8.40am 12 Sept 1862 – turn 3

My cavalry pickets have spotted a strong column of Rebel cavalry entering Sharpsburg from the north. There are at least 3,500 enemy troopers present which must be the bulk of Stuart’s force. This reinforces my belief that the main Confederate line of advance will be along the Shepherdstown-Boonsborough Pike directly towards Sharpsburg.

JEB Stuart's men entering Sharpsburg.

However, there are also reports of enemy cavalry scouts further north shadowing Pleasonton’s force as it nears Funkstown so at this stage nothing is confirmed. All army corps continue to march northwest on their allotted routes across South Mountain.

8.00am 12 Sept 1862 – turn 1

The only information I have at this stage is that “Confederate troops are marching north through Martinsburg”. If the report is true then I can expect them to cross the Potomac at either Falling Waters or Williamsport. However, it seems much more likely to me that Dave would choose to come directly along the Pike from Shepherdstown towards Sharpsburg giving him the shortest possible route into Maryland.

Pleasonton leads the cavalry up the Hagerstown-Boonsborough Pike.

As a precaution I have ordered Pleasonton to take the cavalry up the Hagerstown-Boonsborough Pike to be in a position to scout the more northerly crossings of the river. Hooker’s 1st corps will follow the cavalry whilst Sumners 2nd corps and Porters 5th corps move parallel to him and cross South Mountain via Fox Gap. Mansfield (12th corps), Franklin (6th corps) and Burnside (9th corps) are to head directly towards Sharpsburg.

The Rebs are out there somewhere and I need to find them fast!

Invasion Maryland - HPS Campaign

Dave and I are embarking on a game based on the invasion of Maryland in 1862 using a modified version of “Campaign Antietam” by HPS. Dave uses the game editor to create his own scenario and OOB which we then fight as a play-by-email affair. These games can take up to six months to play as the maps and forces involved are vast and I will be recording highlights here as we go along.

September 12th, 1862 – Lee has brought the Army of Northern Virginia up the Shenandoah Valley to cross the Potomac and invade Maryland. McClellan’s Union Army is approaching the passes at South Mountain but as the campaign begins, he has no knowledge of Lee’s precise whereabouts. His most recent intelligence is a garbled and unreliable telegraph report of Confederate troops marching north through Martinsburg. Lincoln is worried by Lee’s bold move and has ordered McClellan to allow the Rebels no freedom to manoeuvre on Northern soil, and to crush them decisively while the world is watching ….

There are several sites on the Maryland road network that will provide modest VPs to the Confederates – the most valuable is Hagerstown for 60 VPs.