Elkhorn Tavern, 1862: A Johnny Reb Scenario

Elkhorn Tavern, 1862

A Johnny Reb Scenario

by George Anderson

Background

While Ben McCulloch's force was brought to bay at Leetown, Van Dorn and Price found their route to the rear of Curtis' Union army blocked at Elkhorn Tavern. A diverse collection of Federal units attempted to halt the Confederate advance until reinforcements could be brought up. Helped in part by a lethargic Rebel response, the Yankees fought Van Dorn to a standstill, only retiring south of the Tavern when Price's State Guard managed to overlap their right flank and threaten the Union rear.

With the close of fighting on March 7th, General Curtis and his subordinates spent much of the night assembling their far-flung forces. Also high on the agenda was making sure that their units had both something to eat and a resupply of ammunition, especially the artillery.

Surprisingly, many in the Federal army believed that the Rebels had had the best of the day's fighting. Some even broached the subject of retreat. Sam Curtis, however, was supremely confident that he would achieve victory on the 8th. The exhausted Confederates, on the other hand, took what rest they could on the ground that they'd gained on the previous night. During the early hours of the 8th, elements of McCulloch's shattered divisions arrived under Albert Pike. The unhappy soldiers congregated in the rear and collapsed on the frozen ground. Later, it was discovered that the Confederate supply trains lay some nine miles away, apparently forgotten in the rush to outmanoeuvre Curtis.

Like Curtis, Van Dorn was also confident of victory and expected a Union surrender at any moment. Instead, after one small half-hearted thrust against the Federal right, which disintegrated in a storm of artillery fire, it was the Confederates who were put under pressure. Brigadier General Franz Sigel brought all his artillery to bear on the Rebel line and commenced a withering bombardment. Shortly after that, the Yankee 1st and 2nd Divisions performed a grand right wheel and advanced towards the grey battle line.

At 10:00 pm, Van Dorn was made aware that his reserve ordnance was not within reach of the battlefield. Shaken, the Confederate commander saw no alternative but to order a withdrawal. Around noon, as the Federals took control over the contested tavern, they found the bulk of the Confederate army gone. In the confusion of battle and shielded by the terrain, the Rebels had vacated the battlefield, mostly along the Huntsville Road. Many stragglers and forgotten fighters scurried north.

There was never a proper accounting of Confederate casualties for Elkhorn Tavern, but conservative estimates put the figure at 2,000 men lost. Federal casualties were 203 killed, 980 wounded, and 201 missing.

The Wargame

The game begins at 6:30 am, as the vanguard of the 1st and 2nd Divisions arrives to deploy on the Federal left. Units which have suffered particularly badly during the fighting on the 7th have had their strengths adjusted accordingly. Four figures of the 37th Illinois have Colt repeating rifles. Confederate ammunition supply was a decisive factor in Van Dorn's decision to withdraw. Therefore, after turn four, Rebel units will run out of ammunition on a roll of five or less.

I have lowered the morale of a number of units in McCulloch's Division. The units in question had marched most of the night after the defeat at Leetown. Many had thrown away their weapons and were hungry and exhausted. I believe the ÒmilitiaÓ category will realistically reflect all these points.

The early start allows the Confederates several different options, in addition to those which were chosen historically. If, however, you wish to limit these and prefer to aim for a more historical result, use the second deployment option and start the battle at 8:00 am.

Only three Confederate batteries were actually used during the battle. Therefore, I suggest that if the Rebel player wishes to use more than this in the front line, he must throw a six on a D6 before doing so. This will not prevent batteries acting defensively if attacked or if moving to the rear.

Greene's 3rd Missouri Brigade had fought with Van Dorn on the 7th; however, I can find no mention of its position on the 8th. It would be logical to suppose it would stay with the 1st and 2nd during the night. However, it may also have just "walked off" for food or ammunition or even have been relocated back to Price. The choice is yours. If you put it on the table, deploy it behind the battle line.

And finally, the Rebel commanders who have not been rated have no morale benefits. This is to ensure that morale cannot be artificially raised, due to personal leadership.

Deployment

Option 1: Refer to the map; U.S. units arrive at Point A in the following order starting on turn one: Curtis, Sigel, Welfley's Battery, 25th Illinois, 12th Missouri, Greusel, 4th Ohio Battery, 36th Illinois, 17th Missouri, 1st Missouri Battery, 2nd Ohio Battery, 15th Missouri, 3rd Missouri, and 2nd Missouri. All Confederate batteries not shown on the map are "parked" in the grounds of the tavern. This also applies to deployment option 2. Pike and Greer's units should be assembled on the map in disorder.

Option 2: If you decide to begin the game at 8:00 pm, the 37th Illinois lines up to the left of the 59th Illinois and the following regiments extend the sequence to the west: 25th Illinois, 44th Illinois, 12th Missouri, 36th Illinois, and 17th Missouri. A second line begins behind the 44th Illinois and from right to left, the units are: 2nd Missouri, 3rd Missouri, and 15th Missouri. The right flank is similar, but with the 8th Indiana and 22nd Indiana moved up to fill the gap. The Federal artillery on the left is in two lines; see option 1 for the deployment of the first line, but with the Indiana Mo. Battery between the 2nd Illinois Battery and 37th Illinois.

The second line starts beside the 12th Missouri and reaches to just behind Welfley's Knoll and consists of the 4th Ohio, 1st Missouri, and 2nd Ohio, the last unit being the most northerly.

The following cavalry units line the easterly edge of Ford's Farm: 36th Illinois Cavalry, 4th Missouri Cavalry, and 5th Missouri Cavalry. The Rebel deployment remains the same, except that Clark's and Hart's batteries are in the field in front of the 4th Texas.

Terrain Woods are broken; however, as there was no foliage on the trees, use a D10 when testing for visibility. All slopes are rough except the rises in Cox's field and Clemmons' farm, which are open.

Victory Conditions In order to win a major victory, the Federals must inflict sixty percent casualties on the Confederates.

Union Order of Battle

Army of the Southwest

Brig. General S. R. Curtis, average, +2

1st and 2nd Divisions: Brig. General Franz Sigel, average, +2

1st Division: Colonel P. J. Osterhaus, average, +2

1st Brigade: Colonel P. J. Osterhaus, average, +2

2nd Brigade: Colonel N. Greusel, average, +2

Artillery:

2nd Division: Brig. General A. S. Asboth, average, +2

1st Brigade: Colonel F. Schaefer, average, +1

Artillery:

Unattached:

3rd Division: Colonel J. C. Davis, average, +2

1st Brigade: Colonel T. Pattison, average, +1

2nd Brigade: Colonel J. White, average, +1

4th Division: Colonel E. A. Carr, average, +2

1st Brigade: Colonel G. M. Dodge, average, +1

2nd Brigade: Colonel W. Vandever, average, +1

Confederate Order of Battle

Right Wing

Army of the West: Major General Earl Van Dorn

Price's Division

1st Missouri Brigade: Colonel H. Little, average, +1

2nd Missouri Brigade: Colonel T. H. Rosser, average, +1

3rd Missouri Brigade: Colonel C. Greene

Freeman's/Schnable's Missouri State Guard Regiments, 300 men, SB, green

Unattached:

Cearnal's Missouri Cavalry Btn., 200 men, RM, average

Left Wing

Missouri State Guard: Major General S. Price, average, +2

3rd Division: Colonel, J.B. Clark, Jr.

5th Division: Colonel J. P. Saunders

6th Division: Major D. Herndon Lindsay

7th/9th Division: Brig. General D. M. Frost, average, +1

8th Division: Brig. General J. S. Rains, average, +1

Units of McCulloch's Division attached to Price:

Remnants of McCulloch's Division: Brig. General A. J. Pike, average, +1

Herbert's Brigade:

Cavalry: Colonel E. Greer

Artillery:

Large Map (slow download: 111K)

Jumbo Map (extremely slow download: 409K)

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