Shiloh Solo Turns 4-5

Bragg and Polk push on around the flank of Prentiss, heading directly for
Pittsburg Landing. So far none of these troops have been engaged.

Things are not going so well in the centre where some of Hardee's men have
fallen back slowing Polk's advance over Shiloh Creek.

On the Confederate left the attempt to dislodge Sherman from Shiloh Church
has met with little success. Two Rebel brigades have broken but more troops
are coming up in support.

Meanwhile orders have finally arrived for Hurlbut to advance and occupy the
Sunken Lane.

Shiloh Solo Turns 1-3

The Confederates cross Shiloh Creek and start to push up against Prentiss's
division. Most of the terrain is heavily wooded which is slowing movement
to 3" per turn. In addition crossing the creek takes a whole turn, the Rebs
have to keep going if they're to get to Pittsburg Landing by nightfall.

The end of turn 3 (8.30 am). Hardee's men are across the creek and Wood's
brigade has just assaulted and broken Peabody. However Cleburne has tried
and failed to assault Miller and broken himself. This is going to be a tough fight.

Grant steps off his steamer at Pittsburg Landing and receives a message by
courier from Sherman telling him his position at Shiloh Church is under
heavy attack.

View from behind the Union left flank. Hurlbut's division is nearest the camera
in camp just behind the sunken Lane. He can't advance without orders from HQ.
For now the Union troops must just sit and take it.

Shiloh Solo

I decided to break out the 6mm armies for a solo re-fight of Shiloh. It's been a while since these armies have seen any action and Shiloh is a battle I've never tried before and always thought would lend itself well to a wargame.

I'll be playing the game longways up my 6' x 4' table and the Rebs will be hard pushed to make it to Pittsburg Landing by the end of turn 25 to achieve victory but then I don't want to make it too easy for them!

Sherman's division at Shiloh Church awaiting the Rebel onslaught.

The Union divisions will begin the game on HOLD orders and no offensive action can be taken until Grant arrives on the field at 8.30 am. The local division commanders can try and withdraw but achieving this will be subject to the usual die rolls.

The Peach Orchard and Sunken Lane. The Sunken Lane will count as
entrenchments which will make it difficult to carry by assault.

I hope to start playing the game in the next week or so and will grab some time to play the odd turn when I can.

12.20pm 13 Sept 1862 – Game Over!

After a hard fought contest Williamsport has finally fallen and D H Hill has been marched into captivity along with several thousand of his men. The resulting haul of VP’s has swung the battle to a Union Minor Victory and Lee has decided to call it a day.

It was a hard fought and very disjointed game from my perspective full of tactical blunders due largely to the frustration of not being able to properly concentrate my army. Dave’s move to take Williamsport meant that my forces became strung out as they attempted to respond to the threat and nowhere could I bring my superior numbers to bear, in particular my artillery.

Dave fought a tight tactical game but made two blunders that cost him victory. Firstly he allowed Wade Hampton’s cavalry brigade to become surrounded and destroyed early in the game handing me a much needed VP and morale boost. Secondly he kept D H Hill at Williamsport rather than either move towards Hagerstown (which would have forced me to send Burnside after him) or bring him directly south on my flank.

A great game but neither of us will be winning any prizes for generalship for this one!

11.00pm 13 Sept 1862 – turn 64

The Rebels at Williamsport are now completely surrounded by my troops but they’re putting up a terrific fight in defence of the town. It looks as if I will have to wear them down by attrition as my infantry are having a hard job taking them on by direct assault.

Pleasonton's troopers have now crossed the Potomac to complete the encirclement of D.H.Hill's command at Williamsport.

Dave has mounted a strong attack from the direction of Downsville presumably with the aim of trying to relieve D H Hill at Williamsport or at least draw my reserves away. However, I had already sent two divisions from Mansfield’s corps south with the idea of preventing such a move and a new fight has developed along the line of a stream south of the Otho Williams farm.

The Rebels attack towards the Otho Williams farm scattering some of my men - but more are on the way!

Elsewhere I have ordered attacks to bring pressure all along the enemy line and stretch the Confederate defenders as much as possible. These attacks have been costly however as Dave still has a very strong gun line all along his front.

 The general situation across the main battlefield at 11.00am.

Somewhere surely the Rebels must have a weak spot but so far I have failed to find it!

8.40am 13 Sept 1862 – turn 57

After some fierce fighting around Tilghmanton I’ve been forced to disengage Sumner and Franklin and contract my left flank. The Rebel guns have continued to cause heavy casualties and it has become clear that any assault by my infantry would have had little chance of success. The Confederates are also disengaging and both sides are starting to shift troops further west.

 The situation around Jones Crossroads as both sides disengage.

Meanwhile Burnside has started to attack D H Hill’s force at Williamsport and I have sent Mansfield up to support him. I also took the decision to order Pleasonton to cross the Potomac at Falling Waters and head northeast to cut off the enemy’s path of retreat from Williamsport. This seems a potentially better use of my cavalry than sending them on a wild goose chase after JEB Stuart.

 Burnside's men close in on D H Hill.

My plan now is to try and eliminate D H Hill’s division at Williamsport by completely encircling it. This should give me enough VP’s for a minor victory. I then hope to launch an attack on Lee’s left flank to seal my victory!

6.20am 13 Sept 1862 – turn 50

“Expect the unexpected” as the used to say at West Point – unfortunately McClellan must have nodded off during that particular class as Dave has played a blinder and definitely caught me napping!

The Rebel guns are deadly in such a forward position and my own men lack the ability to take them head on being mostly C, D and E grade. My only option will be to withdraw before too many units skedaddle.

Under cover of darkness he has concentrated the Divisions of Anderson and McLaws to the north of Tilghmanton and launched a dawn attack into the flank of Sumner’s men catching them in column as they headed towards Jones Crossroads to join up with Franklin and Porter. Fortunately the sheer number of troops I have at hand has blunted the Rebel advance but Dave has cannily placed his artillery in the front line where it has caused heavy casualties amongst my men.

Burnside's men advance against the Rebels at Willaimsport.

Meanwhile at Williamsport I have ordered Burnside to make an attack on the enemy with the aim of keeping them cooped up in the town. The quality of most of Burnside’s troops is pretty poor but they should have enough clout to prevent the Confederates from breaking out and heading south towards Lee’s main force.

The general situation at the end of turn 50 - the red units to the southeast are Stuart's cavaly who have just taken Boonsborough along with 20VPs.

Away to the east Stuart’s cavalry have taken Boonsborough and are now heading north towards Hagerstown. I am starting to concentrate my own cavalry in anticipation that they will be needed shortly to combat this threat.