A Scenario For ‘Fire and Fury’
This scenario represents only part of the overall battle, but it does include the majority of the fighting. To the South of the field represented a large force on Union troops was bluffed into immobility by 2500 Confederate cavalry, a feat that most wargamers would like to achieve but which would require excellent fog-of-war rules or a stupid opponent in order to carry it off.
A brief account of the battle is available.
If using 6mm or 10mm figures, all distances should be reduced by 25%.
Union Forces Army of the Ohio I Corps A. McCook 1 Ldr Third Division Rousseau 1 Ldr Harris 12/10/7 Inf Lytle 11/9/6 Inf Starkweather 9/8/5 Inf Artillery 2 Artillery Tenth Division Jackson 1 Ldr Terrill 14/12/8 Inf Webster 14/12/8 Inf Artillery 1 Artillery III Corps Gilbert 1 Ldr First Division Schoepf 1 Ldr Walker 10/8/5 Inf Fry 10/8/5 Inf Steedman 10/8/5 Inf Artillery 2 Artillery Ninth Division Mitchell 1 Ldr Gooding 6/5/3 Inf Carlin 10/8/5 Inf Caldwell 8/6/4 Inf Artillery 1 Artillery Eleventh Division Sheridan 1 Ldr (E) Laiboldt 8/6/4 Inf D. McCook 8/6/4 Inf Greusel 8/6/4 Inf Artillery 1 Artillery ----------------------------------- Confederate Forces Army of the Mississippi Polk 1 Ldr Right Wing Cheatham 1 Ldr Cheatham’s Division Donelson 1 Ldr Savage 8/6/4 Inf Stewart 8/6/4 Inf Maney 8/6/4 Inf Artillery 2 Artillery Cavalry Wharton 2/-/- Cav Left Wing Hardee 1 Ldr Second Division Anderson 1 Ldr Brown 5/4/3 Inf Adams 8/6/4 Inf Powell 6/5/3 Inf Jones 5/4/3 Inf Artillery 2 Artillery Third Division Buckner 1 Ldr Liddell 8/6/4 Inf Cleburne E 5/4/3 Inf Johnson 10/8/5 Inf Wood 8/6/4 Inf Artillery 2 Artillery
The initial Confederate attack caught the Union troops whilst they were still deploying. The following restrictions therefore apply:
The following Union brigades begin the game disordered: Terrill, Webster, Harris, Lytle
No Union artillery may fire in the Union Defensive Fire phase of the Confederate 1400 turn unless it is engaged in charge combat.
From the Union 1430 turn onwards these restrictions no longer apply.
The Union centre corps under Gilbert was slow to react to the Confederate assault on the Union left as it was unaware of the extent of Confederate forces to its front. In addition to this Buell’s inability to hear the battle meant that the Union force lacked overall coordination. Therefore no brigade or battery of Gilbert’s corps may voluntarily move North of Doctor’s Creek or more than 12 inches from Chaplin Ridge unless it has been activated. Activation occurs by the following means:
All brigades and batteries in a division are automatically activated if any unactivated unit within it is involved in charge combat or takes casualties from small arms fire. Additionally, at the start of each Union turn roll a D10 and apply the following modifiers:
+1 if Gilbert is present on the field
+1 on or after the 1530 turn
If the final score is 1-5 then no brigade may be activated this turn.
If the final score is 6-7 then 1 brigade may be activated.
If the final score is 8-9 then 2 brigades may be activated.
If the final score is 10 or more then 3 brigades may be activated.
The off-table brigades of Schoepf’s Division may be activated; this allows them to enter the table at a different point if they wish.
Once a brigade has been activated then it may move without restriction for the rest of the battle. One battery of artillery from a division may be activated for each brigade activated within that division.
The Confederate force on the field was divided into two wings under Cheatham and Hardee, but was under the overall control of Polk. All these leader should be represented as corps leaders, but no brigade may receive manoeuvre modifiers from both Hardee or Cheatham and Polk in the same turn.
The battle starts with the Confederate 1400 turn and ends with the 1800 Confederate turn. Note that there is no Union 1400 turn.
Both sides score points as described in the rules for damaging and destroying enemy units. In addition both sides score extra points for clearing and controlling the areas North and South of Doctor’s Creek of enemy units. To control an area a side must have twice as many unspent brigades present in it as the enemy.
The Confederates score 10 points for each area controlled.
The Union score 5 points for each area controlled.
If one sides score exceeds the others by at least 5 points then it has achieved victory, otherwise the battle is a draw.
McCook’s corps sets up facing East 16 inches from the Eastern edge and 12” from the Northern edge in the following sequence North to South:
Terrill, Webster
Harris and Lytle are deployed 3" behind them.
All are in line and begin the scenario disordered.
The on-table portion of Gilbert’s corps sets up in line on Chaplin Ridge facing East. Sheridan’s division is North of Mitchell’s division, other wise they may set up as the Union player wishes.
Artillery may set up limbered or unlimbered and attached to or within 4” of any brigade in its division. McCook’s artillery may opt to set up unlimbered on the ridge directly to the rear of his infantry brigades, even if this puts them more than 4” from the brigades. Divisional and Corps commanders may set up attached to or within 4” of any unit in their command.
Most of the Confederates deploy on the Western edge of the wood which borders the New Mackville Pike and Doctor’s Creek. All brigades are in supported line and are facing roughly due West. In order from the North table edge southwards the brigades are:
Savage, Stewart, Maney, Cleburne, Johnson, Brown, Jones, Wood, Liddell
Wharton deploys to the rear of Savage.
Adams and Powell deploy in supported line just to the South of the stretch of the New Mackville Pike that runs East from Doctor’s Creek.
Artillery may set up limbered or unlimbered and attached to or within 4” of any brigade in its division. Divisional and Corps commanders may set up attached to or within 4” of any unit in their command.
1430 Starkweather (A)
1500 McCOOK (A)
1530 SCHOEPF, Walker, Fry, Steedman, 2 Artillery (Schoepf) (B or C)
1600 GILBERT (B)
Troops of Scoepf’s division may enter at Point C only if they were activated whilst they were off-table. Other wise they must enter at Point B
Troops may enter in any formation but may not initiate charge combat on the turn of entry unless the target is within 6” of their entry point.
There are no Confederate reinforcements.
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B| s****c*****s r |
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|+ s*****c*****s 0 rr +
|| s******c*****s** 0 r |
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+----------------+----------------+-------------+
* - Woods R - River/Creek
r - Stream s - Slope
c - Crestline 0 - Road