On Monday July 19th we met to fight yet another American Civil War battle. Thus one was the fighting around Prospect Hill on the Confederate right flank during The Battle of Fredericksburg. Rules were Brigade level "Fire and Fury" and troops were 15mm from John's collection. He also hosted the game in his garage.
I was posted on the right flank of the Union line commanding Brook's and Howe's divisions of Smith's 6th Corps. The other division of my corps was off table to be brought in as reinforcements. Dave was in the center with Meads troops and Peter on the left with Reynold command. The Confederates were Jackson's Corps of A.P. Hill (Warren) , Hood's (Art) and Taliaferro's (Don) Divisions.
The Jackson's Corps stood behind the railroad embankment hoping to draw in the Union assault. Instead, the Union massed their batteries and opened up with a heavy cannonade which reduced the confederate artillery by 5 batteries! This caused Jackson to order A.P. Hill to attack on the right and Hood was to attack on the right. Taliferno was to wait for the center to be weakened and then also attack.
On the union right flank Smith threw in Brooks' and Howe's divisions to assault the Confederate left. A series of Bad communications( bad dice rolls) left the rebels immobile as Howe and Brook attacked and pushed them back. The attack pushed them from the railroad embankment and back into the woods and threatened to turn the flank. But at the point the boys is grey rallied and drove the Yankees back to the railroad embankment where they took covered and brought up reinforcement. The Confederate casualties had been horrendous and they stood little chance of taking the embankment.
The center Meade's division, supported by the massed Union batteries took the railroad embankment and prepared to push through the center.
Meanwhile the union left was assailed by AP Hill's division coming out from behind the railriad embankment. Unfortunately for them they slammed into the Iron Brigade of Doubledays division of the 1st Corp who proved why they were considered the best of the union army. Not only did they shatter the rebel brigade spearhead (capturing that brigade) but followed up with a breakthrough attack on the supporting brigade and defeated them also!
At this point the casualty total were Grey 47 stands lost and was just 1 stand away from break point. The Union was only 24 stands lost; well under the 52 stands lost threshold. After 4 hours of play we had completed 6 turns (and had a lunch break) and came to a decision on the field of battle. All players felt it was a Union victory and all had had a wonderful time.
Thank you very much John for all your hard work pudding this on and thank you to my fellow gamers Peter, Warren, Dave, Don and Art for a fun game and great comradery and a wonder afternoon. Looking forward to our next Monday afternoon game in August.
