ACW Campaign - Part Fourteen.

1230 2nd June 1862, junction of West Road/Stockton Road.

1st Brigade, 2nd Division prepare to assault the artillery on Gordon's Bluff. 6th Maine and 43rd New York will lead the assault.

The rebel artillery batteries have redeployed to face the threat. Cobb's Legion Cavalry, dismounted form a second defensive line.

2nd Brigade, 2nd Division make their way up the lower slope of Choke Heights. 2nd & 3rd Vermont prepare to form up for the attack supported by 'G' Battery 4th US Artillery. 4th, 5th & 6th Vermont hold fast  on the lower slope should they be required.

Just the dismounted troopers of 3rd Virginia Cavalry stand in their way.

6th Maine & 43rd New York await the order to advance. 49th Pennsylvania & 5th Wisconsin plus 'A' Battery US Artillery prepare to follow up.

The view of Rhett's & French's batteries up on Morgan's Bluff.

Aerial view of the opposing forces moving into position.

It is going to be a difficult day for 3rd Virginia Cavalry.

The battlefield prior to the flank assaults going in. 3rd Brigade, Second Division as well as 2nd Brigade 1st Division wait on the West Road for their turn to assault the main Confederate defensive line on the Stockton Road.

18 year old Zeb and Danny, privates serving in the 6th Maine stood shoulder to shoulder with their comrades and nervously looked at the slope they would have to assault, what awaited at the top was terrifying. Rows of artillery barrels, all pointing, it seemed, directly at the two young men.
Both flinched as the cannon opened fire with a roll of thunder, followed by the scream of projectiles all accompanied by a gale force wind.


Rhett's and French's batteries fire an opening salvo at the approaching 6th Maine, one of them reducing the Union regiment by one elan. (photo ruined by leaving the damn dice on the table) but it does show the roll, each battery at long range rolls a single die, the 1 is a hit on infantry.

Showing the salvo from the rebel position.

I place a black disc below the base of the 6th Maine to record the loss of elan, hopefully keep the table free of clutter.

Zeb and Danny felt their feet crunch on the gravel as they crossed the road at the foot of the slope. Some men had already fallen, but it was difficult for the boys to see as they steadily trudged on forward. Another clap of thunder and more balls tore into the blue ranks. One very close to them, Danny was wide eyed with fear as he saw two men simply disappear as a ball smashed into their bodies propelling what remained backwards out of his view.



Once again I ruin the shot by leaving the dice on the table, but as you can see that 1 causes a second elan loss to the 6th Maine.

Zeb, Danny and pals continue grimly forward.

More projectiles tore through the regiment, this time the boys could see where gaps had appeared in their ranks. Deafened by the noise and shock waves of the enemy guns, they were mercifully spared the sound of men screaming and dying.


Once again the damn dice show another hit on 6th Maine, now reduced to three elan.

Over on the slopes of Choke Heights, 3rd Virginia cavalry could only watch as 2nd & 3rd Vermont formed into line for an attack.

Brigadier W.T. Brooks looks on as his men form up.

This time I did intend to show the dice, this is the next salvo fired into the 6th Maine, now that the target is within 6cm each battery has two dice, 1 and 6 is a hit on infantry!

'Come on Danny, yelled Zeb, trying to make himself heard above the noise and chaos. A few more yards and we can give them rebs a taste of their own medicine.' Danny couldn't speak, his mouth parched and his eyes stinging from powder smoke. he just nodded.
At that moment a canister shell from one of Rhett's Battery ensured neither of the boys would ever reach the guns. Their torn, mutilated and lifeless bodies now lay in the dirt.


6th Maine break and flee down the side of Morgan's Bluff.

Now 43rd New York would be the target.

On the Union left flank, 2nd & 3rd Vermont advanced into musket range.

Musket versus carbine fire. The faster firing cavalry weapons attempting to make up for their fewer numbers. 3rd Virginia Cavalry fail to hit but take a loss of a single elan.

Looking down on the battlefield

Generals Franklin and Smith overlook proceedings from the junction.

They see 6th Maine rout, but are confident as 43rd New York continue the advance.

43rd New York unleash a volley up the slope at the enemy and cause a hit on French's Battery.

They receive a face full of canister in reply, but suffer just a single loss of elan.

For the gunners of both batteries, they know time is almost up, they may get in one more salvo before being overrun. The elan of the 43rd New York is now reduced to just two.

2nd & 3rd Vermont continue their unequal duel with 3rd Virginia Cavalry, the latter losing a further elan.

Confederate gunners abandon their weapons and scramble to the rear of Cobb's Legion Cavalry, as 43rd New York reach them.

Pay back time for the devastation caused to 6th Maine, who can be seen crossing the West Road away from the action.

With the enemy guns now silent, 43rd New York engage Cobb's Legion Cavalry as the surviving gunners mount their limbers and flee to the east. The cavalry suffer two loss of elan.

With the limbers now away, and facing overwhelming odds, Cobb's Legion Cavalry quickly mount up and follow the limbers.

Over on Choke Heights, 3rd Virginia cavalry also take to horse and head east.

With both their flanks now open, the colonel in command of the Confederate forces orders a withdrawal along the road. The line will reform behind the farmhouse.

Looking down on the positions.

Looking east along the Stockton Road, the rebels falling back to a new position.

With the time now 1330, General Hill with Garland's Brigade is still some two and a half hours march away to the east. It was now time for General Franklin to launch an all out assault down the Stockton Road and clear the enemy out of the way.