ACW 10mm NOT 6mm!

[getagrip]

Cheers Fight

Which artillery is the Union "standard" so to speak? 

[getagrip]

Update :

Made my first historical PD purchase and will soon be the proud owner of a Union army 

[Ithoriel]

The 12lb "Napoleon" was the most widely used smoothbore and the 3" Ordnance the most widely used rifled field piece. This applies to both sides. Union would tend to have more of the latter, CSA more of the former.

The Napoleons were largely bronze guns, the 3"-ers iron.

[Last Hussar]

Okay,  so in my head I thought someone would say: buy this,  this and this.

How naive was that?

That bit when I said 'lots of infantry' 

I've got the Peter Pig ACW rules - enjoyed them but haven't played them in years - its that thing you end up playing a set of rules, and going back to a different set is hassle.

The PP ones are unit = Brigade.  I've got some army lists I worked up when I was playing the game, and I'd say you need 50-60 bases of infantry, and about 4-6 artillery bases (1 base = battery).

Artillery is the biggest kludge of Horse and Musket games - people tend to use 1 base = 1 battery, but that doesn't really represent the frontage of a battery, which could be up to 60 yards wide.  Or a lot narrower, depending on situation.  You have 30-40 men with guns taking up the same frontage as 200-300 double ranked infantry.  This is why you haven't got a clear answer on 'how many guns': it depends on your rules.

My personal recommendation for basing infantry would be 30mm square.  PP ACW is 30mm, F&F is 1 1/8th inches (by 7/8ths - nope, no idea why Americans feel the need to do that) which is 29mm ish frontage, TFL 'Elephant' rules are inch squares (so 30mm isn't too bad).  Black Powder, if played reading CM for inches gives a regiment as 10-12cm- 3-4 bases, or played straight as per the book is 24cm-27cm - 8 bases.  I find 30mm the most flexible for multiple rules, plus the trays for Really Useful Boxes have 60mm compartments!

How many on a base is very much personal choice and interpretation of period: were they a little looser than Napoleonics, as some suggest because of rifled muskets, or were they elbow to elbow?  I'd say close order - that puts a frontage of 4 men, with 2-4 behind in a second rank (or even fallen back reloading etc in a 4-2-1 type of thing).  Also miniatures are on your side here. If someone says your units are too tight order, invite them to do the maths based on figure scale.  "10mm" is approximately 150-160th, depending where on the figure you measure to.  That makes a 30mm base about 4m50 to 4m80 across - about 15 feet, a little under 4 foot a man (assume spacing continues across bases) - That is basically people standing in 'T-pose' with fingertips touching! 

Your unit 'command' stands you can make a little looser so you can see the figures. (Purists/re-enactors will say no drummers at the front, and no unfurled flags- flags in the wind are tricky.  To them I say Bugger Off - I want pretty).

So - about 4 bases per bag: you'll end up with a spare base per 9-11 budgeted for.  Artillery- depends on rules, we can't be more helpful than that I'm afraid.  Cavalry, oh if you really must, but make sure you have enough infantry first ('Enough infantry' for ACW is always 20 quids worth more than you have.  'What do you want for your ACW army' varies, 'What do you need' is always more infantry.  Have I mentioned you need a good strong core of infantry?  One last point - you should probably buy more infantry.)

[petercooman]

Just a quick note,if you would like double standard bearers in your units, don't forget to order extra command! I kept mine generic with only the union flag, but many like to have both.

I just don't like going too specific, so everything can represent anything, if you know what i mean 

[paulr]

Update :

Made my first historical PD purchase and will soon be the proud owner of a Union army 

Well done that man 

[Norm]

For a 'quick' start, I would go for just infantry and artillery and some commanders. Pendraken also do the flags for both sides.

Longer term, if you do add a unit of cavalry, also adding a matching unit of dismounted cavalry is visually helpful.

My unit frontages are infantry on 40mm bases - 2 deep, using two bases with Kallistra hexes or 3 bases in a non-hexed game. The artillery is based on a 30m frontage and I use units of two bases.

Edit - you will also likely need to be thinking of expanding your terrain collection, particularly trees and fencing.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Update :

Made my first historical PD purchase and will soon be the proud owner of a Union army 

You serious? With that many posts? What you been doing Grips!

Seriously, well done.
If I can recommend Coat d'Arms Deadly Nightshade for your dark blue.

[getagrip]

Wow, overwhelmed by the responees, a real help guys

As to paint, I have the entire Vallejo range so would prefer to use them.   Any suggestions for a Vallejo blue Will?

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Erm... No
965 Prussian Blue with a highlight of 930 Dark Blue?

[getagrip]

Erm... No
965 Prussian Blue with a highlight of 930 Dark Blue?

Thanks 

[getagrip]

Anyone know what the ratio of Zouaves was to regular troops in "general" sense?

Also, did both sides use them?

Finally, was there role mainly skirmish?

Cheers

[Westmarcher]

[until someone more knowledgeable steps in]

No, but I read that the Union had about 70 regts. and the Rebs, 25.

Yes, but the Rebel regts. soon lost their distinctive uniforms as equipment shortages started to bite.

No. Treat as normal infantry regt.

http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/warfare-and-logistics/warfare/regiment.html

P.S. After you've painted your first Zouave regt., you'll probably know how many more you need to paint.   

[getagrip]

Thanks West; they do look a bit of a pain to paint.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Yup