Grand Havoc: Perryville, 1862

Publisher: Revolution Games
Series: American Civil War – Volume 8
Category: Historical Wargame – U.S. Civil War
System: Blind Swords (chit pulls & activation rolls)
Language: English
Players: 1–4 (solo or multiplayer)
Playtime: Up to ~6 hours (varies with scenario and players)
Age: 14+
Scale: Regiments / Brigades
Theme: Battle of Perryville – Kentucky, October 8, 1862

Overview

Grand Havoc: Perryville, 1862 recreates one of the fiercest engagements of the Kentucky Campaign during the American Civil War. Using the Blind Swords system, the game conveys the fog of war, the coordination challenges of 19th-century command, and the dynamic events that shaped battlefield decisions.

Players command Union forces (Army of the Ohio under Buell) and Confederate forces (Army of Tennessee under Bragg), maneuvering infantry, cavalry, and artillery units rated for size, armament, and cohesion/morale.

At Perryville, Confederate commanders initially believed they faced a minor portion of Union forces, only to discover they confronted almost the entire army; Union commanders likewise misread Confederate strength, leading to unexpected frontal clashes.

Box Contents

• Large 22×34″ map
• Exclusive rulebook
• Series rulebook
• Two 5/8″ counter sheets
• Two combat results charts (CRTs)
• General records track card
• Two player reference cards
• Two brigade activation cards
• Two six-sided dice (boxed version)

Gameplay & Mechanics

The Blind Swords system emphasizes:

• Uncertain unit activation through chit pulls and rolls
• Random events affecting operational plans
• Command and control challenges reflective of mid-19th-century warfare

Players must balance activation planning with the ebb and flow of battlefield fortunes.