The Battle of Shaunsburg Part 1

 Inspired by every American Civil War battle in which an army is forced (or chooses) to line up with a river to the rear and a limited route of escape should things go wrong, the Battle of Shaunsburg presents a portion of the Union army of approximately 22410 strong facing a Confederate Army of approximately 23580.   In this scenario using the Johnny Reb 3 rule set, the  Confederate Corp of General James Longstreet is attempting the crash through a portion of the Union army in order to gain the rear of the Union army and block its retreat. 

Looking across the field from the Union right 

The scenario begins at 4pm with parts of three Union Corps led by Generals George Meade (1st Corp) Winfield Scott Hancock (2nd Corp) and Dan Sickles (3rd Corp) holding a line across the length of about three and a half miles. Three Brigades and supporting artillery are on the field with three available roads from which to enter behind the Union lines.  Union reinforcements are scheduled to arrive at 6pm but several of the six Brigades in reserve are trying to arrive early. 

Three Confederate Brigades with supporting artillery enter opposite the Union line from six possible roads.  Those roads also provide the arrival points for seven additional Brigades that are scheduled to arrive at 5pm.  Both armies armies also have small cavalry detachments arriving in reserve. 

The Confederate goal is to take objectives behind the Union line.  These objectives represent punching holes and cutting off the avenue of retreat for the Union army.  Six objectives are on the board but only three secretly chosen by the Confederates are the true objectives and the Union side doesn’t know which ones. After all roads of entry are chosen and on board troops are set up, the Union Generals are allowed to swap two objectives possibly making Confederate troop dispositions less ideal. 

4:00pm to 5:20pm Union forces lined up left to right  with the Iron Brigade of Doubleday’s Division holding the far left near a small house and larger barn.  Hobart Ward’s Brigade of Birney’s Divison held a hill and farm in the center and  Caldwell’s Brigade of Hays’ Division aggressively pushed forward on the right near a large wheat field.

A pair of batteries on small hill in the Confederate center opened the attack to minimal effect.  The weight of the Confederate attack fell against the Iron Brigade as Barksdale’s Mississippi Brigade shook out skirmishers and advanced supported by a three batteries of mixed guns.  The Texas Brigade emerged from a wood shrouded Road to move on the center left and Garnett’s Virginians marching up the middle.

The opening fight erupted when Confederate batteries rained shot and shell into the Wisconsin and Michigan regiments who advanced from the protection of their fence to exchange fire. 

The Black Hats advance on the guns

Union batteries in the center chased off a Virginia regiment that disengaged and reformed.  Caldwell’s Brigade moved up to a stone wall in front of the wheat field but initially met no resistance.  

Confederate reinforcements arrived on the left in the form of Kemper’s Brigade and immediately exchanged cannon fire with Caldwell’s supporting battery but to little effect.  

The Union Cavalry of Farnsworth’s Brigade arrived on the Union left behind the Iron Brigade while Confederate Cavalry of Hampton’s Brigade galloped forth on the Confederate center left.  

Hampton arrives 

In an hour and twenty minutes four Confederate Brigades of infantry and a Brigade of Cavalry were on the field advancing on four Union Brigades of infantry and a Brigade of Cavalry.  Approximately 90 Union and 120 Confederate casualties served to decide little at this stage of the battle.  

The Union line was not yet tested but a dangerous gap was developing in the center and the on the Union left one Brigade was facing two.   What would the following hours bring?  Find out in part 2