Introduction

This is the second in a three-part after-action report for “Fisher’s Hill”, one of Death Valley‘s 1864 battles. Like its predecessor, it employs a “narrative” style, avoiding game terminology but relying solely on GBACW system mechanics for its details, except for invented dialogue between historical figures. Where not entirely indulgent, the dialogue serves to indicate the rationale behind player decisions. Combat details which do not seem to square with the GBACW rules reflect rules changes in the new edition.

In this way I hope to demonstrate how rich a battle narrative GBACW is capable of conveying. For the sake of continuity, I tend to follow the action in a given sector throughout a specific turn before turning to another sector, rather than bouncing back and forth according to the activation chit draws.

This article covers the scenario’s 1700 turn. The third will cover 1800-1900.

Key to the battle graphics:

— Red arrows represent forward or lateral movement or advance after combat, and point at the moving or advancing unit.

— Yellow arrows represent retreats or retrograde movements, and point at the unit conducting the retreat or movement.  A long yellow arrow pointing to no unit indicates a Rout.

— Red boxes identify formations or units playing a key role in particular events.

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The Situation at the start of 1700:

Jubal Early’s arthritic back isn’t doing him any favors today. He tries to ease the discomfort, slumping lower over his horse’s neck and supporting himself with one hand while holding the reins with the other. Sandie Pendleton, Early’s adjutant general, is with his chief. A sudden wave of sympathy overcomes him, prompted both by the general’s physical ailments and the effect of the battle’s course on Lee’s “Bad Old Man”.

Courier after courier rides up from the front line commands. Their reports range from desperate to catastrophic. Worst, but not quite unexpected, is the news that Lomax has entirely folded on the far left. Early spitefully exclaims, “Well, at least my hapless “cavalry” did something to slow Crook!” On the far right Wharton is under severe pressure and has lost contact with Captain Logan’s brigade (note:  two of Wharton’s brigades were commanded by captains at Fisher’s Hill. The division suffered huge losses at Winchester). John Gordon’s division has been only lightly engaged, but two enemy divisions marshal against it. Pegram’s division, too, holds its own against heavier enemy pressure than that facing Gordon.

Stephen Ramseur’s messenger, white as a sheet, brings most unwelcome news. “General Early, sir!” Early raises himself in the saddle. “Report, young man,” he barks out. The shave tail lieutenant responds with an intensity that rivets his listeners. ” VI Corps troops have captured almost 600 yards of our entrenchments. Battle’s Alabamans are barely hanging on. Cook’s brigade is coming from the right flank to counterattack, but we’re facing heavy odds.” Early’s dark eyes flash with fire. “What is General Ramseur’s estimate of enemy strength?” The lieutenant seeks to control his restless mount as he blurts out in reply, “We got way over 7000 Yankees on our hands, general.”

Early knows Ramseur’s division, the army’s strongest, started the day with less than 2500 effectives. He draws the appropriate conclusions. “Pendleton, tell Pegram to send a brigade to the left right away. And tell Gordon to send one to Wharton on the right. All commands are to prepare to abandon the lines and fall back along the Pike, with Gordon’s as rearguard. Start pulling the trains out now!” Pendleton spurs his horse, wheels around, and heads to a knot of aides-de-camp not far behind.

“Dagnabbit!”, Early mutters to himself (no doubt he used a stronger term, not fit for this article). He’d planned on pulling out under cover of darkness anyway, but being hustled out by Phil Sheridan is a bitter draught.

1700: Crook and Wright versus Ramseur and Pegram

Ramseur wastes no time. Warren Keifer and his 6th Maryland are deep within enemy lines but isolated after an impetuous assault. Ramseur orders troops from Cox’s, Cook’s and Battle’s brigades to seal the break-in. That turns out to be a wise decision, at least for the moment. Philip Cook, coming from the division’s right, still has too far to go to effectively deploy against the Marylanders, but the fire of many different units finally drives them back with losses. In the meantime Cullen Battle and the 100 men of the 61st Alabama wheel to face 126th Ohio’s 500. The Buckeyes are a new regiment. Taken in the flank, they do not know how small the attacking force is and reflexively pull back, leaving several dozen prisoners behind.

Left to hold the main line along with 30th North Carolina, William Cox’s sharpshooters decide to engage in the trade they know best, shooting at Yankees. Feeling secure in their trenches, they open up on the 62nd New York of James Warner’s brigade. Warner’s next unit in line, the 98th Pennsylvania, returns fire along with the New Yorkers. The 30th North Carolina joins in. When the smoke lifts, the Yankees are indeed disordered, but half the sharpshooters are down, and the survivors too stunned to be of further use for the moment.

Ramseur’s riposte is thus only partially successful and his lines in greater disarray than before. The fate of Early’s left wing depends on which side can recover its balance first.

To Ramseur’s right, John Pegram has established his command post in a redan formerly home to Braxton’s Alleghany battery. The battery pulled out rather than risk capture when Daniel Bidwell’s VI Corps brigade attacked (see part 1). Early’s courier finds him there and hands him Sandie Pendleton’s note. Pegram reads it and almost involuntarily crumples it in his hand. “How do I send a brigade to Ramseur without leaving a gap the size of a brigade in my own line?”, he disgustedly demands of the helpless messenger. It’s a rhetorical question, though. Pegram quickly sends Davis orders to abandon his trenches and head west. Davis leaves his sharpshooters in position, however, to support Nelson’s and Braxton’s artillery positions. Orders then go to Hoffman to send half his brigade to occupy Davis’s former position. In other words, Pegram does the only thing he can do short of abandoning his salient. He thins his line and hopes the enemy will grant him the time he needs to finish the reshuffling.

The Crest of Ramseur’s Hill

Of George Getty’s division, only Bidwell’s brigade and George Foster’s right wing are immediately combat-ready. The rest of the command needs rallying. Ramseur’s weakness is evident, and Foster decides he must strike, even if he himself is busy trying to rally the 11th Vermont. He orders an attack to widen the breach in the enemy line. The effort versus Cox’s 4th North Carolina stalls despite some hot firing, but 2nd and 3rd Vermont charge Battle and his 61st Alabama. Outnumbering the Alabamans by more than three to one, the Vermonters prevail. Battle now pays the price of his earlier audacity. Hemmed in by Union troops, he and the 61st are forced to surrender.

By now the 11th Vermont is ready to go forward. At the same time the 62nd New York of Warner’s brigade also advances. Both units capture stretches of Ramseur’s trench line held by Cox’s brigade, expanding the breach to two-thirds of a mile.

Bidwell’s troops continue their fire-fight with Robert Johnston’s brigade of Pegram’s division. Defying the conventional wisdom regarding fortified positions, the Yankees take a steady toll of the defenders. Johnston falls and the ongoing fight wrecks his brigade. Even so, Bidwell judges the position too strong to carry by assault until all his troops are up.

Further west along the battle line the enemy opposite Ricketts is attempting to rally. His own forward brigade, Keifer’s, is doing likewise. But then Ricketts spots a new development. To the southwest, opposite Crook’s troops, it appears Ramseur is evacuating his position. For some reason Crook’s troops have relaxed their pressure. Ricketts knows the Rebs cannot be allowed to escape yet again, and his division is in an excellent position to stop them. He sends both Keifer’s and William Emerson’s brigades forward. Troops from Foster’s and Warner’s brigades of Getty’s division assist, lending more power on the left.

Ramseur has indeed had enough. With Crook’s troops massing on his left flank and reports of Yankee cavalry probing the rear area, it is time to leave. The retreat starts with Bryan Grimes’ brigade on the far left. Its mission is to screen the rear and prevent the enemy horsemen from cutting the Valley Pike. The remnant of Battle’s brigade will attempt to slow Crook. The rest of the division, along with Davis’s brigade from Pegram’s division, holds the front against Ricketts and Getty. Ramseur’s thin line barely hangs on, but Grimes successfully disengages. He posts the 3rd North Carolina Battalion to keep watch on the roads the enemy horsemen are likely to use.

1700: Dwight’s Attack

Brigadier General William Dwight, commanding XIX Corps’ 1st Division, has a lot on his mind. At 3rd Winchester three days previously his corps commander, William Emory, called off further attacks when the Confederates shattered Curier Grover’s division. Dwight blames Grover for Emory’s response and feels cheated of the opportunity to have enhanced his reputation as a combat commander, which thus far has been highly creditable. He knows Emory has a liking for Grover. If Dwight gives vent to his views in his after action report, Emory will probably react poorly.

A good performance here at Fisher’s Hill can only help. With Edward Molineux’s brigade having finally shifted left, and Joseph Hamblin’s to the right, Dwight’s division now has a 600 yard sector on which to deploy for battle. That will accommodate a brigade. Rumors are flying that Grover’s division has been shot up, and Dwight can guess why. The worst thing troops can do when assaulting a fortified line is to pause to fire. Not only do they break their own momentum, but they give the enemy that much more time to return fire. His lead brigade, that of General George Beal, has been waging a fire-fight at approximately 250-yard range. Peering through the powder smoke at the enemy line, it seems to Dwight that the Rebs are already in disarray (in fact, 13th Georgia of Atkinson’s brigade has been so badly hurt that it is no longer a significant factor in the battle). He sends his adjutant to Beal. “General Beal, sir! General Dwight orders you to charge the enemy opposite your line and capture their works. General Macmillan’s brigade will support you.”

Beal has six regiments. He sends the three in his first line forward, with the 153rd New York on the left, 30th Massachusetts on the right, and the 116th New York in the center. Beal accompanies the 116th. The charge hits the seam between Terry’s and Atkinson’s brigades of Gordon’s division. The consolidated 21st/50th Virginia of Terry’s brigade surprises everyone when it flees before the 153rd New York. The New Yorkers exultantly pile into the abandoned works, wheel left, and prepare to hit the consolidated 2nd/33rd Virginia, part of the old Stonewall Brigade. But a furious fire lashes them from the knoll to their left. Order collapses and the New Yorkers hurriedly retreat.

Meanwhile, Stonewall Jackson’s veterans meet Beal and the 116th New York’s charge with similarly hot fire. All order breaks down, and the charge is handily repulsed. Only 200 of the regiment’s original 350 remain with the colors. The 153rd New York, however, still has enough left to succeed in capturing 60th Georgia’s works, thus driving a wedge between Terry and Atkinson. Exposed to attack on both sides, it is an open question how long the breach will remain open. James Macmillan’s brigade has advanced as Dwight promised, but not so far as to allow it to immediately support the 153rd.

Dwight slams his binoculars into their leather case, disgusted and despairing in equal measure. The charge has cost Beal 150 men plus the usual shirkers. It may end up costing more. This is certainly not the way to ingratiate himself with Emory.

Part of Dwight’s problem is that the division to his right, Frank Wheaton’s, is not yet concentrated. While its rear elements move up to the front, the 10th New Jersey enjoys a local success, driving the consolidated 5th-9th Louisiana from its works.

These repeated small defeats, first the loss of 13th Georgia and now 5th-9th Louisiana’s setback, finally galvanize Early’s finest soldier, Major General John B. Gordon. He has his chief’s order to send a brigade to aid Wharton, but decides to use his discretion. He orders Atkinson to refuse his line 45 degrees, bending it back astride the Valley Pike and anchoring its right on a deep creek bed. He trusts Wharton to fall back rather than attempt to maintain a hopeless position. If Wharton can indeed fall back and join Atkinson, the Confederates will have a better chance of resisting XIX Corps’ pressure and keeping the Valley Army’s retreat route open.

Terry’s and Peck’s brigades, however, are to strike back. Terry’s sharpshooters are among his units supporting Braxton’s Lee battery. They take aim at the nearest visible enemy formation, Macmillan’s 8th Vermont, and even at 450-yard range manage to sow confusion in its ranks. Terry himself and the 2nd/33rd Virginia find themselves on the flank of the 153rd New York following Beal’s attack. Terry points the Virginians to the right and leads them along the trench. The startled New Yorkers, aware that their supports have not come up, scramble rearward in total panic. Gordon beams as he witnesses Terry’s easy triumph, then rides off to see what can be done about rallying Peck’s 5th-9th Louisiana. 

Peck’s sharpshooters have an easier shot than Terry’s — it’s less than 300 yards to Campbell’s 10th New Jersey. Wheaton himself is with the unit, and his heart almost stops as the minie bullets whiz by. He and Campbell remain unhurt, but the same cannot be said for many a Jerseyman. If 5th-9th Louisiana knew it had been avenged, it might prove less resistant to Gordon’s exhortations to rally.

Now Wheaton reacts in turn. He orders both his brigades to attack the redan atop the knoll defended by the Lee battery and Gordon’s troops. Wheaton stays back to rally 10th New Jersey as Campbell’s and Hamblin’s troop ascend the slope. Campbell’s troops pause to fire and endure a withering counter-fire. But Hamblin charges with three regiments. Lee’s battery hurriedly pulls out of the redan — too hurriedly, apparently, as the limbers and their guns scatter across the ridgetop. Left in the redan are Terry’s sharpshooters and the 10th-37th Virginia, 200 men versus Hamblin’s 750. The northerners drive their foes back in hard fighting.

Gordon now faces a crisis. Peck and his troops are up on a shoulder of the knoll and beset from front and flank. If only Lee’s battery were functional! Gordon quickly scribbles out orders to Terry and Atkinson. He then waits, only to witness their troops engaging the enemy in long-range fire fights, rather than executing the moves he ordered. Could his script have been indecipherable? In any case, he prepares for limited and possibly negative results. But what follows is one of the most memorable episodes of the battle.

Terry, still with the 2nd/33rd Virginia, directs it to take 30th Massachusetts under fire. The Bay Staters have not recovered from their earlier repulse, and Stonewall’s veterans fire as if they were Joshua’s Old Testament warriors. Return fire is feeble and five score enemy fall; the survivors decamp to the rear. On the ridge top Terry’s sharpshooters are in disarray and low on ammo after being expelled from the redan, but fire at will on Hamblin’s 750 men milling about in that earthwork. The 10th/37th Virginia stands with the sharpshooters and joins in. Once again the return fire is poorly aimed, and the Virginians stare in transfixed wonder as first 2nd Connecticut, then 121st New York, and finally the 65th/67th New York turn their backs, vault across the redan and retreat down the hill! Not quite all of them; 150 surrender as the 10th/37th advances into the redan on the heels of Hamblin’s demoralized mass, thereby removing the threat to Peck’s flank. It’s enough to write home about.

The aftermath doesn’t quite measure up, as Peck falls to enemy fire and his brigade is brought to the brink of ineffectiveness. Nevertheless, it’s a minor miracle. Gordon rides into the redan to congratulate the Virginians and assist them in restoring the position’s integrity.

The 10th/37th Virginia is commanded by a major this day, its lieutenant colonel having been wounded three days earlier. A smattering of fire persists, and the major is reluctant to peer over the redan wall at the retreating foe. Glad shouts from behind momentarily relieve him of the onerous duty. He turns to determine the reason for the shouting, only to see General Gordon approaching. “General, this is no place for you. Those Yankees will be back shortly.” Gordon laughs “Major, I saw what your regiment did. Do you think I could let the Yankees stop me from saluting such valor?”

It is a joyous but short-lived moment, for Wheaton indeed launches a second assault on the works. The Virginians brace for battle and Gordon makes for his horse at the rear of the redan. Suddenly the air is full of whizzing lead. Gordon is in the act of mounting when he falls. What were glad shouts just minutes ago are succeeded by cries of despair. Gordon, the hero of Antietam’s Sunken Road, of Blocher’s Knoll at Gettysburg, and of the Wilderness, is no more. Hamblin’s masses overrun the dispirited Virginians and retake the redan.

1700:  Grover’s Attack

Cuvier Grover, having witnessed Daniel Macauley’s debacle at the head of the 176th New York (see part 1) leaves David Shunk in charge of the division’s center and quickly rides for the 38th Massachusetts, pinned down beneath the Wise Legion battery’s redan. The slope is too steep for the battery to bear on it, but Logan’s brigade of Wharton’s division has moved to its left in an attempt to drive off the bluecoats. With most of the hill thus abandoned, Birge’s brigade is laboriously ascending its eastern slope. Unless Logan can turn and oppose them, Birge’s troops will exert overwhelming  force on his flank.

Reaching the 38th, Grover seeks out its commander. “Lieutenant Colonel Richardson, you have the brigade; Macauley is down”. Richardson’s immediate task, however, is to restore order in his regiment. He enlists Grover’s help, and the men soon restore the line. Meanwhile, Birge’s lead elements drive most of Logan’s brigade back and overrun the Wise Legion before it can make its escape. Logan’s sharpshooters remain in the redan, but half of them are down. Clearly they cannot hold for long.

Not far to the right, the rest of Richardson’s newly-inherited command is also sorting itself out after its first lunge up the slopes. All but the 175th New York, that is, which clings precariously to the hillside below another redan occupied by the Monroe battery and its support, Smith’s 45th Virginia Battalion. The position has already defied one attack, and the 175th’s fire is too feeble to influence affairs.

The Monroe battery is low on ammo after that last fight, however, and David Shunk’s brigade has now come up. With Molineux’s men providing fire support from the right, he does not hesitate, launching the 8th Indiana up the hill. It’s a big regiment, but canister blasts and Virginian musketry send it reeling back down again. 

Shunk turns to the 18th Indiana and 24th Iowa. “Who will follow me up that hill?”, he demands. The men follow him, storming the slope as the gunners feverishly reload, emptying their limbers. The old 12-pound howitzers thunder again, shaking the blueclads, but the latters’ fire once again drives the artillerymen to cover. Shunk yells, “Forward!”, and the two Union regiments vault the parapet. Once again a furious melee ensues, musket butts, bayonets, sponge staffs and rammers all in full use. Shunk sinks to the debris-strewn ground; his men break and stream down the hill in disorder. Grover has now lost 350 men and two brigadiers in three successive assaults on this position. 150 more men are unaccounted for. The battery’s crew also flee after taking heavy losses, but Smith and his Virginians, though shaken, continue to fly the battalion’s colors from the redan. Grover must pin his hopes on Birge and Richardson.

Birge’s 14th New Hampshire does not disappoint, cleaning out Logan’s sharpshooter nest in short order. Relieved of this nuisance, Richardson reorients his brigade toward the next objective, the knoll to the northwest, which has defied all Grover’s efforts so far. He and Grover scramble up the slope and rally the 176th New York, resigned to delaying the next assault. But Shunk’s now leaderless 28th Iowa, its men perhaps galvanized by the brigade’s sacrifice, surprises both of them. It assaults the hitherto stubborn 45th Virginia Battalion, which this time fails to stand despite Smith’s entreaties. Once again the Yankees capture the Monroe battery, along with a number of Virginians unable to get away.

Grover’s division has pried open a path to the Rebel rear. It’s not an easy path, especially with the daylight fading, but Phil Sheridan would rest more easily if he knew.

Lomax’s Fate and the Gathering Gloom

Lomax, Smith, and the 62nd Virginia Mounted Infantry have taken to the woods, but clashes with Thoburn’s and Hayes’ troops soon reduce the unit to the size of a company.

The setting sun has already disappeared behind Little North Mountain, and the early autumn twilight begins. Sandie Pendleton gallops up to Jubal Early. “General, Ramseur’s troops are breaking; he’s abandoning his lines and sending Grimes to the rear to protect the Pike. On my way back I heard General Gordon has fallen.” Early visibly flinches at the news, but his shock quickly becomes a glowering at nothing in particular. “It’s time for us to go, Pendleton. Dispatch aides to each of the division commands to tell them to get the men out. Gordon’s division is to act as rearguard; tell whoever’s in command to post thick skirmish lines to hold the Yankees. If word can be gotten to Lomax, tell him to watch the far left.”

Pendleton spurs his horse and Early is left alone in the gathering gloom. A pang of remorse tinged with panic grips him. What will Robert E. Lee say?

To be continued…

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Articles in this Series: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3