THE BATTLE OF SAILOR’S CREEK

THE BATTLE OF SAILOR’S CREEK

A REGIMENTAL FIRE AND FURY GAME

Jack Breen latest F and F game was taken from the battle at Sailor’s Creek. A longer game time was anticipated so it was played on a Saturday (6 hours available), rather than our usual Thursday evening (3 hours available. Note to “Rivet Counters”: The scenario is loosely based on the actual battle. The unit strengths and ratings were randomly determines using the method found in an early issue of The Zouave http://fireandfury.com/rffsupport/ZouaveArticles.pdf

THE SCENARIO

A synopsis of the preamble for both sides reveals that a Confederate Corps is holding high ground protecting the flank of Lee’s position near Appomattox Court House.

Union Victory conditions: 3VP's for getting 2 or more non-worn brigades behind the knoll for 2 turns, and 1VP for causing "Heavy Casualties" to the Rebels (36 of 104 total stands) and 1VP for causing greater number of casualties than Rebels.

Rebel Victory conditions: Prevent the Union from reaching behind the knoll, and 1VP for causing "Heavy Casualties" to the Union (40 of 148 total stands) and 1VP for causing greater number of casualties than Rebels.

To win the Union must occupy a position behind the Rebel held hill with unworn units for two turns. Both sides diced for reinforcement entry points and turn of entry.

UNION ORDER OF BATTLE

Corps Commander: Gen’l Humpheries (poor)

Division Commander: Gen’l Wheaton (poor)

Hamblin’s Bde(All RM)                 Gen’l Hamblin(poor)

2nd Ct 12/10/8 (green)    65th NY12/8/5(crack)    95th PA8/7/6(Green)    121st PA10/7/4(crack)

Edward’s Bde:(All RM)                Gen’l Edwards (able)

37th MA16/11/7(vet)      82nd PA12/8/5(crack)    49th PA8/6/4(trained)    2nd RI8/6/4(Trained)

Stagg’s Cavalry;                            Gen’l Stagg(poor)
7th 10/9/7(crack) (RC)

Battery A: Sec. 1: (green) 2LR, 1 HS             Sec. 2: (green) 2LR, 1 HS
Battery B: Sec. 1: (Trained) 2HS, 1 LR          Sec. 2: (Crack) 2HS, 1 LR

Reinforcements. Arrive Turn 1 at Position D (note a discrepancy here in the report!

Truex’s Bde: (All RM)                 Col Truex(able)

14thNJ 12/10/8(green)    10th VT 12/9/6(veteran)       6th MD 16/13/10(green)



CONFEDERATE ORDER OF BATTLE
Corps Commander: Gen’l Kershaw (Gallant)

DeBose’s Bde:                            Gen’l DeBose (Gallant)
26th GA(Vet) 10/8/5(SM)         18th GA(Trained) 10/8/5(SM)                 23rd GA(Trained) 8/6/4(RM)

Fitzgerald’s Bde:                         Gen’l Fitzgerald (poor)
13th MS(Trained) 12/9/6(SM)   17th MS(Trained) 8/6/4((RM)                 18th MS(Trained) 8/6/5(RM)


Lee’s Cavalry:                            Gen’l Custis Lee(poor)
Trained 10/8/5 (SG)                 Trained 10/8/5(pistols)

Reinforcements: Arrive turn 2 at extreme right behind Confederate lines.
Sims’s Bde:                               Gen’l Sims (able)
10th GA(Crack) 12/8/5(SM)    50th GA(Crack) 12/8/5 (SM)                    51st GA( Green) 12/10/8(SM)

Artillery:
Btry A: Sec.1 (crack) 2LR             Sec2 (green) 1LR, 1HS
Btry B: Sec. 1 (trained) 2LR           Sec. 2 (Veteran) 2LR


THE GAME





The Union started off on the wrong foot! Having misunderstood the Union reinforcement entry point as point “E”, not point “D”, Dick Bryant planned a different approach than what had to actually occurred . Once that was corrected, some catching up had to be done (blue arrows of Map 1).





MAP 1 UNION PLAN



The plan was to send the artillery to each flank, 4” behind the small hills at each flank. From there they were to destroy the artillery on the Rebel flanks and then decimate the flank infantry supporting them. A strong Brigade would demonstrate before the enemy position on the knoll(Dick White), while the two remaining brigades would attack each flank. The cavalry orders were to counter the Rebel cavalry where ever it showed up.

THE REBEL FORTIFIED KNOLL



The confusion as to where they came on had the reserve- Truex(Clough)- coming on before the center holding force(Hamblin). Since they were late to come up the Union artillery on the left took a beating while in column from the Rebel artillery on the knoll. On the right, the Union guns managed to get into position unscathed and took the Rebel artillery under fire. Later these pieces moved onto the hill proper and continued the destruction of the Rebel artillery. The Rebels(Jack Breen) ended up with only one gun not silenced which they moved to their left to counter Edward’s (Dick Bryant) attack around their flank. The Union guns continued to do damage to the Rebel infantry moving to their left as well.



MAP 2 ACTUAL MOVES



The Union cavalry under Spencer Clough, though outnumbered two to one, decimated the Rebel cavalry and forced it back off the small hill on the Rebel left. The rebels (armed with pistols and shotguns, only) dismounted and traded fire with a crack Union infantry Rgt., a sure no-win proposition and one of the Reb Rgts. went to “Spent”.

UNION RIGHT FLANK - TURN 5

In the center, Dick Bryant (the author of this piece)did not align his troops very well, putting the “crack” units in front to catch the brunt of the Rebel fire and driving them to “Spent” status. With only green troops to continue the attack in the center, the Union holding attack lost its believability and the Rebs under Dick White started moving troops from the center to their left.

UNION ADVANCES TOWARD THE REBEL CENTER

On the Union left, Rebel reinforcements (Dick White) came in on turn 2 and caused the Union Left (Clough) to counter without attacking the Reb. flank as planned. These two forces never came into contact for more than a few ineffective volleys.

UNION LEFT: TOP REBEL REINFORCEMENTS ENTER. RIGHT: TRUEX MARCHES TOWARDS HIS

FLANK ATTACK

The game ran out of time at about turn 6 with the Rebels declared the victor!