The Battle of Snifter Station – Part 2

Since this was the first battle of the war, I gave commanders a 7 for their staff rating to reflect their inexperience. I can see that it was an important decision in light of how the game played out.

Order of Battle

The Northern Army of Persuasion – MG Sherman Sickles

1st Brigade  - BG Grant Chamberlain

• 1st Maine Island Inf.*
• 3rd Montshire Inf
• 5th Yorksey Inf
• 2nd Regular Regiment of Zouaves*

2nd Brigade – BG Butler Reynolds

• 3rd Delayork Inf
• 2nd Michiana Inf
• 6th Massosota Inf
• 4th Wisconois Inf

1st Cavalry Brigade – BG Buford Grierson

• 7th Ohivania
• 6th Pennahio

Army assets

• 1st DC Art
• 2nd Regular Art

The Southern Army of Conviction – MG Jubilation T. Cornpone

1st Brigade – BG Jackson Johnston

• 6th Texarkansas Inf*
• 3rd Missibama Inf*
• 1st Kennessee Inf
• 2nd Missiginia Inf

2nd Brigade COL (P) Pender Hill

• 2nd Missabama Inf
• 3rd Kennessee Inf
• 6th Georida Inf
• 8th Tennelina Inf

1st Cavalry Brigade – BG Forrest Stuart

• 1st Florilina Cavalry
• 2nd West Alassippi Cavalry

Army Assets

• 1st Richmond Artillery
• 2nd Petersburg Artillery

*Morale 4+ units, all others are 5+ to reflect green troops.

I made random rolls for the plan for each side. The Union forces were to advance with the infantry abreast right up the road with the cavalry in reserve. The Confederates were to make their left the main effort with the cavalry on the right. As is normal in combat, the plans were good until the first turn….

In the first turn the Confederates advanced across the board. In the second  turn, however, the left hand brigade moved off the board to the rear due to a commander’s blunder! Not an auspicious beginning!

The Union forces kept up a steady advance across the field but the guns continued to get ahead of the infantry because of command rolls.

I allowed the confederate command under Pender Hill to rally off the board and return to the game as otherwise I was afraid the game was over . Those who know I am from Texas might think I was meddling but it was my game so I thought I would do it!  Sometimes it’s handy to be playing a solo game.

The Union second regular Regiment of Zouaves was the first to crest the hill and they came under a withering Confederate fire. The next turn the confederate forces charged and the Zouaves broke in terror.  The remainder of the brigade was not affected.

The Confederate cavalry continued their advance on the right flank. Their role was an economy of force role but one regiment advanced too far. The 1st Florilina occupied the town, the 2nd West Alassippi the woods on the right flank. This allowed the Union commander to redirect his cavalry reserve and try to get them across the bridge.

The fight in the town was a brisk one but the Union regiment charged and forced the dismounted cavalry to retreat. The Union sacrifice here was to no avail as the fight degenerated into a desultory firefight, however.

The Union cavalry advancing across the river came in column and the lead regiment came under fire.  The regiment, the 7th Ohivania, failed several command rolls in a row and so the Confederates were able to inflict excess casualties on them with long range carbine fire. The resulting morale roll caused the Ohivinians to flee off the field.

The next regiment, the Sixth Pennahio, got its lead elements across the bridge but were again stalled on the bridge in column by poor morale rolls.  They remained immobilized for the next few turns. Since the Seventh Ohivania had routed off the board with three casualties (their Stamina level) I did not allow them to rally and return. After a turn with the commander screaming for the Pennahioans to charge, they finally moved and crashed into the Confederates. Much to their commander’s irritation, they inflicted *one* casualty and remained in contact for another turn and then fled the field.

Part 1 is here.

Part 3 is here.