Mike Parker: Game designer uses talents to help Wyse Fork Battlefield
I am not sure how Bill Molyneaux came to know about our part of Eastern North Carolina, but once he discovered us, he became a frequent visitor and friend in our efforts to preserve our local history.
Bill is a sales representative for General Mills, the largest cereal producer in the United States. He told Grant Kleinhenz of The Players’ Aid website:
“Basically, I drive to grocery stores and make sure Cheerios are on the shelf for people to buy. I also play wargames, both hex and counter and miniatures. One of my passions, though, is French & Indian War reenacting at many of the major sites throughout the year.”
The move from gaming enthusiast to game designer was a small step.
“I have been a play tester for over 30 years and have done work for many game companies and designers. … I like to design games for historic sites that will be sold to non-war gamers in order to expand the hobby,” he told Grant.
After Bill visited the CSS Neuse Museum and the CSS Neuse II replica, he became fascinated with the history of our area. After hearing about efforts to preserve the Wyse Fork Battlefield a few miles east of Kinston, he arranged to meet with Dennis Harper and Wade Sokolosky for detailed talks about the battle. The more he heard, the more committed he became to designing a game based on the Battle of Wyse Fork.
The Battle of Wyse Fork is a one-to-two-player game set during the American Civil War. At this battle, often called the Second Battle of Kinston, the Confederate army tried to blunt the Union advance of Gen. Jacob D. Cox, who moved his men from New Bern to join forces with Union Gen. William T. Sherman.
The Battle of Wyse Fork occurred from March 7-10, 1865. It began as the Union 13,000-man vanguard under Gen. Jacob D. Cox left New Bern and approached the Confederate defensive line along Southwest Creek.
Cox’s mission was to ensure that the Atlantic & N.C. Railroad could operate from the port at Morehead City to the vital rail center at Goldsboro, where Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman sought to resupply his troops before continuing the march toward Virginia.
Because of faulty intelligence, Cox was unaware that Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg had concentrated a force of almost 10,000 in the area to defeat or turn back his advance. The battle raged for three days until Confederate troops withdrew.
The Battle of Wyse Fork game offers a historically authentic experience for new and experienced gamers. One player takes on the role of Union Gen. Cox, whose task is to seize the railroad supply point. The other player serves as Confederate Gen. Bragg, whose mission is to stop Cox.
With only 15 turns to play, the players can enjoy the average game in under two hours. The game also has optional rules for players looking for extra depth.
However, Bill’s purpose for The Battle of Wyse Fork is not merely to offer another war game. Bill has dedicated a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the game to support the “Save the Wyse Fork Battlefield” efforts.
If you are interested in the game or only interested in preserving the Wyse Fork Battlefield, visit this link for more information or to make a purchase:
https://www.bluepantherllc.com/products/bmgwysefork
If you would like to see a video about the game, then visit this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvoiOwRyLcQ
Mike Parker is a columnist for the Neuse News. You can reach him at mparker16@gmail.com.
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