The Battle of Novice Mountain Part 2

 The day starts to heat up after the Confederates try to block the Union attack launched earlier.  The Union right continues to push against the Confederate left while only probing the center.  On the Union left it’s the rebels who arrive late but come in swinging. 

3:20pm-5:20pm

Tyler’s Division pushes against Hood’s Division who holds a stout position behind a stone wall. Tyler sends the Brigade of Phelps to the right of the wall to try to flank Hood but Kemper’s Brigade of Virginians arrive on the field in time to check the move.

An exchange of volleys on the Confederate left. 

Kemper aggressively charges Phelps’ Midwesterners but is thrown back in disorder. Phelps sees advantage and launches his own assault that hurls Kemper back causing one regiment to route (but later rally) and the rest of the Virginians to fall back.   The boys in blue are themselves in disorder from the charge and two Confederate batteries add to the confusion by firing into the reforming troops to further try to check them.   The wall continues to swirl with smoke as the Confederates fire volleys into the Union troops in front of them   Three Union batteries add to the return fire but the wall lessens the casualties.  The Union right still holds the pass and remains stuck in.

In the center, two Union Brigades belatedly advance on D.R. Jones partially arrived Division but the hesitant advance allows Jones to bring his second Brigade up.  When the Union Brigades enter musket range near a fence across their path they are met with volleys from the Confederates waiting there  

Muskets and cannon open up on the advancing Yankees.

It’s on the Union left flank where the action is most violent.   McClaws Division will sustain 2520 casualties in the first three hours and twenty minutes; more than the other two Confederate Divisions combined.

Holding behind a stone wall flanked by woods on either side New York and Pennsylvanians of the Irish Brigade supported by a battery of guns pour heavy fire into attacking South Carolinians and Mississippians as they advance on the wall  

Fire Zouaves anchor the line until contact. 

The South Carolinians take a heavy pounding approaching the wall but Barksdale’s Mississippians and Semmes’ Georgians score a breakthrough into the yard of a farmhouse behind the wall.   Artillery horses are shot down but Battery E of the U.S Artillery blasts the rebels with Canister taking a heavy toll as the Confederates cross the wall. Small Union counter charges pick up prisoners but the two Zouave regiments route from the yard.   Other Union regiments held in reserve volley into the once exuberant-now disordered Mississippians  and  Georgians.  

The wall is breached but reserves approach. 

The Union left is now a swirling and disordered brawl. 

In three hours and twenty minutes approximately 18490 Union troops battle 19340 Confederate troops with estimated casualties of 4090 Union and 4110 Confederates.

Next: The decisive hours.  

The Battle of Novice Mountain Part I

 Inspired by the Battle of South Mountain, this game of ACW using the Johnny Reb rule set represents the Union forces of General Hooker’s First Corp attempting to push through the gaps of the lesser known (some would say unknown) Novice Mountain in order to catch the Confederates marching strung out along the far side.  James Longstreet’s Corp must hold back the Union troops until nightfall thus allowing the rest of the army to clear the gaps.

   The scenario begins at 2pm with two brigades of Union troops attacking two Confederate Brigades across three passes of Novice Mountain.  Three objectives are located on the far crest of the mountains, one on each road that crosses one of the passes.   Six additional Union Brigades are scheduled to arrive starting at 3:20pm while seven Confederate Brigades are scheduled to arrive starting at 4:40pm.  Each turn  represents 20 minutes.

2pm-3:20pm

On the Union right the Division of Daniel Tyler is aggressive and marches forward against the Confederate Division of John Bell Hood.  Evans’ Brigade of Rebels gains a stone wall as Phelps’ Brigade of Yankees gains the objective  

D.R. Jones’ Confederate Division moves up the Confederate center and takes the second objective but no Confederates are to be found on the Confederate right as James Ricketts’ Division pushes through the gap to the objective on the Union right.

Layfatte McClaws arrives early due to some some good fortune and starts to move up the Confederate right to meet Ricketts. Abner Doubleday marches up the Union center but does so timidly and stops at a stone wall out of range of all but the longest cannon fire and well short of the objective.

Looking out from the Confederate center.

On the Union right Phelps’ Brigade of Tylers’ Division pitches in setting off a tripwire of cannon and musket fire from the Confederates behind the stone wall. The second Michigan routs under the withering fire but the first Louisiana who don’t have the benefit of the wall and who hold the farthest left flank of the Confederate line take a heavy punishment   They stand their ground.   More Union and Confederate Brigades arrive on that end of the field.

The Confederate left explodes. 

In one hour and forty minutes approximately 14000 Union troops battle 13000 Confederate troops with estimated casualties of 630 Union and 660 Confederates.

Next: The battle heats up  

Irregular Cup Dungeon Bowl Final Results 2023

Witch Gate Wanderers claim the Irregular Cup.

Witch Gate Wanderers (Dark Elves).  14 Touchdowns

Blood Mountain Brawlers (Orks).  10 Touchdowns

Asaheim Alcoholics (Norse) 9 Touchdowns

Castle Rock  Raptors (Human) 9 Touchdowns 

Altdorf Casual Practice Squad 8 Touchdowns