Fire on the Mountain: The Battle of South Mountain, September 14, 1862

Fire on the Mountain: The Battle of South Mountain, September 14, 1862 is a two-player American Civil War wargame covering the fight for the South Mountain passes during Lee’s first invasion of the North.

The game concentrates on the action around Turner’s Gap and Fox’s Gap, where Confederate forces tried to delay McClellan’s advance long enough for Stonewall Jackson to finish operations at Harpers Ferry. Reinforcements arrive gradually, the terrain is difficult, and officer casualties can strongly affect the flow of the battle.

Using straightforward mechanics for movement, artillery, cavalry, leaders, and rugged ground, Fire on the Mountain aims to keep play moving while still capturing the pressure and uncertainty of the historical engagement. The result is a focused ACW battle game with low-to-moderate complexity and a playing time of roughly two and a half to three hours.

This is a good fit for players interested in the Maryland Campaign, Antietam’s immediate prelude, or compact Civil War games with meaningful terrain and reinforcement challenges.

Contents include: one 22" x 34" map, double-wide counters, a 16-page rulebook, and four player aids.