Push on the Potomac 1863 (fictional)

 We were able to get in another battle in the fictional 1863 campaign set up.

This time it was to be Longstreet vs. Reynolds along the Potomac and the US Navy were able to field some ships of the Atlantic Blockade squadron to assist.

Major General John Reynolds
commanded the Union forces

 

The game space this time was Drop Zone Games in Nanaimo, where we had access to one of the many excellent game rooms they have.

I needed a few minutes to get the space ready for action and thankfully the staff was willing to let me into the space those few minutes early ...

Then came time for a quick strategic brief - not so long for the Confederate player, as he has been commanding the whole way for the Confederacy.  The Union commander had some decisions to make with only limited inputs - I thought he came up with a great forward-thinking plan, that included the strategic objectives of cutting off the Confederates from any further supplies to the south as well as the tactical aim of peeling them back from the river crossing.

The Confederates decided that the crossing was critical and determined to hold on.

one surprise that the Confederates had
the US NAVY was in attendance
with two Steamers and half a dozen
other ships to bombard the shores

due to the maneuvers out of Harper's Ferry
(far off the battlefield top left)
the battle would not start till mid-afternoon

Shepherdstown was the urban area this time
on the banks of the Potomac River

Confederate artillery were massed to drive off
the Union forces that must cross open ground

the great bend in the river is at this point

two full Union Corps were present, with parts of
another Corps also

along with the USS IROQUOIS

troops were very close from the start
(as we only had a few hours to game)

first blood went to the Confederacy as they destroyed a Union battery

then II Corps started showing up on the open flank

While III Corps pushed along the river

two Confederate Divisions held the south side

Pickett was tasked with holding the north bank

by 3:30 pm there were masses of more Union guns
half of the Army of the Potomac's reserve artillery was on the field

an enormous push was on to open a hole in the Confederate lines

guns as seen from the east

Pickett was doing well on the north bank

July 3, 1863 - yet again Pickett was in a charge

the Union men did hold for a time ...

four o'clock and the battle was raging everywhere

Union Division command on the north bank was dead
and replacement was being organized

while on the south side Barksdale's independent command
was utterly massacred and Barksdale himself was dead

thing were looking possible for Reynolds ...

save for a very tough rebel battery Madison's
that stood when all others were falling back

Brewster's Brigade was now in the front line

damage to the USS IROQUOIS
having moved to be able to maul the north bank
Confederates

Fauquier's and Fayette's batteries combined to
silence and damage the USS IROQUOIS

it was not to be enough

Union forces did not reach the river crossing

supporting infantry did not arrive on this battlefield
and Reynolds was to have a -2 movement penalty
because of the casualties

This was a tactical victory for the Confederacy, yet a strategic coup for the Union ... by nightfall there were going to be two Union Divisions of II Corps to the south of the Longstreet and no way to move out from the Potomac River area via road except to the west ...

game action time-lapse

the original briefing map

detailed zone information that the Union commander
had directed the two Divisions of Hancock's II Corps
to move further south of the field and intercept any and
all forces moving south

a very rough situation picture of what Longstreet
was now facing

   Now from a campaign perspective, what would Longstreet do?  March to support Lee?  Force a way south?  Hold the river crossing another day?

  What does Lee do?  Attack again south?  Push east?  Move north and actually take the capitol of Pennsylvania?  Go west then south and escape across the Potomac, with Longstreet keeping the way open?  Go west?