Day One Highest Losses: No. 1

Just after giving the initial orders to commence operations in the North Branch Campaign, Army of the Mountains commander General Robert E. Lee became indisposed and left for Richmond.  Lieutenant General Theolphilus Holmes (I Corps) assumed command of the army. Major General Sterling Price assumed command of the I Corps, and Brigadier General John Bowens took command of Price's Division. As the officers quickly moved into their new commands, Colonel James McCown (5th Missouri) assumed command of Bowen's Brigade, which was deployed at the cemetery just east of Sitesville.

At noon on day one of the campaign, Bowen's Brigade (McCown) was in the center of Price's Division, with McRae's and Fagan's Brigades to its left, Parsons' Brigade to its right, and Churchhill's Brigade in reserve to its rear. The left of Bowen's Brigade (6th Missouri) was at Valley Road, with the rest of the brigade in or near the cemetery and copse of cedar trees on the west side of the cemetery. Price's Division had skirmished earlier in the morning with 4th Division / VI Corps, which occupied Sitesville town at the junction of the Valley and Sitesville Roads. They were also aware of at least two other divisions belonging to the Union XII Corps that were deployed  to their right front near Johnson's Meadow.

Because of woods and the nature of the terrain around Johnson's Creek, the Confederates were unable to detect two Union divisions to the west of Price: 4th Division, Cavalry Corps at Utt and 4th Division XII Corps.  The Federals had not intentionally concealed these units, but they derived the benefit of the topography around their assigned positions. The cavalry division could be seen at the start of the midday phase of the 1st Day of Sitesville, as it galloped across a hill northwest of Vandegrif's Woods. The cavalry was moving around Price's Division (Bowen) to cut off its line of retreat to the west and south. Brigadier Bowen strengthened his position at the cemetery, other divisions also started movements that resulted in the near destruction of Price's Division.

Major General Martin Luther Smith's Division, which had been at the Potts Farm, was redeployed at McGee Hill to help secure that critical objective on the battlefield. As Smith moved away from Price's right flank, the two divisions of the XII Corps advanced on the cemetery in conjunction with the 4th Division, VI Corps moving east from Sitesville and assaulting Price's line. With Smith having vacated Potts, there was nothing to divert the left of the XII Corps away from its assault towards the cemetery.

The VI Corps struck Price's Division first, with 3rd Brigade, 4th Division (Brigadier General Joseph A. Mower) advancing along the north side of Valley Road and 1st Brigade, 4th Division  (Brigadier General Hugh Ewing) advancing along the south side. As the VI Corps engaged the front of Bowen's Brigade (McCown), the XII Corps broke through Parson's Brigade to McCown's right. In hand to hand fighting, the right of Bowen's Missouri Brigade (McCown) was overwhelmed. The 2nd Missouri was captured by the 84th Indiana (3rd Brigade, 4th Division, XII Corps).  The 5th Missouri was captured by the 23rd Pennsylvania (3rd Brigade, 4th Division VI Corps), and the 1st Missouri was captured by the 94th New York (3rd Brigade, 4th Division, XXI Corps) after close quarters fighting with the 17th Kentucky (3rd Brigade, 4th Division, VI Corps). Having been the meeting point of two assaulting divisions, entire right and front-center of Bowen's Brigade was captured.

On the left of Bowen's Brigade, the 6th Missouri fought Mower's 3rd Brigade, 4th Division, VI Corps before being routed by elements of 3rd Division, XII Corps that had arrived in support. Colonel McCown fell during the fighting, killed by the 6th Maine (3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, XII Corps). Only the 3rd Missouri remained on the field from Bowen's Brigade as the shattered division rallied at Sitesville Church to the east and then withdrew to a position at the Douglass Farm. Joined by the remnants of the 6th Missouri at night, Bowen's Brigade (2 regiments strong) will take the field under the command of Major James K. McDowell of the 3rd Missouri for day two of the campaign.

Bowen's Brigade, Price's Division, I Corps, Army of the Mountains (CSA)
(Brigadier General John Bowen, Colonel James McCown (KIA), Major James McDowell):

1st Missouri
2nd Missouri
3rd Missouri
5th Missouri
6th Missouri

Total Loss: 72.2%

Note: The collapse of Bowen's Brigade can be seen in the engagement video from about 18:30 - 21:15

Turn 3 - Sitesville

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

The dead around the cemetery

At Sitesville, there are over 6,000 total casualties during Turn 2.  The vast majority of these are in the immediate area around the Sitesville Cemetery to the east of town.

Heavy Fighting at Stesville - Turn 2

Contact at Sitesville - Turn 1

Skrimishing at Sitesville

There has been some light skirmish line contact at Sitesville. A video should be out tomorrow.

Canon Fire Heard at Sitesville

Canon fire has been heard in the vicinity of Sitesville…..  Stay tuned.

Sitesville Rules....

All of the maps that are in territory controlled by the Confederates at the beginning of the simulation have a tactical objective identified. One option that the Union has for forcing the Confederates off of a map is to capture that objective. They don't have to take the objective, but it is the only way to ensure that the map is cleared and no Confederates are left behind to cut off supply lines. All of the maps have a single objective, with the exceptions of Sitesville. Sitesville has 3 objectives and special rules. 

Because it is the junction of 6 roads, Sitesville is extremely likely to be the scene of some fighting during the campaign, as it was in the previous simulation. Roads lead west to Marion, north to Cosner's Gap, northeast to Foxtown, east to Valley Manor, south to Black Horse Tavern, and southwest to Mt. Zion Church. The Army of the South Branch could bypass the challenging terrain at Cosner's Gap by moving through Sitesville to Foxtown and its bridge over the North Branch River. They could also move from Sitesville north to Cosner's Gap to the rear of the Cosner's Gap objective and trap any Confederates there. Control of Sitesville also gives the Confederates access to multiple maps to re-enforce their defenses and to threaten Union supply lines. 

To drive the Confederates from Sitesville, the Union Army of the South Branch must meet all of the following criteria:

1. They control at least one objective at the end of a turn (It will be lit up "blue."), and,

2. The Confederate Army of the Mountains controls no objectives at the end of the turn (none lit up red). 

This is where the option of giving brigade level orders may be useful. A brigade is sufficient to "light up" an objective and one could be detached to hold an objective.  For example, let's imagine that the Union detaches a brigade with orders to stay in Sitesville town (controlling the objective there), while the rest of the Union force advances on Confederates holding the objective at Sitesville Church.  If the Union objective stays lit and the Sitesville Church objective becomes contested (not held by either side), the Army of the South Branch will have one objective lit and the Confederates none, forcing the Confederates off the map.  By keeping one or two objectives under control (e.g. Sitesville Church and McGee Hill), the Confederates make it much more difficult for the Federals force them off the map.  

The Northern Sector - Overview

Whatever happens during the upcoming North Branch Campaign Simulation, the northern sector of the campaign theater is likely to get some attention from both sides. The Union army has a minor campaign objective of getting at least one division across the North Branch River, which would result in extended campaign  time to focus on their major objective. The ford at Foxtown is the closest river crossing to the Federal opening positions. It could be used as part of a "northern route" to Arlington (the major objective) Foxtown-Warren-McNeal-Tomlinson's Ford-Arlington.

The northern sector has a number of challenges for the Federals. The first is Cosner's Gap, lies between the opening Union lines and Foxtown. The Union forces would be advancing from the west, climbing and attacking up a fairly steep and wooded ridge (if the Confederates choose to defend it), reminiscent of the historical actions South Mountain in September 1862.  With little ability to use their artillery, the Federals would have to push the Confederates off the ridge and take the gap in order to move on to Foxtown. 

Alternatively, or in conjunction with an attack on the gap, Federals could also move units around Cosner's Gap and attempt to advance on Foxtown via Sitesville. There were several small actions at Sitesville during the previous simulation, so some of the players are familiar with parts of the terrain. The challenge for a Union advance via Sitesville will be McGee Hill. The hill overlooks the Sitesville Road, which runs from Mt. Zion Church to Foxtown. 

Circumventing Cosner's Gap completely via Sitesville may appear to be a tempting option, but any Rebel divisions in the Northern Sector also pose a direct threat to Springfield. Springfield is the Union base of supply. By sacking it, the Confederates cut off  the arrival of Federal ammunition and severely cripple the Union campaign efforts. At the very least, the Union forces need to be prepared to defend Springfield from any possible advance from Sitesville or Cosner's Gap via Franklin and Marion.  As unpleasant a task as it may seem, clearing Confederates from Sitesville and Cosner's Gap may be the wisest strategy for the Union army, unless it throws enough strength further south to divert Confederates away from the northern sector. Even if the campaign if focused further south, it is unlikely that the opposing sides would leave a void in the northern route between Springfield and Arlington via Foxtown. There was cavalry action in this area in the previous simulation. 

Foxtown itself is difficult for the Confederates to defend. The Union would be advancing from high ground, with open fields to the west of town that afford ample positions for artillery placement. The Federal tactical objective at Foxtown, however, is on the opposite of the North Branch River. The Union forces must force a crossing. A portion of the east bank of the river is covered by a stone wall, providing good cover for Rebel defenders. The rivers in the campaign theater can be crossed (as seen at the Battle of Newtown in the last simulation), but at a substantial fatigue penalty that greatly diminishes combat effectiveness. The Union attackers have three routes to Foxtown (via Cosner's Gap, Sitesville, and Valley Manor), but only one route from Foxtown to Warren. The bottleneck starts at the ford just east the town (Foxtown).

Assuming that Federal forces reach Foxtown and secure the east bank of the North Branch River, the path to their major objective is clear. The must fight through the town of Warren, a wilderness homestead  belonging the McNeal family, another ford at the Bull Head River, and then, finally, Arlington itself.  With the exception of Warren and parts of Foxtown, the northern route has some tough terrain that limits an artillery advantage held by the Federals. To push through to their major objective (no matter which route or routes are taken) the Union will need to overwhelm or wear down defenders while keeping forward motion. The key for both sides in a campaign is resource allocation to meet objectives. Where do stack up divisions and where do you spread them thin. The challenges of command.