A House Divided: War Between the States 1861-65

About this board game

A House Divided: War Between the States 1861-65 is a two-player strategic board game, released in 1981, with an approximately 240-minute playing time. One player leads the Union and the other leads the Confederacy through the American Civil War.

The game focuses on the struggle between North and South over the twin issues of slavery and states’ rights. It covers the war from the First Battle of Bull Run, also known as Manassas Junction, to the surrender at Appomattox Courthouse—or a Confederate surrender at Harrisburg.

Its map represents the United States from the Atlantic coast to just west of the Mississippi, including both northern and southern regions. The play area is divided into boxes representing cities, towns, and other locations important to the war.

• Two players: one commands the Union and one commands the Confederacy.
• Connected locations: boxes are linked by transportation lines across the map.
• Three transportation types: blue rivers, tan roads, and black railroads provide routes across the board.
• Strategic decisions: each player determines how to pursue victory or avoid defeat.

In A House Divided, the transportation network creates the paths through which the conflict unfolds. Cities, towns, and key locations become part of a larger contest stretching across the divided nation.

Can you keep the Union whole, or can you force the separation of the United States? Take command of one of the two nations and decide the outcome of this epic four-year war.