"dead angle" Topic

I've just been reading co aytch and I want to refight Dead angle using regimental fire and fury. Does anyone have any information that might be useful for putting it together?

Dead angle at Spotsylvania courthouse?

or at Kennesaw?

if its Co Aytch its Kennesaw.

Part of rocky face ridge.

Not seeing anything useful like unit OOBs or anything else other than Company Aytch. There's a NPS book at B&N that may have better info but it sounded more like a battlefield tour book.

Ive found the battle called dug gap and mill creek gap but can find little information about the actual battle. It seems that many of the union attacking regiments were from ohio.

Kennesaw Mountain (Cheatham Hill), June 27
Watkins was in the 1st Tenn. part of Maney's Brigade, in the Division of Maj. Gen. Cheatham.
The Rebel lines formed around the crest of the Hill, as the line bend back onto it's self, the Military crest split from the Natural Crest of the hill. At the south west part of the line, the Military crest was then about 40 yards in front of the Rebel trenches. It was seen this line was critical so Rebel Skirmishers dug rifle pits here, this was soon pushed back by the attacking Union. The was key to get close, it was a dead angle for fire from Cheatham's men down the hill.
If you need more info, will supply.

That's great explains some of what is described in the book. I'd appreciate as much information as you can supply as there seems to be very little on the net and in the books I have and I'm still trying to make sense of what I have.

The dead angle which Sam Watkins describes is part of Rocky face ridge and took place on May 4th, just before Resaca. Kenneshaw Mountain was a later battle that Watkins took part in.

ddon1234,

Need some help, Sherman's advance started on May 4th, as the wings advanced only a small skirmish at Tunnel Hill.
May 8th finds Thomas attacking at Buzzard Roost vs the rebels under Gen. Stewart's Division. South- Geary attacked Dug Gap, fighting on May 8-12 vs. Gen. Cleburne's Rebel Division.
Dug Gap would be a smaller action for regimental game, the pass was held by Rebel dismounted Cav. – Terrain was very difficult – held until Cleburne's crack men arrived.
I can give you the oob's once I understand. John

I've recently reread the chapter on Dead angle. I don't know why I thought it was at Rocky face ridge but that is what had stuck in my mind. It turns out I'm completely wrong and you were right about it being at Kennesaw mountain. Thanks for offering to help even when you knew I was mistaken. I'd like to know any information you have about that battle as originally offered.

ddon1234

You will need for a general OOB -
Union approx. 15 regiments
Gen. Jefferson Davis Division
Gen. McCook Brigade-died in the attack
Gen. Mitchell Brigade-didn't advance, stayed behind the line
plus regiments on the skirmish line

Gen. Newton Division
Gen. Harker Brigade-died in the attack

Union batteries placed within the line -
If these troop counts are to much, we could work to take Gen. Harker's brigade out, it was just to the north. Then the game would be a smaller focus on the two Brigade attack.

Rebel troops, Would need at least 10 regiments
Gen. Cheatham's Division
Gen. Vaughn Brigade
Gen. Maney Brigade
3 Rebel Artillery Batteries
(Gen. Carter Brigade Possible)

terrain – one steep hill with trenches and abatis
you can reach me at firebellinthenight at yahoo dot com

Mitchell's brigade most certainly left their trenches and attacked. They crossed the creek and almost made it to the Confederate trenches on the south south/west side of the hill. There are several first-hand account in Baumgartner's Kennesaw Mountain June 1864.

Cleburne1863,

You are correct sir, thanks for clearing up.
sorry, not written well, I was listing the attack results for the Brigadiers leading their men, both McCook and Harker being killed.
Mitchell's men fought well, but Mitchell stayed back at the Union lines and watched his men die.
This attack is of tactical interest, Brigades formed up in a modified Brigade attack column, using info learned from Col. Upton's attack formation used in Virginia. This was an attempt to bring more manpower to the point of attack to achieve a breakthrough.
Result was Mass Formation leading to Mass losses.
One of the Tenn. men would write it didn't seem like war, but more like murder. Another Tenn. Vet. would write home that he believed he shot 150 times and hit a Union man every time. Their gun barrels would get so hot, the officers would tell the men to point them down to allow the melted lead shavings to run out.
Yet within this firestorm, the Union soldiers would tell of their beloved McCook standing on the works with one foot on the Head log, using his sword to bat away the rebel guns, calling his boys forward, he would live only moments more.

Ah, I see. I didn't understand it to mean the officer himself stayed behind. Sorry that I misread it.

I've walked the ground a few times. I just wanted to see that the men on the ground got credit, and didn't read it carefully enough.

Cleburne1863,

I believe you just released your first book, I plan on picking this up as your scenario booklet was A+, thanks.

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed the scenario book, and I hope you enjoy the full length historical treatment.

I'm currently working in a smaller book on Allatoona Pass. Smaller because its just a smaller battle and shorter campaign lead-up, but still packed full of first-person accounts.

Afterwards, I may do a few more short scenario books. The choices are the Battle of Atlanta, the 1863 Knoxville Campaign, and a second volume of fictional scenarios. Or I may just do all 3!

Guys, a great account of Kennesaw Mountain was literally just released by UNC Press. Kennesaw Mountain: Sherman, Johnston and the Atlanta Campaign by Earl J. Hess is available as of April 22. GREAT account of the battle.

Yeah, I saw that listing. I'll have to pick it up!

How are the maps? Good for making a scenario?

The maps aren't great. They don't display elevation as well as I would like. Also, only the opening attack formations are displayed on each of three maps for the Fifteenth, Fourth, and Fourteenth Corps attacks, with no representation of the attacks as they progressed. The text and the opening state maps are enough to create a scenario, but unit strengths aren't really there either.

Yeah, unit strengths are going to be tough for any scenario in the middle of the Overland or Atlanta Campaigns.

I've ordered the book and had hoped it would give some troop strengths. I've found most of the units involved but numbers are proving to be a problem.