Salem Church Report

We played out John Hill's Salem Church scenario on Saturday Feb 25th. Mike, Eddie, and I played on the Confederate side while Gary and Carl led the Union troops.

After a quick briefing, the Federal brigades of Brown and Bartlett advanced against "hidden" units (in truth, there were no hidden units) and the troops on Wilcox's lone Confederate brigade. Wilcox chose to cling to his ridge as he awaited the help that he hoped would bolster his defensive line. Just as the Union men came within long range gun fire the dust kicked up by a brigade of Confederates, led by Semmes, could be seen just behind the rebel lines. Feeling a bit stronger now, Wilcox ordered Semmes to lead his brigade out to the CSA left wing which delayed their arrival by a turn. Russell's Union brigade also chose to delay their arrival by a turn in order to extend their move out to the Union right wing. This left the Union left/Confederate right wing devoid of troops.

Mahone's Confederates arrived a bit later and deployed onto the rebel's right wing while Tompkins brought his Union troops onto the Union right. Quickly, the battle stalemated as the Union troops were bunched up in the center and could not organize a proper attack and the two Union brigades on the right wing couldn't bring their power to bear on Semmes' Confederates. It took almost half of the game before the Federal batteries of Brown and Bartlett could deploy in the center to lend support to the stalled attack of Brown's brigade. By that time Gen. Brown had been killed in action and his units were suffering under withering fire from Confederate infantry and Candler's battery repeatedly delivering close range fire.

Soon, Mahone's brigade moved out from the Confederate lines and began an enveloping move against the Union left wing. Bartlett's Union brigade began to melt under the dual attack of Wilcox's troops firing from the hill at Salem Church and Mahone's troops driving in their left wing. On the last turns of the battle Mahone's regiment charged into Bartlett's battered troops and drove them back into the cornfield. The melee result from the last turn saw two regiments destroyed/routed/surrendered which would have triggered a difficult brigade test for Bartlett on this and every turn thereafter.

When the battle was declared over (we reached our time limit) Bartlett's Union brigade was shattered, Brown's Union brigade was holding the center but quickly approaching a loss of brigade integrity, while the Union brigades of Russell and Tompkins were just coming to grips with Semmes out on the Confederate left wing. All in all, it was declared a minor victory for the Confederates as they held Salem Church and had inflicted much heavier losses on the Union forces.

The final losses tally was:
CSA - Semmes lost most of his artillery battery and @ 16 figures as casualties
           Wilcox lost @ 16 to 20 figures as casualties
           Mahone lost @ 8 figures as casualties

USA - Bartlett lost 2 regiments in the cornfield melee and @ 12 to 16 other casualties
           Brown lost 2 regiments dispersed, General Brown killed, and @ 12 other casualties
           Russell lost @ 12 to 16 casualties
           Tompkins lost @ 4 casualties

Salem Church Scenario

Salem Church 1863

Scenario by John Hill

Adapted for Guns at Gettysburg

Historical Situation: Southwest of Fredericksburg, May 3, 1863, late afternoon

As part of Hooker's grand plan at Chancellorsville, General John Sedgewick was to advance the VI Corps down from Fredericksburg and attack Lee's army in the rear. After driving the Confederates from Marye's Heights, Sedgwick's three divisions moved south towards Salem Church and Chancellorsville. By late afternoon, at Salem Church, Wilcox's Confederate brigade, which had been fighting a delaying action, was joined by reserves from McLaw's division and the Rebels became determined to hold.

After a cautious advance, the lead Federal division, Brooks, deploying from march column, attacked with two brigades but was driven back by Wilcox and Semmes. The rebels having been reinforced by additional brigades from McLaws's and Anderson's divisions, counterattacked across the valley but were themselves checked by the arrival of fresh Union troops. At this point, the battle ended with neither side desiring to commit additional forces. The next day, having received the news of Hooker's defeat at Chancellorsville, Sedgewick ordered the VI Corps to fall back to the Rappahannock River.

This scenario, however, assumes that the Federals were more aggressive, advanced quicker, and were willing to fully commit the lead division of IV Corps – under General W.T.H. Brooks – in an attempt to push the Confederates off Salem Church ridge before the Rebels could bring up additional troops. The next day, however, little would have changed, as the growing Confederate strength facing VI Corps would have still forced Sedgwick to backpedal to safety.

This scenario condenses the action and reduces the number of brigades involved to reflect our chosen scale. Troops will be arriving as the battle goes on but the commanders will not know when those units will arrive. It is supposed to add an air of tension and uncertainty for each commander.

Victory:

Union:

1.       Capture Salem Church to secure the Orange Plank Road in order to turn Bobby Lee’s flank near Chancellor’s Crossing.

2.       Hold the Toll House.

3.       Have no more than 1 brigade in rout/leave battle.

Confederate:

1.       Hold Salem Church.

2.       Capture Toll House.

3.       Have no more than 1 brigade in rout/leave battle.

Map of wargame table

1.       @ 48 inches between Toll House and Salem Church

2.       Orange Plank Rd gives move bonus = if in March Column (single stand wide) then move 13”

3.       CSA has hidden/dummy units

4.       Woods are Difficult Terrain/Light Woods

5.       Woods can be seen into 6”. Woods block line of sight.

6.      Stone wall is cover -2

Confederate Only Materials

Confederate Setting

You are Brigadier General Wilcox.  Your brigade made camp last night to the southwest of Fredricksburg, Virginia, along Marye’s Heights.  Early this morning the front elements of a Union division assaulted your position.  From what you can piece together from your scouts, a large Union corps (consisting of about 4-6 divisions) has swung around the Confederate left flank off to your west.  Your brigade (five regiments and a cavalry battalion), has been fighting a delaying action all day against superior numbers.  It is now 3:00 p.m., and the numerically superior Union corps (you believe it is the VI Corps, led by Gen. John Sedgewick) has dislodged your division from Marye’s Heights, pushing an aggressive southerly advance towards Chancellorsville.  A slight delay in the fighting has given your brigade a breather while you retreat to the next ridge—Toll House.  It appears that your attempt to delay has caused the Union to proceed more cautiously, buying more time.  Just as your orders to fall back to Toll House Ridge are dispatched to your regimental commanders, a courier from the Army HQ at Chancellorsville arrives:

General,

Battle has joined at Chancellorsville.  Your engagement to delay the progress of the Union corps to your west (and now, perhaps, north?) has gone awry.  While I applaud your valiant effort, the Yank numbers are too great.  Fall back to Salem Church and hold that position.  Semmes’s and Mahone’s brigades are on their way.  It is paramount that you prevent the Union corps from advancing to the main battle today—a breach to the left flank will undoubtedly cost us the field.  Take your brigade, and any other elements dispatched to help you, and stop the Union advance at Salem Church.  While I do not desire to belabor the point, you must hold that position as long as humanly possible.  Each second of delay will help frustrate Hooker’s flanking maneuver, and perhaps buy us time to carry the day at Chancellorsville.  While I understand the numbers facing your brigade are insurmountable, delay their advance.  Hold Salem Church.

Godspeed and God bless,

Gen. Buell,

Army of Northern Virginia

Confederate States of America

P.S.—Salem Church constitutes the lynch-pin of the Union advance.  If you hold them there, our flank cannot be turned.  Without doubt, the Yanks are aware of this.

You may deploy your troops anywhere marked with a 6 on a D6. An area marked with a 5 is simply a “decoy” set up area. This is in lieu of having decoy/dummy units. The Union still thinks that you have dummy units so work with that idea as it suits you….

Semmes and Mahone will arrive as soon as possible on the Orange Plank Road

CSA Troops

Brigadier Cadmus Wilcox AVG

1 AdC

Brigade Wilcox		General’s Rating:			Deployed on table
8 AL	12		Elite	Smoothbore		1st Class SK
9 AL	12		Elite	Smoothbore		1st Class SK
10 AL	20		Veteran	Rifle		1st Class SK
11 AL	20		Veteran	Rifle		1st Class SK
14 AL	20		Veteran	Rifle		1st Class SK
15 VA CAV	18 MTD/15 Foot		Crack	Carbines		1st Class SK
Candler’s Battery	2 Sections		Elite	Mixed

Brigade Semmes		General’s Rating:			Arrives later
10 GA	12		Crack	Rifle		1st Class SK
50 GA	20		Veteran	Rifle		2nd Class SK
51 GA	20		Veteran	Rifle		2nd Class SK
53 GA	20		Veteran	Rifle		2nd Class SK
Manley’s Battery	3 Sections		Veteran	12 lb Napoleon

Brigade Mahone		General’s Rating:			Arrives later
6 VA	12		Elite	Rifle		1st Class SK
12 VA	20		Veteran	Rifle		2nd Class SK
16 VA	20		Regular	Rifle		2nd Class SK
41 VA	20		Regular	Rifle		2nd Class SK
61 VA	20		Green	Rifle		2nd Class SK
Lewis’s Battery	2 Sections		Veteran	Mixed

Wilcox - Rout, dispersal, or destruction of ANY (includes gun crews and skirmish units) 4 units in a brigade will trigger Brigade Tests at the end of EVERY TURN for the rest of the battle.

Semmes - Rout, dispersal, or destruction of ANY (includes gun crews and skirmish units) 3 units in a brigade will trigger Brigade Tests at the end of EVERY TURN for the rest of the battle.

Mahone - Rout, dispersal, or destruction of ANY (includes gun crews and skirmish units) 3 units in a brigade will trigger Brigade Tests at the end of EVERY TURN for the rest of the battle.

You may deploy your troops anywhere within 12” marked with a 6 on a D6, within 18” at the church. An area marked with a 5 is simply a “decoy” set up area. This is in lieu of having decoy/dummy units. The Union still thinks that you have dummy units so work with that idea as it suits you….

Union Only Materials

Union Setting

You are brigadier general William T.H. Brooks, commanding officer of the First Division, VI Corps.  Your corps commander, General John Sedgewick, received orders last night to attempt to turn the Confederate left flank as part of an overall plan to defeat Lee at Chancellorsville.  Your division is the lead element of your corps.  You advanced on Marye’s Heights Ridge early this morning attempting to push a Confederate brigade from the ridge.  After fighting all morning, the Rebs did an admirable job to keeping your division at bay.  By 2:00 or 3:00, however, your four brigades finally dislodged the Confederates, who abandoned their position along the ridge, retreating south down Orange Plank Road.  Looking at your map, you expect them to attempt to hold either Toll House Ridge, or the more defendable Salem Church Ridge.  If they hold there, the Confederate flank cannot be turned, and Lee’s rear lines will remain protected.  If this brigade can be routed from the ridge, there is a chance that the VI Corps will join battle today at Chancellorsville against Lee’s exposed rear flank, and cut off any retreat.  Your orders are the same as they were this morning—fall on the Confederate left and roll it back until you can get behind Lee’s main line.

First things, first, though.  This recalcitrant brigade, who you’ve learned is commanded by Wilcox (an old friend of yours), has been more successful than he perhaps knows.  You expected to be at Salem Church Ridge by 12:00 p.m., so he’s already pushed the attack back three hours.  While a competent soldier and excellent tactical commander, however, Wilcox often loses sight of the overall picture.  You determine that if you can push him off of Orange Plank Road (whether he takes up at Toll House or Salem Church is irrelevant), you will be close enough to the Confederate main line to dispatch a couple brigades to hold Wilcox at bay and commit the rest of your division (and the rest of the VI Corps) to Lee’s rear flank.  The only option, though, is seizing control of Orange Plank Road (if you want to get to the main battle at Chancellorsville today), and right now, Wilcox’s lines are right along it. . .

You may deploy Bartlett’s and Brown’s brigades on either side of the Toll House. The Confederates may be using up to 2 “dummy” units during their initial deployment.

Russell and Tomkins will arrive later as they move up the Orange Plank Road to support your attack

USA Troops

Brigadier T.H. Brooks (Excellent)

1 AdC

Brigade Bartlett		General’s Rating:			Deployed on table
5 ME	12		Elite	Rifle		1st Class SK
16 ME	20		Veteran	Rifle		2nd Class SK
27 NY	20		Veteran	Rifle		2nd Class SK
121 NY	20		Veteran	Rifle		2nd Class SK
96 PA	20		Veteran	Rifle		2nd Class SK
Co. A/Mass Artillery	3 Sections		Veteran	12 lb Napoleon

Brigade Brown		General’s Rating:			Deployed on table
1 NJ	12		Veteran	Rifle		1st Class SK
2 NJ	20		Regular	Smoothbore		2nd Class SK
3 NJ	20		Regular	Smoothbore		2nd Class SK
15 NJ	20		Regular	Rifle		2nd Class SK
Co. A/NJ Light Artillery	3 Sections		Veteran	12 lb Napoleon

Brigade Russell		General’s Rating:			Arrives later
18 NY	12		Veteran	Rifle		1st Class SK
33 NY	20		Regular	Rifle		2nd Class SK
49 NY	20		Regular	Rifle		2nd Class SK
119 PA	20		Green	Rifle		2nd Class SK
Co. A/MD Light Artillery	2 Sections		Veteran	10 lb Parrot

Brigade Tomkins (Fictional Unit)		General’s Rating:			Arrives later
8 MA	20		Regular	Rifle		2nd Class SK
12 MA	20		Regular	Rifle		2nd Class SK
77 NY	20		Regular	Rifle		2nd Class SK
78 NY	20		Regular	Rifle		2nd Class SK
Co. D/USA Artillery	3 Sections		Crack	Mixed

Rout, dispersal, or destruction of ANY (includes gun crews and skirmish units) 3 units in a brigade will trigger Brigade Tests at the end of EVERY TURN for the rest of the battle.