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Fall-In, 2024
Report on this year's Fall-In
Wargaming Convention, Pennsylvania, USA
and Battlefields, museums visited
By Bill McIntyre
One of the purposes when I penned this article is to remind ourselves that
whenever we are traveling on holidays (USA: vacations), or even on business,
to always be on the lookout for the opportunity to visit nearby
battlefields, museums or other sites of military interest.
CHAPTER ONE – FALL-IN 2024
Wyndham Lancaster Resort and Convention Center,
2300 Lincoln Highway E, Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17602; Tel: (717) 299-5500).
From October 31st to November 3rd 2024, I attended the
annual “Fall-In” wargaming convention hosted by the USA’s Historical
Miniature Gaming Society (HMGS) (website:
https://www.hmgs.org/),
and held at the (Note: Yes, this is the old Lancaster Host Hotel and
golf course, and yes it has been redecorated/revamped under new ownership.
Veterans of wargaming will recall that it has hosted Fall-In for some
decades and previously hosted Historicon).
To make the journey up North from Florida where I live, I took the
‘Auto-Train’. This over-night train is the only one of its kind in the USA –
you put your car on the special car wagons and then board the train to sleep
in passenger ‘airline-style’ seating. It holds the record for the longest
passenger train in the USA – three quarters of a mile!
The cafeteria dining is not exactly the style of the Orient Express, but
then neither are the prices:
This
cheeseburger was actually very good; and the mid-size bottle of wine was
excellent.
The journey from Florida to Virginia saves the fatigue of driving 965 miles.
(Note: Instead of the train’s airline seating, you can of course book
a private room for the train journey, which includes a three-course dinner
in a dedicated dining car, but that option is somewhat rather pricey).
Prior to attending the Fall-In Convention you should reserve games which
most interest you. HMGS produce a very detailed gaming schedule. There is
large list of games available running from early morning up until midnight.
Games are hosted by “Gamemasters” who set everything up for you - figures,
terrain, scenario, and dice and rulers etc; and they adjudicate moves and
explain the rules. There is now a dedicated website to book each game
(Website:
https://tabletop.events/).
And this website acts as the booking ‘venue’ for just about every wargaming
convention held in the USA and probably overseas as well. If you plan to
attend the full Fall-In Convention I recommend joining HMGS.
On arrival at the Lancaster Convention Hotel (aka The Lancaster Host as it
was formerly known), you will sign in to the convention and be given printed
cards - one for each of the games which you signed up for in advance.
Also, a booklet listing all of the
games being played at the convention and a map showing you the rooms where
games are being played, and their table number. This hotel is large and
rambling and has rooms tucked away, so you will definitely need the hotel
map showing the rooms and table numbers. The hotel has an outlet mall
located nearby (walking distance) and that includes rather a nice wine bar:
Hot Mulled Wine on a Winter’s Day!
I found that the convention provided an excellent variety of games from
which to choose – herewith shots of just some examples:
American Civil War (ACW)
Second World War – Invasion of an English Village (set up courtesy of
Anglophile Col. Buck Surdu (Retired US Army) – Spot the Dr Who Tardis!
No
idea what this was!
Napoleonic!
Shanghai – The Defense of Legations – The Boxer
Rebellion!
And so on – the variety of wargaming periods was outstanding
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Travel Home After the Wargaming Convention
After exhausting myself wargaming from dawn to midnight each day, I then
took a leisurely drive home from Pennsylvania back to Florida, stopping off
at a number of places of interest. Having already visited the main US Civil
War battlefields in the past, I tried to find as many American War of
Independence and War of 1812 sites as I could during my southward drive. Due
to distance I could not make it to Camden.
The following “chapters” document my various battlefield and military
history museum stops. I could not even attempt to document the various moves
and factors and units involved in the following military battle sites –
readers can choose to follow up by themselves.
A word of caution on any intended battlefield visits – beforehand check
opening and closing times and dates in which these locations may close as
they are often closed on Mondays and on public holidays. And some have
special events such as reenactments.
CHAPTER TWO: THE PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD MUSEUM AND THE STRASBURG STEAM
LOCOMOTIVE TRIP
300 Gap Road Pennsylvania, Route 741, Strasburg, Pennsylvania 17579 (Tel:
(717) 687-8628).
If you are interested in historical railways then do stop off at the
Pennsylvania Railroad Museum. It is located not too far from the wargaming
convention hotel. And directly across the street from this train museum
there is an opportunity to ride on a train hauled by a vintage steam
locomotive – the Strasburg Railroad.
Although
this is a short train journey that returns back to where you boarded, there
is just something magical about the age of steam.
You can easily see both the museum and the steam locomotive in one day but
don’t arrive too late in the afternoon and check for opening and train
times.
CHAPTER THREE: PRINCETON BATTLEFIELD, AMERICAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
500 Mercer Road, Princeton, New Jersey 08540 (Tel: (609) 921-0074)
Continuing my southward drive, I stopped off at the American War of
Independence battlefield of Princeton in New Jersey. (Yes, that is the home
of the famous Ivy League College). The battle took place on January 3rd
1777 and resulted in an American victory over a smaller British force (who
were outnumbered three to one). Maintained by the New Jersey State Park
Service it is a small location to visit. The original Clarke House where
both British as well as American wounded were treated following the battle,
is open to the public at limited opening times.
Reflecting the limited budgets of local authorities (compared to Federal
National Park authorities), the signage depicting key points in the battle
is worn and faded and the whole battlefield probably needs a facelift.
CHAPTER FOUR: BATTLE OF TRENTON, AMERICAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
350 N. Warren St, Trenton, New Jersey 08618 (Tel: (609) 448-1947)
No battlefield or visitor’s center to see – but an impressive 148-foot high
monument commemorates an American victory over the Hessian Mercenaries
employed by the British in the American War of Independence.
The battle took place on December 26th 1776.
Once again, in this battle the Americans had a
force 50% larger than the Hessians.
There is supposed to be an elevator inside the monument, but it certainly
wasn’t working on the day I visited and a local lass told me that she had
not seen it working for many years.
CHAPTER
FIVE:
MONMOUTH BATTLEFIELD
20 State Route 33, Manalapan, New Jersey 07726 (Tel: (732) 462-9616)
A New Jersey State Parks site. Unlike Princeton, this is a well laid out and
well signed American War of Independence battlefield with an informative
visitor center. A nice battlefield to walk.
On
June 28th 1778, American troops held the field in this day-long battle
The battlefield is situated on an extensive series of apple orchards and
despite there being signs warning visitors not to pick the apples as if they
were going to be harvested for market, there were literally thousands or
hundreds of thousands of apples lying on the ground unharvested and rotting.
CHAPTER
SIX:
FORT MCHENRY
East Fort Avenue, Baltimore Maryland 21230 (Tel: (410)
962-4290)
The site of the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812. This is where
Francis Scott Key was famously inspired to write the words to “The Star
Spangled Banner” which subsequently became the USA’s national anthem. (Note:
The song’s music actually comes from an old English drinking song “Anachreon
in Heaven” but let’s not spoil things). Excellent visitor’s center,
excellent signage showing key aspects of the defense of Baltimore against
the British and its navy.
CHAPTER
SEVEN:
THE NORTH POINT STATE BATTLEFIELD – PART OF THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER
NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL
2840- 2878 S. North Point Road, Dundalk, Maryland
21222. (Tel: (410) 477-0757)
The trail tracing the history of the War of 1812 would have required several
days of exploring so pushed for time I just paid a fleeting visit to one
battle site at the town of Dundalk. This battle site was part of the defense
of Baltimore and local militia successfully held off hardened British
troops.
CHAPTER
EIGHT:
BATTLE OF BLADENSBURG
4601 Annapolis Road, Bladensburg, Maryland 20710 (Tel: (301) 779-0371)
Part of the Chesapeake Campaign in the War of 1812. This August 24th 1814
defeat inflicted on the Americans by the British ultimately paved the way
for the march on Washington by British troops.
Disappointingly, urban sprawl has eradicated the battlefield but there is a
plaque at the Bladensburg Waterfront Park and a small visitor center. (Note:
closed when I visited as I was too late in the afternoon to visit the center
and it probably relies on volunteers).
(Note: The American defeat similar to that of the “Battle of
Brooklyn”, probably meant that the battlefield’s preservation was not given
a high priority. I had hoped to visit the Battle of Brooklyn site driving
home, but read that there is just a plaque or two and really nothing else to
commemorate the British victory in what was the largest battle in the
American War of Independence).
CHAPTER
NINE:
PETERSBURG NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD
5001 Siege Road, Petersburg, Virginia 23803 (Tel: (804) 732-3531)
I have visited the US Civil War Petersburg Battlefield in the past but
nonetheless stopped by again to briefly revisit.
The Siege of Petersburg is well documented in the battlefield visitor’s
center and there are well marked trails guiding the visitor to the areas of
action – including “The Crater” – one of the largest explosions in the civil
war. This is where the Union sought to break the siege by mining underneath
the Confederate lines and detonating a large amount of explosives – the
explosion took place but proved to be ineffective as that part of the
Confederate line held and union troops fell inside the crater and became
targets of Confederate defenders.
For a first time visitor who is interested in the American Civil War I would
allocate at least a whole day or maybe two to seeing the various aspects of
the battlefield. There is also a Siege Museum in historic downtown
Petersburg.
In the evening I also took the opportunity to revisit a great pub located in
downtown Petersburg: “The Brickhouse
Run” – recommended.
(Note:
No, it was not operating when the battle took place but its building was.
Its interior is based on studies made by the original owner of UK pubs.)
·
Five Forks Battlefield, 9840 Courthouse Road, Dinwiddie, Virginia 23841
(Tel: (804) 732-3531).
Essentially part of the greater Petersburg Battlefield and siege; it is s a
short drive out from Petersburg. It has its own visitor center (limited
opening times/days).
CHAPTER
TEN:
BENTONVILLE BATTLEFIELD
5466 Harper House Road, Four Oaks North Carolina 27524 (Tel: (910)
594-0789). Closed Sundays, Mondays and Public Holidays.
Yes,
this is another US Civil War battlefield rather than American War of
Independence or War of 1812 battle site.
I had no idea what to expect. But it proved to be a real gem. Well signed
and with walking trails to explore most of the battlefield.
An excellent visitor’s center explaining what was the largest civil war
battle to have been fought in North Carolina. With advance booking there are
guided tours of the battlefield.
Fought over three days March 19th to 21st 1865, it
resulted in a Confederate defeat.
CHAPTER
ELEVEN:
US ARMY AIRBORNE AND SPECIAL FORCES MUSEUM
100 Bragg Blvd., Fayetteville, North Carolina 28301 (Tel: (910) 643-2778).
(Closed Mondays and Federal Holidays).
Another museum with a very well-organized series of displays dedicated to
the USA army airborne and special forces, and detailing the major military
operations in which these units were involved.
CHAPTER
TWELVE:
EUTAW SPIRINGS BATTLEFIELD
Located on Highway 6 about 2.5 miles South East of the town of
Eutawville, South Carolina 29048. (No visitor center).
A small battlefield stop. Fought on September 8th 1781, the
battle of Eutaw Springs was the last American War of Independence battle to
take place in the Carolinas. Both sides claimed victory.
There are explanatory plaques and some preserved graves.
Not a famous battle, but I include this battle map as it looks to be a very
suitable candidate for a wargame.
CHAPTER
THIRTEEN:
THE MIGHTY EIGHTH AIR FORCE MUSEUM
175 Bourne Avenue, Pooler Georgia 31322 (Tel: (912) 748-888) (Take Exit #
102 on Interstate 95).
My last stop before the final leg of my drive home.
I only learned of this excellent museum by chance – I had stopped at the
Interstate rest stop for a coffee; it had a number of tourist flyers, and by
chance I came across a flyer for this museum.
I was intrigued. So I took the next exit off the highway to go looksee. I am
so glad that I did. Highly recommended. Not only a great display, it also
traces the history of WWII and the strategic planners’ realization that
there was a need for a strategic bomber command to be permanently stationed
in England.
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expeditions
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