Battle at Salem Church:

May 3, 1863

A Johnny Reb III Scenario
by John Hill


Historical Situation:

Southwest of Fredericksburg, May 3, 1863, late afternoon

As part of Hooker's grand plan at Chancellorsville, General John Sedgewick was to advance the VI corps down from Fredericksburg and attack Lee's army in the rear. After driving the Confederates from Marye's Heights, Sedgewick's three divisions moved south towards Salem Church and Chancellorsville. By late afternoon, at Salem Church, Wilcox's Confederate brigade, which had been fighting a delaying action, was joined by reserves from McLaw's division and the Rebels became dettermined to hold.

After a cautious advance, the lead Federal division, Brooks, deploying from march column, attacked with two brigades but was driven back by Wilcox and Semmes. The rebels having been reinforced by additional brigades from McLaws' and Ansderson's divisions, counterattacked across the valley but were themselves checked by the arrival of fresh Union troops. At this point, the battle ended with neither side desiring to commit additional forces. The next day, having received the news of Hooker's defeat at Chancellorsville, Sedgewick ordered the VI Corps to fall back to the Rappahannock River.

This scenario, however, assumes the Federals were more aggressive, advanced quicker, and were willing to fully commit the lead division of IV Corps--under General W.T.H. Brooks--in an attempt to push the Confederates off Salem Church ridge before the Rebels could bring up additional troops. The next day, however, little would have changed, the growing Confederate strength facing VI Corps would have still forced Sedgwick to backpedal to safety.

COMMAND LEVELS

No CSA divisional command levels. Brigade levels as so:

    If Wilcox's brigade losses 4 elements, it must withdraw.
    If Semmes or Mahone lose 3 elements, they must withdraw.
    If per the above rules any Confederate brigade is forced to withdraw, the Confederates have lost the scenario.
    All CSA officers are Level Two leaders.

UNION COMMAND LEVELS

Due to short scenario only brigade levels are used:

    If any Union brigade losses 2 elements it cannot advance.
    If it losses 3 elements it must retire to Toll House ridge.
    Brooks is a Level Two officer.
    Other officers are Level Two.

Confederate Order of Battle

Elements of Anderson's and McLaw's Divisions

Brigade: General C. Wilcox
    8th AL 12 figs Vet SMB
    9th AL 12 figs Vet SMB
    10th AL 16 figs Vet RM
    11th AL 16 figs Vet RM
    14th AL 16 figs Vet RM

    1/15th VA Cavalry 8 Figs Elite ML carbine
    Lewis's VA Battery Vet 2 sec, 10# PRT
Brigade: General P.J. Semmes
    10th GA 12 figs Elite RM
    50th GA 16 figs Vet RM
    51st GA 16 figs Vet RM
    53rd GA 16 figs Vet RM
    Manley's NC Battery Vet 2 sec, NAP
      EXTENDED SCENARIO ONLY

      Brigade: General W. Mahone

        6th VA 12 figs, Elite RM
        12th VA 16 figs, Vet RM
        16th VA 16 figs, Vet RM
        41th VA 16 figs, Vet RM
        61st VA 2o figs, Green RM

Union Order of Battle

First Division, VI Corps

General William T.H. Brooks, commanding

Brigade: General J. Bartlett

    5th ME 8 figs Elite RM
    16th ME 12 figs Vet RM
    27th NY 12 figs Vet RM
    121th NY 20 figs Vet RM
    96th PA 16 figs Vet RM

Brigade: Col. H. Brown

    1st NJ 12 figs Vet RM
    2nd NJ 16 figs Vet SMB
    3rd NJ 12 figs Vet SMB
    15th NJ 16 figs Vet RM
    23rd NJ 16 figs Vet RM

Brigade: General D. Russell

    18th NY 12 figs Vet RM
    33rd NY 16 figs Vet RM
    49th NY 16 figs Vet RM
    119th PA 20 figs Grn RM

Battalion: Major J. Tomkins (artillery officer)

    A/MA Lt. Vet 3 sec, NAP
    A/NJ Lt. Vet 3 sec, NAP
    A/MD Lt. Vet 3 sec, 10# PRT
      EXTENDED SCENARIO ONLY

      Brigade: General W. Mahone

        D/2nd US Elite 3 sec, NAP

Scenario Notes

Game can be played on either a 4' x 6' or 4' x 8' table. Basic scenario is is six turns long. Extended scenario is nine turns long. Before start of the scenario roll one die for weather. If roll is a one or two, weather has been rainy, and only the Orange Plank Road is usable as a road; then treat all other roads as open and reduce all bonus moves by one dice.

Map

For 10mm or 15mm all squares 12" by 12".
For 20mm thru 25mm all squares 18" by 18".

At Start and Extended Scenario

  • Semmes' Brigade (Confederate) enters turn 2 in march column formation.
  • Russell's Brigade (Union) starts on the board in march column formation.
  • One section of Tomkins' artillery (Union) starts limbered.
  • All other units start on table in line formation.
  • In Extended Scenario: Mahone's Brigade (Confederate) enters turn 5 in march column formation at same place as Semmes' brigade entrance point.
  • In Extended Scenario: D/2nd US's artillery (Union) enters turn 4 limbered.

Special Artillery Rules

Union artillery may not deploy off Toll House Ridge.

Artilley that fires from ridge to ridge may fire at up to 48 inches (64 inches if using 25mm) as extreme range fire. At extreme range fix count firing artillery sections at half value.

Terrain Effects

Small wood building -- treat as wood fence, 1 stand inside.

Salem Church-- 1 stand inside can fire at 1/2 value, target DRM (-2, -1 for arty), Morale Modifier (-2) for unit.

Woods - Normal woods rules

Thickets - Move as if in broken terrain, visibility 1 dice, target DRM = (-1) for all fires.

Slope - Move up as if broken terrain. Units on top can see over thickets, but not woods.

Union Victory Conditions

By the end of the sceanrio, have more units within the two fenced areas of Salem Church Ridge than do the Confederates.

Confederate Victory Conditions

By the end of the secanio, have more units within the two fenced areas of Salem Church Ridge than do the Union. If equal, game is a DRAW.

Back to The Zouave Vol. X No. 4 Table of Contents
© Copyright 1996 The American Civil War Society and © 1996 by John Hill

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