The Scenario

Hooker has moved the bulk of the Army of the Potomac west and crossed the Rappahannock, dramatically outflanking Lee's position at Fredericksburg. He is now marching to consolidate his scattered corps in the densely wooded terrain near Chancellorsville, probing for signs of the enemy. Lee has finally become aware of the threat and is moving the Army of Northern Virginia to meet it - but right now Hooker has no idea of the strength and position of the Rebels.
This refight begins at 1:00pm on May 1st as the two armies first make contact, using most of the figures we have available – 51 infantry brigades and 24 gun batteries, plus 4 cavalry brigades. Only the Union Corps that were engaged historically are represented - II Corps (Couch), III Corps (Sickles), XI Corps (Howard) and XII Corps (Slocum). Hooker held Meade and Reynolds in reserve and Sedgwick was at Fredericksburg. The Confederate forces consist of I Corps (Lee) and II Corps (Jackson), with a third nominal Corps under Early (for play balance) representing the forces that historically remained at Fredericksburg until May 3rd.
Because Turn 1 is 1:00pm, Turn 14 will be a night turn, and Turn 15 will recommence at 7:00am on May 2nd. The game will continue until there is a clear winner (Turn 40 would be another night turn, but we are unlikely to get that far !) A demoralisation level of 8 applies to both armies.

Map

Click map for detailed view

Chancellorsville

The next game will be based on the Battle of Chancellorsville, 1863. To set the scene here are a few more Brady photographs recently unearthed in the Federal archives.

The Orange Turnpike - looking west towards Chancellorsville

Furnace Road - looking northeast towards Chancellorsville

Catharine Furnace - looking northwest towards Hazel Grove

The Orange Plank Road - looking north towards Wilderness Church

The table - looking west (click on the image for a closer look)

Union Artillery

The entire Union artillery force has been parading prior to going off to Confederate HQ for a refit!

The Road To Richmond

The problem with using 2ft square terrain tiles is that the road network is not really suitable for use with 1/300th figures. To provide extra roads I've been experimenting with using strips of brown fabric (click on the images to enlarge them).

Not too bad when the edges are hidden with fences etc and this colour is a good match to the existing roads. This system should dramatically increase the road configurations for our games. Just don't ask me to cut any curves!

Take a look at Lee's solution to the same problem - click here.

Crane's Station - Confederate OOB

Here is the Confederate OOB for the Battle of Crane's Station. It wasn't posted earlier to keep General McClellan in the dark regarding the size and composition of the Confederate force. Mr Pinkerton of course told the poor general that he was facing at least 150,000 rebels...

Army of Northern Virginia ~  General Lee (A)

18 infantry brigades – 147 SPs – 7  Batteries - DM level = 6 

Cavalry ~ Stuart (A)

1/3 Brig               8

2/3 Brig               8

3/3 Brig               8

ART Horse           8

AP Hill        (B)

Field                      8

Gregg                    8                   

JR.Anderson         8

Branch                  9

Archer                   9

Pender                  9

ART bty                8          

ART bty                8                

Longstreet  (B)

Kemper                9                

RH.Anderson       9

Pickett                  9

Wilcox                  8

Pryor                    8

Featherston         7

ART bty               8

ART Rifled           8

Magruder       [C)

McLaws division (B)

Semmes               8

Kershaw               8

Jones division    [C)

Toombs                 8

GT.Anderson        8

Magruders division (C)

Griffith                 7

Cobb                    7

ART bty               8
ART bty               8

The Battle of Crane’s Station - Conclusion

Keyes finally received orders to advance and ENGAGE the enemy line at Beckettville whilst at the same time Sumner was told to flank the left of Longstreet’s position there and ASSAULT.

 The blue and the grey battle-lines finally engage at Beckettsville.

A hot firefight ensued and Longstreet himself was added to the casualty list, carried from the field with a mortal wound as he tried to steady the Rebel line.

 Longstreet goes down (see the red marker by the corps stand!).

Meanwhile McClellan had ordered Porter to abandon his position at the Quaker Farm and form a new one at the church on the Westpoint Turnpike. However, as the Union troops started to withdraw they became mixed up with Cooke’s cavalry moving east on the turnpike resulting in another traffic jam.

 It's all over for the boys in blue!

Magruder and Hill continued to press hard on Porter’s shrinking line and then suddenly it was all over. At the end of turn 17 (3.00pm) the Union army had 6 brigades simultaneously broken and the Confederates had therefore achieved their victory condition.

Lee had won a convincing victory but lost one of his best generals in the process. McClellan decided he was happy with his old base and didn’t really want to change it after all. The Army of the Potomac disengaged and moved away to the north…

The situation at the end of the game (click on the image for a closer look).