“Brother against Brother” is a turn-based series of games which simulate the battles of the American Civil War at the regimental level.
The first release, “Brother against Brother: The Drawing of the Sword,” is devoted to the opening battles of the war: the first major battles of 1861 in both the eastern and western theaters, 1st Bull Run and Wilson’s Creek, as well as the first battles of 1862, Mill Springs and Williamsburg.
“Brother against Brother” boasts scrupulous attention to detail in the preparation of maps and orders of battles; Western Civilization Software did years of primary research, pouring over national archives, consulting with a dozen experts, and exploring every inch of the actual battlefields.
The maps themselves are vast, some as large as 50 square miles, and at 75 yards per hex are rendered in intricate detail.
The game engine presents the player with a novel system of movement and issuing orders that emphasize the difficulties of wielding command-and-control over Civil War era regiments.
The units themselves are accurately simulated not only in their strength and level of training, but also in such details as their sub-commanders and weapons. Many units have special qualities in the game that represent the qualities which made them famous during the war, and some units have special attachments like Zouaves or sharpshooters. The engine models hundreds of details with an easy-to-grasp user-interface: weather, formation, supply, skirmishers, brigade orders, dismounted cavalry, division activation, corps intelligence... even battlefield smoke.
Providing a wide range of historical and alternative-history scenarios, “Brother against Brother” lets players refight the major battles of the Civil War at an unprecedented level of depth and detail.
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Weather, formations, supply, skirmishers, brigade orders, mounted and dismounted cavalry, corps intelligence, division orders, even battlefield smoke are all modeled… and more!
Get a look to the full manual here!
- Battle of 1st Manassas Map and Order of Battle available! -
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here to view the map online
- Battle of Wilson's Creek Map and Order of Battle available! -
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here to view the map online
- Battle of Mill Springs Map and Order of Battle available! -
Download now
Click
here to view the map online
- Battle of Williamsburg Map and Order of Battle available! -
Download now
Click
here to view the map online
Scenario List
1st Battle of Bull Run/Battle of 1st Manassas, July 21, 1861
1st Manassas (9:20am Start)
1st Manassas (What if #1 - Sudley Springs Ford defended)
1st Manassas (What if #2 - Multi-pronged Union attack)
1st Manassas (Blackburn's Ford (small scenario))
1st Manassas (What if #3 - Blackburn's Ford (small scenario))
1st Manassas (2 Player only version)
1st Manassas (Mid-battle (12pm) scenario)
1st Manassas (Standard Scenario)
Battle of Wilson's Creek, August 10, 1861
Wilsons Creek (What if #1 - Single Union attack column)
Wilsons Creek (What if #2 - Sigel delayed)
Wilsons Creek (Mid-battle (7 am) scenario)
Wilsons Creek (Standard Scenario)
Battle of Mill Springs, January 19, 1862
Mill Springs (What if #1 - USA badly picketed)
Mill Springs (What if #2 - USA badly picketed (no rain))
Mill Springs (Mid-battle Scenario (Zollicoffer in peril))
Mill Springs (Standard Scenario)
Mill Springs (Standard Scenario (no rain))
Battle of Mill Springs, at Beech Grove Encampment
Mill Springs (Beech Grove) (What if #1 - Union attack) (Set on January 20, 1862)
Mill Springs (Beech Grove) (What if #2 - CSA attacks first)
Battle of Williamsburg, May 5, 1862
Williamsburg (What if #1 - Faster reinforcements)
Williamsburg (What if #2 - Improved defensive line)
Williamsburg (Hancock vs Early (small scenario))
Williamsburg (Hancock vs Early (STARTER SCENARIO))
Williamsburg (Standard Scenario)
Williamsburg (Standard Scenario) (no rain)
Armchair General Review
93% - "Brother against Brother: The Drawing of the Sword is a highly detailed, historically accurate, turn-based tactical wargame that examines some of the early battles of the American Civil War"
Sugar Free Gamer Review
"When the bands is playing, and the guns are sounding, and the muskets are cracking it really is an atmospheric experience even though youre looking at counters or sprites on a 2d map. You immerse yourself in the battle, because of the plan and see payoff."