Summary of the lead up to the battle in Turn 1:
Wright’s
brigade, minus 1 regiment, advances down the Valley turnpike with the 5th
VA cav in the vanguard. They encounter
Weed’s advance guard of the 9th NY cavalry just south of Strasburg.
Burbank’s brigade is close behind Weed’s brigade, but will come to the
battlefield tired from their longer march.
The Federals have a river to their rear, having just crossed over the
river. The Federals have the initiative
given that they are looking for a fight with the Rebels, while the rebels are
just probing ahead to assess Federal strength in the area to their north.
Battle
Situation:
Wright’s
Brigade will be on Defend mode (unable to conduct charges and therefore
unwilling to press too hard to make attacks).
This includes the cavalry who will not charge unless a general officer
is present. Grumble Jones will not be
present so they will not be allowed to charge.
Weed’s
Brigade will be looking for a fight and have Attack Orders. Burbank’s brigade is in support of Weed and
will not be allowed to charge unless new orders are issued by his superior who
will not be present. All Burbank’s
brigade will be able to do is follow up and exploit areas Weed has gained. Burbank’s brigade will also come in tired to
the fight on Turn 8 (3pm for this scenario).
The weather
will be a heavy mist and the time of engagement will start a 1pm.
Both sides
will be in march column except for the cavalry which will “spot each other” and
prepare to engage.
Confederate: Brigade Ambrose R Wright
[ 115] Brigadier General Ambrose R Wright -
Active B+ [500 paces]
[ 406] 3rd GA 0/ 441 B
[ 407] 22nd GA 0/ 400 B
[ 408] 48th GA 0/ 395 B
[ 409] 2nd GA Bn 0/ 173 B
[ 165] 6th VA Cav 0/ 120 B
[ 158] Ashland (VA) Art
0/ 103 [ 4] B-
Total Engaged:
Infantry: 1409
Artillery: 103 (4 guns)
Cavalry: 120
Total:1632
Federal: Brigade Stephen H Weed
[ 512] Colonel Stephen H Weed - Active B
[450 paces]
[ 606] 140th NY 0/ 453 C+
[ 607] 146th NY 0/ 460 C+
[ 609] 155th PA 0/ 365 C+
[ 535] 3rd MA Batty
0/ 115 [ 5] B-
[ 542] 9th NY Cav 0/ 200 C-
Brigade Sidney Burbank – Turn 8
[ 511] Colonel Sidney Burbank - Active B
[450 paces]
[ 601] 2nd US 0/ 197 C+
[ 602] 7th US 0/ 116 C+
[ 603] 10th US 0/ 93
C+
[ 604] 11th US 0/ 286 C+
[ 605] 17th US 0/ 260 C+
[ 538] 5th US, Batty I 0/ 71 [ 3] B-
Total
Engaged:
Infantry:
2230
Artillery:
186 (8 guns)
Cavalry: 200
Total: 2,616
Turn 1:
Cavalry charge – 9th NY cav vs 6th VA cav. federals win. Confederates lose 15 men and recoil 150 yards.
Turn 3 –
Weather is clear. Federals have the
initiative. 9th NY cavalry
dismounts and takes up a position at the crossroads in front the wooden
fence. Federal infantry moves down the
road while the artillery heads toward the nearest high ground Confederate infantry move in column to secure
the right flank and try to outflank the Federals. The 2nd GA moves into line to
support Ashland’s Artillery which is opposed by the 9th NY cavalry.
Turn 4-
Clear. Federals have the initiative.
Federals
deploy artillery and move the 40th NY into position in support at
the bottom of the hill along the fence line. Other Federal
regiments continue to advance along the road, while the 9th NY Cav
moves forward in skirmish order to harass the limbered Confederate artillery as
it tries to crest the hill. 3rd
GA and 22nd GA move into line
and advance 300 yards toward the Federal position, while the 48th GA
continues in march column towards the woods.
The 2nd GA battalion advances in line towards the Federal
cavalry skirmish line, while Ashlands artillery deploys. Federal
cavalry fire fails to cause any damage to Ashland’s artillery, while Federal
artillery kills 3 members of the 3rd GA.
Turn 5 –
Federal troops have the initiative
146th goes into
line and takes position in the road along the fence. 9th NY Cavalry attempt to slow the Confederate
artillery deployment / aim and inch forward 75 yards toward the Confederate
guns, while 155th PA regiment in held in reserve
3rd GA wheels
towards the new Federal threat on their left flank, while the 22nd GA moves head on
towards the Federal position along the fence. The 48th GA beings its decent towards the forest in column, while the 2nd GA Battalion moves up the hill 150 yards
to get a crack at the dismounted Federal cavalry.
22nd GA is hit
by artillery but suffers trivial losses
146th NY fires at
the 3rd GA at 300 yards but misses
140th NY divides
its fire and hits the 3rd GA causing minor losses, while its fire at the 22nd GA causes
no losses
9th NY cav
fires and misses the Confederate artillery.
9th NY cav is hit by Confederate artillery fire and suffers overwhelming casualties
2nd GA Battalion fires at
the 9th NY cavalry with 60% of its strength at 275 yards but hits only 1 man
The remaining Confederate infantry
hold their fire and advance.
9th NY cavalry recoils 825 yards, remounts and prepares to leave the battlefield in a
rout if it can’t be stopped.
3rd GA and 22nd GA advance to drive the Federals off this strategic junction, with the 3rd GA climbing over part of the fence to get possession of the road. They fire into the 140th NY and 146th NY who are
protected by fences causing only minor casualties. Confederate artillery limbers up and prepares
to move forward, screened by the 2nd GA Battalion.
140th NY and 146th NY deliver substantial fire into the advancing confederates 3rd GA and 22nd GA causing
minor casualties. The 3rd GA and 22nd GA both
suffer minor losses from Federal artillery fire
At the conclusion of the turn the 3rd GA has suffered
severe losses in men and officers in the combat, critically weakening its ability to continue the fight.
Colonel Weed tries to rally the 9th NY cavalry which he does to some good
effect, taking them from 31% to 60%
Turn 7 –
Confederates have the initiative
The 9th
NY cavalry rallied back to 91% and will reform.
The 2nd GA halts and will not move forward without being led by a General officer.
Federal
colonel Weed orders the 146th NY to charge forward against the 2nd GA and with 3 cheers it rushes
forward
Colonel Wright (CSA) races across the fences trying to deliver orders to the 2nd GA Battalion, while his right flank pushes towards the Federal center. The 22nd GA closes on the fence row, while the
48th GA changes its line of march and moves back to the left and deploys in line to support the 3rd GA. Ashland’s artillery redeploys.
Federals: 9th NY cavalry takes cover on the opposite side of a field of grain, while the 155th PA deploys into line and advances
Federals 146th NY charges and the 3rd GA breaks and runs, taking 48 casualties in the process
22nd GA delivers
a substantial volley to the 140th NY, but is hammered in return by a volley from the 140th NY and federal artillery fire. Confederate
artillery fire nips away at the 140th NY, but being protected by the fence takes minor casualties. The ensuing bounce of the round shot kills one man on the Federal artillery.
Turn 8 –
Confederate initiative
Federal
reinforcements begin to arrive
The 9th
NY is shaken still and retires. The 140th NY will not advance without a officer present, but there is no need to send them forward.
The 22nd GA retires shaken 300 yards. The 3rd GA rallies due to their Colonel Wright rushing back to their aid, but is facing the wrong direction and blocking the 48th GA
Federal 146th NY charges into the 3rd GA which turns around and delivers a poor volley, killing
only 3 Federals. The 146th NY fires into the 3rd GA as it
charges, killing 20, and then bayonets another 47, capturing the standard of
the 3rd GA. The 3rd GA flee behind the 48th GA while Colonel Wright (CSA) suffers a serious stomach wound and must be
carried from the fight.
Federal
artillery fire continues to pound the retiring 22nd GA. The 140th GA suffers minor casualties from the Confederate artillery fire.
With the
wounding of their brigade commander and the arrival of an unknown amount of Federal infantry which can be seen in the distance the Confederates will flee from the field.
End of battle: Casualty markers indicate where the fighting was heaviest. Confederates litter the field of crops, while a few federal casualties by the fence mark where the 140th NY took the largest amount of federal losses.
Lone 9th NY casualties left on the hill (left)
Immediately after the battle: Minor Federal Victory
The
Confederate Army has suffered losses of:
[ 5%]
982 men of all arms
including:
[
1%] 371 dead and wounded
[
2%] 536 missing
[
0%] 75 prisoners
[ 5%]
862 bayonets
[ 8%]
120 sabres
[ 0%]
0 artillerists
Honors: [
158] Ashland (VA) Art
Losses
include 1 standard[s]:
[ 406] 3rd GA [1]
Losses
include 1 General[s]:
[ 115] Ambrose R Wright - Severely
wounded
The Federal
Army has suffered losses of:
[ 1%]
195 men of all arms
including:
[
1%] 169 dead and wounded
[
0%] 26 prisoners
[ 1%]
128 bayonets
[ 4%]
64 sabres
[ 0%]
3 artillerists
Honors: [
607] 146th NY
Adjusted Results after walking wounded were assessed:
The
Confederate Army has suffered losses of:
[ 2%]
503 men of all arms
incl.[
0%] 75 prisoners of all arms
[ 2%]
487 bayonets
[ 0%]
13 sabres
[ 0%]
3 artillerists
Honors: [
407] 22nd GA
Losses
include 1 standard[s]:
[ 406] 3rd GA [1]
Losses
include 1 General[s]:
[ 115] Ambrose R Wright - Severely
wounded
The Federal
Army has suffered losses of:
[ 1%]
118 men of all arms
incl.[
0%] 26 prisoners of all arms
[ 0%]
76 bayonets
[ 3%]
42 sabres
[ 0%]
0 artillerists
Honors: [
542] 9th NY
Confederate
Army List: Start of fight and current strength after the battle
[ 406] 3rd GA 0/ 441 B
[ 407] 22nd GA 0/ 400 B
[ 408] 48th GA 0/ 395 B
[ 409] 2nd GA Bn 0/ 173 B
[ 165] 6th VA Cav 0/ 120 B
[ 158] Ashland (VA) Art
0/ 103 [ 4] B-
[ 406] 3rd GA 0/ 201 B
[ 407] 22nd GA 0/ 238 A-
[ 408] 48th GA 0/ 385 B
[ 409] 2nd GA Bn 0/ 173 B
[ 165] 6th VA 0/ 107
B
[ 158] Ashland (VA) Art 0/ 103 [ 4] B-
Federal Army list: Start of fight and
current strength after the battle
[ 606] 140th NY 0/ 453 C+
[ 607] 146th NY 0/ 460 C+
[ 609] 155th PA 0/ 365 C+
[ 535] 3rd MA Batty
0/ 115 [ 5] B-
[ 542] 9th NY Cav 0/ 200 C-
[
606] 140th NY 0/
380 C+
[
607] 146th NY 0/ 460
B+
[
609] 155th PA 0/
365 C+
[ 535] 3rd MA
Batty 0/ 115 [ 5] B-
[ 542] 9th NY 0/ 158 B-
Both sides were in a reconnaissance in force at the start.. The Federal commander knew he had extra troops coming and all he had to do was hold the strategic crossroads. The Confederates, seeing that they possessed more troops at the start of the battle wanted to exploit this slight advantage. With the ground being semi equal, it really came down to who would get to the more "fortified positions" around the crossroad.
With the defeat of the Confederate cavalry, the Confederates didn't want to risk a funneled attack or delayed attack on their infantry by cavalry. The Confederate deployment originally seemed sound, except for sending the 48th GA on a possible flank attack. This was too slow and the Confederate commander realized that it was a waste of resources and thus brought them back in time to try to save the 3rd GA.
Since we forced commanders to be within a certain distance (both needed to be within 500 yards to change orders) the 2nd GA battalion was basically useless during this fight. Although the plan to support the artillery was sound, upon reflection it might have been better to have deployed most of the Confederate forces along the left side of the turnpike. This would have turned the battlefield on its axis, but might not have changed too much of the outcome. Tough to say, but it would have enabled the Confederates to utilize all of their infantry brigades.
Federal deployment and tactics seemed to work out. Interior lines were maintained, although the use of the 9th NY cavalry in their dismounted form seems to have done nothing but delayed the artillery by 2 turns from firing at the 140th NY or other federals. This might have been a useful sacrifice because the 140th began to have serious command problems right as the Confederate line fell. 2 turns early would have enabled the 22nd GA to charge and that might have made a difference in the end of the fight until Federal reinforcements arrived.
On the whole, good first turn. The Confederates will need to regroup and adjust some of their deployments to stem these two Federal brigades which have moved into a strategic location. The map will be updated in the near future.
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