November 30, 1864, Franklin Kentucky. (Top photo (by Duane Warnecke): Hal's Confederates attacking Union held hill. Bottom photo (by Tibor Vari): Union Brigade attacking; 15mm Old Glory figures from the collection of David Mills) Union General Schofield with 23,000 troops is falling back on Nashville to join General Thomas. He is being pursued by General Hood with 30,000 troops including General Forrest with his cavalry. Schofield holds Franklin and some surrounding country and is attempting to get his supply train across the Harpeth River. First he must repair the bridge. I needed a relatively small scenario as a friend was to visit from California, and we planned to play several games, including a Fire and Fury ACW one. This is a general adaptation of the Battle of Franklin. The actual battle lasted from 3 PM to 9 PM, after which the Union was able to cross the river. The Confederates pushed the Union back down the Columbia Pike, taking the Gin House, and advancing to Carter House, where the Union rallied, and a stalemate developed. I added slightly to the Confederate cavalry and rated Forrest as a superior leader. My map follows the terrain adding a third foot bridge at a ford. A significant feature is the ravine, which gives the Union a dug in position. Our game saw Jones Union Division in the ravine and Brown in reserve, with the cavalry brigade guarding the Union left. (Hal Thinglum's 25mm Confederates defending Southern Mansion scratch-built by Clem Clemens, photo by Duane Warnecke) The Confederates advanced in three Divisions, with their Cavalry on the extreme right. One Division, nicknamed the Turtle Division, continually failed maneuver rolls, slowing the assault on the Confederate left. After 3 attacks had been beaten back, Forrests cavalry finally destroyed the Union cavalry and took the hill on the Union right overlooking the ravine. The Union was forced out of the ravine falling back on Buzlik Farm. An assault on the farm was beaten back, and the Iron Brigade counterattacked, keeping the Confederates from the West Pike. (The Iron Brigade was not there, but I needed an elite brigade for the Union and I had that unit painted) Meanwhile the Regular Brigade had managed to keep Forrest bottled up, but he finally broke loose and headed around the Union positions for the supply train, which had been delayed. (Bad dice rolls) The Iron Brigade countered this move saving half the wagons, but Forrest captured half. The remaining union troops fell back. We decided it was a Confederate victory, with the capture of the supplies, and slightly less losses on their side. A hard fought game, with several attacks, counterattacks, and reforming of units. Fire and Fury lends itself to such battles. Following are the OB, orders and a map. Union Order of Battle Corp CO. Maj Gen Schofield (E) General Brown's Division Regular Brigade 12 bases, Vet. 12/9/6 Iron Brigade 10 Bases, Crack 10/7/4 General Jones Division Jones Brigade 8 bases, green 8/7/5 Sidels Brigade 12 bases, green 12/10/7 Burgers Brigade 6 bases, Vet 6/5/3 Carters Cavalry Brigade 6 bases, Vet 6/5/3 3 guns (distributed as the Union wants) Union Orders You are to hold for at least four hours while the supply train talls back. You may then retire over the river and fall back. Avoid losing guns or supply wagons. (Your present line has Jones Division holding the Ravine, and Brown in Reserve. The supply train will come down the West Pike and cross the New Bridge.) The supply train comes onto the table on a roll of 6 on a D6 the first turn thru the 5th turn. Turn 6, on a 5 or 6. Turn 7 on a 4, 5, or 6. Eighth and subsequent turns, on a 3, 4, 5, 6. There are six wagons and one enters each turn. They move at foot artillery speed. Confederate Order of Battle Hoods Corp. CO Maj. Gen Hood Cavalry Division, CO Gen. N. Forrest (E) 1st. Cav Brig. 8 bases Vet. 8/6/4 Colburns Cav. Brig. 8 bases Vet. 8/6/4 Penders Infantry Division Perkins Brigade 8 bases Vet. 8/6/4 Georgia Brigade 10 bases Green 10/8/6 Virginia Brigade 8 bases Vet 8/6/4 TexasBrigade l0 bases Crack 10/7/4 2 Guns Johnsons Infantry Division Arkansas Brigade 10 bases Green 10/8/6 Kentucky Brigade 12 bases Green 12/10/7 So. Carolina Brigade 8 bases Vet 8/6/4 2 Guns Confederate orders You will capture Franklin and cut off the Yankee line of retreat, capturing what stores you may, as they are badly needed. Victory. Base this on the casualties, and whether the Confederates are able to capture any wagons or guns. (25mm Old Glory troops painted & photographed by Cory Ring of Atlanta, GA; cabin scratch built by Tilo John) Battle of Franklin Scenario. The map below shows the terrain for the battle of Franklin. Back to MWAN #101 Table of Contents Back to MWAN List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 1999 Hal Thinglum This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com