April 30, 1864 – Union Fleet Escapes Red River Trap via “Bailey’s Dam”

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.

April 30, 1864 – Union Fleet Escapes Red River Trap via “Bailey’s Dam”

Historical Event:   As if the Union campaign up the Red River had not been enough of a failure, falling waters trapped the fleet above the rapids at Alexandria.  Faced with the ignominious choice of either surrendering or scuttling the ships, Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter eagerly agreed to a scheme by a lieutenant colonel from the 4^th Wisconsin, Joseph Bailey, to build a dam to raise the river.  Construction began on April 30. While Bailey built his dam and its attendant structures, Porter’s sailors lightened their vessels by unshipping many of their heavy guns and even removing some of the armor from the ironclads.  Two weeks later, with Confederate troops fast approaching, most of the fleet managed to ride the rapids to safety before the dam collapsed.   Porter, saying he was done with rivers, sought and took command of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron.

Game Connection:  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.  Admiral Porter is also represented in the game, both as a stand-up leader and as a card (USN Card 2 – David Dixon Porter & His Little Mortar Boats).

Civil War Gamer E-Zine Profiles Rebel Raiders on the High Seas

ACW Gamer  The Ezine, a new publication devoted to "wargaming the war between the states in miniature" profiles Rebel Raiders on the High Seas in its third and current issue.  The six-page article entitled "Finally, the Civil War at Sea: Strategic Naval Gaming in Rebel Raiders on the High Seas," is lavishly illustrated with pictures of the box cover, map and some of the key cards in the game.

Other articles in Vol. I, No. 3 include a report on Civil War gaming at the Cold Wars miniatures convention which was held in March in Lancaster, PA; and after-action report of a big miniatures battle; a primer on the Springfield rifled musket and items on building terrain, modeling an observation balloon and painting 18 mm scale Union infantry.

For a peak inside the magazine, visit the website at: http://www.acwgamer.com/

April 9, 1864 – CSS Squib vs. USS Minnesota: Tiny Confederate Torpedo Boat Attacks Giant Union Frigate

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.

April 9, 1864 – CSS Squib vs. USS Minnesota: Tiny Confederate Torpedo Boat Attacks Giant Union Frigate 

Historical Event:   Under the cover of darkness on April 9, 1864, six Rebel sailors under the command of Lt. Hunter Davidson quietly steamed their tiny little torpedo launch out into Hampton Roads to strike one of the largest and mightiest men-o-war in the Union fleet: the great USS Minnesota.  The aptly named CSS Squib carried but a single spar-mounted torpedo, while the Yankee warship mounted 47 guns of many calibers.  The small armored launch struck home, caused something of a panic aboard the great steam frigate, and got away – no mean feat in the middle of a Union squadron.   The USS Minnesota also survived, suffering more embarrassment than damage.

USS Minnesota was one of the largest of the pre-war frigates.  She was the flagship of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, sank or captured 22 blockade runners and added her guns to the bombardments of Fort Fisher.  In March 1862 she fought heroically against the CSS Virginia when the iron monster made its first foray.  Despite being driven aground, the USS Minnesota kept on fighting, with her gunners firing over 500 rounds at the Rebel ironclad during that two-day battle. 

CSS Squib was one of a class of fast little torpedo boats, a cousin to the more famous CSS David, which attacked the USS New Ironsides in Charleston Harbor in October 1863 – and with considerably more effect, doing enough damage to put the big ship out of action for a time.

Game Connection:  Union frigates play many roles in Rebel Raiders on the High Seas.  Like USS Minnesota, they bombard Confederate port batteries, intercept blockade runners and even hunt down the raiders for whom the game is named.  The Confederates have many weapons at their disposal to try to break the blockade, among them the CSS Squib’s cousin, CSS David, which appears in the game as CSN Card 63.  Her target, USS New Ironsides, is also in the game, as a counter and as USN Card 26.

April 4, 1864 – Congress Says “No” to Rebel-Friendly Maximilian

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.

April 4, 1864 – Congress Says “No” to Rebel-Friendly Maximilian

Historical Event:  Alarmed by Napoleon III’s declared intent to crown Maximilian as Emperor of Mexico, on April 4, 1864 Congress passed a joint resolution deploring the French intervention in that country and added that the United States would not “acknowledge any monarchical government” which would be installed “under the auspices of any European power.”   The French and notably Maximilian himself were sympathetic to the Confederacy, and French ports in Europe, her colonies and Mexico were havens for Rebel blockade runners.   Mexican President Benito Juarez, who led the fight against the French interventionist forces, was an admirer and ally of President Lincoln.  Both men believed France harbored imperial ambitions that would extend beyond Mexico, and that Napoleon III and Maximilian might ally with the Confederacy.

Game Connection:   France and Maximilian are both represented in Rebel Raiders on the High Seas.  Confederate Blockade Runners may be built in and load cargo in France and Mexico, and while in play the Maximilian Card (CSN Card 61) provides additional benefits including a modifier to the Confederate Supply attrition die roll and a free Blockade Runner every turn.

April 1, 1864 – Make Ready the CSS Albemarle!

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.

April 1, 1864 – Make Ready the CSS Albemarle!

Historical Event:  On April 1, 1864 the new Confederate ironclad ram, the CSS Albemarle, was towed to Hamilton, North Carolina, in preparation for the attack on the Union base and squadron at nearby Plymouth.  That operation and the ensuing naval action on April 19 would show that Union fears and concerns about the “monster” were fully warranted. (More on that later in the month), although worries that she might steam out into the Chesapeake and then up the Potomac to bombard Washington were purely the stuff of nightmares – but nightmares that nevertheless led the Union to take extraordinary measures to take her out.

Game Connection:  The CSS Albemarle is only one of the many great ships which play a role in my strategic Civil War naval game Rebel Raiders on the High Sea.  The powerful ironclad ram is represented by its own counter and card (CSN Card 75), which reflect its abilities, real and feared.