Shiloh: A Masterful Defense

On Tuesday, Mark (Blood Mud and Steel), David (The Ragged Soldier), Chris (Horse and Musket Gaming), and Tony (Prometheus in Aspic) gathered to refight the battle the four of them fought out in September (see Shiloh and the Attack on Sherman).  All four players opted to retain their preferred sides as in the first game.  Mark and Tony took on Sherman's command while David and Chris settled into the roles of the attacking CSA.  Players each swapped commands within each army from the prior game.  For a brief background on the battle, see my post My God! We are attacked!    When the fighting opens, the general battle situation is illustrated in the map of the gaming table below.  The battle opens at 7:45am when the first wave of Confederate attacks breaks against Sherman at Shiloh Church.

Situation at 7:45am.

Before battle is joined, the Federal Army is enjoying a quiet Sunday morning in camp.  Patrols are sending back reports of enemy activity in front of Shiloh Church but these early reports are dismissed.  The 53rd Ohio continues sending reports that the enemy is advancing in large numbers to its front.  Sherman dismisses these reports until he can no longer do so as enemy artillery disrupts morning breakfast and prayers.  The Confederates are attacking!

Confederates approach Shiloh Creek...

while the Federals wait.

With the Confederates on the attack once again, will Sherman see victory as in the first clash?  Read on to find out!

 

The Rebels bring on their attack targeting Sherman's position on the north bank of Shiloh Branch Creek.  With high water in Shiloh Branch Creek, the Rebel lead brigade under Cleburne faces a tough challenge in negotiating the swollen creek.  Having his command split by the marsh around the bridge over Shiloh Creek, Cleburne's attack is uncoordinated.  Cleburne launches an unsupported assault against the defenders at Shiloh Church to begin the battle.  Two Rebel regiments cross the bridge in column and change back into battle line just before smacking into the defenders as they battle their way uphill and into the enemy.  This first attack is bloodily repulsed and the Rebs are sent packing back over the bridge.  Seeing the first assault driven back and with Rebels lining the creek, Sherman orders his division to step back to clear the camps.

Cleburne storms across the bridge...

and is bloodily repulsed!

Sherman's division steps back.

This is only one of Cleburne's problems.  His second difficulty is that his brigade is split by marsh with two regiments deployed to the east facing Rhea Field.  Isolated in Rhea Field from the remainder of Hildebrand's Brigade, the 53 OH is next to face combat.  In a short, sharp firefight, the 53rd pulls back to the heavy cover of Shiloh Creek.  Battle is joined!

The isolated 53 OH...

falls back from Rebel pressure.

Having now negotiated the obstacle that is Shiloh Creek, Cleburne comes on again.  Reaching the ridge, one Rebel regiment finds the Federal camp empty.  Surprised by the goods abandoned, the Rebels resort to looting (white cotton ball) rather than pressing on the attack.  To its right, Sherman's center brigade, under Buckland launches a counterattack to thwart Cleburne from taking the high ground.  One of Taylor's batteries is brought forward and Cleburne's assault along the Corinth Road is stopped short.  Over on the Federal Left, Hildebrand brings the remainder of his brigade up to the creek to cover the 53rds safe withdrawal while the Rebels stop to loot another camp. 

Cleburne attacks...

but the attack stalls.

Looting over fighting.

Hildebrand shores up the Federal Left...

while Confederates pause to strip the Federal camp.

Seeing Cleburne's attacks stall, Clark brings up his reserve artillery and sends Pond's Brigade over the creek to the left while Anderson's Brigade is brought forward to support Cleburne's remnants.  The enemy continues to fall back before the Rebel advances.  Confederate batteries take their positions on high ground opposite the Federal positions.

Pond and Anderson move forward.

With McDowell beating a deliberate withdrawal back to the rise in front of Ben Howell Field, Pond's Brigade stumbles into McDowell's now abandoned camps.  Rather than pressing forward with their advantage in numbers, the Rebels stop to loot!  Pond's attempt at outflanking the Federal position has likewise stalled.  Seeing large numbers of enemy milling about its camps, McDowell orders a vicious artillery barrage followed up by his infantry moving forward.  Pond's Brigade is cut to pieces as the Rebels fail to a reasonable defense.  The Federal Right looks secure for now.

Looting...

carries a high price.

As Confederate attacks grind to a halt on the left and center, traffic jams in the Confederate rear slow the arrival of reinforcements.  Elements of Cleburne, now reinforced by Russell's Brigade try to work around the Federal Left.  All of these attacks are stopped by Hildebrand's stubborn defense. 

Traffic jam!

Rebels work around Federal Left..

but their efforts are stymied. 

In one, last desperate attempt, Cleburne's 24 TN battles at Shiloh Church.  Attack after attack fails to dislodge the Federal guns.  With losses mounting, the 24th is vigorously attacked by two of Buckland's regiments.  The Tennesseans tumble back down the hill.  This battle is over...

Trying to take Shiloh Church in a last ditch effort..

ends in defeat.

Battle's end.

Holy Moly!  What a game!

Rather than witnessing the destruction of Sherman's Division on the banks of Shiloh Creek, Tony and Mark put together a masterful defense.  Giving up space for time, the pair of Federal commanders liberally utilized Reserve orders to counterattack at crucial points to flummox any and all Confederate plans for victory.  Mark and Tony have figured out how to bring units out of reserve at the best time to greatest effect.  We saw no wholesale destruction of Sherman's Division this time.  No Federal brigade was at risk of breaking.  Instead, Sherman chose where and when to counterattack or make a stand.  With artillery support and aggressive action, Sherman stopped every assault across Left, Center, and Right.  The Federal defense was given an assist by the Rebel proclivity toward looting.  No game yet has seen the level of looting as in this one.  The Rebel attack was stopped really before it could get going.  Chris and David were up against it from that first repulsed attack against Shiloh Church.

Masterful job, fellas, and great fun to watch unfold.  Thank you.