Saturday, June 27, 2015

2nd Battle of the Valley Campaign

2nd Battle of the Campaign: Battle of Middletown

At the same time as the Federal 1st division was engaging McLaw’s Confederate division at Kernstown down the Valley Turnpike, the Federal 2nd division was marching from Winchester by way of the Luray Valley Road to Middletown where it met Hood’s 3rd division.

Confederate OOB                                                            Total Force: 6933 total of all arms

  Division John B. Hood
  [ 102] Brigadier General John B. Hood - Active B+ [950 paces]                    16 Cannon
                [ 149] 1st NC, Co A                      0/ 131 [ 5] B- Limbered     M1857 SB.12pdr Napoleon   
                [ 150] Troups GA Artillery               0/  90 [ 4] B- Limbered      mixed Napoleon/3-inch
                [ 151] Pulaski GA Artillery              0/  63 [ 3] B- Limbered      mixed Napoleon/3-inch
                [ 152] Richmond Howitzer, 1st Co         0/  90 [ 4] B- Limbered      mixed Napoleon

    Brigade Evander M Law
    [ 103] Brigadier General Evander M Law - Active B+ [500 paces]
                [ 101] 4th AL                            0/ 346      B  March Col.   P1853 Enfield             
                [ 102] 15th AL                           0/ 499      B- March Col.   P1853 Enfield             
                [ 103] 44th AL                           0/ 363      B- March Col.   P1853 Enfield             
                [ 104] 47th AL                           0/ 347      B- March Col.   Lorenz Rifled-Musket      
                [ 105] 48th AL                           0/ 374      B- March Col.   M1840 SB.Musket           
   
Brigade George T Anderson
    [ 104] Brigadier General George T Anderson - Active B [450 paces]
                [ 106] 8th GA                            0/ 311      B- March Col.   P1853 Enfield             
                [ 107] 9th GA                            0/ 340      B- March Col.   M1855 Springfield Rifle   
                [ 108] 11th GA                           0/ 309      B- March Col.   Lorenz Rifled-Musket      
                [ 109] 58th GA                           0/ 525      B- March Col.   P1853 Enfield             

    Brigade Jerome B. Robertson
    [ 105] Brigadier General Jerome B. Robertson - Active B [450 paces]
                [ 110] 3rd Arkansas                      0/ 479      B- March Col.   P1853 Enfield             
                [ 111] 1st Texas                         0/ 426      B- March Col.   P1853 Enfield             
                [ 112] 4th Texas                         0/ 415      B- March Col.   M1855 Springfield Rifle   
                [ 113] 5th Texas                         0/ 409      B- March Col.   Lorenz Rifled-Musket      



Federal OOB                                      Total Force:  4356 total of all arms
  Division Romeyn B Ayres
  [ 503] Brigadier General Romeyn B Ayres - Active B [875 paces]                                13 cannon
                [ 535] 3rd MA Battery                    0/ 115 [ 5] C  Limbered     3-inch Ordnance Rifle     
                [ 536] 1st OH Battery                    0/ 113 [ 5] C  Limbered      mixed Napoleon/3-inch
                [ 538] 5th US, Battery I                 0/  71 [ 3] C  Limbered     3-inch Ordnance Rifle     

    Brigade Hannibal Day
    [ 504] Colonel Hannibal Day - Active B [450 paces]
                [ 512] 3rd US                            0/ 300      C- March Col.   M1861 Springfield         
                [ 513] 4th US                            0/ 173      C  March Col.   M1861 Springfield         
                [ 514] 6th US                            0/ 150      C  March Col.   M1861 Springfield         
                [ 515] 12th US                           0/ 419      C- March Col.   M1861 Springfield         
                [ 516] 14th US                           0/ 513      C- March Col.   M1861 Springfield         

    Brigade Sidney Burbank
    [ 505] Colonel Sidney Burbank - Active B [450 paces]
                [ 501] 2nd US                            0/ 197      C- March Col.   M1861 Springfield         
                [ 502] 7th US                            0/ 116      C  March Col.   M1861 Springfield         
                [ 503] 10th US                           0/  93      C  March Col.   M1861 Springfield         
                [ 504] 11th US                           0/ 286      C  March Col.   M1861 Springfield         
                [ 505] 17th US                           0/ 260      C  March Col.   M1861 Springfield         

    Brigade Stephen H. Weed
    [ 507] Colonel Stephen H. Weed - Active B [450 paces]
                [ 506] 140th NY                          0/ 453      C- March Col.   M1861 Springfield         
                [ 507] 146th NY                          0/ 460      C- March Col.   M1861 Springfield         
                [ 508] 91st PA                           0/ 222      C  March Col.   M1861 Springfield         

                [ 509] 155th PA                          0/ 365      C- March Col.   P1853 Enfield              

The battle commenced at 2pm (determined by Federal commander dice roll) in a light rain (determined by Confederate commander dice roll).  Both sides were marching towards each other when their scouts identified the location of the opposing forces.  Calling up their reserves, Generals Ayers and Hood commenced the battle without delay.


Below:
General Hood’s Confederates immediately gained the initiative and would hold it during the entire battle.  Hood raced forward Law’s brigade and sent the 4th and 15th Alabama into line at the base of a major hill.  While he did that Federal General Ayers sent in Colonel Day’s 1st brigade of regulars, deploying three regiments into skirmish order and sent two others across the stream to thwart a Confederate turning movement.



Below: General Law’s brigade quickly shook themselves out into line, while the 4th and 15th Alabama ascended the hill and claimed possession of it.  Confederate artillery arrived on the Confederate left flank and deployed, while the reminder of the brigade took up a defensive / supportive position behind or at the base of the hill.  Additional Confederate artillery remained 1200 yards behind the hill along the road and spent time tearing down a stone wall to give them access to a hill on the Confederate right flank.  The 48th Alabama, fated to have a heroic day and a terrible ending, was deployed to support this battery.

Meanwhile, Federal General Day deployed his entire brigade as skirmishers and began a harassing fire on the Confederate forces which did little.  Federal artillery deployed to the rear left of the Federal line with a commanding view of the hill.  Additional Federal artillery deployed on open ground across the stream giving them a good view of the Confederate left flank.

Much to the chagrin of the Confederates the first Federal reinforcements arrived in the form of General Burkbank’s  2nd Brigade of US Regulars.



Below:  General Law pressed the 4th and 15th Alabama over the crest of the hill and into the Federal skirmishers.  The Federal skirmishers withdrew continually down the hill, keeping up a brisk, yet erratic fire on the Confederates above them.  The Confederate volleys did little damage on the Federal regiments in skirmish order.  Confederate forces remained on the defensive, and some even blocked the line of sight of their own guns.  Unwilling to press their attack across the stream, the Confederates contented themselves with holding the hill.

At this point General Ayers unleashed his trap upon the unsuspecting 4th and 15th Alabama.  Caught exposed upon the hill the regiments suffered significant casualties from the Federal artillery.  Skirmish fire continued to pester those two regiments killing a few men at a time.  General Hood looked in vain for his reinforcements, and calls for more speed were quickly dispatched by his couriers.

To Hoods dismay the 3rd Brigade of Federal troops (Weed) arrived shortly after the 2nd brigade and the long column of Federal troops began their quick march towards the fighting around the little hill.  Confederate artillery, poorly located were unable to take advantage of this easy target.



Below: Shocked by the number of Federal troops streaming onto the field, General Law threw his whole brigade into action, moving all of his remaining forces to the hill and sending the 48th Alabama into an attack column which began to move on its own towards the Federal right flank.  Hood deployed his artillery battery by the destroyed stone wall, but its poor location and the hill blocked all line of sight except for a single Federal skirmish line about a mile away.

Meanwhile, Day’s Federal brigade in skirmish order had taken some punishment from the relentless Confederate volleys and been driven down the hill, with one regiment recoiling across the creek, thereby giving the 4th Alabama some respite.  Not so fortunate were the Confederate regiments as they continued to receive serious fire from the Federal batteries which now began to lob shot and shell through multiple Confederate regiments.

Finally, Confederate reinforcements began to arrive to help the beleaguered brigade of General Law.  


Below:  Still close to two miles from his reinforcements, but holding the high ground, Law’s troops took the fight to the newly arrived Federals.  Two well placed volleys from the 4th and 15th Alabama rocked the 2nd US Regulars who were advancing in line on their own up the hill, causing them to fall back 300 yards.   Burbank’s 7th US, deployed in line to the right rear of the 2nd US and screened by skirmishers from Day’s brigade escaped unscathed.  However, Burbank’s 10th and 11th US were formed in an attack column.  The collapse of the 2nd US placed the 10th US in an dangerously exposed position.  A charge by the 48th Alabama drove over a stone wall and pushed part of Day’s skirmishers away from the bottom of the hill.  The 10th US was now trapped between two Confederate forces in a terrible formation.  Federal artillery fire then drove back the 15th Alabama down the reverse slope of the hill.

On the Federal left, Weed’s brigade began to march around the exposed Confederate right flank.

The newly arrive brigade of Confederate General Anderson split his forces.  One group headed directly south towards the Confederate left flank, the other with the artillery headed West to the Confederate right flank.



Below:  Taking advantage of the situation, the 48th Alabama deployed into line, while the 2nd US was charged by the 4th Alabama.  Meanwhile on the Confederate left Day’s skirmishers had driven off the Confederate artillery and were forcing the Confederates to refuse their line.  General Day put the 14th US into line as he heard reports of an approaching Confederate column, retaining the 12th US in their skirmish formation


Below: In the center the 4th Alabama charged into the shaken 2nd US driving them back without too much lose to either side and putting them square on the flank of the 10th US still in an attack column.  With a resounding cheer by General Law he urged the 4th Alabama to charge the 10th US but was categorically told by their colonel that they regiment would not charge.  Instead it was the steady 48th Alabama who charged the 10 US.  However the 4th Alabama were themselves charged by the 11th US who was also in an attack column. While this took place the 7th US, led by their skirmishers from Day’s brigade ascended the hill in good order.


Below:  The ensuing fight led to the 4th Alabama retreating from the onslaught of the 11th US while the 10th US fell back from the 48th Alabama.  The 7th US advanced up the hill and charged the exposed flank of the 47th Alabama, while they were themselves charged by the newly recovered 15th Alabama.  However the 15th Alabama marched right into the charge of the 11th US who was pursing the 4th Alabama.

This hand to hand fight wreaked the Confederate battle line.  The 47th and 15th Alabama had suffered tremendously from the artillery bombardment and the now two hour combat and were in no mood to hold their lines any longer.  Both regiments fled from the field.  The poor 48th Alabama was now completely surrounded by Federal troops who would force the surrender of this valiant regiment.

On the Confederate left flank the 14th US, now in line charged the head of the Confederate column.  Caught in march column the 8th Georgia suffered serious losses and broke from the field. 

On the Federal left, Weed’s brigade did a good bit of marching and counter marching but no fighting.


Below:  The battle saw Law’s brigade fight it out against two federal brigades for two hours.  Although mauled at the end with one regiment being lost, it did well to hold its own and a more aggressive use of reinforcements by General Hood might have turned the battle for Middletown in the Confederate’s favor.

Unfortunately, Hood was uncharacteristically cautious and misused two of this three brigades who saw either no fighting or were themselves mauled by a single Federal regiment.  The poor 48th AL would be surrounded and forced to surrender.



The battle results:  Major Federal Victory

Campaign Results: Confederate 3rd Division withdrew South to Strasburg

Official Losses for the Battle for Middletown

The Hoods Division (CSA) has suffered losses of:
                [  9%]    890 men of all arms
   incl.[  4%]     470 prisoners of all arms

                [  6%]    397 bayonets
                [  6%]     23 artillerists

Honors: [ 102] 15th AL

The Ayres Division (USA) has suffered losses of:
                [  2%]     95 men of all arms
   incl.[  0%]     26 prisoners of all arms

                [  2%]     95 bayonets
                [  0%]      0 artillerists

Honors: [ 512] 3rd US



Tactical Analysis:

The Confederate forces didn't maximize their full potential in this battle.  Confederate reinforcements (based on the dice roll) were scheduled to come in at turn 7 and 8.  The Federal reinforcements came in on turn 3 and 4.

The Federal plan was to wear down the Confederates (fatigue and casualties) and then strike a blow as those troops became too weary to fight.  Knowing that Federal reinforcements were close by the Federals were content to place an entire brigade in skirmish order.  This not only added to their maneuverability but it slowed the Confederate advance.  Federal artillery deployed on one side of the hill ensured that it could dominate from the crest down towards the federal position, while Federal artillery posted across the stream and supported by two regiments in skirmish order dominated the open plain of the Confederate left.

The Confederate battle plan was sound in "take the hill" but no artillery was ever placed upon it, even after it was clear the Federals were not going to contest the occupation of the hill to the Confederates.  Instead, artillery was deployed behind the hill on the Confederate side and to the left flank of the Confederate force.

Once the Confederates took the bait and advanced down the hill they were bombarded by Federal artillery which caused them to back up the hill towards the crest.  The entire Confederate brigade then took a defensive position against a brigade of skirmishers as more Federal troops advanced upon the field.

If judging correctly these troops were waiting for the Federal attack against them while holding a key piece of terrain.  The Confederate counter attacks against the lead elements of these Federal reinforcements were successful but the sheer weight of Federal numbers and the fatigue and casualties already sustained by the Confederates caused their collapse.

Confederate reinforcements were also slow to make an impact.  When they entered the field they were split into two sections. Although a great idea they moved too slowly and were too few in numbers because they were split to make a difference. The Federal 2nd Brigade caused the battle to officially swing in the Federals favor, while the Federal 1st Brigade was influential in wearing down the Confederates so that the Federal 2nd Brigade could have this success.  The Federal 3rd brigade was sent to the Federal left to act as a faint turning movement.  Only when the Confederates had committed two regiments and a battery of artillery to that side did that 3rd Brigade counter march two regiments and its two artillery batteries to help at the real fight taking place in the center, leaving two regiments to hold up the Confederate advance in that direction.

On the whole the battle looked as follows:

The Federal Left/Confederate Right looking at 2 Federal and 2 Confederate regiments with a battery of artillery

The Federal Right/Confederate Left looking at 2 Federal and 2 Confederate regiments

The Center - 1 Confederate Brigade vs 1 and a half Federal brigades with another half of a brigade and three artillery batteries.


On the whole I would agree with the analysis by the Carnage and Glory II system.
  
1. The Federals remained closer to their reinforcements so as to be able to feed them into the fight faster than the Confederates

2. The Federals were more successful in wearing down the Confederates and then applying an effective attack with fresh units (which the Confederates held against well).

3. The Confederates were successful in using their position to smash isolated Federal units

4. The Confederates did not use their reinforcements successfully.  They were way to scattered and should have been fed into the current fight instead of trying to maneuver and open a new front when balance of the battle was to be determined in the center.  This failure to provide proper support led to the collapse of the 1st Brigade which could not withdraw due to having no reinforcements on hand to replace them, the loss of the hill to the Federals and the surrender of the 48th Alabama of the 1st Brigade who was encircled by Federals once its fellow brigade units ran away.

Final Analysis:

Had the Confederates sent in its 2nd Brigade to the aid of its 1st Brigade immediately I do not believe that the Federals would have succeeded.  The Confederate 1st Brigade would have had to retire but had the Confederate 2nd Brigade filled in behind them while they were charging the Federals then those Federals of the 2nd Brigade would have been themselves too exhausted to push back the Confederate 2nd Brigade who would now have held the hill.  Following close behind that Confederate 2nd Brigade could have been the 3rd Brigade which could have then turned an already weakened Federal position by crossing the creek (whose artillery was low on ammo).

This really could have been a Major Confederate Victory.  The beauty of Carnage and Glory II is that it all comes down to tactics and their correct application.  Having reinforcements is worthless if you can't use them.  Holding strategic area is worthless if you cant support it.  Delivering timely attacks on a tired or depleted enemy (regardless of their combat rating) is the key to victory.  

I learned a lot from this particular battle.  It was very even early on and re.ally came down to the employment of tactics.  I would like to thank Mike (CSA) and Nate (USA) for participating.  It made for a great game with some really fun situations 

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