Fire & Fury - Game Report 6

The Battle of Brandywine Halt June 1862

Introduction

As a break from the "routine" wargames I decided to invite Kevin over for a game of Fire & Fury. I should say for the aficionados of the rule set. by way of Fire & Fury I do mean version 1 of the Brigade scale rules - which I purchased in 1994 and are still going strong. He had not played the game system before, however he is a very experienced wargamer and Fire & Fury are a very simple set of rules with which one cane become rapidly familiar with. The biggest challenge for him was to scale down from 28mm to 10mm figures!!

Scenario

The scenario I set up used a previous battlefield with some additional features. 

The black route on the terrain is the Virginia Central Railroad running from Richmond to the Shenandoah Valley. The railroad route, in this scenario, generally runs much East to West much further south than Brandywine. However, a few miles East it loops North and then runs East to West through Brandywine (as shown here) before dipping south again a few miles East to run Eastwards to Richmond. It is vital railroad to the Confederate cause as it brings supplies from the Valley and provides a means to send troops to the defence of the Valley.

General Kevin "Stonewall" Parry has been campaigning in the Valley and is aware of the vital significance of Brandywine, and he has gained intelligence form his spy, Theobold Aventure, that a Union Corps is advancing from the North East to seize and destroy the railroad at Brandywine. His mission is to seize Brandywine and destroy the Union Corps and to prevent it joining with General George B. McClellan outside Richmond.

The Union IX Corps General Colin "Ironside" Whittaker has been detached from the Army of Washington to seize Brandywine Junction, to destroy the railroad and any rebel supplies there, and then to reinforce General George B. McClellan.

The orbats were randomly generated. A vey nice and neat spreadsheet I downloaded as a resource in 1994 from the interweb, and which has stood the test of time to generate some really fun games. 

The Battle

The early movement saw both forces trying their best to move at speed to secure Brandywine. The Union were closer, but the Rebels had the advantage of the road. The Union's 1st Division is moving Willich's Bde into Brandywine, While Emory moves around the church on the right. Robinson has been deployed to protect the left flank. On the Right the 2nd Division is moving 2 Bdes forward, Marston on the left, Brandon on the right, to extend the line North. Parker's Bde remains in Divisional Reserve.

From the IX Corps Commander's position, looking down the road running westwards, he can see the dust as the Rebels advance. Specific targets are hidden by the low hill west of Brandywine. Ewell moved two his brigades to the North of the road aimed on the church and the woods to the North, meanwhile he sent two other brigades around the south side of Brandywine.

The threat to the left flank caused the 1st Division commander to send Robinson's Bde out to the left to block it, and he also called for another battery to deploy to provide fire support to Robinson.

Meanwhile Lidell's Bde manoeuvred to come into Brandywine from the South, and to try and outflank Willich's Bde which was in the process of deploying into Brandywine. Gibson's Bde has secured the stone wall in front of the church, while Jackson's Bde were delayed in deploying in support to their left. 

The Union's 2nd Division have almost completed their deployment to protect the right flank. While Jackson's Division have advanced through the woods and are readying themselves to attack.

Emory's Bde launched an attack against the stone wall but were thrown back. Both Jackson's Division and the Union 2nd Division, unleashed fearsome volleys and rapidly depleted ammunition stocks (the blue markers). One of Jackson's artillery batterys was forced to displace to the rear because of the fire it suffered from the Union artillery. One of Ewell's batterys was also forced to displace to the rear due to fire from Willich's Bde.

Robinson's Bde has successfully deployed to the flank and was now engaged in a firefight with Leventhorpe's Bde. 

Eventually Leventhorpe's Bde achieved fire dominance over Robinson inflicting severe casualties. Although Robinson's Bde depleted their fire in the firefight they came of very much second best!

The Union's 2nd Division at this stage seemed well placed and capable of holding its own. Marston's Bde is in the woods flanked on the left by Brandon, with Parker's Bde in depth in field column ready to provide support. However, Jackson's Division despite its profligacy in expending its ammunition is continuing its advance and trying to move around the Union right.

The battle over the Brandywine Church stone wall was fierce at one stage Emory threw the Rebels back to the top of the hill. However a fierce counterattack by Gibson's Bde forced Emory's Bde out off the churchyard. Meanwhile, on Emory's right in the wood, Marston's Bde has been overran and destroyed by Jackson's Bde fierce attack, which has almost taken them into contact with the retreating Emory.

While Marston was unsuccessfully trying to hold the wood the Union 2nd Division Commander ordered Parker's Bde column forward to counterattack. They failed and were eventually driven back. At this stage the Union commander decided that it was in his best interests to start withdrawing his line.

On the left Leventhorpe seized the opportunity of the reduced fire from Robinson's Bde to attack. Robinson's green troops fled to the rear in despair from the attack. This exposed the artillery battery which was overran and captured by Leventhorpe's equally green troops. This attack drove the Union left back and exposed their left flank to attack. The Union Corps Commander at this stage passed the orders for the Corps to retire. 

Outcome

A great game with a decisive Confederate victory.

Losses: