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

[Franconicus]

I think that the 4th Brigade is ideal for reserve. First of all, it is our strongest brigade. They can repel any break through and counter any flankng maneuvre. Second, they do not have artillery or cavalry. So we can deploy all our guns.

The battle will last a while, so it will be good to have a strong reserve so we can replace tired companies.

CA, I really enjoy this story; esp. the high speed!!
By the way, I see the ratio about cavalry, but I do not understand the ratio regarding artillery. Can you help? How many guns do we have? What size!

I red an article, stating that the rebels are low in ammo. What about us. How many rounds can we shell?

[CountArach]

CA, I really enjoy this story; esp. the high speed!!

My pleasure

By the way, I see the ratio about cavalry, but I do not understand the ratio regarding artillery. Can you help? How many guns do we have? What size!

That is in the Order of Battle.

The size of teh guns are fairly small. Most of the weapons on the field for both sides are obsolete Mexican War left overs. You have none of the 12lb that became the bread and butter of later Civil War armies.

I red an article, stating that the rebels are low in ammo. What about us. How many rounds can we shell?

Both sides at this poitn have enough ammo to last for *most* of a battle. The Historic battle lasted about 5 solid hours of fighting once you take out the breaks. Both sides were fairly short on ammo at that point.

The Artillery was firing all battle, so you can shell plenty of times.

[Tran]

Whatever Franc choices this turn, I'll follow him (same choices). His reasonings look convincing.

Also, I do enjoy short story interactive. Looking forward the battle phase.

[Franconicus]

... That is in the Order of Battle...

From the OoB:

Battery F, 2nd U.S. Artillery – 84, 6 Guns
Capt Totten

What does 84, 6 guns mean? Err, I think I understand now. That means 84 men with 6 cannons, right.

looking into detail, both sides have 15 cannons. If I understand right, two of our batteries are regular, while the rebels are new. This, plus the better position, should give us some advantage in artillery,

Cavalry:
We have 675 horse soldiers, including 200 homeguards and 125 dragoons (I think these are mounted infantry!). The core are 350 cavalrists!!

The rebels have 1,370 plus 1,800 mounted infantry. If they try a frontal assault (which is quite propable for unexperienced soldiers) we can defeat them.

More dangerous would be, if they use their cavalry, esp. the mounted infantry to bypass our flank. I think the eastern side is more exposed.

We can repel this threat with our 4. Brigade reserve, if we can deploy it in time.

This is my proposal for the battle:
Use the core cavalry (350 raiders) to patrol at our flanks. We must know immediately what is going on there.
Use the dragoons as mobile infantry to reenforce the position, esp. the flanks, when needed.
Use the home guard as shock cavalry, in case our infantry or artillery gets in trouble and has to be bailed out.

What worries me most is that our best cavalry (350 men) is out in the night. The enemy has 4 times as many horses and he will have patrols out there. If he manages to catch our cavalry, he will be able to overwhelm them. There is nothing we can do to help them. Loosing them would be a relapsing. I would rather have them back! We need them to patrol at our flanks.

[Lord Winter]

I agree with Francs assesment of our calvery except for using the homeguard as shockcalvery which is almost the equviclent of trying to use calvery in WWI. better to also have them on the flannks or posed to raid the artillary if we get the chance.

[CountArach]

Chapter 4 – Nearing Dawn
August 10th, 1861 – 0400 (1 Hour until Dawn)

The trenches and barricades are now completed. They cover the front of the trenches fairly completed. All of the Brigades have now had 4 hours worth of sleep, except for Deizler’s Fourth Brigade, which finished the trenches at about 0200. They are also providing most of the pickets at the point, due to them being able to sleep during the day.

The moon has set, so your scouts are reporting less and less, most of them having turned in for the night, however all seems quiet in General Rain’s camp. There have been very few reports of scouts. It would seem that they have not yet been sent out since the poor weather.

The Hospital and the command centre were set up behind the Farmhouse. You have a fairly good level of visibility from where you currently are. Both your position and that of the Hospital have had several branches cut down and placed in front of them in order to disguise them and hide them from the enemy’s position.

There is one Hour until Dawn. You must decide what to do:

Decision 1 – When to Wake the Men?
It is now about one hour until dawn. The men have slept for the last four hours; however it is likely that they may need more after their exertions in the late afternoon.
Option A – Wake the men now, except the Fourth Brigade.
Option B – Leave the men to sleep until Dawn, except the Fourth Brigade.
Option C – Wake two of the Brigades (Specify which)
Option C – Select another time.

Decision 2 – An Early Strike?
General Rain’s pickets and scouts appear to have turned in for the night. This would be a good opportunity to launch an early strike to try to get control of the high ground.
Option A – Attack with all the men who are awake
Option B – Attack with half of the men who are woken.
Option C – Leave him alone
Option D – Other

Decision 3 – Scouts
Now that dawn is approaching, you should decide where you want the majority of the scouting centred around. This will be crucial for the information you receive during the battle.
Option A – Gibson’s Mill
Option B – Bloody Hill
Option C – Edward’s Farmhouse
Option D – Sharp’s Farmhouse
Option E – Other

[Franconicus]

Bloody Hill is where Reins Camp is, right?
Where is Edward's farmhouse?

[Franconicus]

This is the dawn of the battle, so let's think a moment about the plans of the rebels.

Their army - or let it call a pack of bandids - has two parts: the Wetsern Army of McCullock (10,000) and the Missouri State Guard of Price (5,000).

McCullock is a Texas Ranger with some experience regarding artillery.
Price seems to be a political general. His guard is not very reliable.

The war is still young and everybody expects that it won't take long. I bet both rebel commanders are crazy to get a victory before it is over.

The rebels have superior numbers and they know that if they defeat the union now, they can get control of this state, which may lead to the victory of the rebels.

Therefore I bet they will attack us. But how?

option 1)
They will try a frontal assault. Due to their superior number and the unexperience of the soldiers and commanders this is most liekly. I think we can give them a warm welcome. Propably they will attack shortly after dawn.

option 2) they use the night to deploy their artillery. Then they attack with artillery support. They have to bring the guns through the wood. This will delay the attack.

option 3) They start a flanking maneuvre. If I were them, I would lead my mounted infantry to the east and attack across the creek while my cavalry attacks at the western flank.

Most probably they will do a combination of 1-3. They will start with an assault, which we will repel. Then they will deploy the cannons and shell our trench. Then they assault with fresh troops. Finally the understand that they cannot break through and try to bypass us.

So what do we have to do to defeat tehm in any case?


Decision 1 – When to Wake the Men?
It is now about one hour until dawn. The men have slept for the last four hours; however it is likely that they may need more after their exertions in the late afternoon.
Option A – Wake the men now, except the Fourth Brigade.
Let them deploy in the trench. They may sleep there, only the pickets have to wake.

Decision 2 – An Early Strike?
General Rain’s pickets and scouts appear to have turned in for the night. This would be a good opportunity to launch an early strike to try to get control of the high ground.

Option C – Leave him alone

We did not dig all night long to leave the trench now, did we?

Decision 3 – Scouts
Now that dawn is approaching, you should decide where you want the majority of the scouting centred around. This will be crucial for the information you receive during the battle.

Option E – Other
- send patrols to Gibson's mill but also have pickets and patrols on the eastern side of the creek.

- have patrols at the western side, too. We cannot allow any rebels to bypass our positions unnoticed!

Only use first class cavalry for these jobs (no home guard, no dragoons!).
Tell them to avoid any combat.

[King Kurt]

I would agree with the analysis of Franc and agree with his choices.
My only concern is - will they attack? They may try to out manouvre us, but the inexperience of their troops and commanders count against them trying to do anything fancy.

[Tran]

Decision 1 – When to Wake the Men?
It is now about one hour until dawn. The men have slept for the last four hours; however it is likely that they may need more after their exertions in the late afternoon.
Option A – Wake the men now, except the Fourth Brigade.
Let them deploy in the trench. They may sleep there, only the pickets have to wake.

Decision 2 – An Early Strike?
General Rain’s pickets and scouts appear to have turned in for the night. This would be a good opportunity to launch an early strike to try to get control of the high ground.

Option C – Leave him alone

We did not dig all night long to leave the trench now, did we?

Decision 3 – Scouts
Now that dawn is approaching, you should decide where you want the majority of the scouting centred around. This will be crucial for the information you receive during the battle.

Option E – Other
- send patrols to Gibson's mill but also have pickets and patrols on the eastern side of the creek.

- have patrols at the western side, too. We cannot allow any rebels to bypass our positions unnoticed!

Only use first class cavalry for these jobs (no home guard, no dragoons!).
Tell them to avoid any combat.