"How did Wilder’s Brigade fight?" Topic

Another of my periodic wonderings.

So yes, with Spencer Rifles and as Mounted Infantry. However, what does that mean.

I've Infantry Regulations and Cavalry Regulations a plenty but I can't recall seeing anything for Mounted Infantry so what did they do? Use cavalry drill and focus on the dismounted parts? Adopt Infantry Skirmish tactics? Blend the two types of Drill where they touched? Fight in line, or mostly dispersed?

All of the above!

I've seen speculation on pack mules to provide mobility and supply/ammo trains, something of a consideration given all that 56-56 they were going to burn through when hardly anyone else is using it, so self contained logistics would make sense.

Just a bunch of general questions really. If you can back up your opinion with reliable sources I'd appreciate it but feel free to speculate, that's what I'm doing!

Something founded on reported practice rather than battle narrative would be cool. Description of them fighting their weight in Rebs to a standstill at Chickamauga I have, it's the how I'm interested in.

Try the book

Lightning at Hoover's Gap, Wilder's Brigade in the Civil War Hardcover – 1969 by Glenn W. SUNDERLAND

Infantrymen, trained to fight in infantry tactics including more open formations, who used their horses for rapid movement and their small arms to put downrange a large volume of lead.

link

Another book you can pick up inexpensively is "Tullahoma, The 1863 Campaign for the Control of Middle Tennessee", by Michael Bradley.

Not just horses, but mules too. But, mules are too smart to stand around and get shot at.

Cavalry used the infantry tactics regulations when they fought dismounted, so I would assume that Wilder's men, already being infantry, did so as well. I imagine they used a lot of skirmish formations, although the firepower of Spencers in the standard two rank formation is amazing to think about. :)

Yet another book on Wilder's Lightning Brigade -
"Blue Lightning – Wilder's Mounted Infantry Brigade in the Battle of Chickamauga", by Richard A Baumgartner.

According to this book, the regiments in Wilder's brigade had all been raised as conventional infantry units. They were transformed into mounted infantry only after Murfreesboro, when Wilder received permission from Rosecrans for his idea to raid the civilian countryside for animals (horses and mules) as mounts to enhance the brigade's general tactical mobility. Wilder's men always fought on foot as infantry.

B

I suppose they would ride up, see Rebs, get off the horse and start shooting at them, and then if things got hot -- mount up and skidaddle???

Russ Dunaway

Agreed – Wilder was a infantryman through and through

With those Spencer repeaters I believe they didn't need to skeedadle very much – in fact, the only reason they retreated at Chickamauga was that they were delayed by Charles Dana, the Assistant Secretary of War, who insisted he be escorted to safety

The loaded their rifles on Sunday and then fired them the rest of the week.

Scott,

Cavalry used the infantry tactics regulations when they fought dismounted, so I would assume that Wilder's men, already being infantry, did so as well.

Yes I guess I kind of assumed that but I also wondered if it must have worked the the other way round. Someone some where had to stop all that four legged transportation wandering off.

So was it just a matter of the Cavalry style, one in four men to hold three horses hitched to his own, in the proscribed manner? Would seem logical but it would be nice to see it in print.

The other thing that would be good to see would be a mention of the use of preloaded magazine tubes, if used, or some idea if they relied on individual reloads.

I've read Holding the Line on the River of Death that Buckeye Daryl recommended (and which I do also). I believe that use of the preloaded magazines is mentioned in it.

The Lightning Brigade will be one of my brigades in my 15mm "On to Richmond" rules army.

Jim

In the book referenced above, Holding the Line on the River of Death, early on i nthe book, there is a copied letter Wilder wrote to someone after the war explaining in general how they deployed.

IIRC:

They formed 6 ft apart, single line. At 300+ yards they fired deliberately, single shot, reserving their 7 shot tube[s] for when the enemy closed to under 300 yards. Then they went to rapid fire. I believe it was also mentioned they brought along 200 extra rounds in horse nose bags as it was understood/feared the velocity of use would increase dramatically when they went to using their Spencer's true capabilities and run out of ammo.

Also, it was stated that it was preferable to have the men prone and/or behind cover, something the breech loading weapon provided for.

There is a game planned at Historicon concerning Wilder's Lightning Brigade at Chickamauga, from the PEL:

T19:437 Preston Joins the Fight: Chickamauga 1863
Thursday, 7:00 PM, 4 hrs, Players: 6, Location: Heritage: HR-76 GM: Michael Pierce & Carnage and Glory
Sponsor: None, Prize: None
Period: American Civil War, Scale: 28mm, Rules: Regimental Fire & Fury

Description: On the 2nd day of Chickamauga, MG Hindman's Division assault routed the Union divisions of BG Davis and MG Sheridan. Only Col. Wilder's counterattack with the Lightning Brigade, armed with Spencer repeating rifles, prevented Hindman from completely routing the Union
right flank. But BG Preston's small division was nearby and could have assisted. Could the Lightning Brigade defeat two Rebel divisions?

+1 rmcaras (hi, Rick). That game will be hosted by myself and Rich Hasenauer (author of rules). It will also be run again on Friday morning at 10am (F10:413).

Great references are David Powell's Maps of Chickamauga and his 3-volume Chickamauga Campaign. Wilder's brigade gave great service on the 18th in covering the Alexander bridge against great odds, and then repulsed Robertson's and Benning's brigade on the 19th at Viniard Field. His counterattack on the 20th saved the Union army, after Hindman had routed Sheridan's division and was poised to swing into the rear.

One additional point is that the horses did not accompany the troops into the firing line. They stayed in the rear. But everyone carried carried additional ammo. No reports of them ever running low on ammo, while numerous reports of rifled musket troops doing so.

Thanks Guys that's informative.

I had assumed the horses would be kept in the rear, hence my musing as to them adopting the Regulation Cavalry drill for horse holders.

I forgot to say in my last post that Scott's image of a standard two rank firing line made me smile. Certainly would have put down a curtain of fire!

Can you imagine the amount of smoke from everyone shooting of all seven rounds in rapid succession? Would have made a great tactic to hide a withdrawal! :o)

IIRC, Wilder bought his men long-handled hatchets to use in mounted fighting, in lieu of sabers -- not sure if they ever used them much.

At Chickamauga the brigade was technically part of J. J. Reynolds' 1st Div. of the 14th Corps, although it was detached and served directly under army HQ; but not long after that battle it was transferred to the Cavalry Corps as the 14th Corps was reduced from 4 divisions to 3.

RMCARAS – Rick,
Thanks for posting this info. This is looking like a heavy skirmish line, were there any comments concerning passage of lines within the regiment? With a support line moving up or the front falling back during a reload, Thanks, John