I used Scenario 25 from Neil Thomas' One Hour Wargames though I adapted it by having both sides with the same size forces rather than the smaller blue army though I adjusted the balance by the Confederate infantry all having smoothbores rather than rifles. The scenario is inspired by the First Battle of Kernstown, so is quite appropriate for the ACW. The Confederate objective is to exit 2 units off the north road edge opposite from the side they have entered.
I also used the card based activation using turns as I think that I needed a stricter turn sequence for the victory conditions with the Confederates having initiative on the first turn.All the generals and unit names are fictitious, though the infantry and cavalry could well equate to real units.
Due to losing some of my notes this has been much delayed and has fairly brief descriptions of the mid game turns.
The situation at the end of turn 1 with the General Cragg and Confederate cavalry, artillery and first infantry regiment, 28th Virginia having entered. The 28th Virginia have taken 1 AP damage from firing by the 110th Ohio.
Situation at end of turn 2 with the Confederates moving their infantry in, with the 56th Louisiana, 77th and 112th Arkansas having entered (left to right), General Cragg moving to direct the artillery and the artillery deploying. The 28th Virginia have taken more damage from the fire of the Ohio regiment.
End of turn 3.
The 28th Virginia have advanced onto the hill as part of the Confederates general advance, while the Union troops have withdrawn to meet their comrades joining them on the table.
Turn 4
Turn 5
Turn 6
Situation at the end of turn 8 - the Confederates are withdrawing. One thing I should have decided on before the start of the game was the direction of withdrawal for the Confederates. The Union reinforcements in Turn 6 enter on the same Southern edge that the Confederates entered on so it seemed logical they would not exit that way, but if I moved them towards the Northern edge they could still have won the game which I was not sure seemed right if they had already reached their exhaustion point, though the remaining units would have had to take far more Union fire in that case.
Turn 9
The changes seemed to work quite effectively, but I am thinking of tweaking them some more.
Orders of Battle
Union
- Brigadier General Clifford Mountain (average) 6AP
- Battery D, 1st Ohio Light Artillery (10 pound Parrot rifles) 2AP
- 51 NY Cavalry 3 AP
- 111th, 112 Ohio Infantry 4AP each
- 35th West Virginia Infantry 4AP
- 89th Ohio (Bradley's Zouaves) 4AP
Total of 27 AP Exhaustion point 9 AP
Confederate
- Brigadier General Graxton Cragg (average) 6 AP
- Roanoke Light Artillery (12 pound Napoleon smoothbores) 2 AP
- 18th Virginia Cavalry 3AP
- 28th, 32nd Virginia Infantry 4AP each
- 77th, 112th Arkansas Infantry 4AP each
- 56th Louisiana Infantry 4AP
Total of 30 AP Exhaustion point 10AP
All units were rated as Average.
Battle Report
The table setup with 1 unit deployed from the Union on the hill, 111th Ohio and the commander General Mountain.
The situation at the end of turn 1 with the General Cragg and Confederate cavalry, artillery and first infantry regiment, 28th Virginia having entered. The 28th Virginia have taken 1 AP damage from firing by the 110th Ohio.
End of turn 3.
The 28th Virginia have advanced onto the hill as part of the Confederates general advance, while the Union troops have withdrawn to meet their comrades joining them on the table.
Turn 4
Confederates continue to push northwards against the Union holding forces.
Turn 5
The Union reinforcements have arrived in the rear of the Confederates who are pushing forward to attempt to force their way through to the northern table edge.
Turn 6
Union reinforcements push up on the eastern side of the battlefield to catch the Confederates between two fires.
Turn 7
Turn 7
The Confederates reach their exhaustion point and must take no more attacking actions.
Situation at the end of turn 8 - the Confederates are withdrawing. One thing I should have decided on before the start of the game was the direction of withdrawal for the Confederates. The Union reinforcements in Turn 6 enter on the same Southern edge that the Confederates entered on so it seemed logical they would not exit that way, but if I moved them towards the Northern edge they could still have won the game which I was not sure seemed right if they had already reached their exhaustion point, though the remaining units would have had to take far more Union fire in that case.
Turn 9
The changes seemed to work quite effectively, but I am thinking of tweaking them some more.
1 comment:
A very interesting battle report, I have never fought a battle where one side ended up caught between two enemy forces in the way your battle unfolded. I think that in these circumstances, I would have chosen to retreat the Confederates towards the side or corner of the battlefield that was not already controlled by the Union forces . After all, the Exhaustion Point only forbids aggressive action, not a fighting withdrawal … and the Union might have been wary of pressing them too hard just in case they suffered casualties that would cause them to reach their Exhaustion Point.
All the best,
Bob
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