attached upon entering his assigned commander's "command range" radius.
   
   
8. Upon successfully linking up with his assigned parent command, a separated brigade / division shall cease to be defined as such, thereafter enjoying "in command" status (as per II.A._1.a.) and all limitations associated with being "out-of-command" (as per II.A._1.b.).
   
   
9. A re-attached brigade / division may still prove eligible to receive an "independent" assignment status - as per II.B.3 and II.D.3. .

Notes: 

1. A "leaderless" or "separated" brigade/division is not the equivalent of an "independent" command despite careless or non-specific implications within any specific scenario.
   
   
2. A "leaderless" or "separated" brigade/division does not enjoy the same privileges as an "independent" command.
   
   
3. A brigade/division leader that begins the game as "leaderless" or "separated" shall retain such status until he successfully links up with his assigned division/corps commander.
   
   
4. Where no Division or Corps commander exists, all Brigades shall be assigned ("attached") to eligible Division / Corps commander(s) or the "Overall Field Commander" / Army Commander - if none remain eligible.
   
   
5. Remember:  a Division Leader may never attach (or detach) more than one brigade to his original command.  Similarly, a Corps Commander may never attach (or detach) more than one division to his original command.

Leader Escorts like Provost troops are included in Mr. Tiller's latest OOB's, but like miniature bits of dreamy confection or divine window-dressing, they serve no specialized function in the game.  What a darn historical . . . sham---e. 

Gen. Porter (V Corps) launches a lackluster 3 brigade pursuit of Lee's retreating army across the Potomac, while back along the receding Antietam, Gen. McClellan mulls over the shifty political winds of opportunity in '64 even as Lincoln advises Little Mac to press his assumed, if but observably fleeting, advantage? ¹

Road Column vs Shock ( Melee) Column

ACW House Rule Essentials™ targets Mr. Tiller's glossed-over, one-size-fits-all column formation by creating an independently defined "Road" column vs "Shock" column pair of complements.

General Rule:   A unit in column that uses (i.e., benefits from) the pike, road, trail movement rate at any time during its movement phase is defined as being in Road Column formation. Such unit(s) may not initiate melee in the same turn.

1. An infantry unit moving in column formation shall (must!) ignore any pike, road, or trail within the hex, thereby manually calculating all movement points expended at the off-road terrain movement rate - in order to remain eligible to conduct offensive melee in a given turn,

Example:   In clear terrain, an infantry unit in column formation beginning its movement phase with 12 MP's may move no more than 6 clear terrain hexes to remain eligible for offensive melee orders in the same turn.

2. An infantry / cavalry unit in column formation may cross a bridge or ford hex to conduct melee - however, you must manually calculate all MP costs at the off-road terrain movement rate in order to remain eligible to initiate melee in the same turn - as per the General Rule.
   
   
3. An infantry in column formation may use a town-road hex in order to conduct a "shock" column melee within the town - however, (again) be sure to manually calculate any MP expenditures during the turn at the off-road terrain movement rate - in order to remain eligible to initiate melee.

"Isolated" Units

1. may conduct a single hex / stack coordinated melee in a hopeful/desperate "breakout” attempt.
   
   
2. may not combine SP's to execute a multiple-hex coordinated melee as per III.A._#2. above.

Note:  Treat units that rout behind enemy lines as "isolated" units.  As a result if they move they must do so in an effort to return to friendly lines asap (see II. g. above).

Dismounted Cavalry -- see IV. A. & B. below

Mounted Cavalry


1. Mounted cavalry in normal column formation (i.e., but not road column formation as per III.B.1. General Rule) may initiate melee "on-the-fly" - i.e., without qualification - against the following units:
   
   
   • limbered artillery
   • leaders
   • wagons
   • routed / isolated units
   • infantry in column formation
   • any unit via rear hex-side
     
     
2. Mounted cavalry must qualify as per Mounted Line Formation ( V.B. ) - to be eligible to initiate melee vs infantry in line / skirmisher, dismounted cavalry in line / skirmisher formation, and mounted cavalry.
   
   However, as per V.B. 1.,
   
   
1. USA Cavalry must be "in command" to be eligible to form a Mounted Line.
   
   
2. CSA Cavalry are free - without "in command" qualification - to form a Mounted Line.
   
   
3. See, Mounted Reconnaissance Eligibility Qualifiers (V.A. iv.), prohibiting all melee / mounted line eligibility.
   
   
4. A mounted cavalry "Retreat Before Melee" option, still, remains under review.
   
   

Skirmishers


A unit in Skirmish Formation may only conduct melee against the following units:



• Leader units
• Wagons
• limbered artillery
• routed / isolated units
• any unit via rear hex-side

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IV. Dismounted Cavalry Qualifiers

                                                     Col. William Gamble's 1st Brigade

   Under morning orders from Gen. Buford, Gamble's troopers dismount to assume a
   defensive line, stretching 1000 yards along the east bank of Willoughby Run.  --July 1, 1863 ⁵

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Introduction:  USA cavalry (especially early in the war) were trained to function most effectively as "mounted infantry" -- in effect they were mobile / swift-of-hoof foot soldiers.  By historical comparison,

"CSA cavalry units were [typically] neither trained to, nor adept at, fighting dismounted.  They were raiders and 'chargers'.  Their Cohesion ratings, were they to dismount, would be so low as to make such a tactical choice prohibitive."  --R. Berg, River of Death

Note:  It is suggested that players provide House Rule exceptions - i.e special qualifiers - to address special unit capabilities specific to your current OOB -- e.g., Gen. N. Forrest, whose "mounted infantry " proved a promising exception to the CSA cavalry doctrine rule; whereas mounted provost guards, etc., might be limited to mounted defensive operations -- i.e., they would not be allowed to initiate melee and/or dismount to form normal battle-line, if only because they did not historically perform conventional "foot soldier" infantry tactics, yes?

Observation:  Mr. Tiller's "melee quality" setup option serves an unqualified "global" modifier for all "A" & "B" quality units, including all cavalry units without exception.  The global 'bonus' provision must be dismissed wholesale, if only because Mr. Tiller's model fails to differentiate between typical cavalry vs infantry military doctrine.   In other words, to permit dismounted cavalry to -- without exception or qualification, enjoy the same, identical melee bonus as line / "shock" infantry is unacceptable - as it a-historically skewers period cavalry doctrine.

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A. Dismounted Restrictions -- source:  Rebel Sabres ©1988

General Rule:   ACW House Rule Essentials™ requires that the "melee quality" option at game setup be disabled.

1. Command & Control
   


1. CSA cavalry must be in command in order to be eligible to dismount.
   
   
2. USA cavalry, however, may dismount without need of being in command - reflecting period USA doctrine wherein Union cavalry proved more adept (but not always, of course) as "mounted infantry".   Also, please, see "c" below.
   
   
3. Out-of-command USA cavalry that dismount must have sufficient MP's left - in the same movement phase - to change to skirmisher formation.  They must remain in skirmish formation so long as they remain "out-of-command". 

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   Reminder:   Dismounted Cavalry, numbering 100 SP's or less, are automatically treated as skirmishers - please, review Skirmishers (XII. A. 1.).

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4. Dismounted cavalry on both sides may always mount without command qualification.
   
   
2. Melee Eligibility



1. A Dismounted Line unit that begins its turn in command may initiate melee vs:
   
   
   • dismounted cavalry
   • unlimbered artillery
   • supply wagons
   • "routed" units
   • through any unit's enfilade/rear hex-side
     
     
2. Dismounted Line may not initiate melee vs infantry in line / column through their ZOC hex-sides (disruption status makes no difference).
   
   
3. Dismounted Line defend normally vs enemy melee [doh!].

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Design Note:  In Richard Berg's Gleam of Bayonets (Antietam), by only one example, a "B" quality mounted cavalry unit immediately becomes a "D" quality unit upon dismounting.  The troop quality reduction not only reduces a dismounted unit's morale / rally capability, but it is also recognized that the dismounted unit is typically ill-equipped and/or psychologically unprepared to go toe to toe, let alone conduct offensive melee against line / "shock" infantry troops.

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B.  Dismounted Skirmishers -- source:  TSS ©1986

"The skirmish line is in advance, with the main body behind.  Mounted companies are stationed on one or both flanks." ¹¹

                                                                                           "Cavalry in Action Dismounted" ¹¹

The initial Confederate Advance by Heth's Division in the early morning hours of July 1, 1863, was not conducted as aggressively as the Confederate Player is likely to do in the game.  Additionally, Buford's troopers were deployed as skirmishers, rather than in a true line formation.  --R. Berg

Use of this house rules section is not intended to adversely affect the rate of the Confederate advance, but it seeks to reduce the a-historical number of casualties suffered on both sides, acknowledging Buford's casualties, alone, were less than 200 men for the entire morning's battle (Buford's troopers being withdrawn for the remainder of the Gettysburg battle at around 1300 hours, July 1).  

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ACW Campaign House Rule Essentials™ strives to model an essential, albeit token, defensive fire benefit for dismounted cavalry in skirmisher formation, defending against enemy fire and/or melee.

Note:  For a complete summary of the Skirmish Formation, please, see XII.  Skirmishers.

General Rule:  A Skirmisher may never stack with another combat unit except artillery or leader unit.

1. A Dismounted Cavalry unit may form Skirmishers at any time during the movement phase.
   


2. A Dismounted Cavalry unit, numbering 100 men or less, is automatically defined and treated as a unit in permanent "Skirmish" Formation - please, review General Rule XII. A. 1.
   
   
3. A stack of "skirmish" units totaling more than 100 SP's, however, is treated as per normal game play rules - negating any skirmish formation status as outlined in XII.A. 1. .
   
   
4. A Dismounted Cavalry unit may only receive non-skirmisher small-arms fire if fired upon by an enemy unit that has expended at least 1 MP.

   -- In other words, a unit must either move and/or change its facing, thereby expending at least 1 MP, to become eligible to fire at a unit enjoying skirmish formation status.
   
   Important!  A Dismounted Skirmisher unit receives no defensive benefit consideration when fired upon during the enemy defensive fire phase.  Given hardwired constraints, this is seen - and play-tested - as a necessary restriction to prevent the defensive-oriented skirmisher unit from being asymmetrically employed in an a-historically offensive manner.
   
   

5. A Dismounted Skirmisher may not initiate [offensive] melee against enemy infantry, regardless of formation or disruption status - however, see 6. exceptions below.
   
   
6. A Dismounted Cavalry unit, numbering 100 men or less, is automatically treated by house rule default to be in Skirmish formation (please, review XII. A. 1.), and therefore must assume a mounted formation in order to be eligible to initiate melee.
   
   
7. Any enemy unit that begins its movement phase within 2 hexes of a targeted Dismounted Skirmisher unit may execute offensive fire / melee vs the unit in Skirmish Formation in the same turn without qualification.
   
   
8. Exceptions

   An in command Dismounted Skirmisher may initiate melee vs the following units:

   • dismounted skirmishers
   • wagons
   • artillery
   • "routed" units
   • officers (dismounted)
   • through any unit's enfilade/rear hex-side

Notes: 

In Mr. Tiller's game, a skirmisher unit is penalized by having 100 sp's subtracted from its fire combat strength during a friendly fire phase - thereby 'simulating' "skirmisher formation." This is acceptable.  However, that a unit in skirmish formation receives no defensive benefit whatsoever vs enemy fire - for being in a more loosely arranged "skirmisher" formation is not.

Additionally, to penalize skirmishers for moving through adverse terrain (woods, etc.) as opposed to 'normal' movement rates for more stiffly orchestrate line/column units makes no sense.   While the bivouac agrees that the "recon" feature was needed, Mr. Tiller's ACW "skirmisher" model fails to simulate a tactical reality.  It is a programming expedient-of-least-resistance that does nothing to show war gamers how a unit in Skirmish Formation, whether infantry and/or dismounted cavalry, historically functioned.  One can put to test such a sorry observation and conclusion by simply attempting to simulate Buford's delay tactics on the morning of July 1 while employing Mr. Tiller's "skirmisher" formation . . . .

RBM Eligibility & Restrictions Routine

General Rule:  A Dismounted Cavalry unit in "Skirmish" Formation need not be in command to exercise its "Retreat Before Melee"(RBM) option.

1. A Dismounted Skirmisher may not be melee 'd by the first enemy unit that enters its ZOC.
   
   
2. Additional enemy unit(s) to "a" above that subsequently enter a Dismounted Skirmisher unit's ZOC in the same or following turn(s), may initiate melee so long as they meet all "in command" requirements as outlined in House Rule Section III.
   
   
3. A Dismounted Skirmisher may not exercise the RBM option if the enemy begins its movement phase within 2 hexes of the defending Dismounted Skirmisher unit. 

   Exception:  If a Dismounted Cavalry has been deployed in a wooded terrain hex, then (c) herein is ignored and (a) above still applies, due to the crippling effect Mr. Tiller's routine has on skirmisher movement capability - a complete '180' to how a unit in loose / skirmish order should be able to conduct tactical maneuvers.

4. A Dismounted Skirmisher may not exercise the RBM option if melee 'd through one of its rear hexes.
   
   
5. A Dismounted Skirmisher may not exercise the RBM option if "Isolated" and/or it would otherwise be forced to enter an enemy ZOC.
   
   
6. A Dismounted Skirmisher in an enemy Mounted cavalry unit's ZOC may not exercise the RBM option.
   
   
7. A "disrupted" Dismounted Skirmisher may not exercise the RBM option.
   

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(Optional) RBM Routine (PBEM)

A "Retreat Before Melee" option in the spirit of Berg's original boardgame design, albeit not so transparent or effortless to effect.

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General Rule:  Dismounted Cavalry units in "Skirmish" Formation - please, also be sure to review XII.A._1. - and targeted for melee may exercise the Retreat Before Melee.

Routine Checklist

1. The Phasing Player sends an email courier to his venerable enemy's HQ, indicating the precise opposing Skirmisher units he 'intends' to butcher, er . . . . melee, during the current turn.  check.
   
   
2. The Non-phasing Player replies via email courier to his HQ counterpart, which - if any - of the targeted Skirmisher unit(s) shall exercise the Retreat Before Melee option.  check.

   Note:  Obviously, steps 'a' & 'b' as outlined above will force additional delays upon commanders.  This delay alone should discourage all but the grumpi-ss among-ss.

3. A Dismounted Skirmisher unit of the Non-phasing Player that has opted to exercise the RBM option may not be melee 'd by the Phasing Player in the current melee phase.
   
   
4. At the beginning of the Non-phasing Player's following movement turn, each Dismounted Skirmisher unit, exercising the Retreat-Before-Melee option, must vacate its currently occupied hex by retreating two hexes to its rear in the immediate direction of friendly lines and/or designated Brigade Officer.
   
   
5. The two hex "zone" of vacated hexes - by the retreating skirmisher units - may not be re-occupied by other defending units.  The intent here is to permit the original phasing player's units to voluntarily occupy the hexes vacated by the retreating skirmisher unit.
   
   
6. A Dismounted Skirmisher unit may not exercise the RBM option if targeted for melee through one of its rear hexes.
   
   
7. A Dismounted Skirmisher unit may not exercise the RBM option if it must "retreat" into an enemy ZOC.
   
   
8. If a Dismounted Skirmisher cannot fulfill its 2-hex retreat requirement as outlined in "d" above for any reason, it may not exercise the Retreat Before Melee.
   
   
9. A Dismounted Skirmisher unit may not exercise the RBM option if it is in the ZOC of a (charging) Mounted Line cavalry unit.
   
   
10. A "disrupted" Dismounted Skirmisher may not exercise the RBM option.

The bivouac also recommends selecting Mr. Tiller's recent Mounted Cavalry Skirmisher game setup option addition as per Appendix ii.

General Rule:  Mounted Reconnaissance formation is defined as a cavalry unit in "column" formation, which executes and ends all movement during the initial Mounted Reconnaissance Movement (MRM) phase in a previously unspotted enemy unit's LOS.

However, a mounted cavalry unit that ends its movement during the MRM phase in the direct LOS of a previously unspotted enemy unit -- but beyond the ranged fire of enemy guns / small-arms -- shall fail to qualify as "mounted reconnaissance" and is treated as normal mounted cavalry.

10-13-07 Addition -- Mounted Cavalry Skirmishers (Optional)

Players employing the Mounted Skirmisher option shall recognize that revealed '?' enemy locations constitute a spotted unit.  Thus a mounted cavalry unit that ends movement within two (2) hexes of a spotted enemy unit fails to qualify as a cavalry unit engaging in
Mounted Reconnaissance," hence, is treated as per normal cavalry rules.

1. The Mounted Reconnaissance Movement Phase.



1. All Mounted Reconnaissance movement is conducted prior to the normal friendly movement phase -- in effect, this shall dictate a new turn-phase addition:  The Mounted Reconnaissance Movement (MRM) phase.
   
   
2. During the MRM phase, each player voluntarily plots one or more eligible (please, see "Eligibility Qualifiers" below) cavalry units for "mounted reconnaissance" service.

   Example:   a)  At the beginning of the 8:20 a.m. turn, during the initial MRM phase -- i.e. prior to all normal friendly movement -- the phasing player voluntarily deploys "mounted reconnaissance" unit(s) for the purpose of intelligence-gathering.  b) At the end of the MRM phase, any enemy units that become visible ("spotted") as a result of mounted cavalry movement plots, during the preceding MRM phase, shall define such cavalry as "mounted reconnaissance," therefore, requiring additional treatment as outlined below (please, see "2" and "3" below).

3. Mounted Reconnaissance may not be deployed during dawn, dusk, or night turns.
    
4. Mounted Reconnaissance may never be fired upon during the enemy offensive or defensive fire phase.
   
   Explanation:  The intent here is to minimize pointless cavalry losses to units assigned reconnaissance duty.  Scouts would indeed suffer the occasional loss, but a cavalry officer would never be forced to expose his entire mounted squadron or regiment to self-immolation by enemy fire as a result of serving in the modest capacity of intelligence gathering.  In other words, not just one or two valuable scouts, but an entire mounted formation can be caught upon exposed, open ground, frozen in phase/turn-based time, hence, unable to withdraw until suffering at least one defensive and (followed by) one enemy offensive fire round.  Mr. Tiller's generic "Mounted Skirmisher" addition helps considerably, but is still unable to address exposure to mounted scouts caught in a phase-based paralysis beyond the two hex range.



Note:   If playing with the "auto-def" fire routine enabled, and if perchance the routine fails to execute its "auto-def" fire, the mounted reconnaissance unit will, in effect, get away without so much as a scrape - via mandatory withdrawal in its following movement phase.  Life -- and cheating death -- is always 'fair' game.  Se la vie.

2. Exit Strategy Phase
:  In the following enemy movement phase, a clear path for the "mounted reconnaissance" withdrawal will be provided and maintained for the duration of the enemy movement phase, thereby permitting the mandatory withdrawal of the tagged "mounted reconnaissance" unit (as determined by previous MRM-Phase assignments) in the next normal friendly movement phase.


3. Mandatory Withdrawal Phase
:  In the next normal friendly movement phase, the "mounted reconnaissance" unit(s) as heretofore defined is required to expend at least one-half of its initial mp's by essentially withdrawing post haste to the rear and in the immediate direction of nearest friendly lines of communication.  Upon meeting this requirement, the cavalry unit may continue to move / change formation, etc., as per the normal movement phase.

Eligibility Qualifiers

(i)  Mounted cavalry that move during the normal friendly movement phase -- i.e., after all Mounted Reconnaissance Movement has been completed and the normal movement is underway -- are treated as normal cavalry in column and/ or "mounted line" formation (please, see V.B. below); to be sure, they no longer qualify as "mounted reconnaissance".

(ii)  "Disrupted" cavalry may not conduct "mounted reconnaissance" operations .

(iii)  Leaders may not assume "mounted reconnaissance" duty although may still provide intelligence-gathering, during the normal movement phase.

(iv)  Mounted Reconnaissance units may not initiate melee.

(v)  Of course, any eligible (see "iv" exception above) enemy unit that enters an unspotted mounted cavalry unit's ZOC may conduct fire / melee combat as per normal play (because only mounted cavalry that are ordered to move in their own friendly Mounted Reconnaissance Movement Phase shall qualify as "mounted reconnaissance").

Notes:

Observation:  "Mounted Skirmisher" (Reconnaissance) formation increases unit survivability, contesting the senseless, a-historical slaughter of mounted troopers, who are fixed in place, during the enemy defensive / offensive fire and melee phases, apparently lacking a sure sense of urgency to withdraw upon initial sighting / contact with the enemy. 

Suggestion:   Scott Hamilton's aged (but venerable) phase-based Aide-de-Camp II shows a workable solution:  a movement-triggered LOS (Line-of-Sight) refresh routine. --see Appendix iii - "Show Don't Tell" Wish List - 'Real-Time' Spotting Routine (scroll down about 1/3).

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B. Mounted Line (Melee) Formation (Advanced) --source:  Rebel Sabers ©1988            

             Col. J. Kilpatrick's cavalry, in line formation, charges rebel battery.

                                                                                 Richmond vicinity, May 3, 1863 ¹²

General Rule:  Only cavalry in Mounted Line formation may initiate melee -- but see exceptions III.B. 4. a. (Miscellaneous Melee Qualifiers)

Mounted Line (Melee) Eligibility

Mounted Line formation is defined as a cavalry unit in column formation with the additional qualifiers and critical restrictions below:



1. USA Cavalry must be "in command" to be eligible to form a Mounted Line.
   
   
2. CSA Cavalry need not be "in command" in order to execute a Mounted Line formation.
   
   
3. (Optional) A cavalry unit in column formation intending to melee is required to expend -- manually calculated -- an additional 4 MP's at the beginning of the movement phase, thereby executing a change to Mounted Line formation.
   
   
4. A charging Mounted Line unit is required to manually calculate all MP terrain costs in each hex at the off-road movement rate.
   
   
5. A Mounted Line unit that needs to use / benefit from the road movement rate at any time during its movement phase - with the exception of a bridge or ford hex - is immediately disqualified, hence, ineligible to initiate a mounted charge / melee in the same turn.

   Example:   A cavalry unit, beginning its movement phase with 24 MP's, may move up to a total of 12 clear terrain hexes (i.e., expending 2 MP's per hex) in order to remain eligible to charge/melee in the same turn -- please, review V.B. #2. below for further qualifiers/restrictions. 

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Reminder:  All charge / melee movement per hex is calculated -- manually -- at the off-road terrain movement rate in order to retain melee eligibility in the same turn.

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                                                              An idealized 'last hurrah'!

           Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart --Yellow Tavern, May 11, 1864

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Mounted Line (Melee) Restrictions -- source:  GBACW™ Basic Rules ©1990

1. The Charge Path:   The last three hexes - but not including the target hex itself (or less, if the charging unit begins its movement phase closer) of the attacking cavalry movement is called the Charge Path.   While in the Charge Path, the charging unit may not change facing - it may, of course, have moved more than a total of three hexes in its movement phase, but it may not change facing once it enters the last three hexes - i.e., the Charge Path - excluding the target hex itself. 
   
   The Charge Path may not include any terrain which would cost more than 2 MP's to enter - crossing stream(s), however, is allowed.
   
   
2. Mounted Line may only charge / melee an enemy it can actually see -- i.e., in its direct LOS -- at the beginning of the movement phase.
   
   
3. A leader unit that elects to accompany a Mounted Line unit in melee must also begin the movement phase with a direct LOS of the same enemy target hex.  He may, however, join the melee at any portion of his movement phase.
   
   
4. Mounted Line may not move through -- or stack with -- infantry units in column / line formation.
   
   
5. Mounted Line may, however, move through (although never stack with) units in skirmisher formation.
   
   
6. Mounted Line may move through and/or stack with mounted line units of the same brigade, during charge movement.
   
   
7. Mounted Line may not stack with units from a different brigade.
   
   
8. Mounted Line may only participate in a coordinated [multiple-hex] melee (see III A.2.) with line infantry if accompanied by (stacked with) his brigade officer or superior cavalry commander.
   
   
9. The hexes between the charging unit and its target may include any type of hex / hex-side, except the following:
   
   
   • Woods
   • trees
   • orchard hexes
   • more than one uphill change of elevation
   • steep slope / cliffs (doh!)
   • creeks (doh!)
   • rivers (doh!)
   • a hex containing friendly combat units / wagons
   • breastwork(s) -- other than within the target hex
   • town hexes (doh!)

General Rule:  A combat unit that conducts a voluntary withdrawal from an enemy zone-of-control hex has its MP allowance halved.   The friction exhibited by hostile adjacent enemy ZOC's defines the tactical pin.

1. A pinned combat unit - regardless of current troop status (i.e., normal /disrupted) - may never incur a loss of more than one-half its normal MP allowance for a given turn.
   
   Examples:  
   
   
   • A pinned infantry line, column, or dismounted cavalry unit will suffer a 6 MP penalty as per General Rule above.  The pin leaves the unit with a maximum 6 Movement Point allowance at the start of its movement phase - i.e., 12 mp's (normal) divided by 2 (the pin penalty) = 6 mp's.
     
     
   • As per Mr. Tiller's game setup option, disrupted line / column infantry, and dismounted cavalry units automatically have their mp allowance reduced from 12 mp's to 9 mp's (not 6 mp's as in all prior editions) at the start of their movement phase. 
     
     A simultaneously Disrupted and Pinned unit therefore may lose only Three additional Movement Points, again leaving it with a 6 Mp allowance at the start of  its movement phase - as per General Rule above which holds that a pinned unit may never undergo the loss of more than one-half its normal MP allowance -- not a whit more or less! -- in any given turn.
     
     
2. A combat unit that elects to change formation within an enemy ZOC -- i.e. from line to column, unlimbered to limbered, etc., may not move in the same turn.
   
   
3. Stacking Order (please, review I.B.) within a pinned hex remains a significant tactical consideration, however.
   
   Thus a unit or stack of units in a hex may shield any unit stacked beneath, allowing the covered unit to change formation and/or withdraw from the hex without incurring the MP penalty normally inflicted by the pin.
   
   

   Example:   An unlimbered gun that limbers under the cover of a infantry unit in line ignores the enemy pin.

4. Exceptions:
   

• skirmishers, mounted cavalry (whether in column, " line," "reconnaissance," or "skirmisher" formation), limbered guns, routed, wagon, and leader units may not be pinned.
  
  
• skirmishers, mounted reconnaissance (please, review V. A.), limbered guns, disrupted / routed, wagon, and leader units exert no "pin" influence.
  

Examples:  


• A normal (i.e., not "reconnaissance") mounted cavalry ZOC exerts a pin as per General Rule on an adjacent enemy infantry or dismounted cavalry unit.
  


• A normal mounted cavalry ZOC fails to exert a pin on an adjacent enemy infantry or dismounted cavalry unit in skirmish formation.
  
  
• A mounted cavalry ZOC fails to exert a pin on any adjacent enemy mounted cavalry unit.   Period.
  
  
• a unit less than 100 SP's exerts no "pin" effect.
  
  

1. A unit that maneuvers parallel to an enemy unit's "2" hex FoF front, however, expends an additional "2" MP's for each additional FoF hex it enters.   

   Examples:

   • It costs an infantry unit in clear terrain 4 MP's p/hex -- instead of the usual 2 MP's -- to move across (parallel to) an enemy combat unit's FoF front.
     
     
   • It costs a column infantry unit, moving at the road column movement rate, 3 MP's p/hex -- instead of 1 MP -- to move across an enemy combat unit's FoF front.
     
     
2. A combat unit that changes formation within an enemy FoF expends an additional "2" MP's.
   
   
3. A combat unit's FoF is ignored if one or more of its own ZOC hexes is occupied by an enemy unit.
   
   
4. There is no MP penalty for a unit moving through an enemy unit's FoF in order to move directly into or away from an enemy's ZOC.
   
   
5. Exceptions - The following units lack FoF Influence:
    
   • Disrupted, Routed, Limbered Guns, Wagon, and Leader units.
     
     
   • Units in Skirmish Formation - including any unit less than 100 SP's (which defines "Skirmish Formation" as per XII.A).
     
     
   • Mounted Reconnaissance
     
     

   A multi-legged pair of tactical mods to the "automated-defensive fire" turn-based game.*

                                                         "Pontoons" . . . Confederate-style

   shoeless infantry from Ewell's II Corps wade north to Pennsylvania. ⁵ 

Update (5-4-08):  "Optional Melee Resolution"

Kudos! for Mr. Tiller's recent "Optional Melee Resolution" game setup option addition, which borrows at below wholesale prices (i.e., at no cost and no credit to no one ;-)) from section "VII. B." below.

Update:  Shiloh 1.03c  includes a "captured" artillery patch in progress.   Section XIII Artillery Capture house rules remain archived herein as original source reference material.

This house rule essentially acknowledges a missing time element that it demonstrably takes to successfully spike and/or remove captured ordnance from a live battlefield situation.  Heavy ordnance simply don't 'up and away' without a trace as Mr. Tiller's model rather hastily suggests.

Note:  Under Richard Berg's GBACW rules, artillery guns have a separate, complementary crew unit assigned to a specified section/battery. Under Berg's rules, for an unlimbered gun to be successfully captured, a unit must successfully melee the gun unit hex AND then remain in the gun hex for two consecutive turns before the gun(s) may be removed from the map with appropriate victory points assessed.

1. An isolated, surrounded, or other unit finding itself in a hopeless situation may raise a white flag, rag, or what-have-you, requesting "surrender terms" via email courier. 
   
   
2. Surrender terms - if entertained - will provide for as expeditious a route as practicable to a unit's rear map edge hex - a hex considered to be out of play (safe) for the remainder of the battle.  The route taken may be determined by the player dictating terms. ^(a)
   
   
3. In all cases, the surrendering unit
   
   
   1. may never end its movement phase on a road hex.^(b)
      
      
   2. may never end the movement phase with its facing exerting a ZOC over any road hex ^(c)
      
      
   3. must end the movement phase with its rear facing to the enemy.^(d)
      
      
   4. shall strive to expend all MP's, until it reaches the rear edge of the map (behind friendly lines w/facing directed towards the map edge) where it shall remain under lock and key - i.e. "fixed" in place - for the remainder of the battle.
      
      
   5. may not participate in combat or other activity of any kind (i.e. as in occupying a victory hex, employed for spotting / semaphore duty, etc.) for the remainder of the battle.
      
      
   6. may never be attacked for the duration of the battle, lest dishonor fall upon he who originally granted the otherwise magnanimous surrender terms.

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Notes:

a)  Requiring a surrendered unit to return to its own rear prevents the unit from unwittingly serving as a spotter and/or proving a hindrance or impediment of any kind to enemy movement, battle intentions, etc..

b)   A surrendering unit must not be allowed to block enemy / friendly road movement.

c)  A surrendering unit's ZOC that faces away from the enemy is less likely to impede enemy intentions.

Concluding Observation

A.  Skirmish Formation -- source:  GBACW™ Basic Rules ©1990

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'Skirmish' is a formation used to screen densely-packed units behind the skirmish line, or to defend an extended position not in danger of immediate assault. --R. Berg

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Important:   Treat Mr. Tiller's "Mounted Skirmishers" game play option as per normal game play rules.

Mr. Tiller's latest "Mounted Skirmisher" pile-on creation describes a ubiquitous "one-size-fits-all" tactical abstraction which thinks to serve in a Quantum Mechanics universe wherein (1) a mounted road column formation  (2) a mounted melee formation (3) and an 'auto' "mounted skirmisher" formation are all tactically represented by the same, identical formation qualifier.   

The bivouac would prefer to see Mr. Tiller differentiate (i.e., show the differences / distinguish between) column, line, and skirmish formation models.

1. A unit of 100 SP's or less may form Skirmishers (i.e., change to line / dismounted formation, thereby forming skirmishers as per "General Rule" above) at any time during the movement phase.
   
   
2. Dismounted & Sharpshooter (SS) Skirmishers (Optional)
   
   Players may agree to permit all dismounted cavalry and all USA / CSA sharpshooter units in line formation to automatically qualify as units in permanent Skirmish formation - as defined herein Section XII - whether or not they have actually changed into Mr. Tiller's otherwise crippling, "maneuver-challenged" recon-abstraction model.
   

Examples:

The following sample of undersized units are defined and treated as units in permanent Skirmish Formation:

• Col. B.T. Johnson's 4 regiments (Jone's Bde - Jackson's Wing at Antietam) -i.e., 1st VA Btln (53 SP's), 21st VA (68 SP's), 42nd VA (98 SP's), 48th VA (88 SP's)



• Col. Devin's "detached" 9th NY (100 SP's), 6th NY (100 SP's), L-6th NY (35 SP's), 17th PA (100 SP's), A&C 3rd West VA (59 SP's)
  
  
• Col. Gamble's "detached" 8th NY (100 SP's), 8th Ill (100 SP's), and 3rd Ind (100 SP's)

Review:

1. A Line / Dismounted unit, numbering 100 men or less, is by definition treated as a unit in permanent skirmisher formation as per Section XII herein.
   
   
2. A Line / Dismounted cavalry unit - numbering 100 men or less - that changes to column / mounted formation conducts all movement and combat as per normal game (i.e., "Tiller-rules") play.

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B.  Stacking / Movement

1. A unit loses "Skirmish" formation status - as defined in "General Rule" (XII.A.) - whenever stacked in the same hex with another combat unit.
   
   
2. A stack of skirmisher units, totaling more than 100 SP's, may stack as per normal game play, but as a consequence they lose their   Skirmish formation status as defined in XII.A. 1. .
   
   
3. A unit in Skirmish formation may stack with a leader, wagon, or other non-combat unit without losing Skirmish Formation status.
   
   
4. A unit in Skirmish formation exerts no "combat friction" on enemy movement - please, review The Pin (VI.A.) and Field-of-Fire (VI.B.).
   
   
5. A unit in Skirmish formation likewise shall ignore enemy "combat friction" penalties - please, review The Pin (VI.A.) and Field-of-Fire (VI.B.).
   
   
6. A friendly unit may freely pass through a hex containing a unit in Skirmish formation and vice versa.
   
   
7. Mounted Line may freely pass through a hex containing a unit in Skirmish formation as per V.B.2._c.   in order to conduct a mounted melee charge.

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C.  Skirmish Command Range (SCR) --source:  GBACW™ Basic Rules ©199o

Thus if Skirmish Command Range is maintained, all skirmishers are considered In Command even though some may actually be out of their brigadier's Command Range.  In this fashion, an extended line of skirmishers can be maintained efficiently. --R. Berg

General Rule:   A unit in Skirmish formation has an SCR of 2 hexes that it may pass along to another unit in Skirmish formation of the same brigade - so long as one of the Skirmisher units also begins its movement phase within the CR (Command Range) of its designated Brigade Officer.