Morning Action at Fox's Gap - Scenario for TFON

Early on the morning of September 14, 1862, Pleasonton's Federal cavalry division began probing Fox's Gap.  The only Confederate resistance was offered by Rosser's 5th VA cavalry and Pelham's two gun section.  Had Pleasonton pressed on, the Gap may have been his.  Instead, his troopers dismounted along the Old Sharpsburg Road and sent for help.

Federal help arrived in the form of Scammon's Brigade of Cox's Division. In an attempt to outflank the small Rebel force, Scammon sent forward the 23 OH along the mountain road to get onto the ridge. As the 23rd neared the crest line, it found that the Confederates had begun bringing up reinforcements.  Blocking his way to the Ridge Road was Garland's brigade as it filed into the sunken Ridge Road to seize the heights and thwart Federal attempts to pass through Fox's Gap.  Thus opened the early stages of the Battle of Fox's Gap. 

Rules: Norm Smith's Two Flags - One Nation.

Initial Deployment:
With the exception of USA Division Commander, Cox, all units begin deployed on table as shown in the game map above.  Cox is used as per standard rules governing divisional commanders.  There are no reinforcements. 

Game Length: Begins 0900 and ends at 1100.

First Player: Since both combatants were under attack orders, each rolls 1D6 before game begins.  High roll gets choice.

Victory Conditions:

• Union Victory: Control the three Ridge Road hexes (where 5NCb, 12NC, 23NC are initially deployed) adjacent to Beachley fields and Wise's Farm (Fox Gap).
• Confederate Victory:  Control the three Ridge Road hexes (where 5NCb, 12NC, 23NC are initially deployed) adjacent to Beachley fields and Wise's Farm (Fox Gap).
• Otherwise, call it a draw.

Terrain:

• Woods are heavy woodland and provide Cover for both small arms fire and close combat.
• Ridge Road is lined with a stone wall providing Cover for both small arms and close combat.  Moving uphill onto the Ridge Road is considered Difficult for movement.
• Artillery may only traverse woods along roads (trails).  Since most of these roads are no more than farm trails, no bonus for road movement.
• The farm land in the clearing surrounding Beachley farms is heavily walled and fenced.  Classified as Difficult terrain for movement; Cover for Close Combat. 

Special Rules:
The CSA has no Division commander in this battle.  Garland acts as both division and brigade commander until he becomes a casualty.  Unlike a typical division commander, Garland remains on the field after each divisional commander action.  If Garland becomes a casualty, only a replacement brigade commander is available.
Pelham's artillery and 5 VA Cavalry are independent of Garland and operate as their own independent brigade.  The Federal West Virginia Cavalry is likewise considered an independent unit.      

Fox Gap Order of Battle
Unit	Set Up	Capability	Size	Weapon Type
CSA Garland BDE
5NC a	see map	Raw	Standard	Rifled Musket
5NC b	see map	Raw	Standard	Rifled Musket
12 NC	see map	Raw	Small	Rifled Musket
13 NC	see map	Veteran	Standard	Rifled Musket
20 NC	see map	Seasoned	Standard	Rifled Musket
23 NC	see map	Veteran	Standard	Rifled Musket
5 VA Cav	see map	Veteran	Standard	Carbine
Pelham Artillery	see map	Veteran	2 guns	Napoleons
Bondurrant’s Battery	see map	Veteran	Standard	3” Rifles
USA Cox DIV	off map
Scammon BDE	see map
WV Cavalry	see map	Seasoned	Standard	Carbine
12 OH	see map	Seasoned	Standard	Rifled Musket
23 OH a	see map	Seasoned	Standard	Rifled Musket
23 OH b	see map	Seasoned	Standard	Rifled Musket
30 OH a	see map	Seasoned	Standard	Rifled Musket
30 OH b	see map	Seasoned	Standard	Rifled Musket
Gibson’s Batt C&G, 3US	see map	Veteran	Standard	3” Rifles
1 Batt OH Light Artillery	see map	Veteran	Standard	10lb Parrott

RANDOM EVENTS TABLE
2D6	Result
2	Advance the Game Clock by 15 minutes
3	Friendly fire – A unit (D6, 1,2,3 it is Confederate, 4,5,6 it is Union) in woods fires at an adjacent friendly unit in woods.
4	Leader shot – If Garland still on field D6: 1-5 Garland; 6 Federal. Otherwise D6: 1,2,3 Confederate; 4,5,6 Federal. Randomly select the leader and remove from play using the usual rules for leader casualties.
5	Up and at them boys' (D6, 1,2,3 it is Confederate, 4,5,6 it is Union) that player can modify one charge test by +2 this turn
6	No Event
7	No Event
8	No Event
9	Adjust the line - (D6, 1,2,3 it is Confederate, 4,5,6 it is Union) that player may instantly move one unit of their choice 1 hex either sideways or backwards. This is a free move.
10	A unit gets confused orders - (D6, 1,2,3 it is Confederate, 4,5,6 it is Union), the chosen player can pick any one enemy unit and move it one hex in any direction - though the move must be legitimate within the rules.
11	Inspiring leadership - (D6, 1,2,3 it is Confederate, 4,5,6 it is Union), the selected player can remove 1 Heavy Casualty marker from any one unit of their choice.
12	Out of ammunition - Randomly select one artillery battery currently on the table. Mark it as being out of ammunition, it will remain so for the next 30 minutes.

Historically, the opening stages of the battle represented by this scenario resulted in Federal troops of Scammon's Brigade pushing Garland's Confederates off the Ridge Road and threatening Wise's Farm.  The later arrival of two regiments from Anderson's Brigade at Fox Gap was not enough to counter the momentum of the Federals especially having been reinforced by Crook's Brigade.  Garland fell early in the action and Rutherford B. Hayes (later US President) suffered a wound.

The Fox Gap scenario represents the distilling of my thoughts on this action for play under Two Flags - One Nation.  With a scenario foundation and its constraints in place, time to playtest the scenario.  Keep in mind, Fox Gap is simply an initial draft of the scenario as I stake out a baseline from which to build and refine.  Battle will be fought using Norm's latest addenda of limiting hits when defender claims cover.  With only one brigade per side, keeping one's brigade in command will be a challenge.  The Federals, with the aid of Cox, will have less difficulty keeping their command coordinated than will Garland.  Bondurrant's battery seems deployed a bit too forward at the beginning of battle.  Perhaps up on the Ridge Road would have made a sensible choice?    

In theory, the foundation and premise of the scenario appears reasonable and follows the historical situation.  Only multiple playtests will confirm this initial assessment.  Once the early morning scenario produces the desired results, Fox Gap can be expanded to include the later reinforcements of both Crook's Federal brigade and elements of Anderson's Confederate brigade.

Feedback on the scenario is encouraged.