vrijdag 25 juli 2014

A Corps level test - order of battle and map

I have enlarged the Union and Confederate forces for this next series of tests; each consist three divisions forming a Corps. Supporting each are one brigade of cavalry and the reserve artillery. The order of battle for each: 

The plan is to simulate an encounter meeting that will eventually spill over into a series of assaults and counter-strokes over a day. Use of the battle map should keep the actual board activity to a necessary minimum and with two players this can be played during an afternoon. 

The forces listed below are fictional, but follow historical examples of combined arms. 

Union Forces

IV Corps, Major General Andrews (Bold)

10th Division, General Gordon (Cautious)
1 x brigade veteran, 2 x brigades green, division artillery = 13 elements
11th Division, General McCook (Cautious)
1 x brigade veteran, 2 x brigades green, division artillery = 13 elements
12th Division, General Cummings (Rash)
1 x brigade veteran, 2 x brigades green, division artillery = 13 elements
1st Brigade Cavalry, General Daggett (Cautious) = 4 elements
Reserve artillery = 2 elements


Confederate Forces

Windsor’s Corps, Major General Windsor (Cautious)

Anderson’s Division General Anderson (Bold)
1 x brigade veteran, 2 x brigades green, division artillery = 13 elements
Beaumont’s Division, General Beaumont (Cautious)
1 x brigade veteran, 2 x brigades green, division artillery = 13 elements
Claiborne’s Division, General Claiborne (Cautious)
1 x brigade veteran, 2 x brigades green, division artillery = 13 elements
Johnson’s Brigade Cavalry, General Johnson (Rash) = 4 elements
Reserve artillery = 2 elements


Preparation – the battle map


I used the Random Map Generator to create the test map. Connecting the rolling hills to form valleys creeks were drawn and where that number increased a river would form. Water sources emanated from the mountainous spots and in some cases streams and rivers meandered through heavily wooded areas. Roads were laid down to connect open (arable) areas eventually reaching the map edges. 




New counters were made for the two corps. Union forces are at the top of the photo and Rebel troops are assembled at the bottom.

July being a summer month meant sunrise is at 04.00 hours. After breakfast, both sides moved out at 05.00 hours. 


Situation at 09.00 hours

Union forces found it convenient to have their troops use two roads on their march southward; one division moved on the left flank while the main body moved cautiously forward. Southern troops nearly mirrored the Federal forces, but their main body were strung further along the main road. 




Situation at 11.00 hours

The main body of each sides were now an hours march from each other, but on this clear summer  morning that was not thunder heard coming from the east, but artillery fire. Major General Windsor knew Anderson’s division had met the enemy.




Tomorrow, first clash. 

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