A peak behind the curtain.
When I laid out the table for this battle I placed the bridge far too close to the front edge of the table, of course I only realised this when the action really started. I needed more space on the confederate side of the bridge.
Below is how the table was originally set up with very little space south of the bridge.
However, with a battle mat and hills and ridges formed with tea towels and other soft items of clothing, it is possible to carefully slide everything back. If you compare the previous photo to this one, you can see I have managed to gain another six or so inches of space without destroying the battlefield.
Now I have space to deploy the 27th & 28th Georgia regiments arriving as reinforcements.
The battle can now continue after this small adjustment.
31st New York and 95th Pennsylvania move up to the riverbank and engage 5th Alabama and the two batteries of Carter and 4th Virginia respectively. 1st New Jersey assault the bridge into withering musketry from 12th Mississippi. 27th Georgia forms up behind 12 Mississippi whilst 28th Georgia moves to support 5th Alabama on the left flank.
31st New York and 5th Alabama take two step losses in the exchange. Carter's Battery also takes a step loss, but amazingly 95th Pennsylvania take just a single loss after taking canister from two full batteries!
1st New Jersey assault the bridge and suffer two step losses from the salvo delivered by 12th Mississippi.
The thick of the action.
A storm of lead flies across the river.
28th Georgia form up behind 5th Alabama who take another loss and inflict one on 31st New York.
The rest of Anderson's Brigade begin to arrive, led by 4th North Carolina and 49th Virginia.
Vicious hand to hand fighting on the bridge as 1st New Jersey charge into 12th Mississippi. Both regiments take two step losses.
1st New Jersey almost across the bridge.
Their heroics cost them dearly, now down to just two cohesive points.
95th Pennsylvania score another hit on each of the two enemy batteries, but suffer two themselves from canister fire.
The current situation on the battlefield.
Brigadier General Slocum looked at the carnage taking place on the bridge, he turned to Brigadier Bill Taylor who commanded 1st Brigade. 'More and more of the enemy are arriving, which is bad for us, but exactly what our mission was intended to do. If, and that is a big if, the enemy force in the Peninsular is a reduced division according to intelligence, then most of it is now before us. That would leave the West Road virtually clear for the rest of the Corps to advance. If we keep the enemy busy here Bill we will have no need to take that bridge as General Franklin will appear in their rear.'
'That damn bridge is a bottleneck for sure,' Bill replied. 'If we could just get a couple of regiments across we could surely defeat the enemy ourselves sir.'
'That is true enough, but I have no intention of throwing away this division to achieve something that may well be achieved very easily within two or three days, with far fewer casualties. No Bill, it is my intention to fall back, the enemy have seen our power and what we are capable of, that should ensure their forces facing us remain in position should we choose to attack again. Of course the enemy need to think that at all times, we will ensure they are kept busy.'
General Slocum's view of the assault.
He has witnessed the slaughter on the bridge and has no intention of throwing away another of his regiments.
1200 1st June 1862, Confederate command tent Crow Bridge.
A messenger had arrived from Stockton with a telegraph from Major General Hill, the telegraph had been sent from the office in Appleton.
1135 1st June 1862
From MG Daniel Hill
To Brigadier Rodes
Colonel Anderson
For your information I and Brigadier Garland's Brigade are across the Charles River and expect to reach Haven later this afternoon. You are to be congratulated on not only holding the enemy, but also in pushing them back at the bridge. The casualty numbers make for grim reading but the men of Rodes' Brigade have acquitted themselves extremely well.
On the matter of Colonel Anderson remaining at the bridge, this is unfortunate, as I wanted all the units I could muster to meet the new threat that should be unleashed against us tomorrow. However, if we lose the bridge, we lose the peninsular.
Would your position be substantially weakened if Colonel Anderson's Brigade artillery and cavalry were directed to the Stockton/Paytonville Road Junction?
D. Hill
Both men agreed they had parity in artillery with the enemy and that the cavalry had a limited role here at the bridge. Within the hour Rhett's and French's batteries along with Cobb's Legion Cavalry were heading west on the Stockton to Paytonville Road. They should link up with the Flying Cavalry Brigade as well as the other two infantry regiments located there, 6th & 12th Alabama by late afternoon.
*I can now clear the table and prepare for the clash on the West Road.
Excellent read Jack. Having to move a battlefield having misjudged it slightly is nothing new to me! Frustrating when it happens but pleased you managed to move everything ok. Liked the shots of the pile up at the bridge. Looked very daunting from the Confederates viewpoint. River crossings are always a pain for the attacker.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks Jon, yes my own fault really, I should have known I would need more room south of the bridge. It worked out well in the end fortunately.
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