Tactics in 'Chickamauga'
Scenario #1: September 19th, 1863
By Doug McNair
June 2006

The Union deserves a chance to avenge their defeat on Day 1 at Gettysburg in my last War of the States tactics article. So today I tackle Day 1 of the Battle of Chickamauga from our Chickamauga & Chattanooga game.

Two and a half months after Gettysburg, the Army of the Cumberland under General Rosecrans moved south toward Atlanta, and the Army of Tennessee under General Bragg met and stopped them at Chickamauga Creek in northern Georgia.

The blunting of the Union advance was unsurprising. Rosecrans’ northern flank was exposed and the forces sent to cover it were scattered in the woods when the Confederates arrived. But Bragg failed to exploit Rosecrans’ weaknesses on the field as aggressively as he should have, and the battle ended inconclusively. This lack of aggressive leadership on the Confederate side is reflected in lower leadership ratings for Bragg relative to Rosecrans.

And since leadership quality plays a crucial role in our Rectangles of War games, if the Federals can out-general the Confederates, close up the gaps in their line quickly, and use some additional advantages in troop quality to the fullest, they have a real shot at repelling the Confederate assault and winning a victory for the North.

Setup

The Union line runs northeast from the southwest board edge, just south of a line of hills. The line ends just three areas in from the west board edge, and the forces sent to guard and extend the Union flank are scattered far to the north and east.

The Confederate line runs along Chickamauga creek and is thickly bunched in the middle, thinning out to the east. At game’s start, the Confederate left has contacted the Union line, while the Confederate cavalry under General Forrest has already attacked and damaged the isolated 2/a Division of Union 4th Corps in the eastern section of the board.

2/a Division’s commander, General Granger, has just entered the north board edge and needs to catch up with his division quickly.

Objectives

In Scenario One, each side must try to inflict at least 25 step losses on the enemy while taking no more than 15 step losses itself. The Union must keep the Confederates from advancing any units adjacent to the line of hills north of Chickamauga Creek by game’s end. The Confederates must eliminate or push back the scattered Union north flank reinforcements in the center and eastern sections of the board, and must keep the Union line from advancing south and east from its starting position. A side which fulfils all three of its objectives scores a Decisive Victory, and a side which fulfils any two of them scores a Minor Victory. Any other result is a draw.

Factors Driving Play

Terrain

On September 19th, the two armies met just as the Confederates were crossing Chickamauga Creek. The entire board is dominated by woods, and most of the hills and ridges are far north of the creek. Since woods slow offroad movement and “long” infantry units moving along a road are automatically outflanked when assaulted by enemy units, both players will have to be very careful about using road movement. This will likely make Chickamauga a less mobile battle than Gettysburg, with many infantry units choosing to slog it through the woods in line-of-battle rather than double-timing down roads in a column and exposing their flanks.

Woods also block line of sight for artillery unless the artillery is up on hills. Since almost every area on the board is wooded, artillery will likely play a more defensive role at Chickamauga than at Gettysburg.

But the woods at Chickamauga are lighter than at Gettysburg, and don’t give any defensive bonuses in combat. And since the Federals can’t fall back to the northern hills (doing so lets the Confederates reach their geographical objective) combat will likely be hot and bloody until the bulk of the Federal reinforcements arrive.

Bragg must therefore send General Hood’s 1st Corps quickly northward from the Confederate Center to cut Rosecrans’ scattered flank-defense force (specifically, two divisions of XIV Corps under General Thomas) off from the Union line. Then, while Hood pushes Thomas north, Bragg must have General Buckner and 5th Corps come up from behind to hit and outflank the north end of the Union line, pushing it back toward the west board edge. And since Federal reinforcements enter the west board edge at the south end of the Union line, Bragg must also have General Polk’s 2nd Corps attack the Union south flank, pushing it back into its own reinforcements and leaving them nowhere to go.

Leadership and Troop Quality

Rosecrans’ saving grace is that he’s got an Initiative of 5 compared to Bragg’s 3. This means he’s got a good chance of activating troops first each turn, and activating more formations per activation than Bragg. Rosecrans must use this leadership advantage to pull in Thomas’ two XIV Corps divisions fast so Hood’s 1st Corps can’t cut them off from the Union line. He must also get General Granger’s isolated, damaged 2/a Division of 4th Corps retreating north quickly so it can link up with Granger and 1st Division for help against Forrest’s marauding cavalry. But this will be tough: 2/a Division is slowed because it starts way outside Granger’s command radius. Odds are that 2/a Division will be run down, outflanked and destroyed by Forrest’s cavalry and General Walker’s IV Corps infantry on the Confederate right long before Granger reaches them.

But even if 2/a Division dies in the woods and Bragg cuts off Thomas’ two XIV Corps divisions, Thomas himself has stellar leadership ratings (Command Radius 4, Tactics 3, Initiative 5) and XIV Corps is an outstanding fighting force. If separated from Rosecrans, the “Rock of Chickamauga” has a good chance of putting his two XIV Corps divisions in command and maneuvering them independently to hit weak spots in the Confederate center with devastating firepower. Indeed, Thomas may be the Union’s best hope for keeping the Confederates from surging north to their geographical objective before Union reinforcements can arrive and extend the line northeastward.

Another important arrow in the Federal quiver is Wilder’s division of mounted infantry. These troops move like cavalry, meaning they can move rapidly along roads without worrying about facing and being outflanked. This gives them a huge mobility advantage over the Confederate infantry. But though they move like cavalry, they fight like infantry, and every die they roll in combat gets a +1 bonus, meaning they hit on a 5 or 6. The Union player must move Wilder’s division northeast and link up with Thomas’ XIV Corps quickly, making sure to keep it within Rosecrans’ command radius (he’s their leader). Wilder’s mobility and punching power makes him an excellent weapon for plugging breaches in the Union line and outflanking Confederate infantry, forcing them to retreat southward.

Game Summary

Here’s what happened in a recent game.

Turn 1 — 0700 Hours

In the Reinforcement Phase, General A. McCook and 1st Division of the Union XX Corps (plus artillery) arrives at the south end of the Union line on the west board edge. A unit of General Forrest’s Confederate cavalry also enters the south board edge, and they’ll need to hightail it northeast on the road to link up with Forrest.

Rosecrans wins initiative, and then rolls a 4 for activation, which is one less than his initiative of 5. This means that he can activate one formation before the Confederates. He activates Thomas, moving XIV Corps’ two divisions south offroad in line of battle, spreading out to cover the widest front possible against Confederate movements northward. In particular, 3/a Division moves southeast to keep Forrest from riding north behind Granger’s isolated 2/a Division and blocking its retreat.

Bragg rolls a 3 which is equal to his Initiative, meaning he can activate one formation. He activates Hood’s I Corps in the Confederate center, sending its two divisions northwest to the Brotherton and Brock farmsteads. Hood’s 1/a Division hits Thomas’s 1st Division before it can reach the Union line, while his 3rd Division hits the cavalry guarding the Union north flank.

Hood and Thomas are evenly matched in battle: Both have a 3 Tactical rating, and both their divisions have a strength of 10 (though Thomas’ artillery can also fire defensively). Each side does two hits. Hood holds his ground and takes both hits (allocating one to his artillery, which is eliminated), and has to ride fast to escape an ambush (the Union player rolls a 10 + 1 = 11, just barely failing to kill Hood). Thomas also holds his ground and takes both hits (allocating one to his artillery, which flips). Then 3rd Division attacks, but the Union cavalry roll less than their morale and retreat westward before combat, knowing that 3rd Division won’t follow them — doing so would expose their flanks to several possible Union attacks.

Rosecrans then rolls a 6 which is more than his initiative, so he can’t activate anyone right now. Then Bragg rolls a 6 as well and can’t activate anyone, and the turn ends on two consecutive activation failures.

Both sides have taken two step losses.

0800

The Union reinforcement for the turn, 2nd Division of XX Corps (plus artillery) crowds into the south end of the line with 1st Division (which didn’t move last turn). Rosecrans wins initiative again and can activate one formation. With Thomas’ advance southward, his 4th Division (which he left with Rosecrans) is now within his command radius and can move forward to fill the gap which the cavalry created by retreating. So Rosecrans activates Thomas, whose artillery fires at Hood but misses.

Thomas then has his 4th Division moves east to hit Hood, has his 1st Division wheel south to do the same, and pulls in his 3/a Division to protect his flank from Forrest’s cavalry to the east. He also pulls in 3/a’s artillery to bolster his future firepower against Hood. Thomas’ two divisions attack Hood and his 1/a Division at a strength of 19 dice to 12, but both sides score only one hit. Thomas retreats north rather than take the hit, since he can protect his flanks easily. But if Hood retreats, he’ll leave his 3rd Division’s flank and rear wide open, so he stays and takes the step loss.

Bragg rolls a 4 and is unable to activate anyone, and then Rosecrans rolls a 1, meaning he can activate four formations. It’s a good thing Hood stood his ground, or his 3rd Division would be in for a whuppin’ right about now.

Rosecrans starts by activating General Granger’s IV Corps, sending Granger down the road from the north board edge. Granger is way outside Rosecrans’ command radius and rolls more than his Initiative, failing to put himself in command, so he moves south at half-speed. His beleaguered 2/a Division is outside Granger’s command radius and slowly withdraws northward from Forrest’s cavalry.

Then Rosecrans activates his own units, sending Wilder and his artillery north behind the Union line and then east to hit Hood, and the cavalry north and east to hit Hood from the north. The Union attack is at 10 dice to 13, but 6 of the Union dice hit on a 5 or 6 since they’re from Wilder’s mounted infantry. The Union gets three hits to Hood’s two. Hood retreats and takes only two step losses, and Wilder takes one hit and doesn’t have to retreat (the mounted infantry get immunity to the first hit on them in combat). Wilder and his artillery advance, chasing Hood southeast and gaining the rear of Hood’s 3rd Division.

Rosecrans then activates Crittenden’s XXI Corps on the south end of the line. Third Division moves east to take up Wilder’s former position in the line, Crittenden and his 2nd Division swing north to hit Hood’s 3rd Division from the south, and 1st Division follows him north, staying on the north bank of Chickamauga Creek. Crittenden attacks at 12 dice to 8, but gets only one hit while the Confederates get none. Hood’s 3rd Division would love to retreat but can’t because Hood and 1/a Division are behind them and the Union is on its front and flanks. So it takes the step loss.

Finally, Rosecrans activates McCook’s reinforcing XX Corps at the south end of the line. His stronger 2nd Division moves east to Lee’s farm on the north bank of the creek and attacks across the bridge, hitting Polk’s 2/b Division of 2nd Corps at the south end of the Confederate line, while his 1st Division moves north to clear the way for more reinforcements. The Union attack is at nine dice to seven. The Union scores three hits and the Confederates score two. Polk’s division takes a step loss and loses its artillery for another step loss, and then has to take the third step loss and hold its ground to prevent XX Corps from crossing the creek and gaining the flank of the isolated 2/a Division. If the Union were to get a few divisions across the creek on the Confederate south flank, it’d all be over for Bragg. McCook’s 2nd Division holds its ground and takes two step losses, protecting its artillery since they can rain massive destruction across the creek next turn.

Bragg once again rolls a 4 and fails to activate anyone, and since the Union has activated all its formations, the turn ends.

The Union has now taken 5 step losses and the Confederates have taken 9. The Union line extends from the southwest board edge up to Kelly’s Field in the middle of the board. The Confederates haven’t moved except for Hood, and he’s regretting that right about now . . .

0900

Forrest’s last cavalry brigade enters the south board edge. Then Bragg wins initiative and can activate one formation before the Federals. Hood’s 1st Corps is the obvious choice! He moves 1/a Division northeast and pulls 3rd Division out of the swiftly closing deathtrap to the west, and then both divisions hit Wilder with everything they’ve got. Hood’s artillery misses, and 1st Corps attacks Wilder at a strength of sixteen to six (with Wilder hitting on a five or six). Hood finally seems to get a break, scoring four hits on Wilder. But Wilder outdoes himself, scoring three hits in return! Wilder takes two step losses (losing his artillery), and Hood takes two and retreats east to Winfrey’s farm. Wilder advances and once again gains the rear of 3rd Division. Hood prays really hard for Rosecrans to have a fit of apoplexy right about now.

But to no avail. Rosecrans rolls a one and can activate four formations. Wilder and the cavalry begin, hitting Hood’s hapless 3rd Division in the rear and front. Wilder gets no hits, but the Union cavalry score three hits on five dice, while the poor Confederates score no hits at all. Third Division takes a step loss and loses its artillery (two step losses total) and retreats east to line up with Hood. The cavalry advances south to 3rd Division’s former position, protecting Wilder’s flank.

For his second activation, Rosecrans activates Granger and IV Corps. Granger puts himself in command this time and heads southeast on the road at full speed, putting the once-beleaguered 2/a Division within his command radius. Second/a Division changes facing and holds its ground. Then Rosecrans activates Crittenden’s XXI Corps in the south-center of the line. His artillery score 1 step loss on Polk’s 2/b Division holding the Confederate south flank across Chickamauga Creek, and then his 2nd and 3rd Divisions advance east, with 2nd Division attacking the Confederate Reserve Artillery at a weak spot in the center of the Confederate line. The attack goes off at fourteen dice to two, and scores two hits to none. The artillery retreats successfully and takes only one step loss, and Crittenden wisely doesn’t advance, as it would leave one of his flanks exposed to either Hood or Buckner’s corps.

For his fourth activation, Rosecrans tells McCook to crush Polk’s flank and storm across the creek. As ordered, McCook’s artillery score one step loss on Polk’s 2/b division across the creek (shrinking it down to a small piece), and then McCook’s 2nd Division attacks across the bridge. They score two hits to none, and the last remnant of 2/b Division rolls above its morale and fails to retreat before being hit, taking two step losses and dying. McCook advances across the bridge to the south bank of the creek, and gains the flank of Polk’s isolated 2/a Division.

Bragg rolls a 2 and can activate one formation. It’s a tough call. Crittenden’s attack in the center threatens to split the Confederate line in two, while McCook’s crossing of the creek threatens to roll up Polk’s corps on the south flank. Bragg decides to have faith in Buckner and tells “Preacher” Polk to drive the Yankees back across the creek. Second/a Division’s artillery misses McCook, and the division moves north to block McCook from advancing into the clear area just south of the creek so his other on-board division can cross the bridge.

Polk’s other artillery occupy the other clear areas next to McCook, and Polk’s other two divisions move west toward McCook in hopes of hitting him all at once next turn. Polk’s 2/a division then hits McCook’s 2nd Division and rolls four sixes on seven dice! McCook’s 2nd Division only does one hit in return, takes two step losses and tries to retreat back across the river to eliminate the other two hits (you can do that if you take four or more hits), but one of his artillery units rolls more than its morale and is overrun by Rebels. So, McCook takes four step losses total! Polk’s 2/a Division chases the Yankees back across the river, setting up a huge Rebel Yell on the bridge.

Rosecrans rolls a 3 and can activate his last formation, Thomas’ XIV Corps. They head south toward Hood’s 1st Corps in the Confederate center, sending their artillery forward to join Wilder in hopes of pounding Hood next turn.

Bragg rolls a 3 and can activate another formation. He activates Buckner’s 5th Corps and tells him to plug the gap in the center of the line. Buckner’s forward artillery misses Crittenden’s 2nd Division, and then his 2/a and 2/b Divisions spread out and hit Crittenden. The attack goes off at 14 to 12 dice, but each side scores only one hit. Crittenden’s retreat routes are all filled with men in blue suits, so he has to take one step loss. Buckner holds his ground and also takes one step loss.

The Union has activated all its formations, and then Bragg rolls a 6 and can’t activate anyone, so the turn ends.

It has been an incredibly bloody hour. The Union took seven step losses and has now taken 12 total. The Confederacy repelled the Union flank attack, but took 11 step losses and has taken 20 total.

1000

No reinforcements arrive, and Rosecrans wins initiative and can activate one formation. He has to be very careful now. He’s five away from his first objective of inflicting 25 step losses on the Rebels, but he’s four away from losing his second objective of taking only 15 step losses. So, he pushes his strongest forces forward to where they can do the most damage against the weakest enemy units. He activates Thomas’ XIV Corps, whose forward artillery open up on Hood and do one step loss.

He then sends his 3/a and 4th Division forward to hit both of Hood’s divisions from the front, riding forward himself to support 4th Division’s attack on Hood’s 3rd. Third/a Division’s attack on Hood goes off at ten dice to eight, and scores two hits to one. Hood’s 1/a Division takes one step loss, shrinks to a small counter, and retreats, while Thomas’ 3/a Division retreats north and takes no loss. Then Thomas’ attack with 4th Division goes off at thirteen dice to five, and scores two hits to one. Third Division has its back to Chickamauga Creek and can’t retreat, so it takes two step losses, while Thomas retreats north and takes no loss. That’s four step losses on the Rebels with none on the Federals. A perfect Union attack for Thomas!

Bragg then rolls a six and can activate nobody, and Rosecrans rolls a two and can activate three formations. He begins with Wilder and the cavalry. The horse artillery miss, but Wilder advances to gain the flank of Hood’s 3rd Division. They score one hit to none, and the 3rd once again has its back to the creek and has to take one step loss. Unfortunately, that was the last step it had, and it’s eliminated. The Union cavalry advance to take its place on the north bank of the creek.

This latter move opens a space for Crittenden’s 2nd Division of XXI Corps to move laterally north and let 3rd Division come up from behind. XXI Corps artillery begins by bombarding the Rebs, doing one step loss to Polk’s 2/a Division whooping it up on the bridge. They also hit Buckner’s 2/a division, and then Crittenden’s divisions move in to hit it. The attack is eighteen dice to eight, and does three hits to one. Buckner’s 2/a Division retreats back to Thedford where it came from, taking one step loss and losing its artillery (two step losses total). Crittenden retreats north and takes no loss.

For his third activation, Rosecrans has Granger try to put himself in command so he can hit Forrest and Hood on the weakened Confederate north flank. Granger rolls a 3 and succeeds, and double-times down the road to join his once-battered 2/a Division. Second/a Division advances and hits Forrest’s cavalry, guarding all that’s left of Hood’s 1st Corps. Granger does two hits on six dice, while Forrest does one. Forrest takes one step loss (cavalry count as 1/2 loss each) and retreats south, and Granger takes the step loss and advances so his artillery can pound Walker’s fresh division next turn.

Bragg rolls a 2 and can activate one formation. Almost all his forces have their backs to the creek now (Polk is south of the creek, but that doesn’t count). Walker’s 4th Corps on the Confederate right flank is fresh, and is in a good position to mount a powerful attack on Wilder’s mounted infantry. The artillery misses, and then Walker’s two divisions attack Wilder at a strength of seventeen dice to three (Wilder hits on a 5 or 6). Walker does five hits to none. Wilder takes three step losses and is wiped out, and the Union has now taken 16 step losses and lost its first objective!

Rosecrans rolls a 3 and can activate two formations. He has done more than 25 step losses to the Rebels by now, gaining his first objective. His only remaining objective is to keep the Rebels from advancing north to the hills, and that’s no stretch since the Rebels are hemmed in by the creek or on the other side. At this point, Rosecrans can sit back and pound the Confederates with artillery, leapfrogging his units backward to avoid step losses while wearing the Rebels down. Polk’s 2nd Corps is south of the creek and not going anywhere, which leaves only five Confederate divisions to face ten Federal divisions north of the creek. The Rebels aren’t going anywhere at those odds, and the Union wins a minor victory.

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