Battle at Winchester,
May 26th, 1862
Location: Maryland North of Harpers Ferry
Date: May 26th, 1862
Time of Day: 8:00 am
Number of Turns: continues to 8pm (end of Turn 36)
Fictitious Historical Background
In September of 1862, Maj. Gen. Rosecrans came to Lincoln with a plan to break the deadlock then existing on the Tennessee front. During the summer, two Federal offensives had failed to dislodge the Army of Tennessee from the defenses of Chattanooga and by late September a frustrated Lincoln was casting about for a new solution to his problem. Consequently, he was willing to hear the details of Rosecran’s ambitious plan.
Rosecrans’s intelligence information indicated that Rebel forces were thin on the ground west of the Blueridge passes in the immediate defenses of Chattanooga. In addition to weakness in numbers, the Confederates on the Southside of the Chattanooga River were thought to be second-class troops. Rosecrans wanted to throw pontoon bridges across the Chattanooga at Aikens’ Landing and at Deep Bottom, cross the bulk of his army quickly to the east bank and assault and overrun the left flank of the Chattanooga defenses with his overwhelming force.
Lincoln was not totally convinced of the soundness of Rosecrans’s audacious plan, but he contrived to incorporate it into a larger scheme of his own design. Lincoln would allow the Army of the Cumberland to assault Chattanooga as it commander desired. The commander and chief hoped that Rosecrans would successfully drive all before him. He realized, however, that whatever the outcome, Confederates reserves would certainly be directed to the threatened sector, thus reducing the number of lean Rebel brigades protecting the other western sectors and the vital supply lines running south from that city. Concluding that “they’ll have to let us in somewhere,” Lincoln resolved to strike at Chattanooga with the Army of Cumberland. The attack force (II, IX & XIV Corps) would mass around Globe Tavern and would be prepared to assault the extreme left of the Squirrel Level Line. Whenever.. After capturing the city, the attackers would push to cut the supply lines, thus rendering the city untenable.
Confederate Only Materials
Confederate Setting
You are Maj General McLaw. Your division made camp last night to the northeast of Chattanooga, Tennessee, along Boydton Plank Road. You have raced here to encircle the Union Army. Early this morning the front elements of a Reb Corps assaulted Union positions to pin them down as the main assault swings around to bag the Army of Cumberland. From what you can piece together from your scouts, a small Union Corp (consisting of about 2-3 divisions) has swung toward your position. It is now 8:00 a.m, and the numerically superior Union corps (you believe it is the IX Corps, led by Gen. John Parke) is pushing aggressively as they open up a line of attack from Chattanooga Just as your orders to fall back to Chattanooga are dispatched to your regimental commanders, a courier from the Army HQ at Chattanooga arrives:
General, greetings.
Battle has joined at Chattanooga. Our engagement to encircle the Union army in front of you has gone well. I applaud your valiant effort. The attack by the Army of the Cumberland has nearly run its course. Hold your position. Semmes’s, Woffard’s and Barksdale brigades are on their way. It is paramount that you prevent the Union corps from advancing any further today—a breach to the right flank will undoubtedly cost us the field. Take your division, and any other elements dispatched to help you, and stop the Union at Winchester’s Farm. While I do not desire to belabor the point, you must hold that position as long as humanly possible. Each second of delay will help frustrate Lincoln’s flanking maneuver, and perhaps buy us time to carry the day at Chattanooga. While I understand the numbers facing your brigade are insurmountable, stop there advance. Hold Bald Ridge.
Godspeed and God bless,
Commander Bragg,
Army of Tennessee
Confederate States of America
P.S.—Winchester’s Farm constitutes the lynch-pin of the Union advance. If you hold them there, our flank cannot be turned. Without doubt, the Yanks are aware of this.
Obeying your orders, you take up a position around the incomplete works to protect the single road heading southeast toward Chattanooga—Boydton Plank Road. You may deploy your troops anywhere within 6” of the works. The Union corps, though advancing slowly in the wake of your delaying action, is close by.
Confederate: Take and hold Bald Ridge by game end. To hold the ridge, the rebs must control both roads where they cross over it (labeled “A” on the game board map). It is assumed that had the graycoats overthrown the defenders of the ridge they could have swept on to recover the Squirrel Level Line, which would have given them a grand-tactical victory.
Confederate Order of Battle
I Corps Lt. Gen. James Longstreet
1st Division Maj Gen Lafayette McLaw
1st Brigade - Brig Gen Kershaw*
2nd South Carolina 16 figures Veteran Riflemen
3rd South Carolina 16 figures Veteran Riflemen
7th South Carolina 16 figures Veteran Riflemen
8th South Carolina 16 figures Veteran Riflemen
15th South Carolina 16 figures Veteran Riflemen
3rd James SC 16 figures Veteran Riflemen
2nd Brigade - Brig Gen Woffard
16th Georgia 12 figures Elite Riflemen
18th Georgia 12 figures Veteran Riflemen
24th Georgia 16 figures Veteran Riflemen
Cobb’s Legion 16 figures Veteran Riflemen
Phillip’s Legion. 16 figures Veteran Riflemen
3rd Brigade – Brig. Gen Semmes
1st La BN 12 figures Elite Riflemen
26th NC 12 figures Veteran Riflemen
5th Texas 12 figures Elite Riflemen
LA Tigers 12 figures Elite Riflemen
4th Brigade – Brig. Gen.Barksdale*
13th Mississippi 12 figures Elite Riflemen
17th Mississippi 16 figures Elite Riflemen
18th Mississippi 16 figures Veteran Riflemen
21st Mississippi 16 figures Veteran Riflemen
Div Artillery - Col. Cabel
Manly – A, 1st NC 2 x 3” Rifles + 2 x 12 lb Nap Veteran
Fraser –Georgia Art 2 x 3” Rifles + 2 x 10 lb Parrots Veteran
McCarthy – 1st Richmond 2 x 3” Rifles + 2 x 12 lb Nap Veteran
Carlton – Georgia Troup 2 x 10# Parrots + 2 x 12 lb Nap Veteran
Union Only Materials
Union Setting
You are Brigadier General Robert B. Potter, commanding officer of the 2nd Division of IX Corps. Your corps commander, General John Parke, received orders last night to attempt to turn the Confederate right flank as part of an overall plan to break the deadlock on the Chattanooga front. This morning Major General Winfield Hancock’s II Corps spearheaded the offensive and quickly overwhelmed Fort Archer and the entire left flank of the Squirrel Level Line. Having done there bit, Hancock’ss soldiers halted to reorganize and rest while Maj. Gen. George Thomas’s XIV Corps passed through the ranks of II Corps and pressed on toward the first important supply line. Your IX Crops is to attack, the Boydton Plank Road. Your division is the lead element of your corps. Brig Gen. Wilcox is on your left with 1st Division marching over Bald Ridge. By 8:00am your advance has nearly reached the crossroads on the old Church Road.
Looking at your map, you expect the Rebs to attempt to hold the incomplete works along the Boydton Plank Road. If they hold there, the Confederate flank cannot be turned, and Bragg’s rear lines will remain protected. If this brigade can be routed from the works, there is a chance that the IX Corps will join battle today at Chattanooga against Bragg’s exposed rear flank. Your orders are the same as they were this morning—fall on the Confederate right and roll it back until you can get behind Bragg’s main line.
First things, first, though. This recalcitrant brigade, who you’ve learned is commanded by Barksdale from McLaw’s Division (an old friend of yours), has been more successful than he perhaps knows. You expected to be at the works by 8:00 a.m.,he’s already entrenced in the works. While a competent soldier and excellent tactical commander, however, Barksdale often loses sight of the overall picture. You determine that if you can push him off of Boydton Plank Road, you will be close enough to the Confederate main line to dispatch a couple brigades to hold Barksdale at bay and commit the rest of your division (and the rest of the IX Corps) to Bragg’s rear flank. The only option, though, is seizing control of Boydton Plank Road.
Union Command Rules
(1.) Due to quickly passing thru the line your artillery is still coming up.
(2.) Brigades of Harriman and McLaughlen may not move till turn 5.
Union Order of Battle
IX Corps Major General John G Parke (2/5 pts)
1st Division Brigadier General Orlando B Wilcox (2/4 pts)
1st Colonel Harriman (0/2 pts)
4th Africa 12 figures Green/Elite Riflemen
6th Africa 12 figures Green/Elite Riflemen
8th Africa 12 figures Green/Elite Riflemen
2nd North Carolina 20 figures Veteran Riflemen
2nd Brig Gen. Hartranft (1/3 pts)
35th New Jersey 16 figures Elite Riflemen
26th Connecticut 16 figures Veteran Riflemen
4th New Hampshire 12 figures Elite Riflemen
43rd Massachusetts 12 figures Veteran Riflemen
3rd Colonel McLaughlen (1/3 pts)
6th New York 16 figures Veteran Riflemen
22nd New York 12 figures Veteran Riflemen
41st New York 12 figures Veteran Riflemen
176th New York 12 figures Veteran Riflemen
2nd Division Major General Robert B Potter (2/4 pts)
1st Brigadier Colonel Curtin (1/3 pts)
5th New York 12 figures Veteran Riflemen
8th New York 16 figures Elite Riflemen
44th New York 20 figures Veteran Riflemen
67th New York 16 figures Elite Riflemen
2nd Brigadier Colonel Griffin (1/3 pts)
1st Vermont 12 figures Elite Riflemen
49th New York 16 figures Veteran Riflemen
58th New York 16 figures Veteran Riflemen
128th New York 16 figures Veteran Riflemen
IX Corps Capitan Randolph's Artillery
2nd NJ Light (Clark) 3 sections 10 lb. Parrots
D/1st NY Light (Winslow) 3 sections 12 lb. Napoleons
4th NY Light (Smith) 3 sections 3” Rifles
E/1st Rhode Island Light (Brocklyn) 3 sections 12 lb. Napoleons
K/4th USA (Seely) E 3 Sections 12 lb. Napoleons
Moderator Only Notes
Terrain Descriptions
Except for Bald Ridge, the battlefield is flat or gently undulating, wooded terrain unless cleared off for farming or for fields of fire. The wooded areas on the map are considered broken terrain. The battlefield is cut up by numerous woods, the most significant being the east of Bald Ridge. Arthur's Woods are heavy woods. The brush field is considered broken terrain for movement and broken terrain for visibility.
The Bald Ridge is considered hasty works facing south (much effort was expended by the Yanks early in the day to “reverse” the captured entrenchments.) The “incomplete Confederate works” are considered hasty/light works.
Victory Conditions
Confederate: Take and hold Bald Ridge by game end. To hold the ridge, the rebs must control both roads where they cross over it (labeled “A” on the game board map). T is assumed that had the graycoats overthrown the defenders of the ridge they could have swept on to recover the Bald Ridge Line, which would have given them a grand-tactical victory.
Union: Prevent the Confederate victory condition.
Deployment Information
Confederate: Deploy McLaw’s Division (minus Barksdale Woffard and Semmes) and 1 Artillery Battalions anywhere within the designated map area.
On Turn 4 Gen. Semmes’ Brigade and 1 Artillery Battalions enter anywhere along the north edge of the game table.
On Turn 8 Gen. Woffards’ Brigade and 1 Artillery Battalions enter anywhere along the north edge of the game table
On Turn 12 roll1D6 each for Barksdale. On a.1, 2 or 3 that brigade enters on the north edge of the game table where indicated. Continue the rolls on subsequent turns until the brigade are in. The remaining artillery battery enters with the brigade.
On Turn 24 roll 1D6 on a 1,2, or 3 Hood’s Division makes an appearance.
Union: On Turn 3, roll ID6 for the arrival of artillery battery. On a 1, 2, or 3 it enters from the southwest corner on the Church Road. Continue to roll on subsequent turns until the battery arrives.
On Turn 5, follow the same procedure for 2nd artillery battery. Also on Turn 5, roll for the arrival of Potter’s Division. On a 1 or 2 this Division enters in march column on the Church Road. Continue to roll on subsequent turns until it arrives.
Special Rules
Time: The engagement commences at 8:00 am and continues until 8 pm (end Turn 36). The last four turns are night turns
Sharpshooters: One Union regiment is sharpshooters and armed with sharpshooting rifle.