Battles of the Civil War - The Battle of Wilson's Creek

[CountArach]

Chapter 1 – Pre Battle Manoeuvres
August 9th, 1861 – 1800 Hours

You are Brigadier General Nathaniel Lyons, born in Connecticut in July 1818. You attended the US Military Academy in 1841, then proceeded to participate in the Seminole and Mexican Wars. Ion May of this year you were promoted from Captain to Brigadier General, a large promotion by any standard. Yet that is all behind you now, what stands before you is the battle.

You are in command of the almost 5500 men of the Army of the West, comprised of four Brigades and 15 guns. You have very little cavalry; however what you do have is of a decent quality.

It is now 1800 Hours, and nightfall is about one hour off. You know that a battle is almost unavoidable at this point. Your scouts report over 10000 men in the Confederate army opposing you, with a large cavalry advantage and about the same number of guns.

Your Scouts also report that to your south, around the hills, there are about 2300 soldiers, under the command of Brigadier General Rains. We have a numerical superiority, yet they have dug in and have set up camp for the night.

You must decide what to do:

Decision 1 - Where shall we make camp?
Nightfall is one hour off. We must decide where to make camp, or if we should attack the enemy soldiers around the hills to our south.
Option A – Near the Farmhouse of E. B Short, on the North of the likely Battlefield
Option B – Near Gibson’s Mill to our south, about three quarters of a mile.
Option C – Do not strike camp, we shall seek a battle with the soldiers, under Brigadier General Rains in the hills to the South-West of Gibson’s Mill.
Option D – Other.

Decision 2 – When to make camp?
We should decide when to make cap and let our men rest. The expected sunrise is just after 0500 tomorrow. We have about 1 hour of daylight left.
Option A – As soon as we arrive at our destination
Option B – No rest for our men. They should be on high alert all night
Option C – Rest, but not before ensuring the area is secure and pickets are set up
Option D – No rest, attack.
Option E - Other

Decision 3 – A Flanking Manoeuvre?
We have the chance to send one of our Brigades around to flank the enemy. They will march to the East, and find a crossing. Our guides say they should arrive behind the expected enemy positions at about 0500.
Option A – We should send a Brigade that way (Specify which one)
Option B – We should detach a regiment or regiments to take this route (Specify which).
Option C – We should stay together and send no one
Option D – Other.

You have 2 days, the option with the most selections in each section will be chosen. I have chosen to cut this down to 2 days, because now that I think about it, you don’t need 3 days to debate these things.