ACW Operational Game: Union Assault : The Battle Report Part 2

Confederate Battle Line

It was the end for Steinwehr. His battered brigades were finally pushed from the woods. The survivors of Costers brigade surrendered to the advancing brigades of Ramseur and Daniels whilst the combined force of O'Neal and Iverson pushed Smiths brigade back into the open fields beyond.

On table 1C combined infantry and cannon fire struck Cockes outnumbered defenders and a Federal Infantry assault by Brewsters Brigade crashed into the thin line of defenders and in a series of short battles  Cockes militia men surrendered .

Meanwhile the two other Brigades of Humphrey's Division, those of Burling and Carr advanced toward table 1B and the fight that was continuing in its intensity.

For a while I am going to concentrate on the fight on table 1B. The Confederate Brigades of Heth's Division turned to face the new threat. Whilst Archers brigade supported Rodes division ,Heth's brigades commanded by Pettigrew, Davis and Brockenbrough formed to face the rear and Humphreys approaching men. 

By the wood O'Neals crack infantry finally swept Smiths exhausted brigade from the field, but the breakthrough came at a price as O'Neals men came into range of the Grand Battery formed by XI and I corps artillery. Franks dice rolling found the range and O'Neals men were hit by medium range fire knocking meant to the ground and disordering the rest. 

Table 1B, at lunchtime. The woods to the left were the scene of Steinwehrs desperate stand. Robertsons cavalry are dismounted behind a fence line and Von Gilsa and Ames are stationary on the opposite fence line.

Burling and Carrs arrival have evened the odds but the Union right still looked under considerable pressure. Again the Confederate line rolled forward, echeloning left as it moved so that Ramseur and Daniels slighty overlapped to the right of Meredith, Archer moved into the line between Daniels and Iverson and O'Neil went straight for the cluster of farm buildings. Again the combined artillery struck O'Neils men and more fell but the Confederate line , now five brigades strong , advanced upon the brigades of Meredith and Cutler.

Meade far left ,has arrived on the battlefield to converse with his Corps commanders. In the foreground the four batteries of XI and I Corps rake O'Neils exposed men whilst the veteran fighters of Von Gilsa and Ames Brigades of Barlows Division wait for the rebel assault.

On the Confederate  left Ramseur and Daniels exchanged fire with the Iron Brigade (Meredith) with neither side getting the upper hand. Ramseur and Daniels then charged and hit Meredith, Archer and Iverson hit Cutler and O'Neil staggering yet again from artillery fire failed to close. Ramseur and Daniels pushed Merediths men back causing casualties but in the middle Cutler stood strong against the brigades of Archer and Iverson leaving a tide mark of confederate dead.

The Iron Brigade are pushed back as the Confederate brigades still appear to have the upper hand

To the rear Brockenbrough with Davis in support hit Carrs Brigade, but the Union brigade fresh from training responded to the presence of its Divisional and Corps commanders, and pushed Brockenbroughs equally Green troops back, after a fierce fight that inflicted casualties on both sides. 

Pettigrew couldn't reach Burling and the two settled with trading fire. Meanwhile artillery batteries from both sides hurried to set up.

Merediths men ,with an exceptional brigade leader, crack troop status, their divisional commander shouting encouragement and still fresh, easily rallied and charged the confederate line pushing Daniels back and forcing both Daniels and Ramseur back away from Cutler. These three brigades now had their own little battle on the Union right. Again the Confederate lines pushed forward right across the table. Daniels and Ramseur both hit Meredith, Archer and Iverson in supported line hit Cutler and O'Neil, rallied and surged into the extended end of Cutlers line holding the small group of buildings. 

To the rear Davis hit Carrs brigade again and Pettigrew crashed into Burling but Brockenbrough was now in the sights of the III Corps artillery and canister shredded the brigade as it attempted to support Davis. 

The results of these clashes was as varied as the rest of the day. To the right Meredith crushed the attack of Ramseur and Daniels, the exhausted Confederate brigades fresh from training could not cope with the battle hardened Federal infantry. Ramseurs brigade was utterly destroyed.

In the middle Cutler fell back from the farm building as the three combined rebel brigades struck, opening a hole in the Union line and suffering the brigades first losses of the day, but its defensive fire had disordered the confederate brigades and as they advanced to take the position O'Neils battered brigade moved once again into the sights of the Union Grand Battery. Canister fire battered the farm buildings, shredded trees and flayed skin and O'Neils men, blooded and spent were finally done.

Carr briefly held Davis and both brigades took casualties but the better class Confederate troops pushed Carr back off the table. Pettigrew also pushed Burling back onto table 1C with the help of some well timed artillery fire.

Yet again III Corps artillery hit Brockenbrough and the rebel brigade crumbled, but fire from Pettigrews brigade struck gun barrels and killed crew, and the Union battery became the first artillery piece of the day to become a casualty.

Meredith charged Daniels and Cutler rallied and struck the thinning brigades of Archer and Iverson. Suddenly the Confederate line on table 1B began to crumble. III Corps damaged artillery was charged down by the remnants of Davis brigades and destroyed. Meredith overwhelmed Daniels and made breakthrough charge toward the woods were Steinwehrs men had made their stand earlier in the day. Cutler smashed Archer and Iverson and the rebel centre collapsed. Lee and Longstreet retired their HQs to table 2C and the spent remnants of four Rebel Infantry brigades and Robertsons cavalry attempted to break for the rear. But for these battle weary survivors the end was near. Buford division of cavalry now reinforced by Gambles fresh brigade charged onto table 1B. Cut off by Merediths victorious Black Hats and being pursued by the Union cavalry it is doubtful that the isolated, spent and leaderless men would escape. So ended the battle on table 1B. 

Meanwhile on table 1C Anderson ,under orders from Lee had pushed some of his brigades forward. One of these hit the retreating brigade of Burling causing further casualties and pushing Burling and Carr further back. The Confederates however did not push on the town which was held by the remaining brigade and artillery of Grahams Division/III Corps.

On the rear table 3A the Union had having finally rebuilt the bridge arrived in force infront of the entrenchments surrounding the city and the small railway station. This force consisted of Doubledays  full divisions of three brigades, Robinsons Division of two brigades, the Army Reserve Artillery Brigade consisting of four batteries and a brigade of Pioneers.

 Behind the entrenchment sat three brigades of either Green or unknown quality troops and two large fortress guns.

 This Confederate force of was outnumbered by almost 3 to 1.

The last train out of dodge.

The Union force swept forward. In a scene reminiscent of the film Glory, the Coloured troops of the Pioneer brigade charged the Fortress Guns taking casualties at every step. By the railway station it looked like the small brigade of Green troops would not hold for long as they were it by the Union massed ranks. The rest of the Union brigades in double line closed on the Rebel Infantry sheltering behind the city entrenchments. And so time ran out

The rest will make for a very nice Thursday night battle as the forces from 3A and the survivors of table 1B, 1C and 2C will appear as I the umpire decree, in a fight to the finish on table 3A. Then I shall write the third instalment of this battle report.

But what of the day itself. Well on points the Confederates took it 10 to 8. The Union commanders seemed convinced that the Confederates had more brigades in reserve than they actually had, and the decision by the Confederates to force the issue on the top table 1B made for a frantic showdown which swayed one way and then another across the battlefield. 

All told the Union forces lost the Infantry Brigades of Smith and Coster wiped out. The Brigades of Carr, Burling and Cutler were heavily damaged and left spent as was the Cavalry brigade of Devin. The Iron Brigade lost two stands and Cutler five. Nine of the Union Infantry brigades and one cavalry brigade (Gamble) held positions but were not actively engaged until the very end of the day when I Corps arrived on table 3A.

The Confederates lost Cockes , Ramseur, Daniels, Brockenbrough and O'Neil Infantry Brigades wiped out and Archer, Davis and Iverson brigades heavily damaged (all spent). Robertsons cavalry whilst active at the beginning of the battle took no further part in the infantry battle that swirled about them and remained at 60% strength for the rest of the day.

On a more human side each of the stands we fought with represented approximately 200men (parts or whole battalions). Union casualties for killed, wounded , captured and missing reached 7400men (about 37stands). Thats about a 25% casualty rate.

Confederate casualties reaches 8,800 (about 44 stands). Thats about a 40% casualty rate. Historically by this point of the war those casualties on the confederate side were unsustainable and so whilst on the day they held, it may as Ozzy pointed out been a Pyrrhic victory. The divisions of Heth and Rodes were effectively removed from the Confederate order of battle and troops of their quality would be hard for the rebels to replace. 

So what as an Umpire did I learn. Well my decision to make all the Confederate units a standard 6/4/2 and the Union 8/5/3 worked really well as it made remembering whether a unit was Worn or Spent very easy and the random moral added some historic variation to the battles outcomes. Keeping weapons standard for the different sides also worked well. I shall use both systems again in future operational games. Green brigades unless large in numbers are brittle especially when they run up against highly motivated and trained troops. 

The order system for ACW operational games needs altering. Both sides gave up any pretence of sending messages (it was funny to watch, you just can't help it and their is no exception, so no finger waving) . In future both sides can talk as much as they like and whether an order is received will be determined by a dice roll modified by the distance and leadership qualities of sender and receiver HQ's. 

I also learned that with the right number of players much larger battle could be fought on both operational tables and big single battlefields alike. I felt we got a really good result although Dennis and Russ did not see as much fighting as Frank and Oz. I am completely sold on Fire and Fury (just as well considering the number of figures I've painted). It looked and played well and more importantly for me represented well the historical ACW battle reports that i have read. Hats off to Russ for his excellent photos which added context to the report.

A thoroughly enjoyable Saturday played in good humour with excellent company. Thanks chaps.