February 7, 1864 – Admiral Dahlgren Attacks Jacksonville

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.

February 7, 1864 – Admiral Dahlgren Attacks Jacksonville 

Historical Event:  On February 7, 1864 Admiral John Dahlgren and five powerful Union warships supported the landing at Jacksonville by General Truman Seymour and 7,000 Union troops.  The admiral’s stated purpose was three-fold:  to close the port to Blockade Runners, to free and recruit Black men for the army and navy, and to “engineer Florida’s return” to the Union.

The troops were borne up the St. John’s River by USS Ottawa and USS Norwich.  The USS Mahaska, USS Water Witch and USS Dai Ching escorted and provided fire support for the operation. The Union move would culminate in the Battle of  Olustee, a railroad depot 50 miles southwest of Jacksonville.  There on February 20 Confederate General Joseph Finnegan and his 5,000 men thoroughly defeated the Union, forcing Seymour to retire upon Jacksonville – thus ending the campaign to “engineer Florida’s return” to the Union.

Game Connection:  Admiral John Dahlgren is represented in Rebel Raiders on the High Seas by USN Card 31 – John Dahlgren.    Due to the scale of the map, Jacksonville itself is not individually represented, but is included in the St. Augustine site.   The USS Ottawa was an Unadilla-class “90 Day Gunboat;”  the lead vessel for which that class is named is represented by USN Card 17 – USS Unadilla.

Union amphibious assaults on Confederate ports are a major part of the Northern player’s strategy, allowing the Federals to turn the sea into a front line, from which to strike the Confederacy.   Naval forces must be present to allow the army to land, as they must clear the port of Confederate warship and can duel with any Confederate defending the port. Taking ports not only reduces places for Blockade Runners to unload cargo, but also hurts Confederate production – and moves the North one step closer to restoring the Union.

The Ships of Rebel Raiders - The Gunboats

  

Rebel Raiders on the High Seas is a strategic game of the Civil War which focuses on the role of the navies on the rivers, along the coasts and on the oceans.  While most ships are represented by generic counters for Ironclads, Blockade Runners, Gunboats, Screw Sloops and, of course Raiders, there are cards and corresponding counters for many individual vessels.  This series presents those cards and offers a glimpse into the history of these storied ships.

Part II – The Gunboats: USS Unadilla : From Charleston Runners to Chinese Pirates

USS Unadilla (USN Card 17) was one of the first of nearly two-dozen of the “90-day gunboats” churned out by Union naval yards during the first months of  the war.  Built and launched in New York, the nearly 700-ton warship could move under steam or sail (as her sail plan was that of a two-masted schooner)  and could make 10 knots.  She carried five guns, including an 11-inch Dahlgren.  In January of 1862 she and USS Pembina fought a naval battle against five armed gunboats, three of which were damaged before the Rebels withdrew.

In addition to fighting other warships, bombarding forts and floating batteries and other combats, USS Unadilla captured many a blockade runner off Charleston, the Mary Teresa being her first catch in May 1862. (Hence her plus 2 advantage on the “Speed” die – which is rolled to intercept blockade runners.) Among her many prizes was the Princess Royal, which was carrying English-built steam engines for Confederate ironclads.   After the war the USS Unadilla was sent to the Far East to fight Chinese pirates.  Her last voyage was to Siam in 1868 – where after seven years in service the “90 day gunboat” was condemned as being too unseaworthy to risk a return voyage.

Triple-Posting:  Flag Day, This Day in History and Replay Turn 9

Happy Flag Day! 
and
 This Day 150 Years Ago in Rebel Raiders' History: Lee and Longstreet Cross the Potomac

Historical Event:  On June 14, 1863, Lee and Longstreet crossed the Potomac into Maryland, a fateful step that in just over two weeks would bring them to the fields of Gettysburg.

Game Connection:    General Robert E. Lee appears on two cards:  Bobby Lee (Card 60) and Lee Moves North (77); Longstreet has his own card (Card 79).   Bobby Lee allows the South to re-roll dice in combat, while Longstreet adds a die.  In 1861-63 The Lee Moves North card prevents the Union from making attacks near Richmond for the turn (reflecting their need to respond at Antietam and Gettysburg); in 1864 it merely costs the Union an attack pawn (which accounts for Grant sending a corps to Washington to confront Jubal Early).

Rebel Raiders Replay  (Turn 9 –December 1863)

Designer Mark McLaughlin as CSA; Naval Historian Brandon Musler as USA

When we last left off, the North had driven Southeast from Nashville, taking first Chattanooga and then Kennesaw Mountain, putting the Union adjacent to Atlanta.

The Few Just Keep Getting Fewer – Until There Are None

Eight Blockade Runners go down this turn!  Eight!  That lamentably for the South is EVERY Blockade Runner they had on the map!

Here is how they were lost:

-USS Unadilla (Card 17) catches one coming out of Mobile.  One Blockade Runner gets past the gunboats on the Blockade Station outside Pensacola only to be caught in the Gulf by USS Housatonic (Card 27).  The USS Powhattan (Card 21) picks off another, one loaded with 2 VP cargo, outside Charleston.  Runners are also caught going in or coming out of Tallahassee, Key West, Wilmington, and New Bern.  An eighth is also caught, but by this time Mark is not even bothering to write down where – it is just too sad.

The two Raiders at sea, as if things were not bad enough, manage to snag but a single VP among them.

Brandon is beside himself with glee, and two friends who stopped by to watch the game for a bit, tell him he can no longer complain about not rolling high enough on his dice.

The Southern VP total is so depleted that if not for the play of Lively Little Trade (Card 57) it would be down to zero. 

The South builds Batteries in Atlanta and Vicksburg, places the Ironclad built last turn in Memphis, buys a Raider and Four Blockade Runners and, just to show the South WILL rise again plays Card 63 – CSS Alabama!

(The famous Raider is depicted in full color on the cover of the game, and was along with CSS Shenandoah (depicted on Card 64) one of the most successful of all of the Rebel Raiders on the High Seas.

To be continued....