Battle at Winchester

  Battle at Winchester,

May 26^th, 1862

Location:                  Maryland North of Harpers Ferry

Date:                          May 26^th, 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*

2^nd South Carolina                   16 figures                    Veteran                       Riflemen

3^rd South Carolina                   16 figures                    Veteran                       Riflemen

7^th South Carolina                   16 figures                    Veteran                       Riflemen

8^th South Carolina                   16 figures                    Veteran                       Riflemen

15^th South Carolina                 16 figures                    Veteran                       Riflemen

3^rd James SC                            16 figures                    Veteran                       Riflemen

2^nd Brigade - Brig Gen Woffard

16^th Georgia                            12 figures                    Elite                             Riflemen

18^th Georgia                            12 figures                    Veteran                       Riflemen

24^th Georgia                            16 figures                    Veteran                       Riflemen

Cobb’s Legion                                    16 figures                    Veteran                       Riflemen

Phillip’s Legion.                      16 figures                    Veteran                       Riflemen

3^rd Brigade – Brig. Gen Semmes

1^st La BN                                12 figures                    Elite                             Riflemen

26^th NC                                   12 figures                    Veteran                       Riflemen

5^th Texas                                  12 figures                    Elite                             Riflemen

LA Tigers                                12 figures                    Elite                             Riflemen

4^th Brigade – Brig. Gen.Barksdale*

13^th Mississippi                        12 figures                    Elite                             Riflemen

17^th Mississippi                        16 figures                    Elite                             Riflemen

18^th Mississippi                        16 figures                    Veteran                       Riflemen

21^st Mississippi                        16 figures                    Veteran                       Riflemen

Div Artillery - Col. Cabel

Manly – A, 1^st 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 – 1^st 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 2^nd 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 1^st 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 Order of Battle

IX Corps Major General John G Parke (2/5 pts)

1^st Division Brigadier General Orlando B Wilcox (2/4 pts)

1^st Colonel Harriman (0/2 pts)

4^th Africa                                 12 figures                    Green/Elite                  Riflemen

6^th Africa                                 12 figures                    Green/Elite                  Riflemen

8^th Africa                                 12 figures                    Green/Elite                  Riflemen

2^nd North Carolina                   20 figures                    Veteran                       Riflemen

2^nd Brig Gen. Hartranft (1/3 pts)

35^th New Jersey                       16 figures                    Elite                             Riflemen

26^th Connecticut                      16 figures                    Veteran                       Riflemen

4^th New Hampshire                 12 figures                    Elite                             Riflemen

43^rd Massachusetts                  12 figures                    Veteran                       Riflemen

3^rd Colonel McLaughlen (1/3 pts)

6^th New York                          16 figures                    Veteran                       Riflemen

22^nd New York                        12 figures                    Veteran                       Riflemen

41^st New York                                    12 figures                    Veteran                       Riflemen

176^th New York                      12 figures                    Veteran                       Riflemen

2^nd Division Major General Robert B Potter (2/4 pts)

1^st Brigadier Colonel Curtin (1/3 pts)

5^th New York                          12 figures                    Veteran                       Riflemen

8^th New York                          16 figures                    Elite                             Riflemen

44^th New York                                    20 figures                    Veteran                       Riflemen

67^th New York                                    16 figures                    Elite                             Riflemen

2^nd  Brigadier Colonel Griffin (1/3 pts)

1^st Vermont                             12 figures                    Elite                             Riflemen

49^th New York                                    16 figures                    Veteran                       Riflemen

58^th New York                                    16 figures                    Veteran                       Riflemen

128^th New York                      16 figures                    Veteran                       Riflemen

IX Corps Capitan Randolph's Artillery

2^nd NJ Light (Clark)                                        3 sections                    10 lb. Parrots              

D/1^st NY Light (Winslow)                              3 sections                    12 lb. Napoleons

4^th NY Light   (Smith)                                    3 sections                    3” Rifles

E/1^st Rhode Island Light (Brocklyn)             3 sections                    12 lb. Napoleons

K/4^th 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 2^nd 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.

Figure 1 - Bald Ridge

Kershaw’s brigade holding the ridge lines. Wilcox Union division spread his 3 brigades along the front probing to find a weakness as the line was held only by a Kershaw’s Carolina brigade.