By Swords and Bayonets

By Swords and Bayonets 2025

8.3 /10
BGG rating
#12265
BGG rank
4.0
Weight
1–2
Players
2
Best at
240–360
Minutes
14
Age

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Expansions & Promos

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About the Game

By Swords and Bayonets is the ninth member of GMT Games' Great Battles of The American Civil War series (GBACW). This game is meant to serve as a introduction for players new to the series by limiting the size of the playing area as well as the number of combatants on the map. Experienced GBACW players will appreciate the addition of these four short, sharp "done in an afternoon" battles.

Features Include:

Four Civil War battles, each on a 22" x "17 "half size" map Opposing forces are no more than one division per side with 50 or fewer combat units each The full GBACW rulebook is supported so there is nothing to "unlearn" when players delve into other GBACW series games

The Battle Scenarios:

Big Bethel, June 10, 1861 detailing Gen. Benjamin Butler's overconfident assault on John Magruder's Confederates

Rappahannock Station, Nov. 7, 1863 in which elements of Sedgewick's VI Union Corps attempt to isolate and disperse a section of Early's CSA division. There is a one turn "learning scenario" for this battle.

New Bern, Mar. 14 1862, featuring Maj. General Ambrose Burnside's launches an attack on dug-in but inexperienced Confederates in the vicinity of Fort Thompson.

Mill Springs, Jan. 19, 1862 where Rebel Gen. G. Crittenden raced to surprise a large Union contingent before they could be reinforced.

—description from the publisher

Filed Under

Categories
Mechanics
BGG ratings
70 · geek rating 5.56
BGG data
refreshed Sep 7, 2026

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