In October of 1862 two armies, the Union Army of the Ohio and the Confederate Army of the Mississippi, met in the small, sleepy town of Perryville to determine Kentucky's fate. Confederate General Braxton Bragg had outmaneuvered his opponent and had gained an advantage in the campaign for the Bluegrass State, but had let the initiative slip away from him. Union General Don C. Buell, although being unwanted by his government, had regrouped and reinforced his army in the Louisville area, and was eager to give the Rebels battle. While Bragg was playing kingmaker by installing a Confederate administration in Frankfort, Buell was moving to cut off Bragg's line of supply by advancing the main Union force to the Harrodsburg - Danville area. Buell's use of Joshua Sill's division as a diversion served him well, as the majority of Buell's army faced only three Confederate divisions at Perryville. Buell's mistake in not using his whole force to crush the Rebel army would wind up costing him his command.

Bragg had reacted to Buell's deployment by spreading out his already stretched army to cover an even wider front. In fact, when he received reports of Federals operating towards his line of supply with Tennessee, he deployed just three divisions in the Harrodsburg area and ordered them to attack. The Confederate commander at Harrodsburg was Bishop Leonidas Polk, not the most aggressive leader that the South had. Polk, on the morning of October 8th, was to attack and overwhelm what was thought to be a small part of Buell's army near Perryville. Polk was diliatory in commencing the attack, which prompted Bragg to proceed to Perryville personally. Upon reviewing the area around the town, Bragg changed the deployment of the Confederate divisions and re-issued attack orders. It was more than luck that kept the Army of the Mississippi from being destroyed that day.

On the Union side, Buell was determined to attack whatever forces were in front of him, and he made his preparations accordingly. His three corps were to advance on Perryville on three concentric avenues of approach. Had the Union commanders set out for Perryville at their appointed times there is no doubt that total victory would have been Buell's. Instead McCook's I Corps was outside of direct support of the other two Union corps, and it was against McCook the Rebels launched their attack. McCook had a number of new regiments in his corps, many of which broke quickly under the Rebel assault. By nightfall on the 8th, McCook's forces, reinforced by units from the III Corps, finally stabilized a line after the Confederate brigades had worn themselves out. Buell had not been active during the battle, although his headquarters was only a few miles from the action. His battle report claims that he didn't hear the sounds of artillery fire, and when orderlies from McCook reported heavy fighting in his front, Buell thought the I Corps commander was over-reacting. This inactivity and lost chance to defeat the Rebels led to Buell being replaced by Rosecrans shortly after the battle.

Bragg, having misunderstood what was in front of him at Perryville, now realized that is was time to retreat to Tennessee, as he did not have the strength to fight Buell in Kentucky again. It was the beginning of a long and infamous relationship between Bragg and the Army of the Mississippi (later Tennessee).

The Battle of Perryville Scenario

Terrain

Terrain should be laid out as shown on the map. The battlefield will require a 6' by 4' gaming area. Important terrain elements are Chaplin River, the Open Hill, and the Dixville Crossroads.

All noted areas on the map are wooded and will affect combat and line-ofsight. All clear areas represent cleared land.

All streams are fordable along their entire length. All units pay normal rates as shown on the Movement Rates Chart. Artillery may only cross the Chaplin River at the bridge.

Starting Positions

The map shows the starting positions of all units as of 1430 October 8th. Three Confederate brigades and six batteries are present at the start of the battle. There are five Union brigades and four batteries that start the game on the board. All other Union and Confederate units arrive as specified in the order of appearance listed below. The order of battle lists the strengths of all units who participated in the battle.

Order of Appearance

Additional units and leaders march onto the battlefield during their turn, at the time and location listed. A brigade does not require a die roll on the Maneuver Table on the turn it moves onto the battlefield. All units may enter the table in any formation the owning player desires.

Confederate Order of Arrival

Time Loc Unit(s)

1500
A Wharton
B Polk, Cheatham's Division - Maney
C Cheatham's Division - Stewart

1530
D Hardee, Anderson's Division - Brown
E Buckner's Division - Cleburne
F Anderson's Division - Adams

1630
D Buckner's Division - Wood

1830
D Buckner's Division - Liddell

Union Order of Arrival

Time Loc Unit(s)

1530
G 1 Corps - Gay

1730
H III Corps - Gooding, 1 battery

1900
H III Corps - Steedman

Game Length

Play begins with the Confederate 1430 turn and ends after the Confederate 1930 turn. There are 11 turns in this scenario, which can be played in 5 hours. There are enough units to accommodate up to 5 players (one division per player).

Victory Conditions

The Confederate player can achieve a decisive victory by having a non-spent brigade occupy the Dixville Crossroads at the end of the game and inflict a 3:2 casualty ratio on the Union player.

If the Confederate player fails to obtain a decisive victory he can still obtain a marginal victory by accumulating a 3:2 casualty ratio on the Union player and occupying the Open Hill.

Any other result is a Union victory. 

Confederate Order of Battle

Polk's Wing 1 Ldr

Cheatham's Division 1 Ldr

Donelson's Brigade 7/5/4
Stewart's Brigade E 7/5/4
Maney's Brigade 8/6/4
Artillery 2 Arty
Wharton's Cavalry Brigade 5/4/3

Hardee's Wing 1 Ldr

Anderson's Division 1 Ldr

Brown's Brigade 9/7/5
Adams' Brigade 7/5/4
Jones' Brigade 7/5/4
Artillery 2 Arty

Buckner's Division 1 Ldr

Liddell's Brigade 7/5/4
Cleburne's Brigade E 7/5/4
Johnson's Brigade E 7/5/4
Wood's Brigade 7/5/4
Artillery 2 Arty

Union Order of Battle

I Corps - McCook 1 Ldr

3rd Division - Rousseau 1 E Ldr

Harris' Brigade 11/8/6
Lytle's Brigade E 12/9/6
Starkweather's Brigade 12/9/6
Artillery 3 Arty

10th Division - Jackson 1 Ldr
Terrill's Brigade 13/11/8
Webster's Brigade 14/12/8
Artillery 1 Arty
Cavalry Brigade - Gay -/2/

III Corps' Troops
Steedman's Brigade E 9/7/5
Gooding's Brigade 10/8/5
Artillery I Arty GAMEDAYS GAMEDAYS GAMEDAYS

Tables are reserved for Great Lakes events on the first Sunday of each month at the Soldiery in Columbus.

A table is reserved for a Great Lakes event at the Tin Soldier in Centerville on the second Sunday of each month.

Interested GMs should make arrangements with the respective store. If there is enough lead time, please contact The Herald so that the event will show up in this listing..

At the Tin Soldier (Games start at 12:30)

Sep 8 The Battle of Cross Keys using Johnny Reb III. 10mm ACW battle in the Valley. Hosted by Bob French and Bill Weber. 8 Players.

Oct 13 The Battle of Gaines Mill using Fire and Fury. 15mm ACW battle. Hosted by Matt Davidson and Darryl Smith. 10 Players.

At the Soldiery (North Store Columbus)

Sep 8th "Koenig Krieg" starts at 1:00. Swedes and Austrians vs. Prussians. 15mm Hosted by Chris Von Fahnstock

Nov 3rd "Piquet" starts at 1:00. Napoleonic rules featuring the French vs. the Austrians. 25mm, 8 players, hosted by Jim Getz

Dec 7th World War Two Pacific Theater starts at noon. US and Philippine forces battle the Japanese. 20mm, 8 players+, hosted by Captain Pete Panzeri (U.S. Army).

Dec 8th "Guns Along the Mohawk" starts at 1:00. French and Indians War skirmish. 25mm, 12 players, hosted by Ferkin Doyle.

AT the Soldiery's Drowsy Dragon (East Store-Columbus)

On the 3rd Friday of each month: DBM Night hosted by Rich Hartley and Ron Holtz. Game starts at 6:00pm.

Oct 6th "Armati" starts at 1:00. Renaissance Poles vs. Turks. 15mm, hosted by Larry Connor.