[Editor's Note]: Dale submitted this scenario some time ago, but it was not published because of the large number of players needed. From the response we got from our reader survey, it would seem that many of you belong to gaming clubs that could, in fact, field the figures necessary, so the scenario is now included as written. It is my hope that those of you who use OTR rules sets will convert the orders of battle to fit in so that Dale's fine research can be of utmost effect.
"...The whole country can be secured and 25,000 or 30,000 will join at once."
Game Length: The game begins at 11:00 a.m. and ends after the 7:00 p.m. turn.
Union Dispositions And Appearance: The map shows where initial Union units are deployed. Figure stands may not be in front of this line or to the left or right of the marked boundary but may stack up behind the disposition line. At Stan, units are deployed in line. Units arriving always enter the table in column of companies (march column).
11:00 a.m. - Lytle's Brigade / West end of Mackville Pike 11:30 a.m. - Harris', Starkweather's, Terrill's and Webster's Brigades West end of Mackvile Pike 1:30 p.m. - Gooding's Brigade / West end of Springfield Pike 4:00 p.m. - General Gilbert West end of Springfield Pike Officers may enter with any unit of their command.
Confederate Dispositions And Appearance: The same restrictions apply to the Confederate setup as explained in the Union disposition section.
11:00a.m. - General Bragg East end of Harrodsburg Pike.
Terrain Description: All woods shown on the map are "light" woods. The hills should be considered one level higher than level ground except the hill on the west side of the Chaplin River, just NW of where "Chaplin R" is marked on the map. These were bluffs and should be considered two levels higher. The entire length of Doctors Creek is fordable. The Chaplin River is also fordable, but should be easier to cross at the fords. The corn in the cornfields should be considered deteriorating crops but "up" nonetheless.
Special Rules: In the early morning of October 8th, Sheridan's Division had made an aggressive movement and had thrown back portions of Lid/tell's Brigade. Union General Gilbert had arrived on the field and was shocked that Sheridan had pushed his line so far forward of the rest of his corps. He admonished Sheridan and ordered him back to his original start line. Sheridan was ordered not to take any action to bring on a general engagement. To simulate this, Sheridan's Division may not move from its start position unless Confederate units move within small arms range. If this happens, Sheridan's Division is released. Sheridan's -regiments may always fire to defend themselves, but until released, artillery may only fire if opposing units are within cannister range.
Victory Conditions: The side with the greater number of points at the end of the game is the winner. Points are obtained for the following:
- UNION: Each opposing infantry figure eliminated/1 point. Each opposing cavalry or artillery figure eliminated/2 points. Each opposing officer eliminated/1 points. Hold Peters Hill/15 points. Hold Bottoms Hill/3O points Hold any other hill/1O points.
CONFEDERATE: Each opposing infantry figure eliminated/1 point, cavalry or artillery figure /2 points, officer figure/1 points. Hold Bottoms Hill/1 points. Hold Peters Hi11/30 points. Hold any other hill/1 points.
"Hold" is defined as being the last to occupy or occupying with a majority of "Good" morale status infantry.
Author's Notes: Having designed many scenarios prior to this one, the first problem I ran into with Perryville was the gaming map. I began with four different sources and as usual, none of the maps were the same. I'm sure that many readers who have designed games have had the same problem. I can tell you that the map shown is as close to accurate as I can get it. For the most part, this is because of my personal visits to the field, endless hours of "battlefield tramping" and some aerial work that I did a few years ago. The Perryville State Shrine is a beautiful park and for the most part, unspoiled.
In the order of battle I have included only those units which had more than a token part in the actual combat.. Obviously, including the entire Union army wouldn't make much of a game, at least for the Confederate players. Where I use a number followed by the word "men", this is the actual number of men in the unit as indicated by my various sources. Where L use "Est." and then a number, this is a close approximation of the strength. In some instances I was only able to come up with brigade strength so this was divided equally among the regiments so, although the regimental strengths in some brigades may not be accurate, the overall brigade strength is accurate.
After an accurate map is drawn, I think the next most difficult part of designing any scenario are the victory conditions. At Perryville, as in many other battles, the objective of both commanders was the elimination of the opposing force. This is all fine and dandy, but games that have only losses as victory conditions make for fairly boring simulations since I have found that it makes the players timid. Some terrain victory conditions must be included just to encourage aggressive movements. I encourage the players to tinker with the victory conditions if they feel that it will make a better simulation. Since these simulations cannot be considered a short one by any stretch of the imagination, carefully consider the victory conditions before playing since I suspect you won't do it more than once.
As probably noted, I have not designed this game for Johnny Reb rules. There is a good reason for this - I don't use, them. I have a set of "home grown" rules that essentially uses the same ground scale as JR. but uses a 1" square stand with four~1 figures equalling 100 men. Artillery is used by battery, not sections. This is simply a tactical game that you will have to adopt to your particular rules set. With some Union regiments having 800+ men, I chuckle about seeing a JR infantry stand with 8 figures smashed onto it. Let me know how this problem is solved!
All in all, I had a very good time designing this scenario. It makes for a good Friday night/Saturday, or Saturday/Sunday game. If you've got the space, time and figures, give it a shot. I can guarantee a good time.
ARMY OF THE MISSISSIPPI
General Braxton Bragg
RIGHT WING:
Major General Leonidas Polk
Cheatham's Division: Major General Benjamin F. Cheatham
Donelson's Brigade: Brig. Genl. Daniel S. Donelson
- 8th Tenn. Est. 500 Regular Smoothbores
15th Tenn. 500 men Regular Smoothbores
16th Tenn. 400 men Regular Smoothbores
38th Tenn. 500 men Regular Smoothbores
51st Tenn. Est. 200 Regular Smoothbores
Carnes' Tenn. Battery: Regular; four 6pdr. Smoothbores
Stewart's Brigade: Brig. Genl. A.P. Stewart
- 4th Tenn. Est. 500 Regular Smoothbores
5th Tenn. Est. 600 Regular Smoothbores
24th Tenn. Est. 500 Regular Rifles
31st Tenn. Est. 200 Regular Smoothbores
33rd Tenn. Est. 400 Regular Rifles
Stanford's Miss. Battery: Regular; six 3" Ordnance Rifles
Maney's Brigade: Brig. Genl. George Maney
- 41st Georgia 300 men Green Smoothbores
1st Tenn.300 men Regular Rifles
6th Tenn. 300 men Regular Smoothbores
9th Tenn. 300 men Regular Smoothbores
27th Tenn. 210 men Regular Smoothbores
Turner's Miss. Battery: Regular; two 12 pdr. Howitzers, two 6 pdr. Smoothbores
Left Wing:
Major General William J. Hardee
Anderson's Division: Brigadier General J. Patton Anderson
Brown's Brigade: Brig. Gent. John C. Brown
- 1st Florida Est. 400 Regular Smoothbores
3rd Florida Est. 400 Green Smoothbores
41st Miss. 475 men Green Smoothbores
Palmer's Miss. Battery: Regular; four 6 pdr. Smoothhores
Powell's Brigade: Colonel Samuel Powell
- 45th Alabama Est. 200 Green Smoothbores
1st Arkansas Est. 300 Regular Rifles
24th Miss. Est. 400 Green Smoothbores
29th Tenn. Est. 400 Regular Smoothbores
Barret's Missouri Battery: Regular; four 12 pdr. Howitzers
Adams' Brigade: Brig. Genl. Daniel W. Adams
- 13th Louisiana Est. 400 Regular Smoothbores
16th Louisiana Est. 400 Regular Rifles
20th Louisiana Est. 800 Green Smoothbores
25th Louisiana Est. 700 Green Smoothbores
14th LA Bttn. Est. 300 Regular Smoothbores
Washington Artillery: Elite; four 12 pdr. Howitzers
Jones' Brigade: Colonel Thomas M. Jones
- 27th Miss. Est. 400 Green Rifles
30th Miss. Est. 200 Green Smoothbores
37th Miss. Est. 200 Green Smoothbores
Lumsden's Alabama Batty: Regular; six l2pdr. Howitz.
Buckner's Division: Major General Simon B. Buckner
Liddell's Brigade: Brig. Genl. St. John Liddell
- 2nd Arkansas 500 men Regular Smoothbores
5th Arkansas 500 men Regular Smoothbores
6th Arkansas 500 men Regular Smoothbores
7th Arkansas 500 men Regular Smoothbores
8th Arkansas 500 men Regular Smoothbores
Swett's Mississippi Battery: Elite; four 6 pdr. Smootbbores
Johnson's Brigade: Brig. Genl. Bushrod R. Johnson
- 5th Confederate Est. 500 Regular Smoothbores
17th Tenn. Est. 400 Regular Rifles
23rd Tenn. 201 men Regular Smoothbores
25th Tenn. Est. 300 Regular Smoothbores
37th Tenn. 230 men Regular Smoothbores
44th Tenn. Est. 400 Regular Rifles
Darden's Miss. Battery: Elite; four 12 pdr. Howitzers
Cleburne's Brigade: Brig. Genl. Patrick R. Cleburne
- 13th Arkansas 300 men Elite Rifles
15th Arkansas 300 men Elite Smoothbores
2nd Tenn. 200 men Elite Smoothbores
Calvert's Arkansas Btty.: Elite; six 6pdr. Smoothbores
Wood's Brigade: Brig. Gent. S.A.M. Wood
- 16th Alabama Est. 600 Regular Rifles
33rd Alabama 500 men Regular Smoothbores
3rd Confederate Est. 40() Regular Rifles
45th. Miss. Est. 200 Regular Smoothbores
15th Btn. Miss. Sharpshooters Est. 200 Reg. Rifles
Semple's Alabama Batty.: Elite; six 12 pdr. Napoleons
Wheeler's Cavalry:
- 1st Alabama 100 men Elite Smoothbores
3rd Alabama 100 men Elite Smoothbores
6th Confederate 50 ment Elite Smoothbores
2nd Georgia 100 ment Elite Smoothbores
1st Kentucky 50 men Elite Smoothbores
ARMY OF THE OHIO
Major General Don Carlos Buell
Major General George H. Thomas, Second In Command
First Army Corps
Major General Alexander M. McCook
Third Division Brigadier General Lovell H. Rousseau
9th Brigade: Col. Leonard A. Harris
- 38th Indiana 500 men Green Smoothbores
2nd Ohio 600 men Regular Rifles
33rd Ohio 400 men Green Rifles
94th Ohio 500 men Green Smoothbores
10th Wisconsin 376 men Green Smoothbores
5th Battery Indiana L.A.: Regular; six l0pdr. Parrotts
17th Brigade: Col. William H. Lytle
- 42nd Indiana 500 men Green Smoothbores
88th Indiana Est. 400 Green Smoothbores
15th Kentucky Est. 700 Green Smoothbores
3rd Ohio 500 men Regular Rifles
10th Ohio Est. 600 Regular Smoothbores
1st Batty. Michigan L.A.: Regular; four 10 pdr. Parrotts
28th Brigade: Col. John C. Starkweather
- 24th Illinois Est. 600 Green Rifles
79th Penn. Est. 600 Green Rifles
1st Wisc. Est. 600 Green Smoothbores
21st Wisc. Est. 500 Green Smoothbores
4th Battery Indiana Light Artillery: Regular, four 20 pdr. Parrotts
Battery A, Kentucky Light Artillery: Regular; four 6pdr. Smoothbores
Tenth Division Brigadier General James S. Jackson
33rd Brigade: Brig. Genl. William R. Terrill
- 80th Illinois 659 men Green Smoothbores
123rd Illinois 772 men Green Rifles
Garrard's Detachment 194 men Green Rifles
105th Ohio 645 men Green Smoothbores
Parson's Btty: Regular; six 12 pdr. Napoleons, two 10 pdr. James Rifles
34th Brigade: Col. George Webster
- 80th Indiana 738 men Green Smoothbores
50th Ohio 655 men Green Smoothbores
98th Ohio 872 men Green Rifles
121st Ohio 814 men Green Rifles
19th Indiana Btty. L.A.: Regular; six 10 pdr. Parrotts
THIRD ARMY CORPS
Major General Charles C. Gilbert
Ninth Division: Brigadier General Robert B. Mitchell
13th Brigade: Col. Michael Gooding
- 59th Illinois 325 men Green Smoothbores
75th Illinois 700 men Green Smoothbores
22nd Indiana 300 men Regular Rifles
5th Wisconsin Battery: Regular; six 10 pdr. Parrotts
11th Division: Brigadier General Philip H. Sheridan
35th Brigade: Lt. Col. Bernard Laiboldt
- 44th Illinois Est. 700 Elite Rifles
73rd Illinois Est. 500 Green Rifles
2nd Missouri est. 700 Elite Smoothbores
15th Missouri Est. 400 elite Rifles
36th Brigade: Col. Daniel McCook
- 85th Illinois Est. 200 regular
86th Illinois Est. 400 Green
125th Illinois Est. 400 Green
52nd Ohio Est. 600 Regular
37th Brigade: Col. Nicholas Greusel
- 36th Illinois Est. 700 Elite Rifles
88th Illinois Est. 700 Green Rifles
21st Michigan Est. 400 Green Rifles
24th Wisconsin Est. 600 Green Smoothbores
Battery I, 2nd Illinois Light Artillery: Regular; four 10 pdr. Parrotts
Battery G, 1st Missouri Light Artillery: Regular; six 12 pdr. Wiard Rifles
CAVALRY: Captain Ebenezer Gay
- 9th Kentucky Cav 500 men Green Carbines
2nd Michigan Cav. 350 men Green Carbines
9th Penn. Cav. 500 men Green Carbines
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