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.

Two Dozen Akkadian Spearmen

Before I unleash a barrage of French regiments for the new WSS project, two dozen Akkadian spearmen march out from the painting desk.  These fine figures are 28mm Newline Designs.  I always enjoy painting the Newline Biblical sculpts.  I think they look good all ranked up too.  One more 24-figure pack remains in The Lead Pile.

Examining the Painting Log shows that the Sumerian project approaches 500 painted figures.  After the long run of 10mm ACW games, I am very tempted to bring this collection back onto the table.  Maybe seeing the Hittites battle the Egyptians would be fun too?  On second thought, I do not recall seeing either my Assyrians or Babylonians in battle, ever.  Bringing new armies to the table might be fun.

As noted above, the painting desk has seen a number of WSS French regiments pass over the workbench in October.  In fact, I managed to paint all five regiments from my first Ebor order in the month just passed.  A second order to Ebor was sent out last week.  Hopefully, I will receive notification of its dispatch from England soon.  Ah, the joys and painting inspiration of starting a new project.  Fun, isn't it?  For now, my work on this project has come to a dead stop until the next order arrives.  Scope creep already!  Still in a buying mood, I placed a Foundry order for Spanish pike, and sword and buckler figures to expand the Great Italian Wars project.  My progress on reducing The Lead Pile took a hit last month.  Oh well.  I need to paint faster! 

Speaking of the new WSS project, Austin and I gave Beneath the Lily Banners a first run-out on Friday evening via Zoom.  This was a small affair with only two units per side so that we could work through the rules.  Work through the rules we did but it was not painless.  My French suffered a horrible defeat after about three hours of play.  Very good to get the new figures out and into a test game.  There will be more test games, for sure, as our armies grow.  This action was A's first Zoom game.  I think it went well.  Of course, my thoughts turn to how to adapt some of my own rules to the period.  At least I would know the author's intent and could remember the rules!

Rematch with Matt at Salem Church

After our fight on 30 September in which Sedgwick's (Matt) VI Corps crushed Rebel aspirations of keeping Sedgwick at bay and delivering a flanking blow to Lee at Chancellorsville (see Salem Church Game #2), Matt agreed to a rematch.  In the 07 October rematch, we would swap sides.  Matt would command the Confederate Army deployed in the woods around Salem Church astride the Orange Plan Road (OPR) and I would take command of Sedgwick's VI Corps.  Could I repeat Matt's earlier successful assault against Rebel positions?  Let's see.  

Armies arrayed for battle astride the Orange Plank Road.

Although Matt led Bartlett's Brigade on the Federal Left in an all-consuming, all-out attack in the first game, I did not believe I could repeat such an impressive performance.  Instead, the Federal attack begins on the Federal Right as Browne's Brigade of Newton's Division moves up across Golin Run to near the Perry Farm.

Already, Rebel guns begin harassing Federal troops!

How does Matt respond?  He orders Wofford to bring his brigade up through the woods to challenge Bartlett!  Surprise!  Wofford presents an overwhelming force with which Bartlett must deal.

Williams' Farm threatened!

Yankees are driven out of the woods as Wofford advances.

Could the Federal Left be turned so easily?

Browne reaches Perry Farm.  Semmes' Brigade is encountered.

McLaws orders his divisional artillery forward
deploying on both sides of Orange Plank Road.

Mahone crosses Golin Run as
Semmes moves up to contest Perry Farm.

Rebel guns begin to take their toll.

Thinking a breakthrough against the Rebel Left is possible,
Sedgwick orders Wheaton forward to support Browne.

Seizing the initiative Wofford presses forward against Bartlett.
Barlett is driven back as Kershaw moves forward in support.
The Federal Left is wavering under the pressure.

With the Federal Left in trouble,
Sedgwick orders an all-out assault! 

Wheaton urges his men to give everything in the attack.
Wheaton falls leading the assault.
His attack stalls when faced with Rebels lining the creek bank.
Browne's Brigade is wrecked in the fighting in the dense woods.

Against the Federal Left,
Kershaw brings his brigade into action at Williams' Farm.

An imposing sight as the Rebels come out of the woods!

As the Gray Wave breaks over Williams' Farm,
the tide sweeps Bartlett away.
Kershaw presses on but the 8SC is destroyed in the attack!

Kershaw falls back to gather more troops.

Kershaw's South Carolinians attack again.
Wofford presses on covering Kershaw's Right.

The Williams' Farm is cleared of the enemy.
Kershaw pushes forward!

Even the blacksmith's place along the OPR is under pressure!

The blacksmith is in Rebel hands!
Two Union batteries are lost!
Wofford's Brigade is wrecked in the fighting at the Mill's Farm.

Sedgwick's Left is crumbling fast!

With little threat from their front,
McLaws' artillery concentrates on Russell
 as he attacks Semmes in the center.

In the Federal assaults from both Russell and Browne,
Semmes' Brigade is wrecked!

With each army suffering two wrecked brigades, the next to see a brigade break will withdraw from battle.  If Wilcox' Brigade of the Rebel Army loses one more regiment, it breaks.  If Russell's Brigade of the Federal Army loses one more regiment, it breaks.  Who will that be?

Rebel artillery quickly decides the issue.
Russell loses one more regiment and his brigade is wrecked!

With the third brigade wrecked, Sedgwick has seen enough!  Since the road to the crossing of the Rappahannock has not been cut, Sedgwick withdraws north across the river to safety.  While Matt was able to reverse history in the first contest, I could do no better than see the historical result this time.

Well done, Matt, on a Confederate victory!  Again, I fall to Matt's mighty sword.  The rematch was a much closer tussle than seen in the first match-up as the Butcher's Bill below illustrates.  What does it take to beat Matt on my home field?  I may never know...

Butcher's Bill

Matt, thank you again, for another excellent and challenging game.  Game duration was six turns and about three-and-a-half hours.

Great fun!