updated hypothetical Valley campaign map

After a hiatus from my campaign I have decided to update my map some and tweek some rules.

We start back up in July 1863. The map has been sectioned off in grids. Each grid is numbered. I'm still tweaking my rules and am just in the planning stages now, but I will devote more time to that over my Christmas holiday.

For now I have tweaked my map and realigned the troop locations.

The map with the new grid lines

General troop placement,  but I will come up with new icons to represent these troops. For now this template works.

Movement Trays

With 6mm based the way I like it is a tad bit fiddly and slow at the start of a wargame when players move troops forward to engage in combat.

Personally, I like battalion level games and my figures are based for that. I also typically don't use more than a division vs a division in my games. However,  I risk having my figures broken or squeezed as people move them. So the goal of this project was to save movement time where possible and limit some handling of the bases.

I decided to make a few experimental movement trays for brigades. The theory is players can move the entire brigade via the tray and then deploy once more specific tactics are necessary.  Units can be removed from the trays if they need to be detached,  etc.

Supplies...balsa wood. Thin rectangular strip and a long flat piece.  Green paint..Apple barrel marsh green for me. Glue. Paintbrush.  Flock of your choice.

On the left is the flat piece. About 100 mm wide by 80 mm deep. On top is a remaining piece of the rectangular strip. Bottom right is a half painted piece. Above right is a painted piece with the rectangular strip cut and glued down.

Once the upper right image dries I paint the remaining exposed wood a marsh green. I would then flock it on the rectangular pieces and the front.

1st moment tray. I like all but my flock job. I will just flock the outside all in grass on the remaining ones.

What it would look like 95% complete. This holds a brigade of 6mm cavalry in my games or a regiment for others.  I can also use it for a 18mm French or British battalion,  but I'll need a whole lot more trays for a brigade.

On the whole, once completed, I think they'll work out well. 

Berdan's Sharpshooters

With football season over I will now have more time to continue my 1864 hypothetical Valley Campaign.

In preparation I have added a company of Berdan's Sharpshooters to employ when and where it is possible.

These were painted as federal skirmishers in blue but a quick dab with some green has sent them into the ranks of Berdan's elite troops. In truth I just wanted to add some color to the drab Federal blue.

Dabbling with 28mm French

Nothing big. Had some 28mm French and figured I'd paint one up while I get my 6mm French Dragoons organized for painting. Vitrix figure, painted up ok.

6mm French Revolution / Napoleonic War project.

Slowly building my pre 1800 French Rev forces. I've decided to focus from 1794 to 1800, and to concentrate on the Italian campaigns.

I obtained these Baccus figures last December and have finally had time to paint and base them. Mostly it was just a healthy experiment to see if I wanted to go down this road.

I like the way they turned out. These consistent of Austrian Dragoons and French Artillery at the moment.

They are based on 20mmx20mm. I know it's not conventional for 6mm battles but I don't play against anyone but myself and a few friends and it's based for my enjoyment.  I can't get into the 60mm x 60mm bases, etc. I tried it. I like formation changes and battalion level games, but I also dont need 9 bases per regiment....not my thing either.

Above: Austrian Cavalry on the left vs the French artillery

Above: French artillery

Above: Austrian Dragoons

ACW 54mm Game played on Sunday

My good friend John Michael Priest has a very nice collection of ACW in 54mm.  He has assembled an 1864 Wilderness / Spotsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor style entrenchments.

Today we test played a game he plans to take to Cold Wars.  The game can easily accommodate 6 to 8 players.  With only 3 of us running it (2 Confederate - John and Chris) and myself taking the Federals, it took a while to get things going.

John (or Mike as I call him.  We used to work together) has his own set of rules which he has always been modifying.  These particular rules are probably some of the best he has come up with.

Infantry rules were still pretty similar, but with the addition of sharpshooters which was my favorite part.  I won't go into all the details of the rules, but the basic is that officers can sustain 3 his before they are out.  Lose an officer and any unit needing to be rallied can't be rallied.  You can roll to replace the officer with another officer / NCO....but these guys just die when you hammer away at them via sharpshooters.

My only tweeks on this would be to replace each officer with a enlisted man figure from the unit, and maybe to use the sharpshooters to be allowed to target individual combat soldiers but with some restrictions. 

View from Berdan's Sharpshooters.  From this vantage point we killed off 8 officers, causing the Confederate skirmishers to either be captured or driven off and helped reduce the leadership of those Confederates manning the earthworks facing a major Federal assault.

Another view from Berdan's sharpshooters positioned in trees.  Center is a Confederate earthwork with cannon.  During the game the sharpshooters decimated the officers of the Confederate artillery.

Another view of the sharpshooters.  I found it particularly useful to use them as a team to hit targets.  Each one could target a particular officer, but by triangulating their fire (3 sharpshooters vs one officer) we could ensure hits.  Once Confederate sharpshooters started targeting these guys we just ganged upon on each Confederate sharpshooter and wiped them out.  Then we could dominate the battlefield.

My charge by one Federal brigade.  The fences slowed us down but we eventually charged into the Confederate works.  By this point we had spend close to 2.5 hours just testing different parts of the system.  In a full game with 6 to 8 players this would have occurred much earlier on.

Close up shot from the above picture

The reserve troops of the division waiting to be committed.

The other side of the field.  Early in the fight I sent one battalion across the bridge to draw fire and test the artillery rules.  They held in there well, but we lost 2 officers, and one was left on the bridge.  I named him "Chris" for my buddy playing across from me who reenacts Confederate and had to have the pleasure of killing his namesake.  Another battalion is being sent in to retrieve the body as the main attack unleashes itself at the weak point seen top-center of the image.

Just another view of the flank attack from above.  Poor "Chris" left on the bridge.

Long view from the Federal right flank.  Mike did a great job on the entrenchment stuff.  He tried to suck me in there by starting me with my "official skirmishers" as pioneers.  Only after my mistake of not asking early on did I realize he was stopping me from my normal Napoleonic tactics of Skirmish Cloud followed by columns en-mass.  Strange as it may sound, when properly employed those tactics work and are my bread and butter with his games.

Another view of the Federal left.  Sharpshooters in the trees next to the artillery battery...see the smoke.  That poor battery of mine was beat to crap.  Lost 3 officers and everyone in the crew hurt.  Fortunately Mike stopped shooting my batteries with his sharpshooters even before the major infantry attack began...thanks for forgetting guys...but not possible with more players I'm sure. Mike's age must be catching up to him! Just kidding buddy.

Early in the battle.  Federal batteries and Berdan's men soften up the Confederate position.

"Chris" and his battalion test the bridge defenses.  Early on they take some series casualties, but classic "Chris" he plunges ahead.

I really like the trees Mike put together and how the guys just perched there.  They are based on poker chips.

Battle set up.  Note the skirmishers on the right side of the picture.  That lasted all of 4 turns and we were redeployed.

Another view of the initial layout.

6mm Austrian Chevauxlegers

Finished my first set of Austrian Cavalry.  This works for my first go around.

Lessons learned from the Campaign - Post 1

Some of this may be obvious to certin individuals, but I am going to record things that strike me as I watch this campaign unfold and the battles take place.

First, I know this is not a real or full campaign in any fashion so I will not reflect on the campaign process, only battle observations...

Battle Observations:

1. Use  of Terrain:  I totally understand why numerically inferior forces use the woods (Chancellorsville and the Wilderness as examples).  The two battles fought in this campaign so far saw how terrain can really influence a battle.  In the first battle the woods prevented a numerially superior force from exploiting a flank attack. In the second battle the numerically inferior force for much of the battle didn't use the terrain well enough to put itself in a position to more easily thwart the larger attacking force until reinforcements arrived. 

Reflections on the second battle: Confederate forces for over an hour had one Brigade vs two Federal Brigades with the potential of a third Federal brigade entering the fight.  The  Confederates also held an exposed position which left that single brigade exposed to artillery fire.

Upon reflection it would have been more successful to have the Confederates take possession of wooded terrian (all around them) and use this terrain to lessen the impact of the only real weapon of the Federals during this battle (artillery).

2. Interior Lines: speaking specifically about the second battle, the Federals were able by where they positioned themselves to use their interior lines to quickly throw in reinforcements via roads.  The Confederates had similar lines but we're a bit more distant due to pushing forward to take a key hill. When the confederate reinforcements did arrive they sent them off in too many directions via roads to make any effective use of them during the battle.  The key point: send reinforcements towards the fight, don't try big turning movements in a battle involving only division sized forces.

3. Tactics
1. The first battle saw too rookies attempt to duke it out. To that end one of them employed a flank march while the other attempted a larger turning movement with 2 brigades of his division.  The only real combat took place between two individual brigades. There was very little battlefield tactics used other than to blast away with some artillery fire, advance in line and fire a few volley and then charge. That took 10 game turns to effect. It ended with a minor  confederate victory.

2. Battle two saw two experienced players go at it. The Confederate commander quickly took possession of a key hill while making dispositions to protect his rear in case he needed to fall back. The federal commander employed more napoleonic tactics by using a cloud of skirmishers to slow his opponent and then draw his opponent after him which exposed the opponent to severe artillery fire.

The Confederate commander failed to employ his artillery effectively,  such as get the cannon to the top of the hill, and to do anything once he had the hill. Instead of staying below the crest and forcing the Federals to attack his dominant position,  the Confederates exposed their troops to enemy force for no reason.  The Confederate commander also allowed himself to get drawn into a fight verses skirmishers which made him advance down the hill, then retreat back up it to avoid artillery fire, then charge back down it again to drive back fresh Federal reinforcements. From the on set he could have charged the skirmishers.  The negative would be that his troops would have tired while the skirmishers would have fell back and then advance again. His best bet would have been to stay behind the crest since he didn't take the initiative, once he took the hill, until it was too late and his troops were too tired. It would have been better to take 2 regiments from the brigade of 5 regiments and put them into skirmish order on the enemy side of the crest. He probably could have held out and turned the tide of the battle.

On the flip side the Federals failed to coordinate their second brigade of reinforcements to make a coordinated attack. Units were thrown in piece meal instead of taking the time to set up the brigade and then advance. The use of a full brigade as skirmishers was probably overkill but it allowed for faster movement, held up an attempted Confederate turning movement, and drove off Confederate artillery.

All of these next points match concepts that are evident when examining historical battles. On the whole what I would take away as key points would be:

A. If outnumbered stay behind the crest of the hill or try to draw your opponent into ground that favors defensive fighting such as a woods.
B. Get artillery,  the majority of it, into action quickly.
C. Make sure you have a reserve force behind your main battle line, even if it is only one regiment.
D. Organize your brigade into the battle formation you want to attack with before you launch troops into a fight. No piece meal attaks.
E. Avoid big / wide turning movements if only fighting with a division.
F. Use skirmishers all the time to preceded or defend against infantry attacks. They are scattered enough to avoid major casualties and will dent your opponent so that enemy unit comes up to fight more exhausted.

Finally,  I have found so far that using napoleonic tactics are effective when used in the context of the civil war. Carnage and Glory is ruthless to those who use poor tactics and the rules allow for excellent game play.

Campaign Week 2 of June

Move 3 - Confederate 1st Division activated with a roll of a 1 and 2.  Despite holding Kernstown, the Federal victory at Middletown now threatens their rear.  So taking advantage of a roll of a 3, the 1st Division moves South to occupy Newton, hold that strategic cross roads and threatening Federal forces at Middletown.  The Federal 2nd Division activated with a roll of a 3 and 4.  Given its strategic position at Middletown it took advantage of rolling a 5 to remain where it was located.

Move 4:

Confederate 3rd Division (Hood) activated with a roll of a 5 and 6.  From his position at Strasburg Hood rolled a 3 which enabled him to march back east (could have gone by rail to Buckton station but given that it is Hood one would expect him to attack again given his poor performance in the last battle) to Middletown to challenge General Ayers's command.  One again Ayers's 2nd Division was activated with a roll of a 3 and 4.  A roll of a 5 meant he would remain at Middletown to face another attack by General Hood.  Ayers also rolled to obtain the battle advantage of Sheridan's Ride which means his troops will be able to move 900 yards over rough terrain (minus 150 for obsticles) and 1350 down roads for the first 4 turns (1 hour of the battle).  Given that he is partly on the defensive this might not matter much.

Map Below:  Current position of Federal and Confederate troops.

Federals hold Winchester and Middletown.

Confederates hold Strasburg and Newtown.

Both sides will contest Middletown.

2nd Battle of Middletown Prelude

Given that we are not able to use our normal wargame table at the moment, we are going to use a 4x5 foam map of Gettysburg.  Its all diagramed out on the foam mat (think 9 big foam puzzle pieces).  We wont fight it as "GETTYSBURG".  Its just another battlefield for us to play on.  The battle to commence later this week with a write up to follow later when I can get stuff uploaded from my computer.

2nd Battle of the Valley Campaign

2nd Battle of the Campaign: Battle of Middletown

At the same time as the Federal 1^st division was engaging McLaw’s Confederate division at Kernstown down the Valley Turnpike, the Federal 2^nd division was marching from Winchester by way of the Luray Valley Road to Middletown where it met Hood’s 3^rd 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 4^th and 15^th Alabama into line at the base of a major hill.  While he did that Federal General Ayers sent in Colonel Day’s 1^st 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 4^th and 15^th 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 48^th 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  2^nd Brigade of US Regulars.

Below:  General Law pressed the 4^th and 15^th 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 4^th and 15^th 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 3^rd Brigade of Federal troops (Weed) arrived shortly after the 2^nd 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 48^th 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 4^th 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 4^th and 15^th Alabama rocked the 2^nd US Regulars who were advancing in line on their own up the hill, causing them to fall back 300 yards.   Burbank’s 7^th US, deployed in line to the right rear of the 2^nd US and screened by skirmishers from Day’s brigade escaped unscathed.  However, Burbank’s 10^th and 11^th US were formed in an attack column.  The collapse of the 2^nd US placed the 10^th US in an dangerously exposed position.  A charge by the 48^th Alabama drove over a stone wall and pushed part of Day’s skirmishers away from the bottom of the hill.  The 10^th 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 48^th Alabama deployed into line, while the 2^nd US was charged by the 4^th 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 14^th 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 4^th Alabama charged into the shaken 2^nd US driving them back without too much lose to either side and putting them square on the flank of the 10^th US still in an attack column.  With a resounding cheer by General Law he urged the 4^th Alabama to charge the 10^th US but was categorically told by their colonel that they regiment would not charge.  Instead it was the steady 48^th Alabama who charged the 10 US.  However the 4^th Alabama were themselves charged by the 11^th US who was also in an attack column. While this took place the 7^th US, led by their skirmishers from Day’s brigade ascended the hill in good order.

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

This hand to hand fight wreaked the Confederate battle line.  The 47^th and 15^th 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 48^th Alabama was now completely surrounded by Federal troops who would force the surrender of this valiant regiment.

On the Confederate left flank the 14^th US, now in line charged the head of the Confederate column.  Caught in march column the 8^th 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 3^rd 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 

1st Battle of the Valley Campaign

1st Battle of the Campaign...Battle of Kernstown

The Federal high command under General Meade has given the honor of capturing the Shenandoah Valley to General Sykes’s Corps.  To that end Sykes sends the 1^st Division from Winchester on a march South by way of the Valley Turnpike to Kernstown (see map 1).

General Longstreet, intent to block the Yankee’s quickly and slow their advance sends McLaw’s division north from Newtown to Kernstown 

It is 5:30 pm, both forces have been marching since the morning and are entering the fight "tired".  Daylight ends by 8 pm.

Map

The map shows the first division of both armies at Kernstown and the 2nd Federal division vs the 3rd Confederate Division at Middletown (next post).

There are two movements per week in a campaign.

Confederate OOB:

  Division Lafayette McClaws

  [ 102] Major General Lafayette McClaws - Active B+ [950 paces]

                [ 149] 1st NC, Co A                      0/ 131 [ 5] B-

                [ 150] Troups GA Art                     0/  90 [ 4] B-                                                Total Cannon: 16

                [ 151] Pulaski GA Art                    0/  63 [ 3] B-

                [ 152] Richmond How, 1st Co              0/  90 [ 4] B-

    Brigade Joseph B. Kershaw

    [ 106] Brigadier General Joseph B. Kershaw - Active B [450 paces]

                [ 101] 2nd S.C.                          0/ 412      B

                [ 102] 3rd S.C.                          0/ 407      B

                [ 103] 7th S.C.                          0/ 408      B                                

                [ 104] 8th S.C.                          0/ 300      B

                [ 105] 15th S.C.                         0/ 449      B

    Brigade Paul J. Semmes

    [ 107] Brigadier General Paul J. Semmes - Active B [450 paces]

                [ 106] 10th GA.                          0/ 303      B

                [ 107] 50th GA.                          0/ 303      B

                [ 108] 51st GA.                          0/ 303      B                            

                [ 109] 53rd GA.                          0/ 422      B

    Brigade William Barksdale

    [ 108] Brigadier General William Barksdale - Active B+ [500 paces]

                [ 110] 13th MS                           0/ 481      B

                [ 111] 17th MS                           0/ 468      B                                                     

                [ 112] 18th MS                           0/ 242      B

                Strengths:

                                losses/active

                                     0/  5518            Bayonets

                                     0/   374             Artillerists

                                     0/    16              Cannon

                                     0/  5892            Total of all arms  

Federal OOB

Corps George Sykes

[ 502] Major General George Sykes - Active B [1300 paces]

  Division James Barnes

  [ 503] Brigadier General James Barnes - Active B [875 paces]

    Brigade William S. Tilton

    [ 507] Colonel William S. Tilton - Active B [450 paces]

                [ 501] 18th MA                           0/ 139      C+

                [ 502] 22nd MA                           0/ 137      C+                       Brigade Strength: 664 

                [ 503] 1st MI                            0/ 145      C+

                [ 504] 118th PA                          0/ 233      C+

    Brigade Jacob B Sweitzer

    [ 508] Colonel Jacob B Sweitzer - Active B [450 paces]

                [ 505] 32nd MA                           0/ 242      C+

                [ 506] 4th MI                            0/ 342      C+                          Brigade Strength: 1010 

                [ 507] 62nd PA                           0/ 426      C+

    Brigade Strong Vincent

    [ 509] Colonel Strong Vincent - Active B [450 paces]

                [ 508] 20th ME                           0/ 386      C+

                [ 509] 16th MI                           0/ 263      C+

                [ 510] 44th NY                           0/ 391      C+                         Brigade Strength: 1335 

                [ 511] 83rd PA                           0/ 295      C+

    Brigade Augustus P. Martin

    [ 506] Captain Augustus P. Martin - Active B- [450 paces]

                [ 535] 3rd MA Batty                      0/ 115 [ 5] B-

                [ 536] 1st OH Batty                      0/ 113 [ 5] B-                    Total Cannon: 13

                [ 537] 5th US, Batty D                   0/  68 [ 3] B-

               

                Strengths:

                                losses/active

                                     0/  2999             Bayonets

                                    0/367                  Artillery (13 cannon)

                                     0/  3366             Total of all arms

This campaign began with the Federal and Confederate 1^st divisions meeting at Kernstown.  The commanders of both forces were for the most part novices to wargaming and to using Carnage and Glory II.  Each turn in the rules is 15 minutes.

Both sides started by arriving on the battlefield at the same time and were located roughly a mile apart.

The battle began very tentatively. It took four game turns for both sides to deploy sufficiently despite being less than a mile apart from each other.

Above and below: The Federals started the battle by deploying their entire division and loading up their right flank with the intention of out maneuvering the Confederates.  Due to the slow progress of the Federal commander the Confederates were able to advance unopposed and seize the high ground. 

Below:  This enabled them to form a sufficient battle line to face the Federal left which began by establishing themselves on a opposite ridge.  The Confederates quickly deployed one of their artillery batteries on the ridge line and supported it on the flanks with their infantry deployed into line.  The remaining Confederate artillery was unlimbered well behind the Confederate line, beyond the creek and couldn't serve much purpose.  Meanwhile, the Federals slowly moved into a battle line on their left wing and waited until their other brigades could begin a turning movement.

Below: Despite having a relatively well conceived Federal battle plan, this fell apart as the center brigade of the Federal line refused to move for 15 minutes (1 turn) due to conflicting orders.  To further complicate matters the advance against the Confederate left was poorly managed which further delayed the Federal attack plan.  By the time the Federals had their giant right wheel attack plan in effect the Confederate commander had seen the danger and refused his line in order to meet it.

Below: An hour and a half into the battle the Federals launched their left wing to act in concert with their now unfolding right wing wheel movement, their center being stalled and now acting as a reserve.  Confederate artillery fire took a fearful toll on the advancing Federal battle lines of the first brigade (the smallest of the three federal brigades).  Federal artillery fire was poorly managed when their own Federal infantry kept blocking their line of sight.

Two hours into the battle the Federal left was committed to their advance and inching ahead slowly.  At this point the Confederates unleashed their surprise flank march (option granted to them within the campaign) which arrived on the Federal left flank.  This in itself should not have been that big of a deal, but it seriously scared the Federal commander to the point that his entire battle plan unraveled.

Below: Chaos ensued in the Federal high command (see center Federal brigade) as they tried to react to this new threat.  Instead of just counter marching down the road they decided to march into the woods (road movement 900 yards, woods 225) with two regiments and send the other two regiments in column towards the waiting Confederates.  The right wing of the Federal line deployed into line.

Below: The Confederate right continues to advance towards the Federal line on the left.  Confederate artillery moves up to the ridge line.  Federal artillery slow to unlimber but does begin to take down some Confederates as their batteries open up upon their relentless enemies.

The Federal right and center attempt to coordinate their efforts of advancing but get stalled when the Confederates advance towards them slightly.

The Confederate flank attack is slow in developing but has caused enough chaos in the Federal ranks.

Below: The Confederate right continues to attack, charging the shaken Federal regiments and routs two (18th and 22nd MA) of the four Federal regiments of the 1^st brigade, including charging into two artillery batteries, of which it captured one cannon.  To make things worse for the Federals the commander of the Federal 1^st Brigade was struck down as he attempted to rally the fleeing Federal regiments (Colonel William S. Tilton)

Federal center and right wings stall and remain on the defensive.  The troops marching to the relief of the left wing of the Federal line emerge from the woods after realizing the futility of this movement, but only go into line and await the outcome of the fighting to their front.

The Confederate left is content to wait while their center smashes the Yankee left.  The flank force slowly advances.

Below: Only one federal regiment of the 1^st Brigade refused to retreat (according to the computer) because they deemed their position to valuable despite being surrounded.  We make them surrender as they have no way to escape (118th PA).

As night was fast approaching (8 pm) and visibility was becoming more limited both sides agreed to conclude their fighting.

By the conclusion of the fighting the Federal 1^st Brigade had been thoroughly whipped.  All of the Federal 1st Brigade routed except the gallant 118th PA who was forced to surrender.  The Confederate forces, having taken almost no casualties, were in perfect order to continue the fight.  

Deeming it a significant Federal disadvantage to attempt to renew the fight the following day its commander called for a withdraw under cover of darkness.  Thus, sending the Federal 1^st Division back north to Winchester.

The computer recorded this as a minor Confederate Victory.  The casualties (which continue via the campaign compliments of C&G II) are listed below.  Many thanks to Nick and Dakota (two of my students who played this on the last day of school) for their participation.  Once again Dakota thumps Nick.

The casualties were originally higher at the conclusion of the battle.  However, C&G II then reassesses the walking wounded, routed units, etc. and compiles a more accurate casualty list.  I will also have to import a new commander to lead Tilton's brigade.  I will do it by creating a new officer (find out who lead the 18th MA and use him) and then upload him into the computers OOB.  Then reassign Tilton's former brigades to him.

Official Losses for the Battle of Kernstown

The Confederate Army has suffered losses of:

                [  0%]     34 men of all arms

                [  0%]     34 bayonets

                [  0%]      0 artillerists

Honors: [ 110] 13th MS

The Federal Army has suffered losses of:

                [  2%]    476 men of all arms

   incl.[  0%]     269 prisoners of all arms

                [  1%]    193 bayonets

                [  3%]     14 artillerists

                    1 cannon[s] lost

Honors: [ 537] 5th US, Batty D

Losses include 1 General[s]:

        [ 507] William S. Tilton - Mortally wounded