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

[CountArach]

Chapter 6 – The Artillery Rang Forth!
August 10th, 1861 – 0530 – Clear day, just after Dawn.

The Hills rang out with the sound of the three Confederate field pieces crying forth their song of death. They started by firing a couple of rang finding shots, and then they started to pound the trenches in an effort to kill your infantry. So far, there has been only light damage and a handful of casualties. Some of the men are noticeably concerned. The enemy artillery is located a few metres ahead of the rest of their men, and the smoke is providing a screen around the centre of their line.

Your artillery completed unlimbering only a few minutes after dawn, and awaited your orders. You were about to give the order to open up on the infantry on the opposite hill, until one of the proponents of firing upon the enemy positions changed his mind and whispered something in your ear. You consider his proposition for a moment and then speak back to him, “Yes I suppose you do have a good point, we are better to save our cannonballs and powder. It could be a long battle ahead of us.”*

You have sent your messenger off to the cavalry around Dixon, who still appear to be remaining in position. He is carrying the message that will tell them to attack any lone artillery that they find, in order to relieve pressure on your men. It is unknown when he will arrive at Dixon.

Your men are in position and they seem less nervous and more determined now that the speech has been given to them. Further, the 2nd Missouri, comprised of many German immigrants, has even higher morale after the speech that Major “Fetzenpeter” Osterhaus gave them.

*There was a tie in voting between firing on the Infantry and holding your fire (Corleone changed his vote without bolding it for those who wish to go back and count it). I flipped a notepad to decide which of the two things go with, and holding fire won.

Decision 1 – Enemy Artillery
The enemy artillery is pounding your trenches. What do you do?
Option A – Charge our cavalry at them.
Option B – Return fire with one of our batteries
Option C – Return fire with all of our guns.
Option D – Do nothing
Option E – Other

Decision 2 – Broken Barricades
The artillery has caused some light damage to the barricades you set up. No gapping holes have been created, however timber has burst open in some sections. What do you do?
Option A – Send out men to try to chop down some more trees in the no-man’s land in front of you.
Option B – Chop down part of the farmhouse
Option C – There is nothing we can do.
Option D – Other

Decision 3 – Artillery ammunition?
What form of ammunition do you want your artillery to use?
Option A – Standard round shot – Long range, mainly damaging against buildings, trenches, artillery
Option B – Canister – Short Range, anti-personnel
Option C – Shrapnel – Long range, anti-personnel
Option D – Shell – Long range, between round shot and shrapnel.

Decision 4 – Artillery Batteries
Your batteries are behind your lines and have unlimbered. You must decide what target to shoot at for the moment. This can be reassessed later.
Option A – Target Infantry that is on the Hill
Option B – Target the Artillery on the Hill.
Option C – Target the Cavalry on the Hill.
Option D – Do not fire; wait until you can see some other targets.
Option E – Other

[Marshal Murat]

Regarding artillery.

Do we want to try to use either shrapnel or shell, and try to kill the Confederate artillery crews?

I suggest that the commanding officers go along the trenches, provide some serious moral fiber.

[CountArach]

Hmmm, it would seem there isn't a great deal of activity. I will give you 30 or so hours from now.

[Tran]

Decision 1 – Enemy Artillery
Option A – Charge our cavalry at them.
Give them no chance, I say.

Decision 2 – Broken Barricades
Option B – Chop down part of the farmhouse
Is the "no man's land" the location between two opposing armies? I think sending people there will be suicidal. Farmhouse is a better choice.

Decision 3 – Artillery ammunition?
Option C – Shrapnel – Long range, anti-personnel

Decision 4 – Artillery Batteries
Option A – Target Infantry that is on the Hill

[seireikhaan]

Decision 1- Artillery.
Option B- Give some response, but conserve some of our ammo for other needs.

Decision 2- Broken Barricades.
Chop down part of the farmhouse.- We want our barricades in good shape, but going into no man's land is suicide right now.

Decision 3- Artillery Ammo.
Option A, Standard round shot – Long range, mainly damaging against buildings, trenches, artillery.

Decision 4- Artillery Batteries
Option B – Target the Artillery on the Hill.

[Gurkhal]

Decision 1 – Enemy Artillery
The enemy artillery is pounding your trenches. What do you do?

B. Although we shouldn't waste our ammunition, give our artillery strenght or positions away this early, I think it might be good for our people to know that we arn't just taking beating. A few rounds might also tempt the enemy into thinking that we are weaker in the artillery field than we really are. Making it a nasty suprise when he advance with his infantry towards us. I think that fooling the Confederates into thinking we are weaker than we are might make them go for a frontal attack, and increase our chances of winning. Although it might of course be to late for this kind of tactic. Since someone said earlier than both sides have a lack of experience among both the troops and the leaders, this feint might well come home. If they are looking for an easy victory, it will further add to them attacking.

Decision 2 – Broken Barricades
The artillery has caused some light damage to the barricades you set up. No gapping holes have been created, however timber has burst open in some sections. What do you do?

B. The fight haven't started, and we should make sure that we have as a good start as we can. But sending out people into the no-mansland will leave them open to get struck by artillery and I don't think it would do any good. Both our numbers and morale might take a beating from such a thing. Break appart a few pieces from the farm house is probably the best thing to do.

[B]Decision 3 – Artillery ammunition?
What form of ammunition do you want your artillery to use?]

B. I think that the key to win is to tear the enemy's infantry formations appart. And I also think that we shoud let them come closer before we open fire. The battery sending a few gifts to the enemy crews shoud use sharpnel. I hope that it's possible for different types of unites to use different types of ammunition.

Decision 4 – Artillery Batteries
Your batteries are behind your lines and have unlimbered. You must decide what target to shoot at for the moment. This can be reassessed later.

D. Don't fire for now. The best thing, as I belive would be for the remaining batteries to keep silent and wait. If everything goes as I hope, this would then happen. The enemy fires at us, they recivie a rather bleak respons, thinking we are low on ammunition or on guns. They think we are weaker than we are and attack, expecting to sweep away a small desperate force of enemies. When the enemy infantry leaves cover and advance against us, and comes close enough, under scattered fire, then the other two batteries open up in one great barrage. This I hope might give the Confederates two things. First, confusion and fear, even panic if we are really lucky. They might also get less confident in their own abilities, fearing further suprises. This of course will proably not happen, but I think that I should put my suggestions into a context. We have to thinking more than just one steep ahead to win.

[Csargo]

Decision 1 – Enemy Artillery
The enemy artillery is pounding your trenches. What do you do?
Option A – Charge our cavalry at them.
Option B – Return fire with one of our batteries
Option C – Return fire with all of our guns.
Option D – Do nothing
Option E – Other

Decision 2 – Broken Barricades
The artillery has caused some light damage to the barricades you set up. No gapping holes have been created, however timber has burst open in some sections. What do you do?
Option A – Send out men to try to chop down some more trees in the no-man’s land in front of you.
Option B – Chop down part of the farmhouse
Option C – There is nothing we can do.
Option D – Any attempt to repair the barracade will most likely be a waste of time. Do not repair it at all.

Decision 3 – Artillery ammunition?
What form of ammunition do you want your artillery to use?
Option A – Standard round shot – Long range, mainly damaging against buildings, trenches, artillery
Option B – Canister – Short Range, anti-personnel
Option C – Shrapnel – Long range, anti-personnel
Option D – Shell – Long range, between round shot and shrapnel.

Decision 4 – Artillery Batteries
Your batteries are behind your lines and have unlimbered. You must decide what target to shoot at for the moment. This can be reassessed later.
Option A – Target Infantry that is on the Hill
Option B – Target the Artillery on the Hill.
Option C – Target the Cavalry on the Hill.
Option D – Do not fire; wait until you can see some other targets.
Option E – Other

[Franconicus]

Tricky! Right now the enemy is doinh exactly what we thought he would do. However, this could be a red herring, too.


Decision 1 – Enemy Artillery

I wonder what is the best thing to do. A cavalry charge would be silly. Why should we expose our small cavalry to the superior rebel cav and the infantry fire?
My first idea was to sit and wait. The enemy has three cannons. Hardly enough to do much damage or to panic our soldiers. I think he is just doing the standard preparation for the assault. However, at the moment there are 15 US cannons against only three rebelguns. Maybe this is a good chance for us.

My proposal is to talk with the commanders of our batteries. If the say that the enemy's artilley is close enough to wipe it away with two or three volley of our 15 cannons, let them do it. If we can destroy the three cannons, this should boost the moral. If not, keep them in silence. Then it will be better to surprise the rebel infantry with concentrated fire.

Decision 2 – Broken Barricades
The artillery has caused some light damage to the barricades you set up. No gapping holes have been created, however timber has burst open in some sections. What do you do?

Do not worry. Some men of our reserve can prepare some tumber, either from the farm house, or they could chop some trees at our flanks. Do not try to repair the barricades now.

Decision 3 – Artillery ammunition?
What form of ammunition do you want your artillery to use?
Option A – Standard round shot – Long range, mainly damaging against buildings, trenches, artillery
Option B – Canister – Short Range, anti-personnel
Option C – Shrapnel – Long range, anti-personnel
Option D – Shell – Long range, between round shot and shrapnel.

??? We have to prepare, that the rebels charge soon. Therefore, canisters should be in range. If we decided to destroy the rebel cannons, it should be D, I guess.


Decision 4 – Artillery Batteries
Your batteries are behind your lines and have unlimbered. You must decide what target to shoot at for the moment. This can be reassessed later.
Either fire on the artillery or wait!

[King Kurt]

Decision 1 – Enemy Artillery

We should open up with all our guns - shrapnel to kill the crews.

Decision 2 – Broken Barricades

Probably not worth mending - the broken timbers in front will hinder the attackers as well

Decision 3 – Artillery ammunition?

Shrapnel in the short term until the infantry are in cannister range.

Decision 4 – Artillery Batteries

Counter battery for a few rounds then their infantry - we want them to attack. Also our troops would be getting a little demoralised with no return fire.

[Don Corleone]

Decision 1:
Option C
Return Fire. Try to silence their guns. Winning an artillery duel will help to boost our men's morale.

Decision 2:

Option C Leave the barricades alone. Nothing to be done now. They'll still slow their cavalry down.

Decision 3:
Ammunition: A or D. A will break the caissons, D will kill the men. I'll go with D, maybe we'll hit stray infantry or cavalry in the area to boot. Don't worry about preparing the caissons erh, cannistor rounds yet. You don't just charge, they have to line their men up. We'll have some forewarning, even if it's short.

Decision 4:
Target: Option B I'm going back to what I had said earlier. Their artillery is having more success than we thought. Time to silence them.

Sorry for not bolding before, CA. Noted for the future.

[CountArach]

No problem Don...

I'll try to get this up tomorrow, this has been a rather busy week.

[CountArach]

Chapter 7 – The Tension Rises, The Battle Comes Yonder
August 10th, 1861 – 0600 – Clear day, just after Dawn.

You get up onto the front of the trenches and look out. The men nearby look up at you, admiration painted on their faces. You do not speak; you simply raise your arm. You can hear the artillery crews rolling out their cannon balls along the line. You smile a knowing smile; those Rebels don’t know what is going to hit them.

Waiting until it appears that your order has been carried out, your smile widens. This was always the best part of any battle, the artillery bombardment. Quick as a flash, you bring your arm down and right along the line a single word is yelled fifteen times.

“FIRE!”

All of your 15 cannons ring out and fire their shells into the enemy position. You wait for a second, observing the rebel artillery positions. One moment the sky is blue, with only a trace of cloud, then the sky is filled with explosions, caused by the spray of shrapnel.

You wait nervously until the smoke has cleared and look at the Rebel positions. Many of the men around you have propped themselves up in their trenches to join your observations.

The smoke clears to reveal a horrible sight. The Rebel guns have finished reloading, seemingly unhampered by the first volley. They fire back, not at the men this time, but at your artillery pieces.

This set the scene for the next ten minutes. Your artillery would fire, and then the Rebels would respond. However, all that changed at about 0550. Your cannons fired on the enemy positions, however when the smoke cleared, only one cannon responded. The other two cannon’s crews had been panicked off. A couple of corpses were visible on each of the guns; however the main reason was that their morale had simply snapped.

In addition to the noise caused by your cannons, the sound of axes on the Farmhouse featured prominently in the air, as the men cut down timber in an effort to fix the barricades. They have nailed together most of the broken areas, yet most of the nails are used up so you will be mostly unable to fix any more breakages.

A scout arrived literally a minute ago, reporting movement just to the south of Sharp’s farm; it looks as if most of the Rebels have chosen to join the fight.

Decision 1 – Enemy Artillery
There is only one cannon left in this battery, the other two cannon crews having panicked ten minutes ago. What do you do?
Option A – Continue to fire with only one of our batteries
Option B – Continue to fire with all of our guns.
Option C – Fire on something else (Please Specify)
Option D – Stop firing, conserve the ammunition.
Option E – Other

Decision 2 – Artillery ammunition?
What form of ammunition do you want your artillery to use?
Option A – Standard round shot – Long range, mainly damaging against buildings, trenches, artillery
Option B – Canister – Short Range, anti-personnel
Option C – Shrapnel – Long range, anti-personnel.
Option D – Shell – Long range, between round shot and shrapnel.

Decision 3 – Approaching Enemies
The Rebels appear to be approaching from the South. What do we do about them?
Option A – Send most of our scouts down there to keep an eye on them
Option B – Send most of our cavalry to observe them
Option C – Do nothing. They will arrive when they arrive.
Option D – Other

[King Kurt]

Decision 1 – Enemy Artillery
There is only one cannon left in this battery, the other two cannon crews having panicked ten minutes ago. What do you do?
Option A – Continue to fire with only one of our batteries
We need to keep their heads down and the morale low. Also, we should switch to shot to conserve our shrapnel and also to possible knock out a gun or 2.
Decision 2 – Artillery ammunition?
What form of ammunition do you want your artillery to use?
Option A – Standard round shot – Long range, mainly damaging against buildings, trenches, artillery
See above - we will use shrapnel and shell when the infantry come into range.
Decision 3 – Approaching Enemies
The Rebels appear to be approaching from the South. What do we do about them?
Option D – Other
We should keep them under observation, but just with a few scouts. The rest of the scouts should continue scouting all possible avenues of attack. Also I assume these troops are out of range of our guns. If they are not, we should lob the occasional shell to hinder their deployment and to get them a bit riled up. Idealy we would like a precipitious attack to occur where they come at us in poor order and uncoordinated.

Finally - good to see that the counterbattery using shrapnel was so effective - morale is key to this battle and we should always think along those lines.

[Franconicus]

Decision 1 – Enemy Artillery
There is only one cannon left in this battery, the other two cannon crews having panicked ten minutes ago. What do you do?

Option B – Continue to fire with all of our guns.

I say give them another full volley. Guess the last crew will run away too, now that the commrades are gone. However, just one volley, then stop firing! Prepare for the infantry/cavalry charge, that will certainly follow.

The moral of our men should be alright, now that we almost whiped the enemie`s art. away. No sense in shelling unmanned guns.

Option E – Other

Decision 2 – Artillery ammunition?
What form of ammunition do you want your artillery to use?
Option A – Standard round shot – Long range, mainly damaging against buildings, trenches, artillery
Option B – Canister – Short Range, anti-personnel

Both! One round for the cannons - round shots. Maybe we can hit one or two guns!
Then change to canisters. The infantry charge will come; I say wait until we can shell them at short range. Then the result will be as bloody as possible.

I do not agree with KK in this special point. We should not disturb their deployment. Wait until they come. If they are able to approach in close formations, the cannons and musquets will have a better harvest!

This is the beginning of the CW. The rebels do not know what concentrated defensive fire can do. Most of the generals did not realize it until the end of the war.


Decision 3 – Approaching Enemies
The Rebels appear to be approaching from the South. What do we do about them?

Option D – Other[/QUOTE]
We are on a hill and we should see at least if there is something coming. We are prepare anyway. There is little else we could do.

Use all scouts cavalry to patrol at our flanks. We have to know every flanking move at once!!