Micro Table Battles - Part Thirteen Supplementary.

Table 9 will probably see the final skirmish of this campaign, it is an interesting map, with sweeping escarpments on both sides of the road. I intend this to be a meeting engagement, with neither side pre-positioned to meet he enemy. The Union moving south from Newdale and the Confederates north from their overnight camp.

The table laid out. I am a little concerned as to the number of units that will be involved. Eleven on each side. I just about got away with a smaller amount of units on the table in the last battle, though to my eyes it was overly congested. I also am not totally happy with how the terrain looks, in the space I have. Those sweeping escarpments are difficult to reproduce with anything like the justice they deserve.

I am loathe to switch to a larger table, as the whole campaign so far has been fought on this small cushion. However, I do have access to a small kitchen table measuring 43 inches (110 cm) by 29 inches (74 cm). The current surface area of 19 inches by 19 inches, gives me an area of 361 square inches. The larger table would increase that area by almost four fold, to 1,247 square inches.


Map 9 laid out on the larger table with a Union infantry battalion to show scale.

More area to create the rolling terrain.

The escarpment now actually looks like a prominent feature of the landscape.

Plenty of room for maneuver now.

The wide valley floor seen from the eastern escarpment.

I hope you agree the larger table would be better. It will also be a good testing ground for future maps, some from the book and others created by myself. I still wouldn't go above two or three brigades a side though, or the ability to maneuver and flank would be lost if the table is too crowded.