Battle of Champion Hill 1863 - Scenario/AAR

Lorings Division at the start of the game

It's that time of year again, blow the dust off my big 6mm ACW collection and do a bit of Johnny Reb 2 gaming. A firm favourite since my late teens it's always good to come back to a spot of JR2.

It's always a challenge to select a decent battle with so many to choose from. Last year's Gaines Mill battle saw me having to knock out a quick Division of Confederates  even this year's more modest battle needed a rapid paint job on some more Artillery for both sides.

The scenario was inspired by the Champion Hill game in the book above. Although this (and the War in the West book) are for the Across A Deadly Field rules (or JR IV as they should be called. They are packed with great info, maps and orbats, which can be used for any rule set. Highly recommended.

The Corner

Top tip for any rule writer, STOP messing about with your basing between rule versions ! If I have painted 3 Corps worth of Union and 2 Corps of Confederates for one rule system I am not rebasing them repeatedly for what are essentially upgraded versions of the same game ! Rant over.

A J Smith's troops move up.

Historical Background

Champion Hill was without doubt the pivotal moment in the Vicksburg Campaign in the East, Grants Union Troops attacked Pembertons Confederates who had formed a defensive line along a ridge which overlooked the Jackson Creek.

The edge of the Confederate line formed an L shape with S D Lees Alabama Brigade holding the Left flank. Grant ordered a general attack along the line with the main thrust coming at the junction of the L shape.

The battle on Champion Hill raged back and forth but the Rebels just didn't have enough troops in the area to hold out indefinitely. Pemberton pleaded with Loring to send Confederate units from his quieter sector of the Battle but he refused.

The timing here was crucial, Grant attacked in force again on the Hill and broke through just as Loring decided to send help. It was too late, the Union Army was victorious. Pemberton had no choice other than retreating the 20 miles to Vicksburg where they eventually surrendered after a siege.

Blairs Union Troops prepare to advance

Set Up

We used the whole of our 12 x 6 ft table using 6mm Adler Miniatures and Johnny Reb 2 rules for the battle, which uses a 20 to one figure scale.

Deployment areas are as shown on the map.

The game begins at 11.30 am (JR2 has 15 minute turns)

I have included a detailed orbat below, I normally put this first before the AAR but I have had some right issues with this post formatting wise. I imported the orbats in from Excel and it seems to have caused a shed collapse in the old computer.

Confederate Mounted troops to the rescue (they weren't actually needed)

AFTER ACTION REPORT

Well it's not every day that you completely change the course of History is it, this refight was one of those days. In what seemed like a shoe in for the boys in dark blue it all went quite wrong, quite quickly.

The battle neatly breaks down at the start into three very separate fights,

1. The action at the bottom of the table where AJ Smith and Blairs Union Troops attack the Confederates along Coker House Ridge.
2. Osterhaus trying to break through the Rebel troops barricaded in the woods to the East of Champion Hill
3. The main attack on Champion Hill itself

Bowen waits to either be attacked or support Champion Hill

In the 1st area the 4 Union brigades are never really going to trouble the Confederates lining Coker House Ridge, outnumbered and disadvantaged in terms of terrain it's very much a no go in terms of a break through.

Union Troops deploy opposite Coker House Ridge.

However they do have an important role in the battle, the more Confederates they can hold on the ridge and prevent from reinforcing Champion Hill the better chances the main assault should have.

As the Confederates wait.

I played this part of the Rebel line, Ian the troops opposite, we had our own little battle that had no real effect on the main event to my left. I managed to get the mounted elements of my force and Cockrills Brigade in motion towards Champion Hill, but events in that location meant they weren't actually needed.

Jacksons small but potent force lie in wait.

In the woods to the East of Champion Hill the small brigade of lightly armed Rebels waited behind their barricades for Osterhaus to attack.

No matter how hard they tried the Union Troops just couldn't break the thin grey line. Garrards Union Brigade battered against the wooden barrier but it was in vain, high casualties and poor dice routing the Brigade.

Finally the Union Troops break through the woods

It took some doing but finally the Union Troops broke the small brigade of Confederate troops but it was too late in the day. The battle had been decided on Champion Hill itself.

Over on the Hill things were rather less sedate, things went badly wrong for the Union troops from the get go and it really didn't get much better.

Turn 1, the beginning of the end

Logan's Union Division was the first to come a cropper,  with a Brigade Commander called Leggett, who would have thought !

Some relatively long range Artillery fire and the skirmish line from Lee's Confederate units caused some reasonable but not usually final damage to Leggetts troops before the curse of the dice arrived. I can't recall ever seeing so many 2s and 3s with 2d6 in such a short space of time, units were going backwards initially and then after another set of what can only be described as "poor" dice one Union Brigade was off the table and on the way home.

The main Union attack on Champion Hill looks unstoppable

The Union Commander came on to Champion Hill in Brigade Column, no messing about here, great for assaulting positions, if you get in, but very heavy on casualties.

The first column hit the 56th Georgia Regt causing it to rout, things were looking up for the boys in blue.

1st blood to the Union

But with the earlier rout Lee was able to bring his troops off the hill and onto the flank of the advancing US columns. It wasn't pretty as the casualties mounted up, with a bit of time to breath the Confederates reorganised the lines and waited for round two.

The new CSA line

The extra casualties on the advancing Union Brigades proved crucial, as did some spectacularly poor dice throwing (again), tests were failed and two more Brigades were routing.

Has someone seen a white rabbit, RUN AWAY !

The next two Brigade Columns with the help of some Rebel fire and more, you guessed it, poor dice, saw the routing columns and decided that attacking the hill was not such a good idea after all.

With 5 brigades lost in a short space of time and Confederate troops redeploying from other areas of the Battlefield to strengthen those units on Champion Hill, the Union Commander called off the attack and the Rebel Yell of victory sounded along the line.

Grant will not like what he can see.

So there you have it history changed, our result would certainly have altered the course of the Vicksburg Campaign but would it have changed the outcome ?

So that's ACW for this year, our next battle sees us staying in the US, but travelling further back in time to the AWI and Monmouth Courthouse, see you there.

UNION ORBAT

All Union Commanders are +1 apart from Grant who is +2, all troops have Rifle Muskets.

All reinforcements arrive either on road A or B in column with the guns of the brigade at the rear. New reinforcements cannot enter the table if the entry point is blocked. Entry points and times are shown next to the Brigade Commanders.

For units on table at the start of the game see the above map for deployment areas.

Number of figures at the start of the game are shown in the third column, with losses in our game in the final column. I have also added a note is the entire Brigade had routed at the end of the game.

Apologies for the amount of text before a picture, for some reason the program wouldn't let me post in the imported orbat.

 

Garrards Brigade advance towards Confederates barracaded in the woods

Ulysses S Grant ( Turn1 @ B)		Ex Army Commander
Corp McClernand(Turn 1 @A)		Ave XIII Corps Com
Div Osterhaus (Turn 1@A)		Ave (XIII Corps)
Brig Garrard (Turn 1 @A)		Ave (Div Osterhaus)	Routed Brig	Lost Figs
118th Illinois		RM Vet	27 Figs	8
49th Indiana		RM Elite	12 Figs	6
69th Indiana		RM Vet	18 Figs	6
7th Kentucky		RM Elite	18 Figs	10
7th Michigan Lt Art		Vet	6 x 3"R
Brig Lindsey (Turn 4 @ A)		Ave (Div Osterhaus)
22nd Kentucky		RM Vet	27 Figs
16th Ohio		RM Elite	18 Figs	3
42nd Ohio		RM Vet	24 Figs
114th Ohio		RM Vet	24 Figs
1st Wisconsin Lt Art		Vet	3 x 20pdr Par
Div  A J Smith (On table turn 1)		Ave (XIII Corps)
Brig Burbridge (On table Turn 1)		Ave (Div A J Smith)
16th Indiana		RM Elite	18 Figs	4
67th Indiana		RM Vet	24 Figs	5
83rd Ohio		RM Vet	18 Figs	6
23rd Wisconsin		RM Vet	18 Figs	12
Chicago Mercantile Art		Vet	3 x 12pdr N	2 Guns
Brig Landrum (On table turn 1)		Ave (Div A J Smith)
77th Illinois		RM Vet	18 Figs	2
97th Illinois		RM Vet	24 Figs
130th Illinois		RM Vet	18 Figs
19th Kentucky		RM Vet	18 Figs
48th Ohio		RM Elite	18 Figs
17th Ohio Lt Art		Vet	3 x 10pdr Par	1 gun
Div Hovey (On table turn 1)		Ave (XIII Corps)
Brig McGinnis (On table turn 1)		Ave (Div Hovey)
11th Indiana		RM Vet	24 Figs	12
24th Indiana		RM Elite	24 Figs	4
34th Indiana		RM Vet	24 Figs	1
46th Indiana		RM Elite	24 Figs	1
29th Wisconsin		RM Vet	24 Figs	1
2nd Ohio Lt Art		Vet	3 x 10pdr Par
Brig Slack (On table turn 1)		Ave (Div Hovey)
47th Indiana		RM Elite	24 Figs	12
56th Ohio		RM Vet	30 Figs	2
24th Iowa		RM Vet	27 Figs	3
28th Iowa		RM Vet	18 Figs	3
16th Ohio Lt Art		Trained	3 x 12pdr N
Bty A 1st Missouri Lt Art		Vet	3 x 3" R
Div Carr (Turn 6 @A)		Ave (XIII Corps)
Brig Benton (Turn 7 @A)		Ave (Div Carr)
33rd Illinois		RM Elite	18 Figs
99th Illinois		RM Vet	18 Figs
8th Indiana		RM Elite	18 Figs
18th Indiana		RM Vet	18 Figs
Bty A 2nd Illinois Lt Art		Vet	2 x 12pdr N
Brig Lawler (Turn 10 @ A)		Ave (Div Carr)
21st Iowa		RM Vet	24 Figs
22nd Iowa		RM Vet	27 Figs
23rd Iowa		RM Vet	24 Figs
11th Wisconsin		RM Vet	24 Figs
1st Indiana Lt Art		Vet	3 x 12pdr N
Div Blair (On Table turn 1)		Ave (XIII Corps)
Brig G Smith (On table turn 1)		Ave (Div Blair)
113th Illinois		RM Vet	18 Figs	4
116th Illionis		RM Vet	18 Figs
6th Missouri		RM Elite	18 Figs
8th Missouri		RM Elite	18 Figs
1st Btn 13th US		RM Elite	18 Figs
Bty A 1st Illinois Lt Art		Vet	3 x 3"R	1 gun
Brig T K Smith (On table turn 1)		Ave (XIII Corps)
55th Illinois		RM Vet	18 Figs
127th Illinois		RM Vet	18 Figs
83rd Indiana		RM Vet	18 Figs
54th Ohio		RM Vet	18 Figs
57th Ohio		RM Vet	18 Figs
Bty B 1st Illinois Lt Art		Vet	3 x 12pdr N
Corps McPherson (Turn 1@B)		Ave XVII Corps Comm
Div Logan (Turn 1 on table)		Ave (XVII Corps)
Brig J E Smith (T1 on table)		Ave (Div Logan)	Routed Brigade
20th Illinois		RM Elite	24 Figs	17
31st Illinois		RM Vet	18 Figs	6
45th Illinois		RM Elite	24 Figs	11
124th Illinois		RM Trained	24 Figs	6
23rd Indiana		RM Vet	18 Figs	4
Bty Rogers 1st Illinois Art		Vet	2 x 24pdr How
Brig Leggett (Turn 1 on table)		Ave (Div Logan)	Routed Brigade
30th Illinois		RM Vet	24 Figs	15
20th Ohio		RM Vet	27 Figs	6
68th Ohio		RM Vet	24 Figs	7
78th Ohio		RM Vet	18 Figs	11
Bty Bolton 1st Illinois Art		Trained	2 x 10pdr Par
8th Michigan Art		Vet	3 x 12pdr N
Brig Stevenson (Turn 1 on table)		Ave (Div Logan)	Routed Brigade
8th Illinois		RM Elite	18 Figs	13
81st Illinois		RM Vet	24 Figs	15
7th Missouri		RM Vet	24 Figs	15
32nd Ohio		RM Elite	18 Figs	11
3rd Ohio Battery		Elite	3 x 3" R
Div Crocker (Turn 10 @ B)		Ave (XVII Corps)
Brig Sanborn (Turn 8 @B)		Ave (Div Crocker)
48th Indiana		RM Vet	24 Figs
59th Indiana		RM Elite	18 Figs
4th Minnesota		RM Vet	24 Figs
18th Wisconsin		RM Vet	18 Figs
Brig Holmes (Turn 12 @ B)		Ave (Div Crocker)
17th Iowa		RM Elite	18 Figs
10th Missouri		RM Vet	30 Figs
Brig Boomer (Turn 10 @ B)		Ave (Div Crocker)
93rd Illinois		RM Vet	24 Figs
5th Iowa		RM Elite	24 Figs
26th Missouri		RM Vet	24 Figs
Brig Sandborn (Turn 8 @ B)		Ave (XVII Corps)
1st Missouri Lt Art		Vet	3 x 12pdr N
11th Ohio Lt Art		Vet	3 x 12pdr N
6th Wisconsin Lt Art		Vet	3 x 3" R
12th Wisconsin Lt Art		Trained	2 x 6pdr
Bty D 1st Illinois Lt Art		Vet	2 x 24pdr How
2nd Illinois Cav (Ind)		Vet	12 x BLC

Logans troops begin their assault on Champion Hill

CONFEDERATE ORBAT

As Union Orbat, except Brigade commanders are rated individually and all units start the game on table however some are restricted.


Each Confederate Brigade may defend its own set up area with no restrictions however to reflect the poor command and control on the day of the battle brigades may not move out of their deployment areas until the time stated below. If nothing is shown by the Brigade Commander they are free to move from turn 1.

All the Confederates have Rifle Muskets which I thought a little unusual but those who know a lot more than me were happy that Pembertons Army was well equipped. I also gave the Sharpshooter units suitable weapons.

John Pemberton		Ave Army Commander
Div Loring		Ave
Brig Tilghman		Ave (Div Loring)
1st Confederate Btn.		RM Vet	18 Figs
6th Miss		RM Vet	24 Figs
23rd Miss		RM Vet	24 Figs
26th Miss		RM Vet	27 Figs	9
Bty C 14th Miss Art		Vet	2 x 3"R
Bty G 1st Miss Art		Vet	3 x 10pdr Par
Brig Buford (Turn 8)		Ave (Div Loring)
27th Alabama		RM Vet	27 Figs
35th Alabama		RM Elite	24 Figs
54th Alabama		RM Vet	27 Figs
55th Alabama		RM Trained	27 Figs
9th Arkansas		RM Vet	24 Figs
3rd Kentucky		RM Vet	27 Figs
12th Louisiana		RM Elite	24 Figs
Bty A Bouanchauds Art		Vet	2 x 24pdr How
Bty B Bouanchauds Art		Vet	2 x 12pdr N
Brig Featherston		Ave (Div Loring)
3rd Miss		RM Vet	24 Figs	1
22nd Miss		RM Vet	18 Figs
31st Miss		RM Vet	24 Figs
33rd Miss		RM Vet	24 Figs
1st Miss Sharpshooters		SSRifle Elite	12 Figs
Bty D 1st Miss Lt Art		Vet	2 x 12pdr N	1
Div Stevenson		Ave
Brig Barton		Ave (Div Stevenson)
40th Georgia		RM Vet	30 Figs
41st Georgia		RM Trained	30 Figs
42nd Georgia		RM Trained	30 Figs
43rd Georgia		RM Trained	30 Figs
52nd Georgia		RM Trained	36 Figs
Cherokee Bty		Vet	3 x 3" R
Brig S D Lee		Ave (Div Stevenson)
20th Alabama		RM Elite	18 Figs	5
23rd Alabama		RM Vet	27 Figs	5
30th Alabama		RM Vet	24 Figs	1
31st Alabama		RM Vet	30 Figs
46th Alabama		RM Vet	27 Figs	12
Lees Skirmishers		SSR Elite	18 Figs	9
Waddells Alabama Art		Trained	3 x 12pdr N
Brig Cumming		Ave (Div Stevenson)
34th Georgia		RM Trained	24 Figs	12
36th Georgia		RM Trained	24 Figs	5
56th Georgia		RM Vet	27 Figs	12 rout
57th Georgia		RM Trained	27 Figs	5
39th Georgia		RM Trained	24 Figs	9
Botetcourt Virginia Art		Vet	2 x 3"R	1 gun
Bty A 1st Miss Art		Vet	2 x 12pdr N
Brig J F B Jackson		Ex (Div Stevenson)
Jacksons Light		RM Vet	24 Figs	12
20th Miss Mtd Rifles		RM Elite	18 Figs	11
Brigade Reynolds (Turn 6)		Ave (Div Stevenson)
3rd Tennessee		RM Vet	24 Figs
31st Tennessee		RM Vet	24 Figs
43rd Tennessee		RM Vet	27 Figs
49th Tennessee		RM Vet	27 Figs
Claibornes Maryland Art		Vet	3 x 3"R
Div Bowen (Turn 6)		Ex
Brig Cockrell (Turn 6)		Ex (Div Bowen)
1st Missouri		RM Elite	27 Figs
2nd Missouri		RM Elite	24 Figs
3rd Missouri		RM Elite	18 Figs
5th Missouri		RM Elite	18 Figs
6th Missouri		RM Vet	27 Figs
Wades Missouri Art		Elite	3 x 10 pdr Par
Landis' Missouri Art		Elite	2 x 24pdr How
Guibors Missouri Art		Elite	2 x 12pdr N
Brig Green (Turn 6)		Ex (Div Bowen)
15th Arkansas		RM Elite	27 Figs
19th Arkansas		RM Vet	24 Figs
21st Arkansas		RM Elite	24 Figs
12th Arkansas Sharpshooters		SSR Elite	12 Figs
Dawsons Missouri Art		Elite	2 x 10pdr Par
Lowes Missouri Art		Vet	2 x 12pdr N	2 guns
1st Arkansas Cavalry		RM Vet	18 Figs
1st Missouri Cavalry		RM Elite	24 Figs
Adams Miss Cav (Ind)		BLC Vet	18 Figs