"Shenandoah Campaign - First Battle" Topic

Howdy,

We are in-process of running a miniatures campaign based on the Shenandoah in May/June 1862. We started play in August, and just had the first campaign battle. Banks detected an advance detachment of Ewell's division near Bentonville, south of Front Royal & north of Luray. He decided on an attack, hoping to win a quick victory before the detachment was reinforced. Meanwhile, Ewell was marching north with the remainder of his division. What resulted was the Bloodbath at Bentonville. Special thanks to Joe Collins for running the game, taking photos, and reporting the results. Game played using Volley & Bayonet, battalion scale (using regimental rather than brigade bases).

The Shenandoah valley is filled with blood. Bank's division lead by BG Hartsuff and Gordon attacked the Confederate forces defending Bentonville in the middle valley Tuesday. Hampered by a thick fog, the US forces moved forward diligently looking to engage and quickly defeat any rebel forces. The lifting fog revealed two rebel regiments holding a line from Bentonville to the river. Hartsuff ordered his lead regiments to an immediate attack to smash aside the secessionists. Close range musket fire rang out across the valley. Men fell like wheat before the scythe on both sides. The US forces perhaps put off by the fog and the fierce resistance of the rebels fell back to reorganize.

Hartsuff's other flank was embarrassed by two rebel regiments east of the town. Caught somewhat by surprise they stopped and issued desultory fire. They were more surprised when the rebels immediately let out their terrifying cry and made to cross bayonets. The 9th New York a struggling regiment that has had its commander sacked several times immediately broke and fled to the rear. The 12th Indiana however in their first engagement showed a tremendous spirit and meet the rebels with a huge volley. Standing fast without a waver they caused the rebels to pause in disorder. This disorder turned to retreat. The retreat turned to panic. The panic turned to rout.

The Rebel flank was unhinged. The one victorious Confederate regiment was sent retreating with heavy casualties… unable to stand again overwhelming odds. The rebels attempted to stand, but Gordon now took over the attack west of Bentonville while Hartsuff concentrated on destroying the Rebels east of the town. No US bullet seemed to miss. The Rebels were disconcerted and disheartened by the early defeat. Their retreat was blanketed by heavy US musketry while their smoothbores could not find the range. Gordon and Hartsuff pressed their advantage almost secure in routing the Rebels off the battlefield. South of Bentonville where the ground begins to rise they encountered quite suddenly a large number of Rebel reinforcements. Noticing that the reinforcements were not set, both Gordon and Hartsuff through caution to the wind in an attack to sweep the secessionists from the field.

My, how victory can suddenly turn in the blink of an eye. Hartsuff's regiments flooded with confidence upon their earlier victories ran into an immoveable wall. The secessionists flags were strange and exotic. These troops seemed different than the ones earlier encountered. The rebs stood firm and delivered a huge volley followed by a charge into the incoming US regiments. Like a sudden change in the wind will bring a storm, Hartsuff's victorious units evaporated against the rebel force. Exhausted from their exertions, victory turned to rout. Only the brave 12th Indiana stood against the turning tide.

Gordon's force was made of sterner stuff. Despite being thrown back, his second line formed and delivered volleys against the incoming Rebs. Men by the hundreds dropped on both sides. Gordon hung on because he knew that Banks had promised reinforcements in the form of Donnelly's large well equipped brigade complete with artillery.

The battle continued as a blood bath while Gordon prayed for the arrival of Donelly. Finally, he heard the thunder of guns and saw the fresh Blue lines deploy across the valley. The Rebels exhausted and bloody faced Donnelly. Throwing back the initially attack Donnelly wisely opened a long range fire fight. Against superior weapons and artillery the Rebs tried to close. They found some success, but Donnelly's brigade rallied and stood firm. The rebel commander, realizing no victory was possible, retreated. The US army controlled Bentonville.

What a bloodbath!
US suffered one brigade collapsed, and one exhausted. They captured the Rebel LOC.
The Rebels suffered one brigade collapsed and one exhausted.

Rebels suffered. 22 casualties.
Yanks suffered 34 casualties

Photo 1

Photo 2

Photo 3

Photo 4

Photo 5

Photo 6

Photo 7

Photo 8

Ponder on,

JAS

Sounds like a great game – also very in spirit with the times; the early war regiments were very unpredictable in how they would respond to a change in situation

Nice looking troops mounted on thick bases, but in picture 4 someone is still picking the base up by the figures rather than grabbing the base (shaking head).

Jim

Nice account, that also shows the advantages and flexibility of Volley & Bayonet.
I always like to learn how long the game took, though.

Howdy Dan,

No sure about the time taken, as I was not there. 14 turns were reported. It was played on a work night (Tuesday); so I'd guess the battle was done in about 3 hrs. It was not a big battle.

Ponder on,

JAS

Howdy,

I'm doing Kernstown at Fall-IN.

JAS

Started at 6:30pm… Were cleaned up at 9:00pm.

We weren't hurried.

14 turns if memory serves…

Joe Collins

22 casualties versus 34 – not sure what scale you're using. I suspect each strength point is 200 troops or 100 losses, therefore 22 hits = 2200 and 34 = 3400 losses? It would make more sense to me if you report approximate strength per side and losses in terms of troops hit rather than strength points. A minor quibble I know…

Howdy,

Losses are from the battle and have not yet been regrouped as reported. With the usual rule of 1 per 2 for regrouping, loses would be preliminarily assessed as 11 and 17 strength points (depending on the distribution in the various regiments). In battalion scale V&B, 1 strength point is 200 men. So respective losses were 2,200 for CSA, and 3,400 for USA. For comparison, Kernstown had 737 men lost for the CSA, and 574 men lost for the Union. Bloody Bentonville will live on in the annals of the campaign. Perhaps Union commanders will not be so impetus in the future (but knowing wargamers this is unlikely).

Given the relative strengths of the two sides in the campaign, the losses will hit the south harder than the Union. Shields' division will show up and Ewell will be in a bad way, unless reinforced by Jackson – yada, yada. Jackson and Allegheny Ed Johnson are currently busy mucking about in the Western Virginia hills.

Ponder on,

JAS

Howdy,

No battles on Campaign Turn 3 (May 11, 12, 13).

Turn 4 orders (May 14, 15, 16) are due Nov 17th.

More to come …

JAS

Howdy,

Turn 4 (May 14, 15, 16) orders give two big battles:

(1) Banks attacks Ewell at Luray.

(2) Fremont vs. Johnson & Ashby near Staunton.

I'll aim to post AAR's as they become available.

More to come …

Ponder on,

JAS

Extra, Extra --- Banks defeats Ewell at Luray!

More to come…

Ponder on,

JAS

Banks defeats anyone? Must be a fantasy scenario! ;-)

In a second battle over the holidays, Fremont pushes Johnson back to take Staunton.

More to come … (I'll post pictures).

Ponder on,

JAS