'How Close Their Battle Flags Were Together'
The Battle of Bentonville
North Carolina, 19th March 1865

A Scenario For 'Fire & Fury'

Introduction

This scenario is a hybrid between a Johnny Reb scenario in 'Across a Deadly Space' by Ryan Toews and George Anderson and a boardgame scenario in Victory Games' 'Across Five Aprils'. It covers an attempt by Joseph E. Johnston to surprise and destroy two isolated corps of Sherman's army. A brief account of the battle is available. The Confederate order of battle is much simplified from reality; the force was made up of a hotchpotch of units with some corps being barely brigade sized. Units have been amalgamated and commanders lost so as not to give the Confederate to high a ratio of leaders to brigades. The essential structure of the force has been captured however.

Order of Battle

Union Forces
 
Army of Georgia (Left Wing)
 
XIV Army Corps
 
Davis			1 Ldr
 
First Division
 
Carlin			1 Ldr
Hobart			7/5/4 Inf
Buell			8/6/4 Inf
Miles			4/3/2 Inf
 
Second Division
 
Morgan			1 Ldr
Vandever		10/8/5 Inf
Mitchell		7/5/4 Inf
Fearing			7/5/4 Inf
 
Corps Artillery
 
2 Artillery
 
XX Army Corps
 
Williams		1 Ldr
 
First Division
 
Jackson			1 Ldr
Selfridge		5/4/3 Inf
Hawley			8/6/4 Inf
Robinson		10/8/5 Inf
 
Second Division
 
Ward			1 Ldr
Case			9/7/5 Inf
Dustin			8/6/4 Inf
Cogswell		6/5/3 Inf
 
Corps Artillery
 
2 Artillery
 
-------------------------------------
 
Confederate Forces
 
Hardee's Corps
 
Hardee			1 Ldr (E)
 
McLaw's Division
 
Walthall		1 Ldr
Blanchard		3/-/2 Inf
Kennedy			7/5/4 Inf
Harrison		5/4/3 Inf
Fiser			4/3/2 Inf
Artillery		1 Artillery
 
Taliaferro's Division
 
Anderson		1 Ldr
Elliot			8/6/4 Inf
W. Butler		4/3/2 Inf
Artillery		1 Artillery
 
Cheatham's Division
 
Bate			5/4/3 Inf
 
Lee's Corps
 
D.H. Hill		1 Ldr (E)
 
Stevenson's Division
 
Stevenson		1 Ldr
Henderson		4/3/2 Inf
Pettus			4/3/2 Inf
 
Coltart's Division
 
Coltart			1 Ldr
Sharp			4/3/2 Inf
Brantly			4/3/2 Inf
 
Department of North Carolina
 
Hoke's Division
 
Hoke			1 Ldr
Clingman		3/-/2 Inf
Colquitt		6/5/3 Inf
Hagood			6/5/3 Inf
Kirkland		7/5/4 Inf
Baker			6/5/4 Inf
Artillery		1 Artillery
 
Unattached Troops
 
Cavalry
 
Hampton			1 Ldr (E)
M.C. Butler		4/3/2 Cav
Artillery		1 Horse Artillery
 
Loring's Division
 
Loring			2/-/- Inf

Special Rules

Confederate Cavalry

Owing to the need to preserve valuable horseflesh the Confederate cavalry brigade of M.C. Butler may not initiate charge combat whilst mounted unless they are outflanking the target, it is limbered artillery or it is disordered.

In addition, no element of Hampton's division may voluntarily move more than 16 inches from the North East edge.

Surprise Attack

In both the Confederate and Union 1400 turns all brigades under the command of D.H. Hill receive a +1 bonus in charge combat. In addition, all Union defensive fire against these brigades on the Confederate 1400 turn is at half effect.

Entrenching

All brigades are allowed to build breastworks during the course of the game. In order to build works a brigade must be in line or supported line. In order to begin building works the unit does not roll on the maneuver table, but places an entrenching marker instead. In its next movement phase it may, in lieu of rolling on the maneuver table, place works sufficient to cover its frontage and that of any attached artillery. The entrenching marker remains in place.

The entrenching marker is removed if the brigade is engaged in charge combat, moves or becomes disordered. It is also removed if the unit fires, unless the works have also been placed in which case the unit may fire without restriction. Whilst the marker is in place the brigade suffers a -1 on all maneuver rolls, reflecting a reluctance to leave works once it has started to dig-in.

Note that since terrain effects are not cumulative there is no point in a unit entrenching if it is in woods.

Terrain Effects

Game Length

The scenario starts with the Confederate 1400 turn and ends with the Union 1830 turn.

Victory Conditions

Deployment

Union

The following units are deployed at the start of the game:

DAVIS, CARLIN, Hobart, Buell, Miles, MORGAN, Vandever, Mitchell, Fearing, 1 Artillery (Davis), Robinson

Units are placed as shown on the map. All leaders are deployed attached to or within 2 inches of any unit in their command.

Confederate

HOKE, Colquitt, Clingman, Hagood, Kirkland, Baker, D.H.HILL, STEVENSON, Henderson, Pettus, COLTART, Sharp, Brantly, Bate, HAMPTON, M.C.Butler, Loring, 1 Artillery (Hoke), 1 Horse Artillery (Hampton)

Units are deployed as shown on the map. All artillery is deployed unlimbered. All leaders are placed attached to or within 2 inches of any unit in their command.

Reinforcement Schedule

Union

At the start of each Union turn the player rolls a dice and keeps a running total of the scores. Reinforcing units enter when the accumulated total exceeds their activation level. The activation level of each reinforcement is:

WILLIAMS, JACKSON

10

Selfridge, Hawley

10

1 Artillery (Davis)

15

WARD

20

Case, Dustin

20

Cogswell

25

2 Artillery (Williams)

30



All Union troops dice for their point of entry:



1-5

Point C

6-0

Point D

All Union troops enter in march column. They may opt to remain off table on the turn of entry and enter the table in any formation within 6 inches of the entry point. No brigade can initiate charge combat on the turn of entry unless the target is within 6 inches of the entry point.

Confederate

Confederate reinforcements appear according to the following schedule:

1400

HARDEE, WALTHALL, Blanchard, Kennedy (A)


ANDERSON, Elliot, W. Butler, 1 Artillery (Anderson) (B)

   

1430

Harrison, Fiser, 1 Artillery (Walthall) (A)

All Confederate troops arriving at Point A enter in march column. They may opt to remain off table on the turn of entry and enter the table in any formation within 6 inches of the entry point. Those troops arriving a Point B may enter in any formation. No brigade can initiate charge combat on the turn of entry unless the target is within 6 inches of the entry point.

Map

Click here to view the map.This scenario uses an 6' x 4' table.


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