Cornfields have been a feature in America since long before the arrival of European Settlers. Early colonists learned to plant and raise corn as a food source for both man and beast. By the time the War for Southern Independence began, cornfields were a very American feature, which could be found in many areas.

Historical Perspective

When we think of cornfields and the American Civil War, many people think of great Battles such as Antietam and the Miller Cornfield. However, cornfields were significant features in many ACW battles including Perryville, Cedar Mountain, Ox Hill, South Mountain, Prairie Grove, Wilson's Creek and so many other fields. In fact, fighting at Antietam was waged in several different cornfields, which receive much less notoriety.

Cornfields posed a tactical challenge on many ACW battlefields. Corn crops become a hinderance in many areas during the months of August thru October. During these months, the corn is reaching maturity and is high and foreboding. Their effects on combat include movement and visibility challenges. There are also accounts of late fall and early winter cornfields being a challenge to combat.

Combat accounts of cornfields vary with many soldiers commenting on battle in them. At Cedar Mountain, tall corn, thickly planted, offered the Northerners the opportunity for concealment and surprise, which they used skillfully. General Prince described the corn as "very high" and emphasized the resultant disorientation of his troops. Confederates beyond the corn grumbled that it made a "splendid screen" for the Yankees.

The 111th Pennsylvania and 3rd Maryland advanced, and when they reached the edge of the corn, they found themselves under fire. The two northern regiments remained in the corn, and the Pennsylvania regiments historian noted, "the standing corn about them was cut down as with knifes".

At Chantilly/Ox Hill, a large cornfield played an important part in the battle. During the battle, the 50th Pennsylvania was ordered to advance into the cornfield to extend the Union left. There they struck Gregg's South Carolinians were the fighting became general. According to one Pennsylvania veteran, " we were on one side of the cornfield, and the enemy on the other, and the way we made the cornstalks fly between us was a caution".

Then there is the battle of Sharpsburg, the battle that seems to be most remembered for cornfield fighting. The corn was mature and in full late summer growth. The Miller Cornfield saw over 3 hours of fighting, using up much of the Union 1st Corps and 12th Corps, as well as most of Jackson's Corps and Hoods Division. After the vicious and close range fighting which was waged, General Hooker described what was left: "Every stalk of corn in the northern and greater part of the field was cut as closely as could have been done with a knife, and the slain lay in rows precisely as they had stood in their ranks a few moments before. It was never again my fortune to witness a more bloody, dismal battlefield." Close range musketry and canister fire had a devastating effect.

Also at Sharpsburg, another often overlooked cornfield fight occurred. After the Union 9th Corp cleared the lower bridge and deployed for the advance on Sharpsburg, a new rookie regiment was ready to "see the elephant' 'for the first time. The advance of the 16th Connecticut took them through a large cornfield. The cornfield was entered and the novice regiment was hit by musketry fire. The tall and uneven cornfield compounded the chaos, which ensured. Men could only see a small portion of their line at a time. Confederate troops then unleashed a deadly crossfire into the regiment. "So dense was the corn," wrote South Carolinian James Caldwell, "that the lines sometimes approached to within thirty to forty yards of each other before opening." The rookie Yankees soon broke after a heavy pounding and fled the cornfield. 

The Effect on Combat

The historical accounts of cornfield fighting referenced above shows that cornfields had a significant tactical impact on a battle. One of the most obvious battlefield impacts of cornfields is the limit of visibility one encounters with mature cornfields. Dense tall fields are dark and foreboding and can reduce visibility to 100 yards or less. The impact on movement of troops is also significant. Formed troops had great difficulty keeping regimental and brigade alignments, partly due to the inability for commanders to see all of their troops. Early growth corn and harvested corn can also greatly impact movement because they can present a tripping hazard, causing formed troops to move more slowly to retain alignment.

Organizational breakdown also often occurred in a cornfield fight due to the inability to see friends and foes, and command and control issues. It became virtually impossible for regimental and brigade commanders to exert their influence over their entire commands. This resulted in units advancing and retreating without orders, and in some cases standing to fight when they were virtually surrounded. Often the end result of units that broke during a cornfield fight was to fall back in such disorder that they did not have much of a further impact on the battle.

Cornfields and Johnny Reb III

Movement in cornfields in JR should be at the broken rate. Whether tall, young, or harvested, cornfields are an impediment to formed movement. From experience reenacting in cornfields or walking in them during my youth, cornfields can impact movement. Harvested cornfields can result in downed corn stalks and "corn stubble" which can create a tripping hazard. Mature corn makes movement hard because a corn stalk is not easily pushed down, and the leaves can be rather sharp and lead to cuts if care is not taken to protect your face and arms.

Visibility in a mature cornfield can and should be treated as woods. Visibility can be determined with a 1 D6 and area fire rules should apply as well. Combat will remain essentially the same because corn while affecting visibility will not stop bullets. Area fire penalties for firing at units over 1 inch in the corn, or outside of visibility should apply.

Another effect of combat of cornfields is the tendency of corn to be knocked or cut down from the combined effect of bullets/canister and troops fighting. While movement through a cornfield will impact the corn to a certain degree, most accounts of cornfield fights reveal the corn was downed through actual combat and close range fire. I like to use the standard rule that close range fire (under 2") or Canister fire damages or downs 1" of corn per turn fired. Also a melee fought in the field should down the area the melee was fought in.

One other combat consideration is the potential for disruption for charges. Since cornfields are so disruptive to movement and coordination, charges should also be affected. The possible rules modifications for charging into or through a cornfield could be automatic disorder, and/or the loss of 1D6 movement from the charge distance. Since cornfields have been described as very disruptive the above should be considered.

Modeling Cornfields

Cornfields can be modeled using a variety or products and/or methods. Those of the readers, who know me, realize that I am very interested and influenced by ascetics on my game tables. This influence has led me to produce realistic but practical wargaming terrain.

There are a number of manufacturers producing lifelike cornfield models, which can be used in wargaming. Musket Miniatures (Musketminiatures.com) has corn stalks and field bases for sale. These are metal stalks, which need painting and look reasonable when finished. Also, ALKEM Scale Models httv://www.peocities.com/bkempins/ASMMain/Com.html makes brass-etched cornstalks, which can be used to model fields. Designed for model railroaders and diorama use, these may not withstand repetitive handling.

Another option are the durable corn squares produced at Battlefield Terrain Concepts ( battlefieldterrain.com). We produce standing corn squares in 15 and 25mm and downed corn squares for 15mm. These look very good and withstand the handling of wargamers. While not considered cheap by many, they do take the labor out of building these. If cost is an issue, but time is not, you can consider building them for yourself.

Cornfields can be built as removable squares or installed in rows on a terrain piece with spacing to allow for the placement of troops. In either case, Christmas garland can be used to represent the corn stalks. The first stop is to obtain the Garland and unwind the various branches. Once unwound the branches should be cut down close according to the scale used (this is a messy process, so be prepared). Once cut down, the stalks should be cut from the branches in an appropriate size. After cutting, the stalks are ready to be planted in/on a base. This can be done by drilling and/or gluing the stalks onto a terrain piece or onto bases. I prefer hot glue for this process. The bases should then be flocked with a dirt mix. Final touches should include using a dark yellow paint to cover the tops of the corn stalks.

Conclusion

Civil War battlefields were frequently impacted by cornfields, which had a significant outcome on the battle. Cornfields often became confusing maelstroms of combat and were recounted in the memoirs and letters of many soldiers. Recreating them on our civil war battlefields can add an element of realism and help demonstrate the chaos, which became evident on many fields of battle. The tactical challenges they present are legendary.