ACW 10mm NOT 6mm!

[Westmarcher]

Yep. Whilst you can get some beautiful flags, particularly in the larger scales, I opted for generic ones so that I could get the boys on the table without too much ado. Similarly with the Zouaves, I went sort of 'generic' (choosing a uniform with red) and one that fitted the minis I had bought (you can go for blue with Zouaves too. Can't recall Pendraken's sculpts but elsewhere you can get minis with fez, kepi and fez with turban).

[getagrip]

Sometimes "am I the grey ones or the blue ones?" is all we need to know

That's all I need to know!

[Leman]

But to ME it does matter. You won't see Western flags in my Eastern Confederate armies. After 50 years studying and gaming the ACW it DOES matter to me. However, what tank fought where in WWII is irrelevant to ME, but is very important indeed to FSN. I wouldn't dream of telling him that it's unimportant. Afraid I'm one of those wargamers who games in particular periods and likes to get it right, or as right as I can.

[cbr3d.com]

But to ME it does matter. You won't see Western flags in my Eastern Confederate armies. After 50 years studying and gaming the ACW it DOES matter to me. However, what tank fought where in WWII is irrelevant to ME, but is very important indeed to FSN. I wouldn't dream of telling him that it's unimportant. Afraid I'm one of those wargamers who games in particular periods and likes to get it right, or as right as I can.

And there is absolutely nothing wrong in that at all.  But for someone starting out either in wargaming or even in a specific period I would recommend a generic approach every time.     

Over the months and years a gamer new to a period or even the hobby will read more, learn more, and slowly become knowledgable on the subject.  Of course it is the 'Leman's' who we all turn to for advice on specific aspects of uniforms and troop types (without them we may as well all go and buy an odd box of Airfix soldiers), but it takes time to learn the finer details of any given period, an example being that I had a recollection of the various uniform vagaries of the ACW - but thankfully Leman you could expand on it, and make it even more interesting.      

[fsn]

Hmmm. I know what you mean, Leman, and I agree to a point.

I like my 6th Guards Tank Brigade to use Churchills, but I'm not that fussed about which version (excluding I and II) because they may find themselves anywhere between Tunisia in '42 and the Rhine in '45, and not in the guise of the Guards.

However, my Napoleonic armies tend to be exact. For example the 22nd Foot will be the best darned 22nd Foot I can make them, and they will be the 22nd Foot whether they're in Spain, Belgium or burning the White House. So my 22nd Foot needs to be right for the 22nd Foot, however I choose to use them.

It's an inconsistent approach, but one I'm quite happy to live with. My approach to ACW is to be generic, because it's not on of my main periods and because I am daunted by the variety within the "blue and grey" stereotype. Confederate flags!! 

[petercooman]

You can get all anal about whether the buttons were brass or steel or if these particular flags were issued on the Friday before the battle or the Tuesday after it if and when you are so invested in the period that these details matter to you. Lets face it, for many (a majority of?) wargamers it never will. Sometimes "am I the grey ones or the blue ones?" is all we need to know

That's why i only got the union national and confederate battle flags. Just want to be able to look from a distance and be able to tell what is what. If it is your period of choice, and you immerse yourself completely, you tend to be more torough, but if like me, you do many different periods genres, it's sometimes best to keep it generic and try to move faster between projects (and save space to put all your other stuff  )

[Westmarcher]

However, my Napoleonic armies tend to be exact. For example the 22nd Foot will be the best darned 22nd Foot I can make them, and they will be the 22nd Foot whether they're in Spain, Belgium or burning the White House. So my 22nd Foot needs to be right for the 22nd Foot, however I choose to use them.

[cough, cough, psst. Nobby. The 22nd Foot (hope you haven't started them).

1800: Portsmouth; to Cape of Good Hope; many sick on voyage; Muisenburg; Wynburg
1801: Cape of Good Hope - Simonstown; Wynburg; Cape Town; Rondesbosch
1802: Cape of Good Hope - Simonstown; Graaf Reinett; October – to India
1803: February – India; Fort William; October – Barrubatta; Cuttack force
1804: India - December – Deig
1805: India - January – Benares; Cawnpore; Siege of Bhurtpore
1806: India - Sutlej; February – Delhi; Muttra
1807: India - Muttra; August - Berhampore
1808: India – Berhampore
1809: Berhampore
1810: Berhampore; August – Fort William; November – Mauritius
1811: Mauritius; January – detachment to Madagascar; April – Bourbon
1812: Bourbon; July – Mauritius; August – Bourbon
1813: Bourbon; May –Mauritius
1814: Mauritius
1815: Mauritius; many fever deaths; April – received drafts from 2nd Battalion; June – flank companies to Bengal; November – battalion reunited in   
         Mauritius
1819: July – back in England after 19 years away.

Sorry, no Spain, Belgium or America. Did I pass the test?] 

[getagrip]

But to ME it does matter. You won't see Western flags in my Eastern Confederate armies. After 50 years studying and gaming the ACW it DOES matter to me. However, what tank fought where in WWII is irrelevant to ME, but is very important indeed to FSN. I wouldn't dream of telling him that it's unimportant. Afraid I'm one of those wargamers who games in particular periods and likes to get it right, or as right as I can.

Perfectly put.

Flags, insignia etc. don't matter to me; I just want an ACW "looking" game.

[Last Hussar]

I can be the reverse - my ACW are generic because if I do a specific regiment I wouldn't want to use it in the wrong campaigns.  With my WSS because battalions were differentiated they are specified, but often because I like the flag or facing, and we fight fictional battles, so it doesn't matter.

Oh, in case we haven't been clear... for ACW buy infantry first and foremost.

And some extra infantry.  Better get a couple of packs of infantry to go with that.

And some infantry.

And if you have any money left over throw in a couple of packs of infantry.

[getagrip]

I can be the reverse - my ACW are generic because if I do a specific regiment I wouldn't want to use it in the wrong campaigns.  With my WSS because battalions were differentiated they are specified, but often because I like the flag or facing, and we fight fictional battles, so it doesn't matter.

Oh, in case we haven't been clear... for ACW buy infantry first and foremost.

And some extra infantry.  Better get a couple of packs of infantry to go with that.

And some infantry.

And if you have any money left over throw in a couple of packs of infantry.

Yeah, began to realise that as people started posting army suggestions. I was a little naïve about the period but it just "appealed."

I've started reading around the subject and it seems the cavalry were used mainly for scouting or operated like dragoons.

Have the sneaky feeling I'm about to be corrected.

[Leman]

Brandy Station, Yellow Tavern, East Cavalry Field.

[getagrip]

Brandy Station, Yellow Tavern, East Cavalry Field.

I assume I've just been corrected!

Thing is, those names mean absolutely nothing to me!

[Westmarcher]

.. it seems the cavalry were used mainly for scouting or operated like dragoons.

Leman is quite right to point out some ACW cavalry battles. You also have Grier's* raid in the Vicksburg campaign (inspired the film, "The Horse Soldiers")  and numerous "Kleine Krieg" actions between and behind the lines. However, because cavalry warfare tended to be peripheral to the big battles and you will have to paint 2 war-games units for each cavalry regiment - a mounted version and a dismounted version - cavalry tend to be missing or minimal in most ACW games (I've got 2 cavalry regiments for each side in my own collection and can't recall when I last use all of them in the one game - but that could also be because I haven't got a clue how best to use them!   )

* a teacher too, Grip

[cbr3d.com]

The cavalry played important roles as scouts (find your enemy dispositions) and as fast mobile reserves to plug weak spots in your own line or to take sudden advantage of bad dispositions in the enemy line, for these two reasons alone every army IMO should have a small cavalry unit.  Of course a good tabletop general will also possibly try using the cavalry in isolation for attacks on the enemy rear or as a flanking force.

Of course the ACW armies are mainly infantry, but as a general would you really want to handicap yourself by having no scouts or fast mobile reaction force?     

[getagrip]

Of course the ACW armies are mainly infantry, but as a general would you really want to handicap yourself by having no scouts or fast mobile reaction force?     

I just can't conceive of an army without at least some cavalry even if only, dare I say it, for the look of the thing.