"Fences in ACW" Topic

Are there any accounts of units finding wooden fences of much cover value in the ACW?
Did units line fences because crossing them disorganised the troops, it formed a good way of dressing the lines and gave a psychological benefit (i.e. better than nothing but not really capable of stopping much lead and iron).

All of the above. Most fences of the period were built without some type of metal fasteners and so could be quickly torn down and piled for hasty works. In rocky regions, the fences usually included a lower part of stones piled up, further increasing their cover value. Fences made good linear features to align a unit on. A stout fence rail was also good resting a rifle on while taking careful aim.

Good point about being able to pile up a hasty work.

A good illustration of the impact of fences was at Gettysburg. As the Union I Corps was rushing to the battle on July 1, General Reynold's staff tore down fences to enable the troops to move cross country without stopping. The area between Cemetery and Seminary Ridges was crisscrossed with fences, but most presented little or no obstacles to movement. Skirmishers operated for 3 days between the armies, tearing down fences and hiding behind the piles. However, the fences along Emmitsburg Pike were taller than normal and very well constructed. They were still standing on July 3 and presented an obstacle to Picket's men when they made their charge.

Indeed! The fences along the Emittsburg Road were a serious impediment to the Confederate advance for two reasons:

1.) They were taller and stronger than those usually found in the surrounding fields and orchards.

2.) They were in ideal small-arms range for the defenders. That meant that the Infantry reaching them had to not only try and cross them with more than usual difficulty, but also while under fire from massed infantry to their front.

This reinforces the maxim that "An obstacle is only an obstacle if it is covered by fire".

Now, one point about fence-clearing…

Almost every regiment, North or South, had a pioneer detail drawn from within it's ranks. Usually 12-24 men, 1 pr 2 from each company. These men were sent out to clear obstructions to the unit's advance. However, they were normally clearing an area of fenceline just sufficient for the regiment to pass through IN COLUMN. Units maneuvered in column and deployed into line only when coming into contact with the enemy.

By using these ad-hoc pioneer details, a unit would not be held up much, if at all by fences, light woods, etc, as the pioneer detail would've cleared a path for them.

However, at times a regiment in line was forced to deal with a fence. It DID hold up a unit for a couple minutes, as the unit would have to halt, and the front rank men hand their weapons to the rear rank men in order to be able to tear down the rails. If it was a typical rail fence, then it wasn't too difficult. If it was a post & beam fence, that was another matter entirely, and might take several minute's work to dislodge the beams from the posts. After that, the front rank would fall back into line, take their weapons, and the unit step off.

So there are fences, and then there are FENCES.. :)

But should fences have any impact on games where units are regiments or brigades? If yes, then what impact? Do games get it right?

CPBelt
You took the words right out of my mouth!

JRIII does give cover benifits for fences and stone walls and penalty for movement as well. The Gettysburg game I ran last year of Longstreets assault on the sceond day has over 100 feet of worm fence, 80 feet of stonewalls and about as much rail fence. Scale is 1 inch = 50 Yards.
VR
James Mattes

Fences should be given an impact in the game based upon what the game umpire or designer is attempting to portray. At a regimental-level game, depending upon the type of fence, it should have some small impact. In a division-level game, likely not, although, as noted above at Gettysburg, there is always the exception.

I view fences more as an obstacle to movement than as a form of cover or concealment.

Piled fence rails could offer some protection, intact, upright fences very little. I read about a unit trying to fire from behind an upright rail fence that suffered more wounds from bullet-splintered wood than they did from the actual bullets!

Jim McCarron, Musket Miniatures

link

For context, here are some pictures of the different types of fences at Gettysburg.

Mark

Depending on how detailed you want to be, I would argue that a fence would give some slight morale benefit to the defender since it is a good linear feature to tell PVT Snuffy not to move from. In my homegrown rules a unit (regiment) defending a fence line (which I classify as a light linear obstacle) gets a small bonus when it comes to taking casulties. I think this represents less soldiers breaking and a few bullets soaked up by the rails.
-BY