BACKGROUND
In August 1861 the Union army of General Nathanial Lyon surprised the combined Confederate forces of Ben McCulloch and Sterling Price encamped along the banks of Wilson's Creek Missouri. The ensuing battle was a hard fought affair and a narrow victory for the Rebels.
NOTES
The scenario covers the period 8 am till 12:30 pm, this does not include the initial Federal attacks which cleared "Bloody Hill" and broke up the Rebel cavalry. This is also the reason why almost no Confederate cavalry are used in this action, the survivors were either dispersed or joined the infantry line. The Rebel artillery will run out of ammunition on a roll of four or less, they were reduced to using smooth stones in order to boost their supply. The larger Union regiments can be divided into two self-contained units before the battle starts in order to recreate the use of company counterattacks. In order to keep a historic balance while allowing some gaming initiative, Sigel can only advance off his plateau if a die throw of six is obtained at the beginning of a turn.
TERRAIN
The entire region is counted as broken due to the large amount of brush present, this also makes all hill slopes rough, except the one on which Sigel is marshalled. Wilson's Creek and Skegg's Branch are both rough, although the former can be crossed as broken at the ford.
DEPLOYMENT
Everyone except Greer and the 1st Cavalry (Confederate) are already deployed on the map. Greer's counterattack arrives at point 'A' at 10:00 am, and must remain mounted. Officers attend their formations. The artillery unit marked Sokalski is a section from Totten's battery.
VICTORY CONDITIONS
The Federal's were fairly aggressive in this confrontation so must inflict a 40% loss on the Confederates, otherwise have the greater number of unrouted units holding the brow of "Bloody Hill" at the end of the scenario. The Rebels have to win the field completely by wreaking 60% casualties on the Federals causing them to withdraw or drive them from their position on the edge of the hill.
ORDER OF BATTLE
UNION
Army of the West Brig-Gen. N. Lyon, average +2, 5 pts
- 1st Brigade Maj. S.D. Sturgis, average +1,
3 pts
-
Bttn. 1st U.S. Inf. 360 men, RM, average
Bttn. 2nd Mo. 200 men, RM, green
Home Guard 200 men, RM, militia
Totten's Bty: 2x6lb SB, lxl2lb H, average
3rd Brigade Lt-Col. G.L. Lawrence, average +1, 3 pts
- 1st Mo. 900 men, RM, green
Bttn. 2nd U.S. Inf. 300 men, RM, average
Du Bois Bty: 1x6lb SB, 1xl2lb H, green
4th Brigade Col. G.W. Deitzler, average +1, 3 pts
- 1st Kan. 800 men, RM, green
2nd Kan. 600 men, RM, green
1st Io. 900 men, RM, green
Command totals (will depend on whether units split or not)
Detached
- 2nd Brigade Col. F. Sigel, average +1, 3 pts
- 3rd Mo. 700 men, RK green
5th Mo. 600 men, RM, green
Co.'I' 1st U.S.Cav. and Co. 'C' 2nd U.S. Dragoons 120 men, MLC, average
Backoff's Bty: 1x6lb SB, 2x12lb H, grew
Command totals (will depend on whether units split or not)
CONFEDERATE
The Confederate Army Brig-Gen. B. McCulloch, average +2, 5 pts
-
McCulloch's Brigade
- 3rd La. 700 men, RM, average
3rd Ark. Bttn. 220 men, RM, average
2nd Ark. Mtd. Rifles, 400 men, RM, green*
South Kan.-Tex. Mtd. (Greer) 400 men, Sh, green
Pearce's Brigade Brig-Gen. N.B. Pearce, average +1, 3 pts
- 1st Cavalry, 140 men, RM, green
3rd Ark. 500 men, RM, average
Sth Ark. 660 men, RM, average
4th Ark. 540 men, RM, average
Woodruff's Bty: 1x6lb SB, 1xl2lb H, green
Reid's Bty: 1x6lb SB, 1x12lb H, green
Command total 28: 40% = 11, 60% = 16
Missouri State Guard Maj-Gen. S. Price, average +2, 5 pts
- Rains' Division Brig-Gen. J.S. Rains,
average +2, 5 pts
- 1st Brigade Col. R.H. Weightman,
average + 1, 3 pts
- 1st Mo. 260 men, SB(p), green
2nd Mo. 200 men, SB(p), green
3rd Mo. 300 men, SB(p), green
4th Mo. 280 men, SB(p), green
5th Mo. 260 men, SB(p), green
Bledsoe's Bty.: 2x6lb SB, green
2nd Brigade Col. J. Cawthorn, average + 1, 3 pts
- Peyton's Mtd. Inf 400 men, SB(p),
green*
Parson's Division Brig-Gen. M.M. Parsons, average +1, 3 pts
- Kelly's Inf. 140 men, SB(p), green
Guibor's Bty: 2x6lb SB, green
Clark's Division Brig-Gen. J.B. Clark, average +1, 3 pts
- Burbridge's Inf 280 men, SB(p),
green
Stack's Division Brig-Gen. W.Y. Slack, average +1, 3 pts
- Hughes Inf. and Thornton's Inf 640 men,
SB(p), green
McBride's Division Brig-Gen. J.H. McBride, average +1, 3 pts
- Wingo's Inf 300 men, SB(p), green
Foster's Inf. 300 men, SB(p), green
Command total 54 points: 40% = 21, 60%32
Key:
SB(p) Poor quality smoothbores
A Shotguns
H Howitzer
*These units remain dismounted.
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