The Army of the Heartland: The Army of Tennessee’s Campaigns, 1861-1863

About this board game

The Army of the Heartland: The Army of Tennessee’s Campaigns, 1861-1863 is a two-player strategic-operational simulation of the rebel Army of Tennessee’s Civil War campaigns.

Designed by award-winning designer John Prados, the game uses the same scale and game system as his earlier Campaigns of Robert E. Lee. Its focus is the critical, but largely ignored, actions in Kentucky, Tennessee, and northern Georgia between 1861 and 1863.

The game presents the conflict at a detailed operational scale. Units include divisions, brigades, and regiments, while each hex represents roughly 5¼ miles. A standard turn covers five days, or ten days during winter, giving the campaign a clear sense of time and movement across the heartland.

• Two 34-by-22-inch game maps depicting the heartland
• 560 die-cut counters
• Two army organization displays
• A 32-page rulebook with scenarios, historical analysis, charts, and tables
• Nine scenarios covering major engagements, plus an 1863 campaign scenario
• More than 90 individually rated leaders

Leaders are rated for Initiative, Administrative, and Tactical Abilities, adding individual distinctions to the armies’ command structure. Two dice are also included for resolving the game’s action.

With nine scenarios and a campaign covering the crucial year of 1863, The Army of the Heartland allows players to explore the options available to both sides. Released in 1996, it combines historical analysis, detailed maps, and a broad collection of scenarios in a focused simulation of the Army of Tennessee’s campaigns.