[Ed. Note: BRS is currently out of print, from us. Copies are still available in the distributor pipeline and your local retailer should be able to locate copies if he puts forward a little effort on your behalf ]

While designing Bloody Roads South (BRS), I had to make a decision about when to start the game. We chose the starting time of 1:00 p.m., 5 May largely because it is the time when combat began. However, the two armies had been in each other's presence since early that morning. The fight might have broken out earlier had Grant persuaded Warren to attack sooner.

The following article gives the positions and orders for two alternate starting times: 7:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m, The data is from Maps 7 and 8 of Steere's book, The Wilderness Campaign. It can replace the data in Scenario 5 for either the single day or entire battle scenario. (I do not think either alternate would work well with the single map scenarios.)

These scenarios require one new unit the 5th New York Cavalry regiment. This regiment played the same role along the Plank Road that the I st North Carolina Cavalry did along the Culpeper Mine Ford Road. Use the same rules and table that serve for the I st NC Cav to govern the withdrawal of the 5th NY Cav. Remove the 5th NY Cav if it encounters Union infantry along the Plank Road, or if it is forced back to the Brock Road Crossing (B32.26)

Several units that ordinarily begin the game on-map must now enter as reinforcements because the game is starting sooner. I list these under "New Reinforcements". All the usual reinforcements from Scenario 5 are still valid but are not listed here.

Comments: These new scenarios have not been extensively playtested, except during the original design work in 199 1. What we found was that starting the battle earlier tended to open up the map more. This always worked to the Union's advantage. On several occasions, the Union player got Warren and Sedgwick sufficiently coordinated to drive Ewell off the map. However, these early tests used the Ist Edition rules and no special rules relating to Union command structure. They may be more balanced than was originally supposed.

Scenario 9 starts before Grant enters the map. Meade functions as Union commander in all respects until Grant enters the board.

I highly recommend the following special variant for Scenario 9: Grant and Meade had no idea where the Confederate formations were, except that Longstreet was so far to the rear as to be unavailable until 6 May. The force on the Plank Road could have been Hill's Corps, or one of Hill's divisions with the other one supporting Ewell; it could have been a phantom. Accordingly, the Rebel player may parcel his 5 May forces between the two entry hexes (B and G), writing whatever initial orders he desires. In particular, he may delay the arrival of forces along either road.

Further Historical Notes:

To a great extent, the Battle of the Wilderness was determined by the errors and mistakes made early on 5 May before serious combat began. Grant spent the night near the Germanna Ford, just off the northern map edge; Meade was at the Wilderness Tavern area. Both were unaware that Ewell was advancing along the Turnpike, never mind that he was just off the western map edge. At daybreak, the Army of the Potomac began to move; 5th Corps was to slide a few miles southeast and take up position at Parker's Store, astride the Orange Plank Road; 6th Corps was to hold the Wilderness Tavern vicinity and await the arrival of 9th Corps. Hancock and 2nd Corps would form on the left of 5th Corps, off the south map edge.

When Griffin's pickets detected Ewell's troops advancing down the Turnpike, Grant's first reaction was typical for him, but atypical for the Army of the Potomac: pitch in and destroy the enemy force. The Union commander was operating on the assumption that this force was very small; the cavalry screens would detect anything larger than a brigade. However, Meade and the infantry commanders at the front were being very cautious. It took several hours to get an attack organized and rolling.

Scenario 9 gives the situation at about the time that the original orders of the day were suspended, pending more information about the enemy and his intentions. Grant is still at the river, sending new orders to Burnside and trying to stay in touch with Meade. Warren had halted 5th Corps in place, but not yet deployed it to attack. Crawford, commanding 3 Div of 5th Corps at Chewning Farm, is hearing skirmish fire from the advanced pickets of the 5th NY Cav along the Plank Road.

Scenario 8 gives the situation three hours later. By now the Federal forces have begun to stumble forward to battle. Getty's 6th Corps division has gone to cover the Brock Road Crossing, finally responding to reports of Confederate activity on the Plank Road. Warren is trying to get his scattered divisions organized for an attack his subordinates do not want to make; Crawford is peppering Warren and Meade with reports suggesting that he should not withdraw from the Chewning Farm. Hill is beginning to drive back the 5th New York Cav along the Plank Road. Sedgwick is moving to form on Warren's right with one of his divisions; Ricketts with the other 6th Corps division is covering the river crossing and must wait for the arrival of Burnside's 9th Corps.

Scenario 8: Grant Strikes Early

First Turn: 10:30 a.m., 5 May
Last Turn: 7:00 p.m., 7 May
Scenario Length: 96 turns
Maps Used: Both

Union Information: Set up:
Grant, AUS HQ, Meade, A Pot HQ: A32.08
Warren, 5 Corps HQ: A32.06
5 Corps Supply: A38.06
Griffin, 1-5, 3-2-5, Db(2): w/i 2 A24.08
Robinson, 1-2-5, 2-2-5: w/i I A32.05
Crawford, 3-5, Db(2): w/i 2 Chewning Farm
Wadsworth, 4-5: in column along trail, head of column at B 13.33
5 Corps Artillery (4 gun points) w/i I A32.05

Sedgwick, 6 Corps HQ: A38.06
6 Corps Supply: w/i I A32.06
6 Corps Artillery: w/i 2 A32.06
Wright, 1-6(-4-1-6): in column along Germanna Plank Road, head of column at A32.24 Getty, 2-6: w/i I A37. 10 Ricketts, 3-6: w/i 2 A24.34
5th NY Cav: Parker's Store

Orders: 5 Corps has no orders. An order to attack Ewell's forces along the Orange Turnpike has delay status D2. 6 Corps is ordered to march to Wilderness Tavern and take up position facing west. 3-6 is ordered to remain in position until 1:30 p.m., 5 May then move to join corps HQ.

New Reinforcements: 11:30 a.m., Entry Hex F: Hancock, 2 Corps HQ; Orders: Take charge of any troops near the Brock Road Crossing and hold the position.

Confederate Information:

Set Up: Ewell, 2 Corps HQ: with any 2 Corps unit J-J-2: A 16.08 Sta-J-2: A16.14 Stwl-J-2: A 18. 13 Johnson, Ste-J-2: A 16. 10 B-R-2: A15.08 Rodes, Do-R-2, Da-R-2, Early, E-2,2 Corps Supply, 2 Corps Artillery: in column along Orange Turnpike, head of column at edge of Sander's Field (A 16.09)
1st NC Cav: Anywhere along Culpeper Mine Ford Road

Orders: See 6.0c.

New Reinforcements:
10:30 a.m. Entry Hex G: Lee, ANV HQ, ANV Supply, Hill, 3 Corps HQ, 3 Corps Supply, 3 Corps Artillery, Heth, H-3, Wilcox, W-3;
Orders: Advance and seize the Brock Road Crossing

Scenario 9: The Situation at Daybreak

First Turn: 7:30 a.m., 5 May
Last Turn: 7:00 p.m., 7 May
Scenario Length: 102 turns
Maps Used: Both

Union Information:
Set Up: Warren, 5 Corps HQ: A32.06 5 Corps Supply: A38.06 Griffin, 1-5: w/i 2 A24.08 Robinson, 2-5: in column along Germanna Plank Road, head of column at A37.08 Crawford, 3-5, D6(2): w/i 2 Chewning Farm
Wadsworth, 4-5: in column along trail, head of column at B 13.33
5 Corps Artillery (-2 gun points) w/i I A32.05
Sedgwick, 6 Corps HQ, 6 Corps Supply, 6 Corps Artillery: w/i 2 A27.31
Wright, 1-6(-4-1-6): w/i 2 A27.31
Getty, 2-6: in column along Germanna Plank Road, head of column immediately behind Robinson and 2-5
5th NY Cav: Parker's Store

Orders:
6 Corps is under orders to move to the intersection of the Germanna Plank Road and the Orange Turnpike (A37.08) and await further orders.
5 Corps has no orders.

New Reinforcements:
8:00 a.m.: Ricketts, 3-6, Entry Hex C; Orders: Hold position near A27.31 until 1:30 p.m.
9:00 a.m., Entry Hex C: Grant, AUS HQ
11:30 a.m., Entry Hex F: Hancock, 2 Corps HQ; Orders: Take charge of any troops near the Brock Road Crossing and hold the position.

Confederate Information:

Set Up:
1st NC Cav: Anywhere along the Culpeper Mine Ford Road Orders: none

New Reinforcements:
7:30 a.m., Entry Hex B: Ewell, 2 Corps HQ, 2 Corps Supply, 2 Corps Artillery, Johnson, J-2, Rodes, B-R-2, Do-R-2, Da-R-2, Early, E-2; Orders: Take up and hold a position across the Orange Turnpike and await further orders.
10:30 a.m., Entry Hex G: Lee, ANV HQ, ANV Supply, Hill, 3 Corps HQ, 3 Corps Supply, 3 Corps Artillery, Heth, H-3, Wilcox , W-3; Orders: Advance and seize the Brock Road Crossing.