What is the Dixie Civil War card game?

Dixie is a fast, exciting two-player card and dice wargame that brings the American Civil War to life in a quick, highly replayable format. Designed by Columbia Games, it combines simple mechanics with rich tactical choices, allowing players to command either the Union (USA) or Confederate (CSA) armies in famous battles such as Bull Run, Shiloh, and Gettysburg.

At its heart, Dixie uses a card-driven system to recreate the uncertainty of battle. Each army deck represents the unique units, leaders, and terrain of that historic engagement. Players take turns revealing and playing cards, maneuvering regiments, and rolling dice to resolve combat across three battlefield columns—left, center, and right. Victory comes when two of the opponent’s lines collapse under pressure.

Unlike most wargames, Dixie plays in 20–30 minutes, with no complex setup or rulebook to memorize. Yet it still captures the essence of tactical command—where timing, morale, and luck decide the outcome.

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What makes the Dixie card game unique?

What makes Dixie truly unique is its blend of accessibility and authenticity:

Quick to learn – Easy rules and short playtime make it ideal for casual or family gaming.
Historically themed – Every edition reflects real troop types and battlefield conditions.
Strategically rich – Each turn challenges players to balance risk, leadership, and limited information.
Collectible format – Each battle is a standalone deck, but decks can be combined for expanded campaigns.

Whether you’re a Civil War buff, a strategy gamer, or just someone who enjoys clever two-player contests, Dixie offers the perfect mix of history, tension, and replayability in one portable box.

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Dixie Civil War Card Game Confederate Cards

Dixie card game versions: Bull Run, Shiloh, Gettysburg

Each Dixie game recreates a historic American Civil War battle using its own unique deck of cards and tactical setup.
While every version plays in about 30 minutes, each offers a different flavor of strategy and challenge.

Order Dixie: Bull Run now!

The Battle of Bull Run—also known as Manassas—was the first major clash of the Civil War.
This edition captures the early-war chaos as inexperienced troops and uncertain leadership collide.

Key Features:

Smaller forces make it perfect for new players learning the Dixie system.
Fast, intense battles emphasizing bluffing and positioning.
Reflects the confusion of the war’s opening months, where both sides were still learning how to fight.

Ideal for players who enjoy quick, tactical duels with constant reversals of fortune.

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The Battle of Gettysburg was the turning point of the Civil War—and this Dixie edition captures its scale and drama.
With larger decks, diverse unit types, and multi-column coordination, it’s the most advanced version of the game.

Key Features:

Command vast armies with artillery, infantry, and cavalry support.
Emphasizes long-term positioning, morale, and leadership.
Designed for experienced players seeking a complete strategic challenge.

This is Dixie at its most cinematic—epic in scope yet fast enough for a single evening’s play.

Order Dixie: Shiloh now!

The Battle of Shiloh brought the war’s brutal reality to the Western Front.
This edition introduces reinforcements, terrain effects, and leadership timing, creating a deeper and more unpredictable battle.

Key Features:

Rich in maneuver and counterattack options—every decision matters.
Highlights surprise attacks and resilient defenses along the Tennessee River.
Perfect middle ground for players who want more depth without longer playtime.

If you want a balanced Civil War wargame that rewards both planning and adaptability, Shiloh delivers.

How to Play the Dixie card game

Dixie is designed for two players who take opposing sides in an American Civil War battle—the Union (USA) and the Confederacy (CSA). Each version of the game (such as Bull Run, Shiloh, or Gettysburg) includes a custom deck of 60 illustrated cards representing historical regiments, leaders, and terrain unique to that battle.

Objective

Win the battle by breaking your opponent’s line. The battlefield is divided into three columns—left, center, and right. A player wins when two of the three columns collapse under pressure.

Setup

Each player draws a starting hand of cards from their army deck. The battlefield is set with cards arranged face-down, representing the fog of war.

Gameplay

Reveal and Deploy – Players reveal cards to move troops into position or reinforce weak lines.
Fire and Resolve – Roll dice to determine the results of musket volleys, artillery fire, and charges.
Morale and Leadership – Use leader cards to rally broken units or push an attack at the critical moment.
Victory Check – If two enemy columns collapse, the battle—and the game—is won.

Strategy Tips

Balance offense and defense: don’t overcommit to one flank.
Leaders matter: protect them—they can reverse the outcome of a close fight.
Timing is everything: a well-timed reinforcement or artillery strike can turn defeat into victory.

Dixie plays in about 20–30 minutes, making it quick to set up yet highly replayable. Each version can be played on its own or combined with others to simulate larger Civil War campaigns.

Order Dixie: Shiloh now!

Download the Dixie Rules & Tutorial

Download the Rules!

Want to dive into a little light reading? Then download the rules! It is an easy read and only 8 pages long!

Download the rules!

Dont take our word for it…

What players say about the Dixie card game…

Best war card game I have ever played. Tension and back and forth action keep the suspense up the whole game. Quick to learn but there are some devious tactics available just like in real life. It’s usually fun right up to last die roll.

flyboy16 Comment on BoardGameGeek

Beautiful art. Very well researched. Contains an incredible amount of variety and depth for what it is, and can be integrated with Columbia Games’ Sam Grant to create a truly immersive and extended Civil War gaming experience.

LukeV_07 comment from BoardGameGeek

Gorgeous Cards
Very clever system where you try to ‘break’ one of your opponents three columns. Never ending variation in setup and results.

Jgeistcomment from BoardGameGeek

Every bit as good as the Columbia block games–the art is great. Cards for each unit and leader, plus terrain. Using only a handful of the 250 cards for each game provides a lot of replayability. Presentation is top notch.

red_herringcomment from BoardGameGeek

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