CapnJim's ACW Stuff - Peters' Hill (Perryville) Full AAR - Pg. 5 - 24 Dec 24.

[CapnJim]

Now for the bridge!

Carter's Union Brigade moved more regiments, and their battery, across the east ford.  Meanwhile, Carroll's Confederate Brigade began their move into the Mill Springs village.

Over at the west ford, McCook's Brigade formed line at the ford, while Zollicoffer's Brigade finally moved down toward the ford. 

In the center, Manson's Union Brigade faced off against elements of both Confederate Brigades.  The battle was heating up all across the line.  But the Confederate cavalry was nowhere to be found...

Until now.  Both battalions of Confederate Cavalry finally showed up at the south road, and headed straight for the bridge.

While both armies traded musket and cannon fire all along the line from the village to the west ford, both sides taking casualties, the Confederate cavalry charged across the bridge.  Had they taken it?

Alas, no.  Union musket and cannon fire sent them galloping back across the bridge.  Thomas's Union Division still held the bridge and both fords.

To be further continued...

[MaleGriffin]

Great looking game! Thank you for sharing!

[CapnJim]

Great looking game! Thank you for sharing!

You're welcome!  And now, as the great American commentator Paul Harvey used to say, the rest of the story...

What about the west ford?

At the village and the east ford, Carroll's Confederate Brigade could not reduce the Union bridgehead that Carter's Brigade had established.  Both brigades blazed away at each other.  Once the Confederate's Tennessee Cavalry was chased back across the bridge, they went in to try to help Carroll's Brigade.  That didn't work either.  While Carroll's Rebels and Carter's Yankees blasted away at each other, things really heated up on the other side of the battlefield.

At the bridge, Manson's Union boys and a couple Regiments of Confederates fired at each other across the river, slowly whittling each other down.

But at the west ford, one of Zollicoffer's Regiments stormed across the ford.  They were met with a hail of musket and cannon fire, sending them back the way they came.

By now, Carter's Union Brigade had firmly taken the east ford.  The Rebs had tried to take the bridge and the west ford, but were beaten back.  But Confederate numbers had started to come into play.  The last part of the battle settled into a musket and cannon duel, and the Union boys at the bridge and the west ford had finally had enough, and skeddadled back north.  This left only Carter's battered Brigade on the south side of the river at the east ford. 

As night fell, Zollicoffer's brigade, while having suffered casualties, controlled the west ford as they finally drove McCook's Union brigade away from it.  Same at the bridge - Manson's Union Brigade had broken and fled north.  At the end of the battle, Carter's Union Brigade had fought Carroll's Confederate Brigade and the Tennessee Cavalry to a bloody draw and still held the east ford.  Zollicoffer's Brigade, while they had not taken the west ford, controlled it.  No one, however, really controlled the bridge.

So, it was technically a tactical draw.  But given that 2 of the 3 Union Brigades were broken, we figured it was a Confederate strategic victory - Carter's Union Brigade would be forced to retreat back across the east ford overnight, and the battered Confederate army had just enough strength left to cross the river the next morning and continue their drive north, deeper into Kentucky.

It was indeed a near-run affair, but in the end, confederate numbers prevailed just enough.

[glenning]

Can't believe I've missed this thread - great stuff all around!

[CapnJim]

Thanks, glenning.  Appreciate it! 

[CapnJim]

Well, today was our weekly gaming day.  We played a Battle of Gettysburg Day 1 scenario using Warlord's Epic ACW figures, using their Black Powder rules.  Figures and terrain courtesy of Ted.  We played at Acropolis Games, in Adrian, MI. 

We played Harry Heth's attack east along the Chambersburg Pike on Day 1, where he ran into Meredith's and Cutler's Brigades of Wadsworth's Division in Reynolds' Union Corp.  I played the Yanks, while Gene played 2 brigades of Rebs (Archer and Davis), and Ted played the other 2 Reb brigades (Brockenbrough and Pettigrew).  They split Heth's Divisional Artillery between them.

The field was 6' x 4', with the Rebs attacking from the west short end of the board.  The Chambersburg Pike ran the long length of the board, right down the middle.  The unfinished RR line (with its cuts) ran a bit north of that.  MacPherson's Ridge was about the the centerline of the table (maybe offset to the west just a bit), while Herr's Ridge was at the west edge.  Oak Ridge was just in from the east edge, and Herbst Woods near the SW corner. 

The Union Cutler's Brigade was set up on Oak Ridge, just north of the Chambersburg Pike, while Meredith's Brigade was south of the Pike.  Each had an artillery battery with them.

Davis' Reb Brigade was set up along Herr's Ridge, north of the Pike, while Archer's Brigade just south of it.  Heth's batteries were set up along Herr's Ridge.

That's that. And away we go...

The Confederate General Harry Heth, having already had his Brigades bloodied at the hands of Gen. Buford's Union Cavalry Division, received word that Yankee infantry was moving up to relieve Buford.  It looked like elements of the 1st Corps.  Heth thusly ordered his brigades to advance toward Gettysburg along the Chambersburg Pike, with Davis' Brigade leading north of the Pike, and Archer's Brigade south of it.  Following them were Brockenbrough's Brigade behind Davis, and Pettigrew's Brigade behind Archer.  The Divisional Artillery Commander ordered the Division's guns set up along Herr's Ridge to cover the advance.

As the lead regiments of Davis' Brigade moved up toward the near part of MacPherson's Ridge, Heth could see that a Union Brigade (Cutler's Brigade and a battery of guns) had beaten him there.  He could also see that another Brigade was coming up from the Southeast.  Couriers informed him that is was Meredith's Brigade (the damned Iron Brigade!).  Heth's rifled guns on Herr's Ridge and Cutler's guns on MacPherson Ridge proceeded to engage each other in counterbattery fire, with little initial effect.

At first, Heth figured those Yanks would defend their position on their side of MacPherson's Ridge.  But soon enough, those blue-bellies in Cutler's Brigade starting advancing toward Davis' boys.  Heth didn't think they had it in them, but on they came.  And, Meredith's Brigade was coming up from the southeast toward the Herbst Woods.  He thought maybe they were going to try to flank Davis.  But he knew that Archer's Brigade should be advancing through the Herbst Woods, and should meet them before they could flank Davis.  Heth could also see Brockenbrough's Brigade approaching from the west, and should be able to arrive in time to support Davis.

What Heth didn't know was that Archer's regiments were having trouble getting through the thick Herbst woods, and that Pettigrew's Brigade behind them was taking their own sweet time marching up toward the fight.

Just then, he could see (and hear) that Davis had started to engage Cutler's Brigade on MacPherson's Ridge.  And Brockenbrough was leading his regiments up behind the Reb gun line on Herr's Ridge.  That was all fine and good, but he had no idea what was going on down in the Herbst Woods, or where the hell Pettigrew was...

To be continued in Part 2, when things heat up...

     

   

 

[CapnJim]

Part 2, ...When Things Heat Up!...

Gen Wadsworth's division had relieved Gen. Buford's federal Cavalry Division west of Gettysburg, astride the Chambersburg Pike.  He had ordered Cutler's Brigade to move up to MacPherson's Ridge, north of the Pike.  Meanwhile, Meredith's Iron Brigade had moved towards the Herbst woods, south of the Pike.  Cutler's Brigade had made contact with Davis' Confederate Brigade on the ridge.  Meredith's Brigade had not as yet reported any contact.

That's because Archer's Reb Brigade, who was advancing south of the Pike through the Herbst Woods, was having trouble moving through those woods.  But, Gen. Wadsworth could see, from his position on the Yankee side of MacPherson Ridge, that some of Archer's Regiments had angled up toward the Pike and made their way toward the MacPherson farm, to reinforce Davis' right flank. 

Just in time, too.  It was then Gen Wadsworth could hear firing from the Herbst Woods.  Couriers reported that regiments from Meredith's Brigade had come up through the woods on the Rebs' right flank, and were engaging Archer's boys. 

North of the Pike, Gen. Wadsworth could both see and hear Cutler's and Davis' Brigades trading volleys and charges across MacPherson Ridge.  Both Brigades were taking casualties, but Gen. Wadsworth thought maybe the Rebs were getting the short end of that stick.  Davis' Rebs had been pushed back once already, but they were coming back up to renew the fight. 

But he didn't have all day.  He could see another fresh Confederate Brigade moving east to support Davis (reports would later identify it as Brockenbrough's Brigade).  And spies were reporting that Pettigrew's Reb Brigade had finally found their way toward the fight, and were just west of the Herbst woods heading east.  He sent orders to Meredith to watch his left flank...

Gen. Wadsworth figured "So far, so good".  His 2 brigades were not just holding, but putting real pressure on the Harry Heth's Rebs.  But he needed to hold on as long as he could...

To be continued and finished in Part 3, when the gig is up...stay tuned to find out for who... 

[CapnJim]

And now, Part 3: The Gig is Up!...

Confederate Gen. Harry Heth did not like what he saw.  He had orders to drive those Yankees back to Gettysburg-town, but they didn't seem interested in being driven back.  Davis' Brigade, north of the Chambersburg Pike, had already been driven back off MacPherson's Ridge by Cutler's boys.  Granted, Davis was moving back up, but Cutler's Blue-bellies were firmly planted on that Ridge.   

Meanwhile, south of the Pike, The Yanks in Meredith's Brigade were in the Herbst Woods, giving Archer's flank what for.

Then, Gen. Heth got word from couriers that Pettigrew's Brigade had finally showed up, and was moving into the Herbst woods to get at Meredith's Union Brigade.  That was the good news.

The bad news was that Cutler's Brigade had thrown Davis' brigade back off MacPherson's Ridge. 

But Gen. Heth could see Brockenbrough's Brigade moving up to take Davis' place on the Ridge.  Things were coming to a head, he sensed.  Which way remained to be seen.

By now, Cutler's Union Brigade was breaking in the face of Brockenbrough's fresh brigade.  But Davis' and Archer's Brigades were hanging on by a thread, both on the verge of collapse.  This fight would come down to what Pettigrew's Brigade could do to Meredith's Yanks.

As Cutler's Brigade slowly fell back off Macpherson's Ridge, Pettigrew's Brigade slammed into Meredith's Brigade just south of the Herbst Woods.  Both sides gave as good as they got.  But in the end, however, both brigades broke from the brutal fighting.

And now, the gig was indeed up.  With both Union brigades broken, Gen. Wadsworth ordered a general retreat back towards Gettysburg proper.   But he would do so relatively unmolested.  Out of Gen. Heth's 4 brigades, one was broken, and 2 more were on the verge of being broken.  Only Brockenbrough's Brigade was reasonably fresh.  Gen. Heth's Division was in no position to really pursue Wadsworth's Union Division.

This battle was oh so close.  The scenario's victory conditions were that each side had to break 2 enemy brigades.  If, at the end of a turn, 2 brigades from a side were broken, the other side could claim victory.  We used a house rule where a broken brigade had a chance to rally a regiment the turn after being broken.  If successful, and that brought the brigade back to un-broken status, the brigade could carry on.  Unfortunately, both Davis' and Archer's Brigades each broke in different turns, but they both were able to rally a regiment in their next turn.  Wadsworth's boys just couldn't break 2 Confederate brigades in the same turn, while Heth's men, through sheer weight of numbers, finally broke both Union brigades.  But it took everything they had to do so.  In the end, Heth's Division had one broken brigade, and 2 brigades a hit away each from being broken.  It was that close...

Hope you all enjoyed this. It was sure fun to play!

[CapnJim]

My weekly gaming group's game today was 15mm ACW, using Gettysburg Soldiers rules.  Figures and terrain courtesy of Gene, and he acted as GM/umpire.  I played the Rebs, and Ted played the Yanks.

It was a fictional scenario, ostensibly set in April 1863 in Northern Virginia (near West Somewhere  ), in the days before Chancellorsville.  I had 2 Brigades of Reb infantry from Early's Division in Jackson's Corps, along with a regiment of cavalry and 2 batteries of artillery.  I would also have both Early and Jackson as leaders, in addition to the 2 brigade commanders.  Ted had both brigades from Doubleday's Division, and a brigade from Robinson's Division, all from Reynold's Corps.  He too had a regiment of cavalry and 2 batteries of guns.  He would also have Doubleday and Reynolds as leaders, as well as his 3 brigade commanders.

The battlefield was 6'x4', with the short edges as our baselines (Ted got the north edge, and I the south).  The area was dotted with farms, fields, and woodlots, and had several low hills about.  A stream (Some Damn Creek) cut across the board west to east, a bit north of the centerline.  There were 2 main roads - the West road went from the south edge to the north edge (with a side road cutting west just north of the creek), while the East Road went from the south edge and curved northeast and left the east edge just south of Some Damn Creek.

The Yanks started with a regiment from one of Doubleday's Brigades in march column heading south just on the board on West Road.  The Rebs started out with 2 regiments in march column just on the board heading north on West Road, and the cavalry regiment in march column moving north up East Road.  See the pics below...
 
This where Turn 1 begins.  We assigned a 15 turn limit on the game.  This would be a meeting engagement, and our objectives were to find, fix, and beat the snot out the enemy...

I'll post Part 1:  Oh - There They Are! tomorrow.  This AAR will have 3 parts...

[MaleGriffin]

WOW! What an AAR! Thank you for sharing!

[Jemima Fawr]

Brilliant! 

That's given me the itch to do some ACW again...

[CapnJim]

Thanks, fellas.  No on to the actual AAR for our latest ACW fight...

Part 1 - Oh!  There They Are!

Neither army knew exactly where the other was.  Both army commanders sent out units in search of the other's army.  We don't know what happened with the other recons, but these both found something!

On the Rebel side, Gen. Jackson tasked Gen. Early with moving north in the vicinity of West Somewhere, up the East and West Roads to the other side of Some Damn Creek.  Gen. Early sent one brigade each up the 2 roads, with his attached cavalry moving in front of the right brigade.  He gave each brigade a battery of guns.

Meanwhile, to the north on the Yankee side, Gen. Reynolds tasked Gen. Doubleday with moving south down the West Road, also near West Somewhere, to positions south of Some Damn Creek.  He sent 2 batteries of guns and a regiment of cavalry with him.  Gen. Reynolds also gave him a brigade from Gen. Robinson's Division, who would try a flank march and come on the field near where the West Road crosses Some Damn Creek.  If the Rebs were moving north, maybe they could flank 'em.

Both Divisions moved out.  The Reb cavalry moved up the East Road, with a Reb brigade some distance behind them.  The other Reb brigade moved up the West Road.  Gen. Doubleday brought both his brigades down the West Road, one behind the other.  This order of march would prove troublesome for the Yankees in the upcoming battle.

As the forces moved closer to each other, the lead Yankee regiment created a wooded hill and spotted the Rebel cavalry across the valley from them.  The Reb cavalry likewise spotted the Yanks' infantry.  The lead Yankee regiment formed line along Some Damn Creek, while the Reb Cavalry skirted to the right, to try to get in on the Yankee's flank.

Both Reb brigades kept up their march, and the right brigade, moving up the East Road, began to deploy some ways south of Some Damn Creek.  Their left brigade kept moving, and began crossing Some Damn Creek.  Their plan was to try to move in on the Yanks' right flank...but everyone knows how long plans survive...

The 2 Yankee brigades moving down the West Road quickened their pace, with the lead brigade continuing to form up behind Some Damn Creek.  The trail brigade kept moving down the road behind them.  The Yanks sent their cavalry regiment left to counter the Reb cavalry. 

But the Yank's ace-in-the-hole was that brigade from Robinson's Division, who came on practically on the flank of the lead regiments of the Reb's left brigade.  The Rebs' lead 2 regiments there barely had time to deploy into line to face them before taking a volley from the lead Yankee regiment.  That volley led the lead Reb regiment to fall back a bit, but their brother regiment gave the Yanks a good stiff volley in return, sending the lead Yank regiment reeling....

Stay tuned for Part 2:  A General Engagement, as we see our forces feed more units into the fight...

[CapnJim]

And here's our next installment of Friday's fight...

Part 2:  A General Engagement

The Yankee brigade from Robinson's Division had just appeared on the Rebel left brigade's flank.  Volleys from each side had seen the lead regiments on each side falling.  Then, charges and counter-charges saw the balance there swing to and fro, with both sides coming out on top (and bottom).  Finally, a spirited charge by the lone Yank regiment left on that flank saw the 2 lead Reb regiments fleeing back across Some Damn Creek, while the other 3 regiments and the battery from the Reb left brigade formed line along their side of the creek.

Meanwhile, on the eastern flank, the lead Yankee brigade had formed up along Some Damn Creek, while the Reb right brigade formed up several hundred yards south of the creek, preparing to get stuck in.  On the far eastern flank, the 2 cavalry regiments went at each other, with the Reb cavalry regiment taking the worst of it.  They fell back to where the Reb right brigade was forming up.   The Reb right brigade's battery has set up, and was taking regiments from the Yankee lead brigade under fire.

In the center, the trail Yankee brigade was having issues getting its act together, trying to move forward to form up in the woods on their side of the creek.  And both Yankee batteries had trouble moving forward through the traffic jam, trying to find a good place to unlimber.

Now, 2/3 of the way through the fight, we have the right Reb brigade formed up for their attack on the Yankee brigade formed up along Some Damn Creek.   The Reb cavalry had been handled roughly, and had fallen back to the Reb right brigade's position.  The lead regiments from the Reb left brigade had been thrown back across the creek, but had sent 2 regiments from the Yank brigade from Robinson's Brigade packing.  And the Yankee center was, at this point, a confused mess, as regiments from the trail Yankee brigade and their batteries were trying to (slowly) get up into the fight.  But it looked like the Yankees had the upper hand.  At least for now anyway...

Stay tuned for the final chapter, Part 3: And the Winner Is..., which I hope to post sometime later today or tomorrow... 

[MaleGriffin]

Impressive stuff! Great pics and AAR!

[CapnJim]

Impressive stuff! Great pics and AAR!

Thanks!  And sorry for the delay in posting this.  I got a bit busy yesterday...and now for the finale of this fight...

Part 3: And the Winner Is...

On the Rebels' left, 2 regiments had just been sent reeling back across Some Damn Creek by regiments from Robinson's Union Division.  The Rebel brigade commander there galloped back and was able to rally those regiments, and get them back in the fight.  While he was doing that, his other 3 regiments laid a few good volleys into Robinson's Yanks, sending many of them skedaddling away.  Once the ford over Some Damn Creek was cleared, the Confederate Brigade Commander ordered his regiments forward, wheeling them to the right a bit to threaten the Yankee right flank.

On the Rebel right, that brigade had shaken itself out into their assault formation, and advanced toward the Union boys deployed along Some Damn Creek, sweeping what was left of the Yanks' cavalry from the field.  The Rebs' guns supported their attack.  Slowly, and at some cost, they pushed the Yankees northward.

In the center, the Union trail brigade and their batteries finally were able to sort themselves out some, with the trail brigade veering west trough the woods to meet the threat from the Rebel left brigade, and the batteries setting up together near the creek to try to stem the Rebel tide.

It wasn't enough, though.   The Rebel right brigade, while they were able to send the Yankee brigade over their running to the rear, came under fire from those massed Union guns, taking more casualties and losing the Reb battery there.   But, the Rebel left brigade attacked the Union trail brigade in the woods north of Some Damn Creek, and while the Yanks did manage to kill Gen. Jackson (), the Yankees were forced back with heavy casualties. 

At this point, the gig was up.  The Yankees were running out of regiments, while the Rebels were pressing in on what was left of their right flank.  It was time for Gens. Reynolds and Doubleday to sound the retreat before the Rebs could envelop and capture their batteries.

It was a close fought fight until just before the end, when Union fortunes abandoned them.  But it was an expensive Confederate victory, what with losing Gen. Jackson.  But fun was had by all, and we got 13 turns in in just under 2-1/2 hours...

Hope y'all enjoyed this here AAR...