Last Stand at Salem Church

Time to wrap up the series of Salem Church refights on the gaming table with one more battle report.  Today's installment features Game #6 in this long-running test of endurance.  Recollections are from my 27 October remote battle with Peter.  His account of battle can be found at Battle of Salem Church 1863 - Remote Game.  Peter's battle account is a good one.  So good that I almost did not write my account.  Almost!

Initial dispositions

Armies drawn up for battle looking from the northwest.

Having covered this ground many times before, I dive straight into my perceptions of our contest.  Peter is commanding Sedgwick's VI Corps.  I command the Confederate Army.  Witnessing five games before, how will I approach this battle and how will I fare?  Let's find out.

Lots of Federals poised for action.

Peter commented before we began that Sedgwick's army is heavily weighted to north of the Orange Plank Road and that many of the refights saw some of these formations never reach the action.  I figured Peter must have a plan for these big formations in our game!  I was not wrong.

On they come!

The battle opens with Sedwick bringing on a general advance.  Federal artillery is brought forward, unlimbers and begins to pound Confederate positions.  The few Rebel guns north of Salem Church respond.

First contact!

On the Rebel Right, Wofford moves his brigade up through the woods.  As they near the clearing, their advance is stopped by Bartlett directing fire from the tree line.  Both 16GA and 18GA take casualties in the exchange.  The 18GA is forced to fall back due to heavy losses.

With Federal guns continuing to pound the enemy, 
Russell and Browne move up toward the Perry Farm.

Russell probes the tree line... 

and the Confederates respond!

As Federal guns keep up a withering fire on Rebel positions, Sedgwick sends both Russell and Browne forward toward the Perry Farm.  Keeping to the dense woods for cover, Russell pushes two regiments forward to probe the enemy line.  The Rebels respond!  Note that there are two Brown brigadiers on the field.  "Brown" is in Brooks' Division and "Browne" is in Newton's Division.  Confusing!

Reinforcing Bartlett.

Initially outnumbered but holding his own, Bartlett calls up more of his brigade to cover his flanks.  Federal musketry is cutting down the enemy in the close firefight in the trees.

Brown coming under fire!

Kershaw moves up!

Bartlett comes under pressure.

As Brown moves up to Williams Farm along the Orange Plank Road, he immediately come under fire from guns positioned in the woods south of the church.  To the south, Kershaw senses the danger Wofford faces and sees an opportunity to pounce on Bartlett's exposed flank.

Browne leads an all-out attack on the Rebel Left.

61VA destroyed in initial attack...

but 2RI is destroyed in pursuit!

17MA scatters 12VA...

but is, itself, scattered when 16VA counterattacks!

From following the action on the far left of the Federal line, attention turns to the action on the Federal far right.  From the ravine holding Golin Run, Browne orders an all-out attack (yellow puff signifies all-out attack) against Mahone's Rebels lining the opposite bank.  In the initial, supported attack, Browne leads the way into the enemy.  Surprised, the 61VA is scattered in the initial onslaught.  With enemy to its front gone, Browne wheels his 2RI left into the enemy lurking behind Perry Farm.  Having already suffered great loss in clearing out the 61st, the 2RI is destroyed in this over-extended pursuit as the Rebels stand firm.  Browne quickly joins the 17MA to lead them in an attack to avenge the loss of the Rhode Islanders.  The 12VA boys are quickly dispatched but the enemy is coming up fast.  Before the 17MA can regroup, out of the woods pounces the 16VA in a savage counterattack.  Unable to mount a solid defense, the 17MA is destroyed.  Browne's Brigade is wrecked.  He calls off the attack to regroup.

2NJ overruns Rebel guns...

but is ejected from the woods only momentarily held.

Federals move up in the center.

With heavy righting to the north around Golin Run, there is no lull along the Orange Plank Road.  Having scattered the Alabamans that were supporting the few Rebel guns north of the church, Brown sends the 2NJ in to clear out the guns.  They do so with great gusto but are immediately counterattacked by Semmes' Georgians waiting silently in the woods.  The 2NJ is forced back.  Falling back in front of the 11AL who is still holding the church, the New Jersey boys come under additional fire.  Sedgwick orders more of his Corps forward between the Orange Plank Road and Golin Run.

Russell attacks and is repulsed!

Bartlett waits...

while the Federal Center regroups.

Seeing the setback at the church, Russell is ordered forward to break the enemy line.  Those attacks go in and then go back out carrying heavy casualties behind them!  Russell is repulsed and the Rebel line holds.  With Russell driven off, Sedgwick figures it time to regroup and reform.  Bartlett, on the Federal Left, puts his brigade on reserve to be ready for any Confederate attack out of the woods.  In the center while Russell licks his wounds, Shaler is brought up to reinforce Brown.  How long will this sector remain quiet?

Federal attacks at Salem Church!

Confederate line is breached!

Wofford counterattacks!

Not long!  Brown launches a three-pronged attack against the church.  The Alabamans are ejected from both the church and the woods to the north.  Wilcox' Brigade is wrecked!  In an attempt to relieve pressure from Wilcox and the Rebel Center, Wofford attacks Bartlett.  One Federal regiment is scattered, and a second is driven back.  Bartlett's Brigade is wrecked!  The balance stands at two Federal brigades (Bartlett and Browne) broken to a single Confederate brigade (Wilcox).  Can the Rebels finish off one more Federal brigade to force Sedgwick to call it a day?

Browne attacks...

and Mahone breaks!

Not so fast!

Even though Browne's Brigade is wrecked, some regiments still have some fight in them.  The 10MA and 36NY concentrate on the end of the Rebel line at Golin Run.  The Rebels are dispatched and Mahone's Brigade is wrecked!  Wheeling about, a second Rebel regiment is hit and seen off.  The Confederate Left is turned!

Kershaw goes into action.

Getting word that Mahone is defeated and the Confederate Left is turned, Kershaw forms up and moves out to turn the Federal Left.

Shaler crushes Semmes.

View from Sedgwick's vantage point.

Kershaw is too late in applying pressure to the Federal Left.  Reinforcing the breach in the Rebel line north of the church, Shaler leads two regiments into the Confederate guns.  Unable to effectively address this threat to their flank, the Rebel guns are overrun and their infantry support scattered.  Semmes' Brigade is wrecked!  The Confederate Army has had enough.  It is broken and must withdraw. 

Victory to Peter and the Federal Army!  Congratulations and well done!

As the Butcher's Bill illustrates, my Confederate Army came out much worse for the wear than did Peter's Federal Army.  Still, the game hung in the balance until the very end.  We each had wrecked two enemy brigades before Peter wrecked Semmes to end the conflict.  Even though I was up two brigades to one only moments before, I just could not muster the force to topple one more Federal brigade before Peter broke two of mine.  I had Brown teetering on breaking with 3NJ needing only one more hit to break Brown's Brigade. So close! 

Butcher's Bill

Another fantastic game that maintained a high level of tension throughout.  I really thought I had him...until he had me!

Thank you, Peter, for another challenging and enjoyable contest.  Maybe next time I can eke out a victory?

For Salem Church, there will be no next time.  Time to stick a fork in this scenario and claim she is done.  This was the Last Stand at Salem Church.  With six games in the books, I plan to take some time to reflect on the scenario and these games.  You all may be tired of reading about these battles at Salem Church, but I still have some thoughts to share as I wrap it all up in one more post.

As a non-binding and informal poll, did you read, skim, or skip this battle report?

Gardes Francaises

While I debuted Austin's first WSS Dutch regiment here, my first French regiment marches out from the painting desk.  Yay!  A new project is out of the starting blocks and on its way!

The first regiment to muster to the French colors is Gardes Francaises.  These 17 figures are from Ebor Miniatures with flags from David at Not By Appointment.  Nice figures and nice flags!

Like Austin, I sat down and looked through OBs for French candidate divisions to model as a guide.  After a quick search, I settled upon d'Artagnan's division at Ramillies.  Lots of variety and lots of interesting uniforms with a nice mix of colors.  You may think, "but I don't see the Gardes Francaises here!"  That's right.  I placed my initial order to Ebor before I had decided upon a painting goal.  I am sure I can fit these guardsmen in somewhere, sometime. 

d'Artagnan's Division Ramillies
Courtesy Obscure Battles

In a break from my long tendency of buying into a new project by front-loading most of the purchases, this time, I am trying a more measured approach.  That is, I plan to buy figures just in time to painting requirements.  In my first order at the end of September, I ordered five foot regiments and a squadron of cavalry.  I am pleased to state that those five regiments of foot have all been painted in October.  A follow up order for more figures I placed last week.  That package arrived this week.  With weather turning colder and wetter, time to get these figures primed and ready for the winter painting season.

I am off to a good start!  Is there anything more fun than starting a new project?

Next time, I examine the sixth and final battle of Salem Church.

Rematch With Vol at Salem Church

Time for a second bite of the Salem Church apple with Vol.  In our first outing, my Confederate Army squeaked by gaining a narrow victory in a close fight (see Salem Church A Battle of Attrition).  Vol wanted a rematch but rather than swapping sides, he asked to try his hand at commanding the Federal VI Corps once again to see if he could improve his situation.  I happily obliged.  The second outing, fought on 24 October is detailed on Vol's blog at 2nd Battle of Salem Church.  Below is my account of this second battle.

Initial dispositions

Since this ground has been trod many times before, I jump right into the action.

Opening artillery bombardments.

Vol opens up the battle by bringing both Brooks and Newton's divisional artillery forward.  Even the batteries on the high ground to the rear are limbered up and brought forward.  The Rebels at Salem Church and in the woods to the north take a pounding.  The 10AL barely clings on.

Armies in motion!

Brown occupies Williams Farm.

Both armies are on the move.  Bartlett moves into the woods on the Federal Left while Wofford's Rebels bump into them as they, too, move up.  Kershaw puts his brigade into motion in support of Wofford while Sedgwick orders Shaler up the Orange Plank Road.  Brown brings his brigade up to occupy Williams Farm.

Shaler Attacks!

Salem Church falls!

Wasting no time, Sedgwick orders Shaler to assault Rebel positions at Salem Church.  Shaler goes in and the 9AL is ejected from its position.  Casualties are high all around, but Shaler has a toehold on the church and threatens the center of the Confederate position.  Can the Yankees hold it?

Yankees on the attack!

Success, failure...

and an unexpected deep penetration!

It sure looks like the Federals want to hold the church as elements of Shaler, Brown, and Bartlett all go on the offensive to the south of the Orange Plank Road.  Brown supports an attack into the dense woods against the 2SC only to be bloodily repulsed.  To his right, Brown's 2NJ with support drives the enemy from the woods and pursues the running Rebels cutting the road to the south.  In these attacks, Wilcox' Brigade is wrecked.  Both Kershaw and Wofford are isolated from the main Confederate Army!  The Rebels have not yet had a chance to even bring up their divisional artillery.  Oh my!  The 2NJ is quite isolated too!

Russell attacks in the center...

overrunning two guns and dispatching their supporting infantry.

But that success does not last long
as Rebel musketry erupts along the line.

Battle overview at this point in the action.

To the north of the Orange Plank Road, Russell brings his brigade into action as well.  Facing Rebel artillery supported by infantry in the tree line, the blue coats march forward.  Wilcox' Alabamans along with a few guns cannot stop Russell's attack.  Guns are overrun and the Alabamans are scattered.  The 18NY takes the ground but only briefly.  Tremendous volleys crash out of the woods, and the New Yorkers are cut down where they stand.  This section of woods is in the control of no man.

Bartlett gains some ground...

and then gives it up!

On the Federal Left, Bartlett goes into action to drive the Rebels from the woods.  Fighting is heavy.  Losses are high.  Wofford is driven back and the losses are enough to wreck his brigade.  Seeing Wofford wavering to his right, Kershaw counterattacks!  Bartlett as well as Brown are driven back just barely clinging to the tree line.  The Rebels have two brigades broken.  One more and the Confederates will be compelled to quit the field.    

Rebel counterattack!

Federal casualties pile up...

as McLaws' guns finally get into action.

Bartlett is caught out in the dense woods and flanked.

This fight is not yet over.  With McLaws finally getting his divisional artillery into the fight and giving the defenders of the church several blasts of canister and ball, the 14AL counterattacks the wavering defenders.  The Federals are ejected from the church as the Alabamans take this key piece of ground.  To the south of the Orange Plank Road, Brown is getting a taste of artillery too.  Bodies are piling up as Rebel guns pound Brown's Brigade.  Too much for Brown, his brigade is wrecked.  Bartlett faces mounting pressure as well.  Kershaw and Wofford attack through the woods to hit one of Bartlett's regiments in the flank.  The Yankees disintegrate.  Bartlett can take no more either.  His brigade breaks!  Now the battle stands at two brigades broken each.  The next army to break one more enemy brigade will win this hot confrontation. 

The Blue Wave crashes over Semmes' Brigade.

Semmes is driven back from Salem Church...

and the 53GA is outnumbered four to one.

After the setbacks around Salem Church, Russell and Shaler redouble their efforts against Semmes.  Russell's attacks, this time, have support from Wheaton on his right.  Semmes is not alone, either.  He receives support from Mahone on his left.  The Blue Wave crashes down upon Semmes.  First Shaler drives the Rebels off near the church and then Semmes is hit with the combined weight of Russell and Wheaton.  At four to one against, the 53GA has little chance even in the cover provided by the woods.  The 53GA collapses.  With the 53GA gone, Semmes' Brigade is wrecked.  This battle is over.  Sedgwick is victorious!    

Butcher's Bill

The Butcher's Bill tells the tale of the hard fighting.  Regimental losses were about equal.  Many of those regiments still on the field saw their ranks seriously depleted.  While the wrecking of Semmes' Brigade signaled defeat for the Confederate Army, Russell's Brigade was only two hits away in each of two regiments to have broken himself.  That was close!

Final positions and post-battle detritus.

Congratulations go to Vol for a tremendous victory in overturning the historical result.  This was another hard-fought, attritional battle that could have tipped either way when the smoke cleared.  Good Fun!  Thank you, Vol, for another enjoyable and challenging game.  Game length under three hours.  We are getting faster.