A Scenario For ‘Fire and Fury’
This scenario is based on the scenario given in ‘Battles of the American Civil War Vol. 1’ by Daniel Jackson. I have made some clarifications, especially to the chains of command, and a few changes and additions of my own . The main change is scaling the battlefield down to fit on an 8’ x 4’ table which was done to fit in with the limited table size I have at home. Although the distance between the two armies is less than it should be in reality, it should present both commanders with the same problems encountered by their real-life counterparts.
The following troops are required:
Union Confederate Leaders: Corps 1 1 Divisional 4 2 Infantry stands 58(8) 66(7) Cavalry stands 7(1) 13(2) Dismounted Cav. 6 10 Horseholders 1 3 Artillery stands 7 10
The number in parenthesis is the number of brigades of that type.
If using 6mm or 10mm figures, all distances should be reduced by 25%.
Union ForcesArmy of the South West
Sigel’s Command
Sigel 1 Ldr (E)
First Division
Osterhaus 1 Ldr Coler 10/8/5 Inf Greusel 6/5/3 Inf Artillery 1 Artillery
Second Division
Asboth 1 Ldr Schaefer 7/5/4 Inf
Curtis’ Command
Curtis 1 Ldr (E)
Third Division
Davis 1 Ldr Pattison 10/8/5 Inf White 7/5/4 Inf Artillery 2 Artillery
Fourth Division
Carr 1 Ldr (E) Dodge E 7/5/4 Inf Vandever 5/4/3 Inf *Artillery 2 Artillery
Cavalry Flying Column
Bussey 7/5/4 Cav Horse Artillery 1 Artillery
Unbrigaded Troops
Herron E 6/5/3 Inf Artillery 1 Artillery
Confederate Forces
Army of the West
Van Dorn 1 Ldr
Price’s Command
Price 1 Ldr (E) *Little 11/8/6 Inf *Slack 6/5/3 Inf *Green 5/4/3 Inf Rains E 9/7/5 Inf Saunders 5/4/3 Cav *Clark 5/4/3 Inf Artillery 6 Artillery
McCulloch’s Division
McCulloch 1 Ldr (E) Hébert E 17/13/9 Inf *McIntosh 13/10/7 Inf Artillery 4 Artillery
Independent Troops
Pike 8/7/5 Cav
Pike’s Brigade consists primarily of Indians who had a profound dislike of artillery. If Pike’s Brigade suffers a disordered result from any firing that includes artillery or from any Charge Combat against unlimbered artillery, it receives a -1 modifier on all maneuver die rolls until the disorder is removed. The Indians were also difficult to control in battle. If they have the option to breakthrough charge after a Charge Combat, they must take it. Also, at the end of any turn in which they engage in Charge Combat they are automatically disordered.
Confederate brigades marked ‘*’ are presumed to be armed mainly with smoothbore muskets. To simulate this they fire with Confederate cavalry factors.
The Union batteries marked ‘*’ had inferior powder and ammunition and therefore fire with Confederate artillery factors.
Union cavalry stands use the Confederate cavalry fire factors.
Most Confederate reinforcements can appear at Point C or Point D at any time from 1230 onwards depending on a dice roll. At the start of each Confederate turn from 1230 onwards roll a dice for each brigade and battery due to appear as a reinforcement to see if and where it appears.
1-6 Does not appear this turn. 7-10 Enters Point C this turn. 11+ Enters Point D this turn.
Add 1 to the roll for each turn after the 1230 turn, ie on the Confederate 1330 turn there is a modifier of +2. Subtract 2 from the roll for artillery batteries.
From the 1300 turn onwards units in Price’s command will go low on ammunition on a firing roll of 9 or 10. Leader casualties will still only be caused on a 10 however.
If McCulloch is killed then he is not replaced; his command operates without a leader stand for the rest of the battle.
Whilst Sigel is alive, Curtis may not apply leader modifiers to any troops designated as being in Sigel’s command. If Sigel is killed he is not replaced, but Curtis may apply modifers to his troops normally. Note that Curtis may unlimber Sigel’s artillery at any time.
Woods are rough terrain and provide a -1 fire combat modifier for cover and a +1 charge combat modifier for favourable ground.
Contours and crest lines give a +1 charge combat modifier for favourable ground if upslope of the enemy.
The scenario starts with the Confederate 1000 turn and ends with the Union 1800 turn. The Confederates move first in each turn.
Both sides score points for damaging or destroying enemy units as described in the rules. In addition the Confederates scores 5 points if there are no unspent Union brigades or unsilenced Union batteries within 8” of the road line that runs from Points E to C.
If neither side scores at least 15 points then the game is a draw. Otherwise the side with the highest score wins.
Bussey’s Brigade should be placed on the road leading to the Foster House (f) in march column heading North. The head of the column should be at the Foster House. The Horse Artillery battery should be placed limbered just to the West of the Foster House. Osterhaus should be placed within 2” of Bussey’s Brigade.
1 Artillery Battery (Curtis) should be placed heading North at Point y.
Herron’s Brigade should be placed in supported line at the Northern edge of the woods just to the North of Elkhorn Tavern (e).
Dodge’s Brigade should be placed in march column heading North at Point z. It should be followed by 1 Artillery Battery (Carr).
All of Price’s command start off table.
All of McCulloch’s command start nominally on table in march column. The head of the column should be placed at Point x with the rest of the column trailing back to Point E. The order of march is Hébert, 2 Artillery (McCulloch), Pike, 2 Artillery (McCulloch) and McIntosh. If the column extends off-table then any unit starting entirely off table enters at Point E on the Confederate 1000 turn in march column. McCulloch should be placed within 2” of any stand in his command.
All Union troops enter in march column on the specified road. They may opt to remain off table on the turn of entry and enter the table in any formation within 6” of the specified entry point. No brigade can initiate charge combat on the turn of entry unless the target is within 6” of the entry point.
* See Special Rules
All Confederate troops enter anywhere within the specified reinforcement area in any formation. If the entry point is within the radius of a leader they may claim the benefit of that leader for movement purposes. No brigade can initiate charge combat on the turn of entry unless the target is within 6” of the entry point.
This scenario uses an 8' x 4' table laid out as follows:
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| OS**** |V
+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
<----D----->
S - Slope x - Head of McCulloch's column
* - Woods y - Start point for Artillery
O - Road z - Head of Dodge's column
f - Foster House
e - Elkhorn Tavern
w - Woodlot