ACW Warplan Campaign: Battle of Krell

Before I begin the AAR of the next ACW battle in my campaign I will recap the circumstances leading to this action.

As the Union forces drive north into Confederate held territory, Ewell with two brigades sees an opportunity of giving them a bloody nose. He intercepts Caldwell's Union division in the area circled.

Zooming in on the area shows that Ewell is taking a risk of being surrounded.

Continued -

The Battle:

Table Size = 4'6" x 3'9"

Rules = Guns at Gettysburg by Dave Brown

Figures = 6mm Baccus

Forces engaged:

Confederate = 494

Union = 544

Terrain:

30B17 – Firm grazing land, ditches, river deep.

30B16 – Large pine forest, river deep, stone bridge

17B6 – Thick wooded district, firm ground

30B12 – Firm grazing land, fences, river deep.

30B11 – Firm grazing land, fences.

17B11 – Firm grazing land, fences.

ORBATS

Initial dispositions. North is to the left.

A closer look at the start:

Turns 1 to 3

On the Union left flank they are attempting to turn the Confederate flank using two brigades supported by two batteries of artillery and their only cavalry.

The 9th Louisiana move out of the woods to counter the threat opening fire on the lead Union columns. The real damage was done by the Confederate artillery firing canister into a Union column. A double '6' was thrown killing the Union artillery commander, McGilvery outright as well as shredding the Union column (top left).

In the Union centre their artillery opened fire killing the Confederate brigade commander, Taylor, with their first round. Ewell was on hand to take over direct control of the brigade. The rest of the Union centre remained within the woods observing the rebel lines.

On the Union right, Cross' brigade advance steadily towards the Confederate lines. In the early exchange of gunfire the Confederates had the upper hand but the Union advance held firm.

Davis' cavalry legion failed to receive their first order to relocate to the left flank but responded at the second attempt. They are now moving to reinforce the heavily outnumbered 9th Louisiana.

Turns 4 - 6

Brooke and Kelly's Union brigades advance aggressively on the Union left flank taking a chance in keeping several battalions in column formation. The combined New York battalion on the right suffer badly from canister fire and 'Go to Ground'.

In the middle of the photo the 2nd Delaware column charges the 9th Louisiana who recoil faltering into the woods.

Brooke and Kelly's brigades make good progress with the Confederale right flank in danger of collapse.

The 7th Louisiana with the cavalry rush to bolster the right flank.

The Confederate centre refuses its flank to meet the oncoming Union troops of Kelly's brigade.

The 9th Louisiana rallies behind the 7th and with the dismounted cavalry seeks to halt the Union advance on the Confederate right flank.

The Union battery in the centre runs low on ammo and Hancock decides it is an opportune time to sound the advance. As the Union battalions advance across the fields they are met with rather lacklustre volleys from the Confederate lines (appalling dice rolls!).

On the Union right flank Cross' brigade engages Scott's Confederates.

The 44th and 58th Virginia battalions break when charged by the Union troops on the Union right flank.

Elsewhere on the Union right the 61st New York and 81st Pennsylvania advance (left of photo).

Taking advantage of the collapsing Confederate flank the Union troops advance in an attempt outflank the Confederate centre.

Ewell brings up the Louisiana Tigers to counter the threat to his left.

An overview at the end of turn 6. Both Confederate flanks are in a desperate state. Despite repeatedly winning the initiative, the Confederate dice rolls were subsequently appalling resulting in poor rifle fire and shaky morale!

Turns 7 - 9

On the Union left, Kelly's Irish brigade attempts to turn the flank of the Confederate centre (bottom middle). 

Brooke urges his brigade to attack the Confederate battalions who have successfully formed a new defensive line supported by the dismounted cavalry regiment (upper middle).

Two Union battalions launch charges through the pine woods towards the 7th Louisiana who respond with effective rifle fire stopping the Union troops dead in their tracks.

The Union left flank after having such a successful start to the battle suddenly take a turn for the worst when the mixed New York battalion disintegrate under devastating fire from the Rebel infantry. The 28th Massachusetts rout (middle bottom) with Kelly attempting to rally them. 

It is now turn 9 and Brooke's brigade decide against any further suicidal charges against the Confederate line settling in for a duel of firepower. Unfortunately for the Union brigade, the Confederate dice rolls that had been so poor now take a turn for the better. They are comprehensively outgunned with one battalion faltering and another 'gone to ground'.

In the centre the Union brigade of Zook steadily advances at a pace that allows them to fire effectively on the Confederate line. 

As they close the gap the Union gradually get the better of the Confederates thinning out their line.

It is now the fateful (for the Union) turn 9 when the Confederate roll a remarkable succession of high dice rolls. It is now the Union turn to suffer as they are rocked by the blast of lead.

The situation on the Confederate left continues to deteriorate. The two routing battalions of Scott's brigade fail to rally and flee the field leaving the flank to the Union.

Croos seeks to capitalise on the unexpected turn of events and order the 148th Pennsylvania to charge the Confederate artillery battery who promptly retreat before contact is made. The 148th continue their charge taking them into the flank of the 52nd Virginia (upper middle of photo).

The Virginians are defeated with heavy loss and will now retreat leaving the flank defended now by the Louisiana Tigers. 

It is now turn 9 and Scott's brigade morale collapses utterly fleeing the field. Cross continues to swing his brigade outflanking the Confederate centre.

Being turn 9 also means the turn of high Confederate dice rolls. Indeed it was the Louisiana Tigers that kicked off the almost universal deluge shredding the two small Union battalions to their front.

Davis' cavalry legion were now ordered to mount up and return to where they started! Supported by Courtney's artillery battery it is hoped they will shore up the Confederate left.

An overview at the end of turn 9. With the Union attacks stalled on their left flank and centre, it is now down to their right flank in ensuring victory.

Turns 10 - 12

Concerned that he does not have enough strength to counter the Union right, Hancock makes the decision to withdraw. Orders are issued to all units to retire, but slowly enabling them to continue to fire on the Union troops as they do so. As the Confederate battalions step back on their left flank they succeed in delivering another successful volley into the hapless Union troops whose morale starts to falter.

The Union troops on the left stop advancing with most lining the edge of the woods. It is now the Union's turn to benefit from high dice rolls steadily whittling away the ranks of the rebels. The 9th Louisiana on the extreme right of the Confederate line falter in the face of accurate rifle fire and a blast of canister.

In the centre Zook's Union brigade is similarly faltering in their advance. 

As the Confederate battalions slowly withdraw, Zook orders the large 14th Pennsylvania battalion to charge (bottom middle). On reaching the fence line they received a shattering volley from the 8th Louisiana causing them to halt. They are able to fire off a volley in return however, dangerously thinning out the rebel ranks.

Further problems for the 8th Louisiana materialised on their right from Kelly's Irish brigade who had now reformed and along with a battery of artillery caused death and destruction to the refused rebel flank.

The 140th Pennsylvania again charged this time joined by Zook himself. And again they were stopped as soon as they had crossed the fence but with more firepower poured into the 8th Louisiana their battalion had shrunk alarmingly. Now well under the 50% losses dispersal point they conducted a morale test and against all the odds passed! It was now resembling a heroic last stand. 

To drive the message home to their enemy, the flank companies of the rebel battalion rolled a double '6' when firing at Kelly's brigade. Aside from inflicting losses they succeeded in inflicting a light wound on Kelly causing him to depart from treatment.

Over on the Union right the situation was not improving from the Confederates.

As the Louisiana Tigers withdrew they poured steady rifle fire into the Union battalion that had gone to ground in front of them acutely aware of movement in the woods to their left.

The Louisiana Tigers timed their withdrawal too late as the 148th Pennsylvania lead by Scott charged through the woods towards their flank. Such was the shock and facing annihilation, the Tigers routed.

The 6th Louisiana were now in a precarious position. Their morale still held but they were facing being assailed on three sides especially if the 8th Louisiana was overrun to their right.

At the Confederate rear, the cavalry and artillery were repositioned to counter the threat from Scott's brigade.

As the Confederate cavalry dismounted they were treated to the first round of artillery fire knocking down two of their number.

An overview at the end of turn 12. Two avenues of retreat were still open to the Confederates but the risk of being surrounded has increased.

Turns 13 - 15

On the Union left the two Louisiana battalions continued to put some distance between the two sides.

The order was given to "about face" and the Confederates made a dash for the woods.

Brookes' Union brigade began to give chase!

In the centre, Zook lead the 140th Pennsylvania as it charged once again the 8th Louisiana. The morale of the exhausted Confederate battalion collapsed and they retreated in the face of the charge. Unfortunately for them they were still caught by the Union troops. The melee result was a foregone conclusion with the heavily outnumbered rebels being utterly destroyed (reduced below the automatic dispersal point of belowv25% remaining). 

A reversal of fortunes to the right of that melee. Cross flamboyantly waving his sword in the air lead the 148th Pennsylvania in a charge against the faltering 6th Louisiana confident of victory having routed the famed Louisiana Tigers.

What he did not count on was a shattering volley from the rebels despite their disorganised state. The Union battalion retreated from their charge with a very cross Cross (Oh dear!!) attempting to rally them.  

At the same time events were unfolding in the woods, to the rear more drama was unfolding. Davis, having dismounted his cavalry legion and suffering from artillery fire, thought 'stuff this' and ordered his troopers to mount back up. During the command and control phase he successfully used his initiative to an assault order. He had every intention of sweeping this bunch of bluecoats from the field, especially as his supporting artillery battery had run low on ammo.

The bugler sounded the charge. As they bounded towards the Union troops, the artillery commander elected to stand with the infantry confident of stopping their attackers with a blast of canister. The artillery and infantry opened up carving swathes through the charging cavalry. They were not stopping!

The Union troops stood to receive the charge. The Confederates armed with shotguns, used their firearms on impact before drawing their sabres. The Union troops disintegrated with the Confederate troopers butchering the artillery crew in their entirety and very nearly wiping out the infantry with just a handful of fugitives fleeing the field.

Elsewhere Ewell intercepted the routing Louisiana Tigers and embarrassed them into rallying. 

To the right of the photo, a rather lonely Cross had attempted and failed to rally the 148th Pennsylvania. As the Union battalion routed, news arrived of the demise of the 81st Pennsylvania at the hands of the Confederate cavalry. A brigade morale test failed leading to the 148th fleeing the field. Only a handful of troops now constituted Cross' brigade. 

Ewell continued to believe that it was now better to preserve his command for any challenges that lay ahead and therefore sought to extricate them as quickly as possible. His artillery, low on ammo, was ordered to retire from the field.

The Louisiana Tigers, now reformed, prepared to support the withdrawal of the 6th Louisiana. The latter though (on the left in the photo), having just reformed were again unformed through a faltering result due to a double '6' rolled by the small Union battalion!

Zook, seeing an opportunity, now wheeled his victorious 140th Pennsylvania towards the flank of the 6th Louisiana. 

An overview at the end of turn 15.

Turn 16

In what turned out to be the final turn of the game, Zook again lead the 140th Pennsylvania towards the flank of the 6th Louisiana. As they charged they received fire from the Louisiana Tigers on their left flank. Although only a couple of casualties were caused, and despite charging an open flank, they were simply too battered to continue (they had lost over 40% casualties) and suffered a 'go to ground' morale test result.

With little more than movement for the rest of the turn these are two overviews of the situation at the end of turn 16.

It was now clear to Hancock that his units were in no fit state to prevent the Confederates retreating or to deal them any further serious damage. He therefore called a halt to his forces and let the Confederates leave the battlefield unmolested.

This was a technical Union victory but not the decisive blow Hancock would have liked. For the Confederates the objective of giving the Union forces a bloody nose was achieved although at a higher cost than Ewell anticipated. 

For Hancock this was a missed opportunity with Cross having turned the Confederate left flank and Kelly finding himself in the position of rolling up the centre. Neither Union brigade was able to capitalise on this success leading to a heroic charge by the Confederate cavalry that put paid to any thoughts of surrounding Ewell's division.

The final casualty returns proved to be sober reading for both sides. The Confederates lost 184 with 38 recovered leaving an overall loss of 146. The Union lost 229 with 55 recovered leaving a final figure of 174.