This time we played a battle of the American civil war, the armies were drawn up as follows: Union/North (blue)
Army General George Mead (Abe)
1st corps Corps commander General Daniel Edgar Sickles (Roland)
Brigade commander General Ambrose Everett Burnside (Roland) 3 infantry regiments
Brigade commander General John Sedgewick (Roland) 3 infantry regiments
Artillery (abe)
2nd corps Corps commander General Winfield Scott Hancock (Damian)
Brigade commander General Oliver Otis Howard (Damian) 3 infantry regiments
Brigade commander General George Sykes (Damian) 3 infantry regiments
Artillery (Abe)
Heavy artillery cannon (Abe)
Cavalry brigade General Philip Henry Sheridan (Abe)
Confederation/South (grey)
Army General Robert Edward Lee (Latok, then Erik)
1st corps Corps commander General James Longstreet "Dutch" (Justin)
Brigade commander General George Edward Pickett (Justin) 3 infantry regiments
Brigade commander General John Bell Hood (Justin) 3 infantry regiments
Artillery battery (Latok, then Justin)
2nd corps Corps commander General Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson (Erik)
Brigade commander General Ambrose Powell Hill Jr. (Erik) 3 infantry regiments
Brigade commander General Richard Stoddert Ewell (Erik) 3 infantry regiments
Artillery (Latok)
Cavalry brigade, General "Jeb" Stuart (Latok, then Justin)
We decided beforehand to think out a tactic, the Setup was put on paper, each side was allowed to move two terrain pieces, the North created a larger forest on the North and the South shifted a hill and decided to take the Lake away from the loggers hut (this mainly to irritate Abe who wanted the pond near the loggers hut from Paulus).
The setup of both armies
It is 1862 Burnside has suffered heavy losses at Fredericksburg and Meade (a bit earlier than normal...) is in charge of the Union Army (the army of the Potomac), Meade manoeuvres his army to an open plain in "the Wilderness" of Virginia, there "the army of the Potomac" and "the army of Virginia" shall clash. The local woodcutter, Paulus, sees the armies coming towards him and flees into loggers hut, he does not yet know that his loggers hut is right in the centre of the battlefield.
The North got the first turn, Hanckoks full corps (Damian) had drawn up behind the forest, they wanted to roll up the confederate right with an overwhelming majority of troops. The first regiments of Hancock moved into the forest and opened fire from long range onto the 3 regiments of Hill's brigade (Erik), the casualties were minimal.
In the Centre the corps of Sickles (Roland) moved slowly forward. Abe's artillery opened fire and the first Southern casualties were a fact.
The South wanted to let the North attack, Jackson's artillery would go forward to be able to hit the advancing northern infantry of Sickles (Roland) in the flank from the Hill. Longstreet's corps, reinforced by Ewell's brigade would then break the centre open. However, the Northern Set-up didn't allow this tactic to be used. Hill (Erik) brought his brigade in line and opened fire on the tree line of the forest where Hancock's corps (Damian) had opened fire on Hill. The casualties were minimal. Ewell (Erik) remained behind the Hill in reserve. Lee brought the artillery to the Hill. Jeb Stuart (Latok) stormed with his cavalry towards the artillery of Abe but did not reach it, Longstreet's (Justin) Division moved slowly forward. Muskets opened fire on both sides but the victims were minimal. The first regiment of Sickles brigade (Roland) became disordered.
Latok decided to open fire with the artillery of Longstreet's corps (Southern left flank) on Burnside's brigade (Roland). However, instead of hitting the Union troops, the cannons shot explosive charges that exploded inside the logger's hut of Paulus. Due to the impact of the bang Paulus was blown burning from his hut. Confused and panicked he ran screaming across the line towards the lake, the Lake, however, was too far away and only a few metres removed from the Beckoning water Paulus succumbed to his wounds, his charred body was left on the battlefield.
In the Northern turn Hancock (Damian) gave the order for a frontal charge and the 6 infantry regiments of Sykes and Howard (Damian) stormed towards the three regiments of Hill's corps (Erik) Hill's troops opened fire and several Union soldiers fell to to the ground, not much later the Northern line rammed into the Southern. A tough fight broke out but Hill's brigade stood their ground.
Northern troops leave the forest
The North storms towards the South
On the Union right flank they tried to get the troops in line and a firefight broke out between Burnside (Roland) and Hood (Justin). Sedgewick wanted to send his troops into the forest (at the Lake) to silence the southern artillery but the two regiments that he commanded to enter the forest turned completely pale when they found the charred remains of Paulus, they refused to enter the "doomed forest".
Abe's artillery inflicted heavy casualties on the Stuarts cavalry (Latok) and the Cavalrymen were left behind disrupted.
"Stonewall" Jackson (Erik) saw the opportunity to implement the original plan but this time on the other flank. He turned to the heavens and thanked God for the opportunity that was offered to him. With the energy of a possessed man he stormed towards Ewell (Erik) and ordered him to bring his brigade in support of Hill's brigade (Erik). Ewell's troops placed themselves behind the fighting regiments of Hill. The North had gone too far forward and the flank of the line lay exactly in the firing line of the southern artillery. The cannons thundered and hundreds of small metal balls moved from the side through the entire northern formation. Hill's divisions opened fire with his muskets from the front and caught between two fire's hundreds of "Bluecoats" were killed. Flabbergasted by the result of this massacre Hancock (Damian) pulled his units back and disoriented the Northern regiments retreated back towards the forest. Only the 54th Massachusetts "coloured" regiment under Col. Robert Gould Shaw stood their ground and held out while fighting against the 11th Tennessee regiment under General George Gordon (who after the war was to form a notorious reputation).
In the Centre and on the southern left flank Picket (Justin) and Hood (Justin) moved their regiments in line towards the enemy a deadly firefight continued between the troops of Burnside (Roland) and Longstreet (Justin)
Picket's troops fire on Burnsides troops
Hood and Burnside in a firefight
The Northern artillery (Abe) opened a destructive fire on and the already weakened cavalry regiment of Stuart and the cavalry regiment was broken. Burnside's Division (Roland) shot a salvo at the Division of Hood (Justin) and the southern troops were left behind shaken. Hancock's corps moved further back towards the forest. Sedgewick (Roland) again gave the command to enter the forest so that his infantry brigade could silence Jackson's artillery, the charred body of Paulus and the carnage that the artillery had just unleashed, however, had such an impact on the Union forces that they again refused. All regiments were now pulled out on the left flank with the exception of the 54th Massachusetts, despite the horrendous casualties they held their ground, beset by not only Gordon's regiment but also by several supporting regiments of Hill and Ewell (Erik).
In the southern turn the 54th Massachusetts finally broke and the southern troops knew no mercy against these troops, the complete regiment, including the officers were executed on the spot, much to the delight of Gordon. The remaining Confederate troops fired on the retreating Northern regiments and all over the front the guns kept up a deadly fire. Hood (Justin) managed to break a regiment of Sickles (Roland). Sickles (Roland) gave the command to his remaining regiments to head for the Woods in order to strengthen Hancock's corps (Damian) and to defend against the counter attack that Jackson (Erik) was now preparing. Coordinated fire from the woods brought Jackson to a halt and he decided to withdraw his regiments, his corps had fought well and the victims were limited, the open field and the northern positions in the forest made him decide not to advance.
Sheridan's Cavalry (Abe) now moved towards the forest with the pond, Sickles (Roland), waving his shovel, wanted the Cavalrymen to enter the Woods and attack Jackson (Erik) but the cavalry had also seen the charred body of Paulus and they too refused. Hill's brigade (Erik) now began a firefight from a long distance with Howard (Damian), Sykes (Damian) and Sedgwick (Roland), in the Centre and on the other flank, the gunfights continued, Burnside's brigade (Roland) managed to break a unit of Hood (Justin), not much later Picket (Justin) boke a unit of Burnside. The North had recovered well from the earlier defeat.
Longstreet's artillery
At the time that everything seemed to be balanced, Sheridan (Abe) gave the order to his cavalry to storm the flank of one of Hoods regiments (Roland), the 19th Connecticut coloured infantry regiment under Colonel Wooster, charged the same regiment from the front. Hood's troops fought back and drove the cavalry off, the 19th Connecticut remained locked in combat. With the threat of Jackson's artillery so close Sheridan decided to abandon the 19th Connecticut. As a second regiment this battle was left behind by the other northern regiments, they broke the next turn, these "troops of colour" were also not spared by the Confederate troops. Burnside's brigade (Roland) was broken and the remaining regiment pulled back and left the battlefield.
Hood's troops (Justin) were overjoyed with happiness after their victory, however, their joy would not last long, Sheridan's Cavalry (Abe) launched a frontal charge and with drawn sabres they hacked into the Confederate troops. Hood's brigade broke and his last regiment withdrew from the table.
At that crucial moment (Erik) Jackson gave the command to the brigade commanders to attack. Hill's regiments (Erik) marched forward and opened a deadly fire on Howard's (Damian) and Sykes's (Damian) brigades and two regiments were broken, both Howard's as Sykes ' brigades were now broken and they pulled out, Hancock's second corps was broken and three quarters of the Union army was defeated. Jackson's other brigade under Ewell (Erik) stormed into the centre towards the Cavalry of Sheridan (Abe), a well-targeted salvo eliminated a northern cavalry regiment.
Only two infantry regiments under Sedgewick remained, supported by a cavalry regiment and a few artillery pieces, Meade realized that his army was broken and he ordered the army to retreat.
Chased by Lee, demoralized the North reached the other side of the Potomac. Lee had an achieved another great victory against the North, The South remained in the delusion of possible southern independence.
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April 20, 2024, 05:47:53 AM
August 22, 2008, 07:12:35 PM