Battle Cry of Freedom:
A Civil War Card Game
BCOF's Co-Developer, Richard Trevino (left),
plots my destruction. The Alamo Chapel is in the background.
Battle Cry of Freedom may be purchased from Decision Games at the website below:
This page was last updated: November 14, 2007
Description of Play:
This two-player card game represents the American Civil War, 1861-1865, in the theaters of war east of the Mississippi River. Each player has his own Play Deck from which he will draw in order to play cards. In the game, each player will go though his Play Deck twice, with each deck representing roughly two years of the war. Each player has a Command Point Track, and a token (coin or other token provided by players) placed on the track keeps his current Command Point total. The Command Points in this game represent the economic, military, political and social factors that influenced the campaigns of the war, which in turn were influenced by the outcomes of the battles.The objective of the Union player is to capture all three Victory Condition cities (Richmond, Atlanta, Vicksburg) before the end of Deck Two; or, alternatively, to take any two of these cities and play the Presidential Election of 1864 card. The Confederate wins if the Union player cannot achieve his objectives.Play Aids
Click Here for a printable version of a Sequence of Play. Because of the 300 card limit for the game, the two sequence of play cards were not published. The version is handy to have available during play.
Click on Player Aid on the menu and you will find a link to a more printable version of Walt Mulder's excellent aid; especially handy for new players.
Stephen Sears' GETTYSBURG, and BCOF, Part I
The latest book on the Battle of Gettysburg, an excellent one, is by Stephen Sears, one of the finest historians writing today about the war in the eastern theater. What I would like to look at has nothing to do with the short Gettysburg scenario in BCOF. Rather, it's a comparative analysis of the strategic decisions that both players have to make in the Campaign Game and in the Deck Two scenario regarding the "Gettysburg vs Vicksburg" dilemma that confronted Confederate leaders.
By the late Spring of 1863 the choice facing Jefferson Davis was a stark one: Virginia or Mississippi. Secretary of War Seddon telegraphed Lee on 9 May and asked if he would approve Pickett's Division being sent to the defense of Vicksburg. Lee pointed out that "the distance and the uncertainty of the employment of the troops are unfavorable." He then added that any detachment from his army to be sent west at this time would mean the Army of Northern Virginia "may be obliged to withdraw into the defenses around Richmond."
According to Sears, General Lee never led anyone to believe that by marching into Pennsylvania he could pry Grant loose from Vicksburg. About the most that could be hoped far would, in Lee's words, prevent the Yankees from sending "troops designed to operate against other parts of the country.
Lee, Sears continues, could not subsist his army on the Rappahannock line--the army needed to move. And imagine the implications of a Confederate victory in Pennsylvania. Grant's taking of Vicksburg, now very likely, would pale in comparison. If Lee could win a great battle on northern soil, the war would take on a whole new balance. Having defeated the Army of the Potomac twice in the past six months, at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, a third straight victory, this time in the north, might break down the Republican administration in Washington.
General Lee convinced Richmond that a successful campaign in the north held the promise of reshaping the direction of the war. As Sears concludes in his chapter, at the very least a success in Pennsylvania would offset any failure at Vicksburg. At the most, a great victory on enemy soil might put peace within Richmond's reach.
Now let's look at the choices facing the Confederate player in BATTLE CRY OF FREEDOM.
Stephen Sears' GETTYSBURG, and BCOF, Part II
Let us imagine that it is quite early in Deck Two in a campaign game of BCOF. Union CPs at 11, Confederate CPs at 10. The Union last turn played the "Emancipation Proclamation." Its effects (+1/-1) will be felt again this turn and next; plus, the two cards pertaining to African-American troops are no doubt on the horizon (both are +1/-1).
The Union is at the gates of Vicksburg, having taken Stones River, Shiloh, and Corinth in the West. In the East, the Union has taken only Manassas. As the Confederate, you have one Strategic Offensive card that can be used in either theater. You have decent cards to defend Vicksburg, and pretty good cards for an eastern offensive. You have a feeling, as does your opponent, that you will never again be this strong. So now you have the choice to make: Mississippi or Virginia. You have to make that choice now, because it's now the Command Point phase.
The safe play is to place 5 CPs in the West and hold the rest as Discretionary. If the Union places one battle, Vicksburg, you will defend with all your CPs. If he places one battle in the East, you can go on the offensive in the West and seek to win a battle in Union possession, rather than a risky invasion--thus ensuring you will still draw all your CP cards.
Then what do you do next turn? Emancipation is still grinding you down--black troops may be on the way--and the Union player is in his best deck. Plus, Vicksburg will be attacked...you just know it.
Instead, you roll the dice and place your bets on your best generals and best army. On our hypothetical game turn, place all your CPs in the East. If the Union places one battle only, in the East, you simply fight that battle--you'll win, but don't waste your best cards. If he places in the West, or in both East and West, then launch your offensive in the East, target: Gettysburg or Antietam.
You must not go into this invasion with only average cards, hoping you will draw some good ones. But you've saved some powerful ones, and you'll be drawing ten more cards for your CPs. Do you see why this has an air of "all or nothing" about it? Let's say you fight the entire Union force. If you lose at Gettysburg you will lose one CP and he gains one. Then you lose another CP for having failed in your offensive. And Emancipation will still be taking its toll this turn! Your minimum loss is -3, the Union's minimum gain is +2.
Now let's suppose that Grant is calling the shots. No Union CPs are placed in the East, while he attacks Vicksburg. Let's say he placed two Battle Cards, but he placed no discretionary CPs. He's hiding something from you. Do you hedge your bet and place your discretionary CPs in the West, and go into Pennsylvania with half your CPs? Of course not--this is the Gettysburg vs Vicksburg dilemma and you are staking all on the shoulders of Gen. Lee and the ANV.
You fight first at Gettysburg, of course. Now is another tough one: do you go for the victory, and have cards left over for the defense of Vicksburg, or do you go all out for a Major Victory? I say go for the Major. If you lose Vicksburg you suffer a 3 CP swing. If you win a Major at Gettysburg you gain a 4 CP swing. And have a good resource waiting. If you did not go for the Major, you might lose at Vicksburg anyway. At least this way you can help negate the effects of Emancipation and keep your CPs at a high level at this crucial point of the war. Keeping your CP level high is imperative at this stage of the game--you have to be drawing those cards that will aid in the defense of Atlanta and Richmond.
Stephen Sears' GETTYSBURG, and BCOF, Part III
This Part III looks at the first two turns of the Deck Two scenario, because you are immediately thrust into the Gettysburg vs Vicksburg dillema.
The situation is very similar to that described in Parts I and II. At the start of the Deck Two scenario the Union has taken Stones River, Shiloh, and Corinth in the West, while he has Manassas and Fredericksburg in the East. Both sides have good generals: Grant and Sherman are among those for the Union. Jackson and A.S. Johnston are no longer in the mix, and several Union generals have been taken out of play. Both sides begin with 11 CPs.
Now here is the really interesting thing about this scenario: before cards are shuffled and dealt, the Confederate gets to select and keep any five cards in his hand, while drawing four at random. All nine cards of the Union hand are drawn at random after shuffling. The Confederate gets this edge because ordinarily in the Campaign Game he would have been saving cards for Deck Two defense (play balance).
The Confederate selection of cards determines his answer to the Gettysburg vs Vicksburg dilemma. These are the selected cards that can make or break the Confederate in the first two turns of this scenario. In fact, I have developed eight different openings for the Confederate player, all predicated on the selection of different cards for different reasons. We will look at the cards selected for only three of these now.
The first is the "Eastern Offense":
1. "Lee is Audacity Personified" This offensive card is one of only two available for an Invasion in Deck Two, and you have to have one of them.
2. "Steal a March" This is a Strategic Manuever card that allows you to draw two cards at the start of Combat if the Rebel has the initiative. What makes this better than a "Special Event" that does the same thing is that this one cannot be canceled by a Union "Command Failure."
3. "Case of the Slows" Play of this Special Event causes the Union to place any six cards at random face down and may not be used in this battle. If Gen. Meade is present, only three cards are selected, but it is still disruptive to Union plans.
4. "Hold the Line" Draw two cards. You will need every card you can get if you have a chance of winning a Major Victory.
5. "Bobby Lee" This allows you to disengage Gen. Lee and it also cancels one Yankee Attack card.
So on the first turn of the scenario, all your CPs are going in the East, and unless the Union places only one Battle Card, in the East, you head north for Gettysburg. You will draw 11 cards for your CPs plus 4 more cards with what you have selected. Unless the Union places some CPs in the East, you just might be able to get a Major Victory there and still hold on to Vicksburg...well, maybe.
I have a variation of the above called "Eastern High Tide." The cards are: "Audacity...," "Steal a March," "High Tide of the Confederacy" (adds +1 to each of your Battle Event attack cards, IF the Union has no Massed Artillery present), and two "Counter-Battery" cards.
Here is the last opening I will discuss at this time. It is simply called the "Western Offense." I must confess that this is currently my favorite opening. Yes, I know, after all this talk about Gettysburg I should be taking Bobby Lee north! He'll have to wait. Here's the selected cards:
1. "Strategic Offensive" For obvious reasons.
2. "Steal a March" Love drawing those two extra cards.
3. "Hold the Line" Two more cards, because these Western generals need as much help as possible.
4. "Trans-Mississippi Reinforcements" I love this card. You get to disengage a general and draw two cards (it's also a target for a Union "Command Failure").
5. "That Devil Forrest" (to be explained)
Load up all your CPs in the West no matter where the Union has placed his Battle Cards. Launch your offensive in the West, but not an invasion. Go for Stones River in Union hands. You will be drawing six extra cards, plus eleven for your CPs, plus any others that come your way in the draw. You would love to win the battle, but don't despair if you don't. Here's why:
The Union probably was going for Vicksburg this turn, but you have made him fight for terrain he had already won. You drew a large number of cards, and almost certainly you drew some critical ones to help you in the future. Plus, Vicksburg is safe for another turn. Yes, on the next First Resource Phase you play "That Devil Forrest" and prevent an attack upon Vicksburg for another turn. (I would refrain from engaging Forrest until this card is played--he must be in play--can't afford to have him wounded). Finally, because you are drawing so many cards, you just might win the battle, which will give you another delaying Battle Card to shield Vicksburg.
This is a fast playing scenario. With the larger number of CPs early in the game, you will find it takes less turns than the Deck One scenario. I'll save my other Confederate openings in this one for another day.
On the Horizon
1. Photos to illustrate game play
2. Revision of rules: a more conventional format, rather than the current glossary/sequence-of-play layout
Trevino v. Smith, May 1, 2007: Developer v. Designer Rematch
Battle Cry of Freedom
First of all, we had a great location to play our BCOF rematch. Once again we were at the Emily Morgan hotel in San Antonio, with our table at a window that looked out across the street at the Alamo. We sat approximately on what would have been right by the northeast corner of the Alamo's north wall. Surrounded by history and Tex-Mex restaurants everywhere!
Richard chose the Union and, as expected, lost the First Battle of Bull Run. After I had good resources the next two turns, while Richard had none, he moaned, groaned and generally complained that he was sure to lose. Yes, things were going my way early. In the first half of Deck 1 (two years per deck) I was rolling—Richard failed to win a battle in the West and Robert E. Lee took the Army of Northern Virginia northward and won a Major Victory at Antietam. Command Points at this time: I had hit my maximum of 12 CPs, while Richard struggled to reach 10. Richard kept stumbling into Virginia but he failed to cross Bull Run creek, save for a brief amphibious threat to the Peninsula that failed to materialize.
Richard seemingly always had a Resource to knock me down and it was all I could do to maintain a slim CP lead. On the other hand I was preventing him from advancing in both East and West. More than half-way into Deck 1 Richard had won only two battles in the West. I ended my first deck well ahead of Richard, ready for the war’s second half. I took the offensive in the West and won Stones River—my CPs were barely ahead, but Richard had still been unable to even attack a Victory Point city. Richard then won in the West and was threatening Vicksburg. He finally was able to launch an assault on the city, but in the Strategic Movement phase I played “Mud March” and he chose to cancel the battle rather than suffer the penalty of drawing four less cards in combat. On the same turn, Lee and Jackson drove northward and I barely won at Gettysburg.
I did not realize it at the time but I was at my high-water mark. Richard pulled the trigger and played the Emancipation Proclamation—for three straight turns taking me down one CP and taking him up one CP, along with his ability to play the key African-American cards. By this time I was more than half- way through my last deck and I was extremely optimistic about my chances. I still had 10 CPs and I thought that Richard had no chance of taking both Vicksburg and Atlanta, which he had to take if he hoped to be able to play the deciding “Presidential Election of 1864.” Richard, in succession, then took Vicksburg and Chattanooga, and he was breathing down my neck at Chickamauga.
I was stunned. In a matter of only three turns, while I still had sufficient CPs and good generals in the West, Richard desperately pulled off three wins in a row—all this when I in my last third of the deck and he was still in the first half of his Deck Two. He had feebly caused me to fall slowly back in the East, so that I was able to transfer two key generals from East to West. At Chickamauga I even played “Strategic Concentration,” bringing me General Longstreet from the East and allowing me to draw three cards—I still lost the battle.
When that turn was over, with only Atlanta left for him to take in the West, I had only one card left in my Play Deck!! Do you see what that meant?!? If I had been able to draw that last card, my deck would be depleted, meaning that the game would be over with my Confederates beating his Union. I knew then that I had lost the game, although Richard thought he had no chance to win. On the last turn of the game I had 7 CPs left and Richard had 15, and Richard placed the Battle of Atlanta card. He now expected me to block with Kennesaw Mountain and the game would be mine, for he had no Turning Movement cards. I just hung my head. I had much earlier played Kennesaw Mountain and the Pickett’s Mill/New Hope Church card. I never waste such cards, but I was filled with hubris mid-way through Deck Two, thinking that he could never reach Atlanta. Good grief, one card, just one more card drawn and the game was mine.
Richard, of course, took Atlanta and played the Election card. Yes, Richard had snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, in one of the quickest collapses I have ever seen by the CSA. All congratulations to Richard on brilliant Deck Two play.
Richard and I and my wife then went over to the Riverwalk for some great Mexican food....which they thoroughly enjoyed as I sighed and peppered the conversation with "might have beens" over Richard's BCOF upset.
