Background In early March of 1865, Major General William T. Sherman's victorious army advanced through North Carolina, putting everything to the torch. The important center of Fayetteville was razed on March 11th and once its destruction was complete, Sherman split his army into two columns; one a feint, moved towards Raleigh while the other made for Goldsboro. Opposing Sherman, the Confederates had Joseph E. Johnston and a hodge-podge of units, including the remnants of the once mighty army of Tennessee, cannon-less artillerymen, and boys and old men. Johnston knew the Federals had diverged and planned to attack the Raleigh column once it was out of support distance of the other column. A holding action was fought by Hardee's Corps at Averasboro, while Johnston gathered his disparate command for the real battle. Sherman was over-confident and although informed of the action at Averasboro, took no notice. The Raleigh column of General Henry W. Slocum continued its march. Sound of Musketry At 5:00 am on March 19th, the sound of musketry heralded in the battle of Bentonville. Slocum's lead division deployed and brushed away a screen of Rebel cavalry until his men were surprised by an entrenched line of silent Confederates. A withering volley sent Slocum's men scurrying rearward. As reinforcements arrived, the Federals focused all their intentions on breaching this new Confederate line of battle. At 2:45 pm, Johnston's right wing, (reinforced by Hardee's men, who had remained hidden until this time) now fell with devastating ferocity on the Union left. Another Shiloh seemed to be in the making, but once again, terrain, disorganization, and a few desperate pockets of resistance worked against a decisive Confederate victory. By 5:30 pm, the Union line had stabilized and easily held back the final tenacious assaults of a tired and exhausted Confederate army. Bentonville was another bone of contention for the Confederacy's most controversial general, Braxton Bragg. Bragg, in command of the Rebel left, became so worried for his position that he insisted he could not hold without adequate reserves. Thus, Johnston dispatched McLaw's division to Bragg's assistance instead of further strengthening his right. This proved unnecessary and only served to weaken Johnston's hammer blow against the surprised Federals. Bentonville covered the Rebels with as much glory as Bull Run, Chickamauga, etc. Even with the end of the war in sight, Joe Johnston and his men had outmaneuvered and almost outfought Sherman, the master of maneuver himself, and his Atlanta veterans. Federal losses at Bentonville were put at 1,527 killed, wounded, and captured; the Confederates suffered losses of 2,463. The Wargame At first glance this looks like a very big game. In truth, once regimental complements have been studied, especially Confederate ones, it will be seen that amalgamations should bring down the number of units required. In the case of Loring and Walthall, I have already done this. Any units which are under 100 men should be joined with others from the same higher organization. McLaw's Confederate division was meant to take part in Hardee's attack, but instead was diverted at Bragg's request. However, it took McLaws so long to march through the coarse terrain that he took no significant part in the battle and arrived long after Bragg's line had repulsed the Federal assault. For this reason I have not included McLaws in the game's deployment. However, if the game were to last long enough, there may be an opportunity for using this division, so I have included it in the order of battle. McLaws would have started arriving on the Bentonville Road about noon and would then have proceeded towards the rear of Hoke's Division. Another way to simulate this is that McLaws arrives deployed for battle directly behind Hoke at 2:00 pm. The Rebel horse artillery was withdrawn on the arrival of McLaws, so it should be pulled out no later than 2:00 pm. Needless to say, it's very hard to set up an ambush on a wargames table. To this end, I would offer the following suggestions. Don't let the Union players see the scenario or tell them anything about the real battle. Do not deploy any Confederate units west of Loring's Division, these units appearing only if discovered by Union troops coming upon their position or if revealed voluntarily by the Confederate player. Alternatively, one could completely remove the terrain consisting of the top line of squares on the battle map, adding a further line of wooded terrain to the bottom of the map. At 2:45 pm, allow the arrival on the northern edge of all the forces cut off by the map to change along with Taliaferro's Division. Should any Federal players complain, they could be silenced by explaining that this is exactly what did happen. The 21st Ohio Regiment carries Colt repeating rifles. These are classed as poor/breechloaders due to the rifles' unreliable mechanism. Deployment As per the map, Hoke's Division lies behind light works. The rest of the Confederate army is defended by hasty works. Taliaferro's Division arrives on the line A-B in any formation at 2:00 pm. One division of the Federal 14th Army Corps is already deployed with the second division arriving on the Goldsboro Road ready to attack Hoke. Robinson's Brigade (with Generals Williams and Jackson) arrives on the Goldsboro Road at 1:00 pm, Selfridge arrives at 2:15 pm, and Hawley arrives with the artillery at 3:00 pm. The 101st Illinois Regiment of Robinson's Brigade turns up late at 5:00 pm. Terrain Almost the complete area is covered in light woods interspersed with rough swamps or creeks. All roads except the main Goldsboro and Bentonville highways are treated as trails. The slopes around the Morris and Harper houses are broken. Victory Conditions The Confederates must inflict overall 40 percent losses on the Federals. The Federals in turn must inflict 40 percent losses on the Rebels and must capture Hoke's earthworks. Order of Battle Union Left Wing, Army of Georgia Brig. Gen. H. W. Slocum, average, +2 14th Army Corps Brig. Gen. J. C. Davis, average, +2 1st Division Brig. Gen. W. P. Carlin, average, +2 1st Brigade (Right Wing) Lt. Col. C. E. Briant, average, +1 88th Ind., 280 men, RM, average 33rd Ohio, 300 men, RM, average 94th Ohio, 300 men, RM, average 1st Brigade (Left wing) Lt. Col. M. H. Fitch, average, +1 104th Ill., 180 men, RM, average 42nd Ind., 240 men, RM, average 21st Wis., 240 men, RM, average 2nd Brigade Col. G. P. Buell, average, +1 13th Mich., 540 men, RM, average 21st Mich., 480 men, RM, average 69th Ohio, 480 men, RM, average 3rd Brigade Lt. Col. D. Miles, average, +1 38th Ind., 240 men, RM, average 21st Ohio, 240 men, RM(p), average 79th Penn., 240 men, RM, average Artillery Battery C, 1st Ill., 4 x 3" R, average 19th Ind. Battery, 4 x 12lb. N, average 2nd Division Brig. Gen. J. D. Morgan, average, +2 1st Brigade Brig. Gen. W. Vandever, average, +1 16th Ill., 420 men, RM, average 60th Ill., 440 men, RM, average 10th Mich., 400 men, RM, average 14th Mich., 420 men, RM, average 17th N.Y., 360 men, RM, average 2nd Brigade Brig. Gen. J. G. Mitchell, average, +1 34th Ill., 260 men, RM, average 78th Ill., 300 men, RM, average 98th Ohio, 260 men, RM, average 108th Ohio, 280 men, RM, average 113th Ohio, 200 men, RM, average 121st Ohio, 260 men, RM, average 3rd Brigade Col. B. D. Fearing, average, +1 86th Ill., 300 men, RM, average 110th Ill., 120 men, RM, average 125th Ill., 320 men, RM, average 22nd Ind., 300 men, RM, average 52nd Ohio, 320 men, RM, average Artillery Battery I, 2nd Ill., 4 x 3" R, average 20th Army Corps Brig. Gen. A. S. Williams, average, +2 1st Division Brig. Gen. N. J. Jackson, average, +1 1st Brigade Col. J. L. Selfridge, average, +1 5th Conn., 320 men, RM, average 123rd N.Y., 300 men, RM, average 141st N.Y., 340 men, RM, average 2nd Brigade Col. W. Hawley, average, +1 2nd Mass., 300 men, RM, average 13th N.J., 340 men, RM, average 107th N.Y., 300 men, RM, average 150th N.Y., 320 men, RM, average 3rd Wis., 340 men, RM, average 3rd Brigade Brig. Gen. J. S. Robinson, average, +1 82nd Ill., 320 men, RM, average 101st Ill., 340 men, RM, average 143rd N.Y., 300 men, RM, average 61st Ohio, 300 men, RM, average 82nd Ohio, 300 men, RM, average 31st Wis., 380 men, RM, average Artillery Battery M, 1st N.Y., 4 x 12lb. N, average Battery C, 1st Ohio, 4 x 12lb. N, average Confederate Gen. Joseph Johnston, average, +2 Hardee's Corps Lt. Gen. W. J. Hardee, average, +2 McLaws' Division Brig. Gen. L. McLaws, superior, +2 Blanchard's Brigade Brig. Gen. A .G. Blanchard, average, +1 1st Btn. S.C. Reserves, 140 men, RM, green 2nd Btn. S.C. Reserves, 120 men, RM, green 6th Btn. S.C. Reserves, 180 men, RM, green 7th Btn. S.C. Reserves, 80 men, RM, green Conner's Brigade Brig. Gen. J. D. Kennedy, average, +1 2nd S.C., 240 men, RM, elite 3rd S.C. Btn./8th S.C., 220 men, RM, elite 3rd S.C., 300 men, RM, elite 7th S.C., 260 men, RM, elite 15th S.C., 200 men, RM, elite 20th S.C., 300 men, RM, elite Harrison's Brigade Col. J. P. Harrison, Jr., average, +1 5th Ga., 280 men, RM, average 32nd Ga., 560 men, RM, average 47th Ga., 200 men, RM, average Fiser's Brigade Col. J. C. Fiser, average, +1 1st Ga. (Regulars), 60 men, RM, average 2nd Btn. Ga. Res./6th Ga. Res., 240 men, RM, green 27th Ga., 460 men, RM, average Brook's Artillery Battalion Anderson's Ga. Battery, 4 x 12 lb. N, average Brook's Ga. Battery, 4 x 12 lb. N, average Taliaferro's Division Maj. Gen. W. B. Taliaferro, average, +2 Elliott's Brigade Brig. Gen. S. Elliott, Jr., average, +1 22nd Ga. Art. Btn., 460 men, RM, green 28th Ga. Btn., 440 men, RM, average 2nd S.C. Art., 480 men, RM, green Hanleiter's S.C. Art. Btn., 240 men, RM, green Rhett's Brigade Col. W. Butler, average, +1 1st S.C. (Regulars), 300 men, RM, average 1st S.C. Heavy Art., 300 men, RM, green 15th S.C. Btn. Heavy Art., 200 men, RM, green Rhett's Artillery Battalion Le Gardeur's La. Battery, 2 x 12 lb. N, average Stuart's S.C. Battery, 1 x 12 lb. H, average Army of Tennessee Lt. Gen. A. P. Stewart, average, +2 Cheatham's Corps Maj. Gen. W. B. Bate, average, +2 Cleburne's Division Brig. Gen. J. A. Smith, average, +2 Govan's Brigade Col. P.V. Govan, average, +1 1/2/5/13th, 6/7th, 8/19th, 15/24th Ark., 200 men, RM average Smith's Brigade Capt. J.R. Bonner, average, +1 1st, 54th, 57th, 63rd Ga., 300 men, RM, average Bate's Division Col. D. L. Kenan, average, +1 Finley's Brigade Lt. Col. E. Washburn, average, +1 1/3rd 1st Cav. (dismounted.) 6th, 7th Fla., 200 men, RM, average Tyler's Brigade Maj. W. H. Wilkinson, average, +1 4th Btn. Ga. Sharpshooters, 37th Ga., 2/20/30/37th, 10/15th Tenn., 260 men, RM, average Stewart's Corps Maj. Gen. W. W. Loring, average, +2 Loring's Division Col. J. Jackson, average, +1 Featherston's Brigade Maj. M. A. Oatis, average, +1 1st, 3rd, 22nd, 31st, 33rd, 40th Miss., 1st Miss. Btn., 100 men, RM, average Adam's Brigade Col. R. Harrison, average, +1 14th, 15th, 20th, 23rd, 43rd Miss., 120 men, RM, average Scott's Brigade Capt. J. A. Dixon, average, +1 27th/35/49th, 55th, 57th Al., 12th La., 100 men, RM, average Walthall's Division Maj. Gen. E. C. Walthall, average, +2 Reynold's Brigade Brig. Gen. D. H. Reynolds, average, +1 1st Ark. Mtd. Rifles, 2nd Ark. Mtd. Rifles, 4th, 9th, 35th Ark., 120 men, average Quarles's Brigade Brig. Gen. G. D. Johnston, average, +1 1st, 17/29th Al., 42/46/48/49/53/55th Tenn., 120 men, RM average Lee's Corps Maj. Gen. D. H. Hill, superior, +2 Stevenson's Division Maj. Gen. C. L. Stevenson, average, +2 Palmer's Brigade Brig. Gen. J. B. Palmer, average, +1 58th N.C., 300 men, RM average 54th Va., 200 men, RM, average 63rd Va./60th N.C., 200 men, average 3/18/26/32/45 Tenn./23rd Tenn. Btn., 60 men, RM, average Clayton's Division Maj. Gen. H. D. Clayton, average, +2 Stovall's Brigade Col. H.C. Kellogg, average, +1 40th, 41st, 42nd, 43rd Ga., 480 men, RM, average Jackson's Brigade Lt. Col. O. Kyle, average, +1 1st Conf./66th, 25/1st Ga. Btn. Sharpshooters, 29th/30th Ga., 180 men, RM, average Baker's Brigade Brig. Gen. A. Baker, average, +1 37th, 40th, 42nd, 54th Al., 600 men, RM, average Pettus's Brigade Brig. Gen. E. W. Pettus, average, +1 20th, 23rd, 30th, 31st, 46th Al., 480 men, RM, average Hill's Division Col. J. G. Coltart, average, +1 Manigualt's Brigade Lt. Col. J. C. Carter, average, +1 24th, 24th, Al., 10th, 19th S.C., 340 men, RM, average Deas' Brigade Col. H. T. Toulmin, average, +1 19th, 22nd, 25th, 39th, 50th Al., 300 men, RM, average Department of North Carolina Gen. B. Bragg, average, +1 Hoke's Division Maj. Gen. R. F. Hoke, average, +2 Clingman's Brigade Brig. Gen. T. L. Clingman, average, +1 8th N.C., 160 men, RM, average 31st N.C., 140 men, RM, average 51st N.C., 180 men, RM, average 61st N.C., 160 men, RM, average Colquitt's Brigade Brig. Gen. A. H. Colquitt, average, +1 6th Ga., 260 men, RM, average 19th Ga., 300 men, RM, average 23rd Ga., 240 men, RM, average 27th Ga., 200 men, RM, average 28th Ga., 280 men, RM, average Hagood's Brigade Brig. Gen. J. Hagood, average, +1 36/40th N.C., 60 men, RM, average 7th S.C. Btn., 240 men, RM, average 11th S.C., 300 men, RM, average 21st S.C., 100 men, RM, average 25th S.C., 100 men, RM, average 27th S.C., 360 men, RM, average Kirkland's Brigade Brig. Gen. W. W. Kirkland, average, +1 17th N.C., 380 men, RM, average 42nd N.C., 340 men, RM, average 50th N.C., 300 men, RM, average 66th N.C., 400 men, RM, average 1st Brigade Junior Reserves Brig. Gen. L..S. Baker, average, +1 1st N.C. Junior Reserves, 400 men, RM, green 2nd N.C. Junior Reserves, 380 men, RM, green 3rd N.C. Junior Reserves, 420 men, RM, green Starr's Artillery Btn. Atkin's N.C. Battery, 4 x 12 lb. H, average Paris' Va. Battery, 4 x 12 lb. N, average Horse Artillery Hart's S.C. Battery, 2 x 12 lb N, 2 x 10 lb. P, elite Earle's Battery, 1 x 12 lb N, 2 x 12 lb. H, 1 x 10 lb. P, elite Large Map (very slow: 105K) Jumbo Map (very slow: 391K) Back to The Zouave Vol VIII No. 2 Table of Contents Back to The Zouave List of Issues Back to Master Magazine List © Copyright 1994 The American Civil War Society This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com