Union Retakes Sagarville: July 23rd

Two Federal infantry regiments and a section of artillery advanced on Sagarville from Mount Zion Church on July 23rd, and found it occupied by a single regiment of Confederate infantry. The artillery deployed northeast of town and began shelling the enemy as the infantry moved in. The Confederates defended the center of town, but were eventually forced to withdraw southward to Old Fort.

Holding Sagarville (July 18th)

Confederates took Sagarville on July 17th, as they lost Kingston to the immediate east. On July 18th, a Union regiment, identified as the 4th Indiana, advanced on Sagarville. As soon as it crossed Battle Creek, it came under fire from a section of Confederate artillery deployed north of town. A Tennessee Regiment advanced out of Finch's Woods and engaged the Federals. One Union battalion engaged, while the 2nd Battalion moved on the Confederate flank. Eventually, the 1st Battalion fell back under heavy fire, allowing the Tennessee regiment to turn and fire on the 2nd Battalion. The 1st Battalion quickly reformed and moved back into the action at the doubled quick, now taking the flanking position. But... another Confederate regiment moved out of Sagarville in support. The Federals then withdrew in good order back to Kingston.

Melee near Sagarville (July 17)

A Federal infantry regiment accompanied by a section of artillery advanced south down the Madison Pike from Mount Zion Church on July 17th.  It passed the Debussy house and was approaching the Babcock farm when it saw what appeared to be a senior officer gallop up and assist in deploying a single Confederate infantry regiment.

Union infantry moving south on Madison Pike sees a Confederate flag near the Babcock Farm. 

Confederate infantry deploys at Babcock as the Federals draw near. 

As Confederates exchange fire with one battalion, another battalion pushes through the Federal line and attacks along the road. 

Hand to hand fighting on Madison Pike at the Babcock Farm. 

The Confederate line holds. The Federals retreat northward again to Mount Zion Church.  Federal artillery was present, but not engaged. 

Day One Highest Losses: No. 2

The collision of Colquitt's and Rosecrans' Division along Trout Run is now established in the history of the Battle of Sagarsville and the North Branch Campaign. 3rd Brigade, 4th Division, V Corps was one of the Union brigades involved in the action. Commanded by Brigadier General Frank Nickerson, the brigade was quickly entangled with all three of Colquitt's Confederate brigades around midday on the first day of the campaign.

Nickerson himself was killed by the 3rd South Carolina (from Pettigrew's Brigade) early in the fighting.  The 103rd and 122nd New York were fighting near where Nickerson went down, taking heavy losses from Pettigrew's Brigade, while also engaging and routing the 1st North Carolina from Shoup's Brigade. The 103rd was eventually routed by the same regiment that had killed Nickerson, with the 122nd being routed as well.

The 123rd New York killed Brigadier General Pettigrew during the action and fought against units from Pettigrews, Shoup's and Armstrong's Brigades. It assisted in the rout of the 5th Louisiana (Armstrong), and 15th and 21st North Carolina (Shoup), before being routed and captured en masse by the 13th South Carolina. The 10th Ohio was also captured en masse.

By the time the two divisions began to disengage, the 3rd Brigade had only two regiments left: the 109th and 111 Pennsylvania. The 109th has been in the rear and escaped essentially unscathed. The 111th had taken some losses while engaging the 9th Louisiana and 1st Battalion Georgia Sharpshooters (Armstrong). Lieutenant Colonel Thomas M. Walker of the 111th commanded the brigade during the late afternoon and evening phase of the Battle of Sagarville, but Colonel William Heine, 103rd New York, will assume command for day two of the North Branch Campaign.

3rd Brigade, 4th Division, V Corps, Army of the South Branch (US) (Brigadier General Franklin Nickerson (KIA), Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Walker, Colonel William Heine): 

103rd New York State Volunteers
122nd New York State Volunteers
123rd New York State Volunteers
10th Ohio Volunteer Infantry
109th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry
111th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry

Total Loss: 59.1%

Day One Highest Losses: No. 3

The Battle of Sagarville started in the morning phase of day one of the North Branch Campaign. Elements of the Union I Corps (Thomas) and V Corps (Hancock) advanced east from Newtown on Kingston Road towards Sagarville. The 1st Cavalry Division was leading the way.  Their first obstacle in reaching Sagarville was a Confederate linebelonging to Lieutenant General James Longstreet's I Corps, Army of the Mountains deployed on a ridge to the east of the Piper Farm. Longstreet had posted Semmes' Brigade (Forney's Division) on the north side of Kingston Road and Baldwin's Brigade in a hedge line that ran across the top of the ridge south of the road. Another brigade was posted in Piper's Woods to the south of Baldwin. 

Forney's line included the 15th Battalion Mississippi Sharpshooters, which opened fire on the advancing cavalry from a distance. The Confederate line was also supported by artillery to its rear and the cavalry was turned back before it could successfully engage the infantry deployed on the ridge. 

As the cavalry was falling back, the 2nd Division, I Corps began to form between Trout Run and the Piper Farm for an assault on the Confederate line. The 1st Brigade (Colonel Newell Gleason) was the first to arrive and start forming. While waiting for the rest of the division to come up, the 36th Illinois was targeted by the Mississippi sharpshooters and took heavy loss without being able to return fire. Finally, the division started its advance, with the 1st Brigade straddling Kingston Road.

As the brigade ascended Piper Ridge, it engaged with Baldwin's Brigade to the right and Semmes' Brigade to the left.  The 36th Illinois was on the right and took heavy losses from the 25th Tennessee (Baldwin) and was routed. The 87th Indiana lost over 180 men to Cobb's Georgia Legion (Semmes), before being routed by the 17th Tennessee firing on its rear from the other side of the road. Joined by a brigade of US Regulars from 2nd Division, V Corps on its left, the 150th Pennsylvania (Bucktails) and 8th Michigan continued the attack on Semmes' line, also taking heavy losses from Cobb's Georgia Legion. The 8th Michigan broke through along Kingston Road and routed Gun No. 4 of the Pulaski Georgia Battery that was supporting the infantry to its front. Forney's line collapsed and started a retreat towards Sagarville to the east. 

During the midday phase of the battle, 1st Brigade (now only two regiments strong) was initially moved south from Piper and then east through the Lester Farm. The brigade advanced against a Confederate line on the northwest slopes of Bowlen Hill and engaged with William Walker's Brigade, Barksdale's Division. The 8th Michigan assisted in routing the 4th Mississippi and the 150th Pennsylvania routed the 39th Mississippi. The brigade then took part in the afternoon advance that entered the town of Sagarville, ending the battle and day one of the campaign. Despite being ain a position to rout an artillery crew at one point, very few of the brigade's losses during the day were to artillery fire. Sagarville was an infantry vs. infantry fight for 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, I Corps as it attacked enemy positions on ridges and hills. 

1st Brigade, 2nd Division, I Corps (Colonel Newell Gleason):

36th Illinois Volunteer Infantry

87th Indiana Volunteer Infantry

150th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry

8th Michigan Volunteer Infantry

Day One Losses: 54.5%

Colonel Newell Gleason

Driven Back Along the Kingston Road

All the Federal attack was successful along some parts of the Confederate line at Sagarville in Turn 2, a brigade advancing along the Kingston Road was successfully repulsed just west of town.

Federal Dead on Kingston Road - Turn 2 End

Colquitt Down

The first division commander to be lost in the simulation was Brigadier General Alfred Colquitt. He went down in the Turn Two Tangle at Trout Run, just south of Debussy at Sagarville. He was killed by men of the 21st Ohio.

The Vortex of Hell - Sagarville Turn 2

Eight Brigadier Generals went down at or near this spot in a very short period of time during the Turn 2 action at Sagarville.

Losses Mounting in Day 1 of the Campaign

Turn 2 was the midday phase of Day 1 of the North Branch Campaign. There were over 15,000 losses in total between Sitesville and Sagarville. Day 1 will end after Turn 3.  Routed units will be returned to their commands before the start of Turn 4 (morning phase of Day 2 of the campaign). Captured units will not be returned.

A Confederate line facing north at Sagarville

Union Assault at Sagarville

Union troops attack a re-positioned Confederate line at Sagarville, with a surprise along Trout Run.

Some Fighting at Sagarville - Turn 1