Garibaldi's Invasion Of Sicily - An Informal Campaign .

I've tried doing campaigns before and in my experience they trend to wither after a few moves as they become more complected or the participants loose interest . The best idea I've decided was to have a series of linked games with the result of the first affecting the next one - side'A' and 'B' fight = 'B' wins - next game 'A' is then on the defencive etc etc. The first of these series of games has Garibaldi and 'The Thousand' having landed at the Sicilian port of Marsala , setting up some light defences and being attacked by a Neapolitan force determined to nip the invasion in the bud .

The Redshirts move off the beach to counter the approaching Neapolitan army.

Garibaldi has set up a small redoubt for his light artillery piece . the markers are the staff ratings of the various commanders .

The Neapolitan force moves onto the board headed by a Squadron of Mounted Chasseurs .

Hodge is not impressed ! - he can be very critical of my efforts at times.

The Horse Chasseurs charge rather impulsively down the road into the Guides - who being well supported drive them back .

The Guides have taken two casualty markers which they being a small unit leaves them shaken . Garibaldi has sent his Carabineers forward to the right of the church to harass the enemy column . 

Friar Pantaleo has roused the locals and brings them onto the table (this was done by a random dice throw and the point of entry was also determined randomly)

The Neapolitan advance has stalled due to confusion in the command system (the Neapolitan Generals were given low command rating to reflect their incompetence at this point in history).

The Neapolitan Line Infantry finally attack the Redshirts .

A prolonged melee takes part with the Neapolitans suffering heavily - the red markers are to record casualties - having suffered three the Neapolitan's have become shaken.

The Line regiment breaks and flees and the next one is thrown into confusion as the Redshirts manage to pour a flanking fire into it . In the background the Sicilian irregulars are kept at bay by the now deployed enemy artillery .

The end game - with two of their regiments fled and having inflicted only minor casualties on the enemy the Neapolitan C in C decides discretion is the better part of valour and retreats . A solid win to Garibaldi and his forces.

The outcome of this battle will now influence the next one as Garibaldi - now supported by the enthusiastic Sicilian peasantry moves inland towards the capital Palermo. Hodge's look says it all - a total scorn for the prowess of the Neapolitan military ! .