During 1864, Ulysses S. Grant planned to defeat the Confederacy by a series of powerful offensives. One of the most important missions, the capture of the Rebel capital, was given to Major General Benjamin Butler. Butler's newly formed Army of the James was to land at Bermuda Hundred and strike swiftly inland. The initial landings went according to plan.

Unfortunately for the Union cause, Butler became confused about his objective and spent almost a week in fruitless skirmishing with a growing Confederate resistance. By May, 12, Butler was prepared to advance on Richmond. He left a covering force facing Petersburg and moved with the remainder of his forces on the Rebel stronghold at Drewry's Bluff.

As the Federals blundered towards the Drewry's Bluff fortifications, Beauregard had gathered enough strength to begin thinking about taking the offensive. An audacious plan to destroy Butler's army was conceived: Beauregard would attack frontally while another Confederate force under Major General William Whiting would move on the Federal rear from Petersburg. These actions resulted in the Battle of Drewry's Bluff on May 16.

Although Whiting never did manage to seriously threaten the Union rear, Beauregard's attack so frightened Butler as to cause him to withdraw his army back towards its entrenchments at Bermuda Hundred.

THE WARGAME

The scenario is based on the Confederate assault on the Union right and center. Although the Federal left was also attacked, it was the action on the right which proved decisive in causing Butler to withdraw his forces. The action begins at 4:45 A.M. and ends at noon, by which time the Federal retreat was under way.

A heavy fog lies over the battlefield, therefore, until 8:00 A.M., visibility is reduced to four inches. From 8:00 A.M. until 9:00 A.M., this lifts to eight inches, and visibility is normal from 9:00 A.M. onwards.

General Smith ordered his units to booby-trap their fronts with telegraph wire strung just above ground level. These obstacles are considered to be one inch in depth and will be treated as rough terrain. When a unit first encounters the wire, it will halt for one move in confusion and if it fires, it will do so at half effect. Once the wire has been recognized, it will only hinder movement. Any charges across the wire will automatically disorder a unit whether the presence of the wire is known or not. The wire extends across the front of the following brigades: Sanders, Burharn, and Wistar.

DEPLOYMENT

Forces are shown on the map. Colquitt's Confederate division may enter at point B ar any time, Ransom's brigade in the front line and Colquitt's in the second. The 3rd and 142nd New York regiments arrive at point A at 8:00 A.M.

TERRAIN

All woods are light. The Confederate works are considered medium and face south and east; Burnham's brigade is therefore on the "wrong" side of the defenses.

VICTORY CONDITONS

Because of Butler's nervous disposition, he will begin to withdraw his forces. At the end of any turn, no Federal forces are north of the road running from the Friend house to eastern edge of the table. Otherwise, the Confederates must drive Weitzal's division from the field by inflicting fifty percent losses on it.

Union Order of Battle

Army of the James

Tenth Army Corps

Second Division

1st Brigade
3rd New York, 400 men, RM, average
142nd New York, 700 men, RM, average
2nd Brigade: Colonel William B. Barton, average, +1
47th New York, 400 men, RM, average
48th New York, 400 men, RM, average
115th New York, 600 men, RM average
76th Penn., 600 men, RM, average
Artillery
Battery B, 1st U.S., 4 x 3" R, elite
Battery D, 1st U.S., 2 x 3" R, 2 x 12 lb. N, elite

Third Division

2nd Brigade: Colonel Jeremiah C. Drake, poor, +1
9th Maine, 300 men, RM, average
112nd New York, 600 men, RM, average

Eighteenth Army Corps

First Division: Brig. General William T. H. Brooks, average, +2

2nd Brigade: Brig. Gen. Hiram Burnham, average, +1
8th Conn., 360 men, RM, average
10th N.H., 400 men, RM, average
13th N.H., 400 men, RM, average
118th New York, 700 men, RM, average
3rd Brigade: Colonel Horace T. Sanders, average, +1
188th Penn., 600 men, RM, average
19th Wisc., 300 men, RM poor
Artillery
4th Wis., 4 x 3" R, average
Battery L, 4th U.S., 4 x 12 lb. P, elite
Battery A, 5th U.S., 4 x 12 lb. N, elite

Second Division: Brig. General Godfrey Weitzel, average, +2

1st Brigade: Brig. Gen. Charles A. Heckman, poor, +1
23rd Mass., 300 men, RM, average
25th Mass., 800 men, RM, average
27th Mass., 700 men, RM, average
9th New Jersey, 500 men, RM, average
2nd Brigade: Colonel Griffin A. Stedman, average, + 1
11th Conn., 500 men, RM, average
2nd N.H., 400 men, RM, average
12th N.H., 400 men, RM, average
148th N.Y., 600 men, RM, green
Provisional Brigade: Colonel Fredenck F. Wead, average, + 1
21st Conn., 400 men, RM, average
8rh Maine, 360 men, RM, average
12th New York, 500 men, RM, average
Artillery
Battery E, 3rd N.Y., 4 x 20 lb. P, average
Battery F, 1st R.I., 4 x 12 lb. N, average
Battery D, 4th U.S., 4 x 10 lb. P, elite

CONFEDERATE ORDER 0F BATTLE

Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia

Ransom's Division

Barton's Brigade: Colonel Birkett D. Fry, average +1
9th Va., 260 men, RM, average
14th Va., 320 men, RM, average
38th Va., 300 men, RM, average
53rd Va., 400 men, RM, average
57th Va., 300 men, RM, average

Gracie's Brigade: Brig. Gen. Archibald Gracie, Jr., average, +1

41st Ala., 400 men, SB, average
43rd Ala., 500 men, SB, average
59th Ala., 400 men, SB, average
60th Ala., 500 men, SB, average
23rd Ala. Sharpshooter Bttn., 200 men, RM, average

Kemper's Brigade: Colonel William R Terry, average, + 1

1st Va., 200 men, RM, average
7th Va., 200 men, RM, average
11th Va., 240 men, RM, average
24th Va., 260 men, RM, average

Hoke's Brigade: Colonel William G. Lewis, average, + 1

21st Ga., 240 men, RM, average
21st N.C., 300 men, SB, average
43rd N.C., 200 men, RM, average
54th N.C., 600 men, RM, average
57th N.C., 100 men, RM, average
1st N.C. Sharpshooter Bttn., 100 men, RM, average

Lightfoot's Artillery Battalion

Surry Va. Art., 2 x 12 lb. N, 2 x 3" R,
2 x 10 lb. P, average
2nd Nelson Art., 4 x 12 lb. H, average
Caroline Va. Art., 4 x 12 lb. N, average
Richmond Fayette Va. Art., 4 x 12 lb. N, average

Hoke's Division

Johnson's Brigade: Brig. General Bushrod R. Johnson, average, + 1

17th and 23rd Tenn., 340 men, SB, average
15th and 44th Tenn., 360 men, RM, average
53rd Tenn., 360 men, RM, average

Hagood's Brigade: Brig. General Johnson Hagood, average, + 1

11th S.C., 400 men, SB, average
21st S.C., 460 men, RM, average
25th S.C., 460 men, RM, average
27th S.C., 600 men, RM, average
7th S.C. Bttn., 400 men, RM, average

Washington Artillery Battalion

1st Co. Washington La. Art., 2 x 12 lb. N, elite
2nd Co. Washington La. Art., 2 x 12 lb. H, 2 x 12 lb. N, elite

Colquitt's Division

Colquitt's Brigade

6th Ga., 300 men, RM, average
19th Ga., 200 men, RM, average
23rd Ga., 400 men, RM, average

Ransom's Brigade: Brig. General Matthew W. Ransom, average, + 1

24th N.C., 560 men, RM, average
25th N.C., 500 men, RM, average
35th N.C., 600 men, RM, average
49th N.C., 500 men, RM, average
56th N.C., 400 men, RM, average

Artillery

Richmond Fayette Va. Art., 4 x 12 lb. N, average

Battle Report (Vol. 12 No. 1)

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