Barren Victory, Scenario 1 “The First Day” – Session 5

After a short holiday break, welcome back to the AAR for Barren Victory, “The First Day”. And now… session 5.

USA 11:30 amThe action picks up along the Lafayette Road with Wilder still harrassing Hood’s 1st Corps. 3/21 Division has gained intitiative and joins in with Wilder. Together they manage to flank the B/H/1 brigade and wreck it. This causes a hasty retreat. It is becoming evident that Hood’s 1st Corps may not be able to advance on the Union 14th Corps afterall.

WILDER FLANKS B/H/1 AND WRECKS THE BRIGADE

At Lee and Gordon’s Mill, the 2nd Division of the 20th Corps mounts a counter attack in an attempt to push back the advancing rebels as they attempt to cross the Chickamauga. With two brigades, the Federals attempt to close in on the assaulting S/B Division.

 

 

THE FEDERALS MOUNT A COUNTER ATTACK AGAINST S/B DIVISION

CSA 11:30 amAs you may recall, Forrest failed a Corps Attack Stoppage in the 11:00 hour. This force his division back and out of small arms range, leaving him without orders; In essense, defending in place. Forrest attempts to gain initiative but ends up with a Loose Cannon result. When this occurs in the game, the opposing commander gets an opportunity to issue the orders to the Loose Cannon General. In this situation, the opposing player orders Forrest to withdraw to the North.

 

FORREST WITHDRAWS HIS REMAINING BRIGADES

Walker’s Reserve Corps have been on the move since obtaining initiative orders at 11:00 am. It is apparent now that they are headed East toward the Rossville Road and the Union 14th Corps. Lead elements of Walker’s men engage the Federals at the junction. This could get interesting because several brigades of the 14th Corps have moved North in pursuit of Forrest’s remaining, mangeled, cavalry.

 

CONFEDERATE RESERVE CORPS ARRIVE AT ROSSVILLE ROAD

USA 12:00 pmThe Federal 1/20 Division entered the battlefield in the 10:30 hour with reinforcement orders to join the 14th Corps. In an effort to devert from those orders and support Wilder’s raid on the Confederate 1st Corps, 1/20 attempts to gain initiative, but fails. As Wilder continues to press the attack on Hood, 1/20 continue their march past the action near Snodgrass Hill and toward the 14th Corps.

Near Missionary Ridge, 3/14 and 4/14 continue to chase Forrest. Forrest’s boys are so beat up at this point that they are losing the ability to fight back effectively and they are so outnumbered that the Federals are easily outflanking them. A massive assault routes A/A/F.

THE CONFEDERATE A/A/F IS FLANKED BY 14TH CORPS

CSA 12:00 pmAfter rolling a Loose Cannon at 11:30, Forrest again tries for and gains initiative. Rather that order his troops to fall back, Forrest has another trick up his sleeve. He will attempt to draw some of the Union forces away from Walker’s reserves and hope that they will attack him while he holds the higher ground using the defensive atvantage of the slopes and extreme slopes in the foothills.

Forrest to F-Cav- Initiative, 12:00 pm

“Fall back to the foothills of Rossville gap and attempt to draw the union toward you and away from the Reserve Corps”

Walker’s reserves are now fully engaged at the crossroads and are starting to inflict damage on elements of the 14th Corps and the 1/Res Division . Walker extends his battle lines out in order to maximize the fire power of his small Reserve Corps.

WALKER’S RESERVES ASSAULT THE UNION 14TH CORPS AND 1/RES

Next up… 12:30 pm

 

Barren Victory, Scenario 1 “The First Day” – Session 4

Welcome back to the AAR for Barren Victory, “The First Day”.  And now… session 4.

 USA 11:00 am

As you may recall, Forrest overran the Reserve Corps HQ, pushing them into an emergency corps retreat.  Wilder has held up Hood’s avance on 14th Corps rear long enough for 14th Corps to trap Forrest and prepare for Hood’s 1st Corps to approach.

Stevens’ 1/Res Division gets intiative and issues a divisional goal to 1/Res.  This gets 1 of the Reserve Divisions out of defensive mode and on the move.  Two divisions of 14th Corps close in on Forrest, but Forrest’s boys are tough.  They manage to push back the Federal attack.

FORREST’S BOYS PUSH BACK 1/14 AND 3/14 WITH DEFENSIVE FIRE

At the South end of the map, near Lee & Gordon’s Mill, 2/20 Division gains initiative and they begin to set up a defensive line in an attempt to hold back Polk’s remaining divisions, should they begin to advance across the Chickamauga.

Meanwhile, Wilder and his cavalry Division are making like difficult for Hood’s 1st corps along the Lafayette Road.  They swoop in and destroy the 1st Corps supply wagon. 

CSA 11:00 am

Things start off rather interesting for the Confederates 11:00 am turn.  F-Cav rolls for Corps Attack Stoppage and fails.  This means that the entire division must be out of small arms range at the end of the movement phase.  This is fortunate for Forrest and his boys because they are taking a beating.  The terrain is good for a defensive position and they may just be able to hold out long enough for Hood to arrive and help out.

Over at Lee & Gordons Mill, C/P Division tries for and gets initiative; Not a moment too soon for the Confederates.  With Hindman’s Division decimated, the Federals have the upper hand and reinforcements are coming shortly.  Cheatam issues an initiative order to his Division:

Cheatam to C/P Division – Initiative, 11:00 am

“Cross the Chickamauga and support Stuart (S/B Division) in securing the roads South of the Lafayette Road”

Walker tries for and gains initiative for his Reserve Corps.  This is very fortunate for the Confederates.  His two Divisions will now be able to press 14th Corps from the West.  If only Hood could get moving, but he is still being harassed by Wilder on the Lafayette Road.

Cheatam’s C/P Division has been sitting by and watching Hindman (H/P) get torn apart with 1 Brigade eliminated and 2 Brigades along with the Division wrecked.  Now they are more than ready to “open the ball”.

CHEATAM’S DIVISION PUSHES BACK 2/20 AFTER HEAVY FIGHTING

Next up… 11:30