Post by Timf on Oct 21, 2015 10:19:13 GMT
On a misty morning in 1862, somewhere up the Mattaponi River.....
A Union fleet steams to destroy a supplies anchorage near Scotland Landing on the eastern bank and the Confederate Depot on the opposite shore defended by a fort nearby overlooking De Farges Bar.
As the Union fleet steamed forward an artillery party with 12pndrs had advanced to riverside positions beyond the Confederate depot at Madison Creek and had sighted the Virginia in problems with her boiler undergoing emergency repairs. Alerts went out and runners were dispatched to White Oak landing to signal the upriver sections of the Confederate flotilla based at Walkerton.
The opening few minutes consisted of the Union force of Monitor, Choctaw and Signal steaming rapidly through the rising mist towards the Virginia hoping to damage her before repairs could be effected, acutely aware of mines strung from Sandy Point to a nearby island and with news that Anemone was delayed due to a trapped screw and only Indianola and Tyler to arrive shortly
Virginia and the gunners of the 13th Delaware Light Artillery exchanged fire to the detriment of the gunners.
Most of the Union fleet crossed the mines and sandbars protecting the Madison Creek depot safely with only paintwork damaged by a few small torpedoes that exploded halfheartedly. The flotilla bombarded the Madison depot setting buildings aflame.
Virginia was joined by a fast moving Selma who advanced rapidly on the Union vessels, joined by Indianola who travelled past De Barges Bar and Tyler who steamed to the main force as Virginia herself got underway.
Confederate gunners at De Forges fort made a name for themselves damaging a number of Union vessels that attempted to damage the shipyard at Scotland Landing as Selma piled into the Union fleet as Choctaw stood off firing at Virginia. Using her speed and taking massive damage from Signal's lethally accurate gunners as she did Selma ploughed into Union fleet, sailing at that point only because of the light weight of Signals guns. She hammered into the side of Monitor and shortly thereafter was sunk herself and dragged her target down with her.
Tyler became a victim of the heavily battered Virginia and as it became apparent that heavy forces were closing the Union fleet took stock and left, as Virginia slowly shipped water - she settled on a sandbar shortly afterward and was scuttled in place.
Overall the points were calculated and came out 67-68 - a very close game, with a very close - each side able to claim victory with Virginia surviving the battle but not surviving the retreat and the Confederate supply lines battered for the Union and Monitor sunk despite the massively unequal force balance (only one tinclad came in to support the Confederates starting ship)
Good fun and I will be looking to run more of this - hopefully with me getting to play next time!
A Union fleet steams to destroy a supplies anchorage near Scotland Landing on the eastern bank and the Confederate Depot on the opposite shore defended by a fort nearby overlooking De Farges Bar.
As the Union fleet steamed forward an artillery party with 12pndrs had advanced to riverside positions beyond the Confederate depot at Madison Creek and had sighted the Virginia in problems with her boiler undergoing emergency repairs. Alerts went out and runners were dispatched to White Oak landing to signal the upriver sections of the Confederate flotilla based at Walkerton.
The opening few minutes consisted of the Union force of Monitor, Choctaw and Signal steaming rapidly through the rising mist towards the Virginia hoping to damage her before repairs could be effected, acutely aware of mines strung from Sandy Point to a nearby island and with news that Anemone was delayed due to a trapped screw and only Indianola and Tyler to arrive shortly
Virginia and the gunners of the 13th Delaware Light Artillery exchanged fire to the detriment of the gunners.
Most of the Union fleet crossed the mines and sandbars protecting the Madison Creek depot safely with only paintwork damaged by a few small torpedoes that exploded halfheartedly. The flotilla bombarded the Madison depot setting buildings aflame.
Virginia was joined by a fast moving Selma who advanced rapidly on the Union vessels, joined by Indianola who travelled past De Barges Bar and Tyler who steamed to the main force as Virginia herself got underway.
Confederate gunners at De Forges fort made a name for themselves damaging a number of Union vessels that attempted to damage the shipyard at Scotland Landing as Selma piled into the Union fleet as Choctaw stood off firing at Virginia. Using her speed and taking massive damage from Signal's lethally accurate gunners as she did Selma ploughed into Union fleet, sailing at that point only because of the light weight of Signals guns. She hammered into the side of Monitor and shortly thereafter was sunk herself and dragged her target down with her.
Tyler became a victim of the heavily battered Virginia and as it became apparent that heavy forces were closing the Union fleet took stock and left, as Virginia slowly shipped water - she settled on a sandbar shortly afterward and was scuttled in place.
Overall the points were calculated and came out 67-68 - a very close game, with a very close - each side able to claim victory with Virginia surviving the battle but not surviving the retreat and the Confederate supply lines battered for the Union and Monitor sunk despite the massively unequal force balance (only one tinclad came in to support the Confederates starting ship)
Good fun and I will be looking to run more of this - hopefully with me getting to play next time!
