Red Badge of Courage

About this board game

Red Badge of Courage is a two-to-six-player American Civil War board game with an approximately 360-minute play time, covering both battles of Bull Run, or Manassas.

Based on version 4.3 of the Great Battles of the American Civil War system, the game presents two very different historical situations. At 1st Bull Run, two untrained armies meet in one of the war’s most evenly matched engagements, with exceptional and truly poor leaders on both sides and a constant stream of reinforcements keeping the battle active through the end.

2nd Bull Run portrays one of General Robert E. Lee’s greatest victories. Lee smashed John Pope’s politically riddled Union army, creating the conditions that led toward the Battle of Antietam, also known as Sharpsburg, several weeks later.

Red Badge of Courage includes both complete battles along with a half dozen smaller scenarios. These focused situations let players examine particular aspects of the fighting in greater detail, with many covering events within a single day.

• Two complete Bull Run battle games
• Approximately six smaller scenarios
• 1,120 full-color, die-cut counters
• Two 22×34-inch full-color mapsheets
• Two 10-sided dice, one blue and one gray
• 36-page rule book, two battle books, and five player aid cards

Designed by Richard H. Berg and developed by John Alsen, the game builds on lessons from the two previous battle games in the series. Its substantial maps, extensive counter set, and scenario variety support a detailed exploration of the opening battle of the Civil War and Lee’s later victory at 2nd Bull Run.