The War for the Union

About this board game

The War for the Union is a strategic two-player simulation of the American Civil War, designed for a playing time of approximately 360 minutes. Players command the Union and Confederate forces that fought from 1861 through 1865.

The game’s map covers a broad area, stretching from southeastern Texas to the Atlantic and from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to southern Florida. Its detailed terrain includes forests, rough ground, swamps, bayou, mountain hexsides, lakes, bluffs, and both major and minor cities.

River hexsides are represented in several forms, including tidal, navigable, and minor rivers. These map features help define the geographical scope of the conflict and provide a richly detailed setting for strategic play.

Players use dedicated reference materials, reinforcement schedules, combat information, and a deck of 25 Tactical cards. The published components vary by edition:

• Compass Games version: two 22 x 34-inch maps, three and a half sheets of 9/16-inch counters, 25 Tactical cards, two reinforcement schedules, reference cards, a rulesbook, a scenario book, and two ten-sided dice.
• Clash of Arms version: one 22 x 34-inch map, three sheets of 1/2-inch counters, four game cards with charts and tables, basic and advanced rulebooks, and a historical commentary and scenario book.

With its large geographic scope, multiple terrain types, and separate basic and advanced rulebooks in the Clash of Arms edition, The War for the Union presents the American Civil War as a substantial strategic game for two players.