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

**Marshal Murat** · 08-03-2007, 22:07

Don't we have to reposition our artillery pieces to fire canister effectively?
If I understand the situation, the artillery pieces are behind our infantry, firing over their heads. If the artillery fires canister, won't it shatter the Union infantry. We aren't dealing with expertly trained artillery crews, and mistakes are deadly.

1. D
2. B
3. D - Keep a couple scouts around to tab the situation. We don't want any surprises.

I am of the opinion that the Rebs will probably throw three waves at our position, hoping to crack it.
Rebel yell - Charge - Rifle volley and canister - Retreat

The commander might launch only two, but he will launch 2.
The first wave to overwhelm any Union troops. If it shows any chance of reaching the trench, then the commander will launch a second charge. The 2nd charge would probably hit and maybe reach the trench, but most likely will fail.

I think that the commander, Lyons, takes personal control of a section of Union soldiers with a couple sergeants, pulls them out at a point in the battle, leads them to the rear in a scattered formation. Trick the rebels into thinking that the Union troops are cracking, launch another assault.

**Don Corleone** · 08-04-2007, 03:45

I think we have a misunderstanding. Franc is talking as though the Rebel batteries fled. They didn't, ours did. We only have one battery left....

And MM is right. If we load cannister, we either need to reposition the guns or open a gap in our lines.

Not voting yet, just want to make certain we're all on the same page.

**CountArach** · 08-04-2007, 03:50

Umm, 2 of the 3 Rebel guns in the Battery fled. None of yours did.

**Marshal Murat** · 08-04-2007, 04:09

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.

Our cannons seem to have scared off the Rebel crews.
Got it.

**Don Corleone** · 08-04-2007, 04:35

Thanks for the clarafication, CA. I misundertsood.

First off, I think we're all in agreement, that morale, rather than actual casualties inflicted is the name of this game, so early in the war with so many green troops. The question is how best to improve our own morale while beating down theirs. We won the artillery duel, that helps. Now we need to follow that minor victory up with more....

Question 1: Option C, Other target With our morale boosted, we should be able to take a few stray shells now. Start firing down on their infantry before they get too close, take the wind out of their sails. Taking out that one lone gun won't don much for our morale, but taking out a good chunk of their infantry should do wonders.

Question 2: Option C, shrapnel, long-range, anti-personnel. Save the cannister for when they really start getting close. Though I'm inclined to agree with Komodus a little bit... time to start keeping an eye on the powder.

Question 3: Option A... yes we want to know what their intended approach route is, how many men in column and so forth. Buth they were very quiet last night. Last thing we need is for a second column to appear on our flank. If there's a second column coming, better to know about it sooner rather than later, so we can respond, not panic. Keep the cavalry and scouts roaming all around the field, committing none too many to any one sector.

**Csargo** · 08-04-2007, 05:43

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

Conserve our ammunition, There's only one that can currently fire at us. I doubt it will be able to do much damage. Wait for the rebels to get deployed and start attacking before we fire at them. The shrapnel will be more effective that way. Send the Scout cavalry out to watch the rebels movements just so we can get some sort of idea how they may want to attack us.