March 20, 1864 – CSS Alabama Returns to Cape Town

This day 150 years ago in Rebel Raiders’ History

-Dedicated to Civil War episodes, battles, people and ships that also appear in my game, GMT’s Rebel Raiders on the High Seas.

March 20, 1864 – CSS Alabama Returns to Cape Town

Historical Event:  On March 20, 1864 the Confederate cruiser CSS Alabama returned to Cape Town, from which she departed the previous August to go raiding in the Indian Ocean, Straits of Malacca and as far as Borneo and Singapore.  Pickings had been slim; only nine Union ships had been found in those seven months, compared to the 55 captures CSS Alabama had made in the nine months before setting out from Cape Town.)

 Captain Raphael Semmes and his crew were again hailed as heroes by the people of Cape Town, but they found British officials far less welcoming.  Much had changed in the last half year, and Semmes and his ship were both worn and in need of rest and a refit.  Unable to find either in Cape Town, and forewarned not to go to England and risk being seized, four days later Semmes set his course for France.  CSS Alabama would take only two more prizes on what would become her final voyage, for shortly after arriving in Cherbourg she would be challenged by USS Kearsarge, which the raider fought in an epic and fateful duel in June 1864.

Game Connection:  The CSS Alabama is not only one of the ships for whom the game Rebel Raiders on the High Seas is named; she graces the cover.  The Confederate cruiser appears in the strategic naval game as a unique counter and card (CSN 63).  The many oceans of the world are presented on the map for CSS Alabama to raid – provided she can stay clear of the Union warships sent to hunt her down – among them, USS Kearsarge – as represented by USN Card 14.

Sherman Takes Command

This day 150 years ago in Rebel Raiders’ History  

 -Dedicated to Civil War episodes, battles, people and ships that also appear in my game, GMT’s Rebel Raiders on the High Seas.

March 18, 1864 – Sherman Takes Command

Historical Event:  Promoted to lieutenant general in early March and ordered East, U.S. Grant officially turned over command of the Military Division of the Mississippi to William Tecumseh Sherman on March 18, 1864.   While Grant made plans for a coordinated offensive in Virginia, Sherman organized his forces for the invasion of Georgia – which would lead to his capture of Atlanta and the subsequent March to the Sea.

Game Connection:  Although Rebel Raiders on the High Seas is primarily a strategic naval game of the Civil War, the land war is represented.  Sherman and Grant, as well as their Confederate opponents, are present (Sherman is USN Card 50).  These generals grant additional dice, re-rolls and other bonuses in land combat.

March 16, 1864 – “That Devil Forrest” Rides for Kentucky – and on to Ft. Pillow

This day 150 years ago in Rebel Raiders’ History

-Dedicated to Civil War episodes, battles, people and ships that also appear in my game, GMT’s Rebel Raiders on the High Seas.

March 16, 1864 – “That Devil Forrest” Rides for Kentucky – and on to Ft. Pillow

Historical Event:  On March 16, 1864 General Nathan Bedford Forrest led his famed cavalry command on a month-long raid that would take him through Tennessee and into Kentucky, where he twice attacked Paducah on the Ohio River.  Rebuffed there, Forrest sent most of his division back South while with about 1,500 horsemen continued to lead pursuing Union troops on a wild chase as he headed for Fort Pillow.  There, on April 12, Forrest defeated the defending regiment of U.S. Colored Troops – several dozen of whom were killed allegedly after they surrendered.  The “Fort Pillow Massacre” left a stain upon the honor of General Forrest, whose own reports of the incident are at best ambiguous. 

Game Connection:  Although Rebel Raiders on the High Seas is primarily a strategic naval game of the Civil War, the land war is represented.  General Nathan Bedford Forrest appears in the game as CSN Card 85, and the diversionary nature of his raids are reflected in the penalties applied to one Union land attack when played.  

March 12, 1864 – Red River Campaign: Disaster in the Making

This day 150 years ago in Rebel Raiders’ History

-Dedicated to Civil War episodes, battles, people and ships that also appear in my game, GMT’s Rebel Raiders on the High Seas.

March 12, 1864 – Red River Campaign: Disaster in the Making

Historical Event:  On March 12, 1864 a score of Union ironclads and gunboats began what would become an ill-fated campaign on Louisiana’s Red River.  Sailing in support of the invading army of General Nathaniel Banks, the fleet would eventually become trapped as water levels fell and Confederate resistance under Kirby Smith rose.  Only by dint of an engineering miracle that included the building of a dam would the fleet be saved.

Additional Event:  On this date in 1864 two blockade runners lowered their colors.   The sloop Persis surrendered to USS Massachusetts in Wassaw Sound, Georgia and the schooner Marion was captured by USS Arostook near Velasco, Texas.

Game Connection:  In Rebel Raiders on the High Seas, Blockade Runners like the Persis and Marion play a vital role in bringing in cargo to keep the South in the war.  To stop them the Union player deploys screw sloops, like the USS Massachusetts and gunboats, like the USS Arostook.  The sloops tend to stay offshore in the outer ring, while the gunboats patrol the blockade stations directly opposite the key Confederate ports.    While the above-named ships themselves are represented by generic ship counters of their type, many of their sister ships appear as named counters and on corresponding cards in Rebel Raiders on the High Seas.

The Red River campaign is represented by a space on the map and a card played by the Confederates (CSN Card 76 – Red River Fiasco).  This is a design choice because few Union players would otherwise voluntarily commit such large forces, including their precious ironclads, to the complicated and highly problematic scheme concocted by Union General Henry Halleck.

March 5, 1864 – Richmond Orders Blockade Runners to Carry War Goods

This day 150 years ago in Rebel Raiders’ History

-Dedicated to Civil War episodes, battles, people and ships that also appear in my game, GMT’s Rebel Raiders on the High Seas.

March 5, 1864 – Richmond Orders Blockade Runners to Carry War Goods

Historical Event:  On March 5, 1864 the Confederate Government ordered that forthwith all Blockade Runners must devote at least half of their cargo space to war materials – which could include beef, grain or other desperately needed foodstuffs.   While some Blockade Runners did voluntarily or under government contract pack their holds with weapons, munitions and the engines and armor needed to build ironclads, most continued to bring in luxury goods, as these made for much bigger profits.  Ships carrying such goods often made back the cost of the ship by their second run through the blockade.  By March of 1864, however, the Confederacy was starving and in desperate need of weapons to replace those that had been lost in the crucial defeats of 1863.  By this measure Richmond hoped that the Blockade Runners would ensure a steady flow of the food and military supplies needed to carry on the war, while continuing to remain a lucrative enough of an opportunity to convince investors to keep outfitting such ships.

Game Connection:  In Rebel Raiders on the High Seas, Blockade Runners load up Cargo abroad and bring it back for Victory Points.  These Victory Points are used to satisfy the Supply attrition requirements and can be traded in to buy more Blockade Runners, Raiders, Gunboats, and even Ironclads, as well as Batteries, Counterattacks and additional Cards from the deck.   In addition to generic ships, many of the more famous Blockade Runners appear in the game. There also are cards that grant bonuses to increase the number and value of those Cargo markers.  

March 1, 1864 – Grant Named Lieutenant General

This day 150 years ago in Rebel Raiders’ History

-Dedicated to Civil War episodes, battles, people and ships that also appear in my game, GMT’s Rebel Raiders on the High Seas.

March 1, 1864 – Grant Named Lieutenant General 

Historical Event:  On this date 150 years ago President Abraham Lincoln nominated Ulysses Grant for promotion to the rank of lieutenant general.  In February Lincoln and Congress agreed to revive the rank, which had been held before first by George Washington and then, in brevet form only, by Winfield Scott.  The President felt it necessary not to honor Grant but to solidify his authority as overall commander of all Union armies.  On March 10 Lincoln signed the twin orders that officially promoted Grant and gave him his new responsibilities.

Note: The South had 18 lieutenant generals, among the most famous of whom was James Longstreet, who also appears in Rebel Raiders (as CSN Card 79).  The rank was given to most corps commanders to indicate their superior authority over the major generals who led the divisions in those corps.

Game Connection:  Although Rebel Raiders on the High Seas is primarily a game of naval strategy, it also has a strong land component, and Ulysses Grant is part of that.  The stubborn general who, like Patton in a later war would rather hang on after a defeat rather than retreat and have to pay for the same real estate twice, is represented by one card (USN Card 8 – Grant Takes Command) and appears on another (USN Card 36 – “If it takes all Summer…”).   The first helps the Union in combat, the second offers the North a chance to extend the game for one more turn – an opportunity which if won puts intense pressure on the Confederate player, as it in effect puts the game into “overtime.”