This day 150 Years Ago in Rebel Raiders's History

 This day 150 years ago in Rebel Raiders’ History

Gettysburg, Vicksburg and the Ships of Rebel Raiders.

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

On this, the 150th anniversary of the First Day of Gettysburg, it is easy to forget that at Vicksburg an equally vicious and vital struggle was also reaching its climax.  

As a strategic naval game, Rebel Raiders on the High Seas focuses far more on the epic siege of the fortress on the Mississippi than on the titanic contest that was played out on the fields of Pennsylvania.   The later is represented by the Lee Moves North card (CSN Card 77), while many of the leaders and great ships who fought at Vicksburg are also represented, notably: 

 -David Dixon Porter & His Little Mortar Boats (USN Card 2),

 -Grant Takes Command (USN Card 8),

-the tinclad gunboat USS Black Hawk (USN Card 10), 

-the "Pook's Turtle" ironclad USS Carondelet (USN Card 15), 

-the timberclad gunboat USS Tyler (USN Card 18),

-the phony ironclad Black Terror (USN Card 25)

-the big guns of the Siege Train (USN Card 48),

-and, for the South:

-the mines, torpedoes and other Infernal Machines (CSN Card 56),

-the general who tried to relieve the city, J.E. Johnston (CSN Card 91)

-the hidden batteries on the bluffs of Ring of Fire (CSN Card 101),

--and the only ship to see action on BOTH sides at Vicksburg:

--“Ellet’s Ram” USS Queen of the West (USN Card 38)– which was captured and put into service by the Confederacy as CSS Queen of the West

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.

June 11, 1863  -  Grant Brings Up the Big Guns

            Historical Event:  As the siege of Vicksburg tightens, Grant brings up two monstrous 10-inch Columbiads and places them in firing positions a mere 100 yards from the Rebel front lines.  The huge guns begin pounding the city daily, forcing its civilian population to dig underground shelters.

            Game Connection:  Union Card 48 – Siege Train – gives the Union an additional die in assaults by land.  This bonus can be decisive, especially when faced with heavily defended cities such as Vicksburg, one of the keys to victory in the Civil War, just as it is in Rebel Raiders on the High Seas.