Battle of Plains Store, 1863 A Fire & Fury Scenario

Battle of Plains Store
1863

A Fire & Fury Scenario

by David W. Couvillon

In May of 1863, the campaign at Vicksburg was moving to a siege. The Confederacy had two significant forces on the Mississippi River. One was at Vicksburg and the other was a heavily defended prominence on the Mississippi, Port Hudson Louisiana. Major General Franklin Gardner, C.S.A. commanded the sprawling fortifications and successfully halted the Union navy from going any further upriver. His force never exceeded 7000 men.

The Union commander, Major General Nathaniel Banks, had significant forces returning from the disastrous Red River Campaign, as well as a large army in Baton Rouge. The beleaguered Confederates at Port Hudson would eventually face over 130,000 men in blue at Port Hudson. By linking up the Union forces coming down the Red River with the forces moving north from Baton Rouge, General Banks wanted to make short work of Port Hudson, then move on to "save the day" at Vicksburg.

This Fire and Fury scenario is based on the small action that took place at Plains, Louisiana on May 21, 1863. The set-up positions are accurate. The Confederates halted the Union column for a short time, but overwhelming numbers forced the tiny Rebel contingent to withdraw to the fortifications at Port Hudson. This game proposes a "what if?" question. General Gardner had been ordered to abandon the fort at Port Hudson and make his way to Jackson, Mississippi.

He ignored this order. But, if General Gardner had heeded his orders, could he have escaped?

Map

Large Map (slow: 80K)

Jumbo Map (huge: 459K)

Ground Rules addendum to Fire & Fury

1. Plains-Port Hudson/Plains-Clinton Road is considered sunken with appropriate defensive modifier.

2. All units entering the playing surface must be in column. Union forces must remain in column (Augur's Division) until initial contact is made with the enemy (i.e. fired upon), then must take a surprise roll (roll 1 d10; 1-4 adds +1 to Confederate die roll on Fire Table, one time only).

3. All woods are heavy.

4. Fording steams/bayous within woods have a penalty of 3x the movement factor for infantry and cavalry.

5. Artillery may not ford streams/bayous in woods.

6. All streams/bayous not in woods are fordable at the standard penalty.

Union Order of Battle

Corps Commander: Major General Nathaniel P. Banks

Augur's Division: General Christopher Augur

Grover's Division: Brigadier General Cuvier Grover

Paine's Division: Brigadier General Halbert E. Paine

Sherman's Division: Brigadier General Thomas W. Sherman (e)

Grierson's Cavalry Brigade: Colonel Benjamin H. Grierson

Cavalry 11/8/6 BLC

Total Union Stands Required:

Confederate Order of Battle

Division Commander: Major General Franklin Gardner (e)

Miles' Legion: Colonel William Miles

Buford's Brigade: Colonel Buford

Infantry 8/6/4 Watson's Louisiana Battery 1 stand

Rust's Brigade: Colonel Rust

Gregg's Brigade: Colonel I.G.W. Steadman

Beall's Brigade: Brigadier General William Beall

Maxey's Brigade: Colonel S. A. Whiteside

Louisiana Partisan Rangers

Cavalry 4/3/3

Stuart's Louisiana Cavalry

Cavalry 8/6/4 (e)

Total Confederate Stands Required:

Confederate Instructions

Confederate Set Up:

One stand and one battery of Miles' Legion are located within 6" of the Plains-Port Hudson and Bayou Sara Road crossroads.

All Confederate reinforcements (except cavalry) must enter the board from the west on the Plains-Port Hudson Road.

Confederate cavalry may enter the board anywhere between the Port Hudson-Clinton Railroad and Plains-Clinton Road, inclusive.

Confederate Reinforcement Table

Confederate Mission:

Exit as many units as possible off the east side of the board between the Port Hudson-Clinton Railroad and Plains-Clinton Road, inclusive.

Confederate Victory Conditions:

Prevent Union control of the Plains Store Crossroad through 1530. Exit 50% of forces off east side of board between the Port Hudson-Clinton Railroad and Plains-Clinton Road, inclusive.

Union Instructions

Union Set Up:

All Union forces must enter the board from the south on Bayou Sara Road.

Union Reinforcement Table:

Union Mission:

Cut off the Confederate evacuation of Port Hudson. Cut the Port Hudson-Clinton Railroad. Link with the main Union Army coming from the Red River.

Union Victory Conditions:

Have one brigade stationary on the railroad for 2 full turns. Do not allow any Confederate infantry or artillery forces to exit of the east side of the board; OR, destroy 51% of Confederate forces. Exit at least one brigade off the north end of the board.

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