Soldiers Games

[Ofcalipka]

Originally Posted by Artillery 1861

Shouldn't the Congress and the Crime blocks be the same...

Thought from that time about congress:
Suppose you were an idiot and suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself. -- Mark Twain (1835 - 1910)

I don't mind what Congress does, as long as they don't do it in the streets and frighten the horses. -- Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885)

I was wondering too why you get 5 points for congress. I suppose Milton Bradley was thinking the glass was half full when he put this one together. I wish I could find the original rules. This would be an easy game to reproduce and probably fun to play. It was one of the best sellers during the 1860's.

[harley_davis]

Originally Posted by Blair

Now here is a twist, I thought the "Matrimony" block to be a little on the harsh side.
I guess it is all in your individual prospective of things.

In retrospect, my first time "around the block" (is this game where the term comes from????) was both of these blocks in one. I do miss my ex..............however, my aim is getting better.

But to the original post, if weather, space and participants permits, how about a good game of baseball? I encourage the young lads to play baseball since it takes their energy level down a notch (plum knocks us old farts out) and hence, they are less likely to get into mischief later in the evening.

Regards,

[mmescher]

Baseball is possible but should use period rules and period equipment. The ball should be a hard ball with quandrant seams instead of the double key seams of modern baseballs. And no gloves to help catch the ball.

The Checkered Game of Life has been reproduced (I believe that occurred in the 1980's) and can sometimes be purchased on ebay. The last time I picked up a game, the price was in the $25 - 30 range. Rules are usually included. If you want an original, depending on the condition, it can run somewhere from $200 - $400. I haven't tried reproducing it in the form of the Games for the Soldiers because I'm not certain about how it would sell. There is a joke about how you make a small fortune in publishing -- start with a large fortune.

Michael Mescher

[hiplainsyank]

I thought the "50: Happy Old Age" square was funny...

[DulcimerPlayer]

Having played cribbage for years I can attest that it is a good two,three, or four player game.

Boards are small and compact, you can bet on the game if desired, and easy to pick up and learn.

Rules have not changed since the 1864 addition.

[hiplainsyank]

Regarding cribbage, the one time I played it I was taught that the rules used during the Civil War were different than the modern rules...

[DulcimerPlayer]

They might have been thinking of five card cribbage, which is a much more complex game. The 1864 Hoyle book linked in this post points out that 6 card cribbage "is the game most popular in this country" but does pose that it is a inferior game in both "skill and scientific arrangements". Looking at the rules listed for 6 card they seem the same as how my father taught me.

[DulcimerPlayer]

The Smithsonian Magazine did a great article a few years back about the men that recreate and play the original forms of baseball. They did mention that the start of the season was the worst until your hands get toughened up to catching the balls barehanded. Broken fingers seem to be a given for the games.

[harley_davis]

Some of my lads got into a game of baseball against a team of period players last year at an event. The "old boys" from the Halsey Hall Quicksteps http://halseyhall.org/quicksteps.html handed the pups a real leasson in humility. It aint like modern baseball and the young lads of Co. C learned it aint so easy to catch a line drive without a glove!!!

For in camp life demonstrations tho, the boys have a period correct ball & bat and 4 or 5 of the them will play catch and practice their batting skills. Great piece of conversation with the guests. Some time back, there was a thread on the Forum with some good baseball history. For my part, I was no good at baseball as a 16yr old sprat and the 39 years hence have not improved my game!!!!

[Rob Weaver]

Our vivandiere carries a ball in her pack and it frequently comes out for catch and batting with a chunk of firewood. We've played some pick up games but they were pretty simple. I don't know about anyone else, but I rarely have time for much more than a simple and short game at any event I've been at. Daylight hours tend to be fairly full, and many games are hard to play in growing darkness. I do have a deck of cards that we break out during breaks n the march. Percussion caps are great chips.