Battle for the Duncan Field : Shiloh Day 2

This battle was planned for just before Christmas but my opponent couldn’t unfortunately make it with a bad back. So having done the majority of the set up I thought I would play through solo. Not my preference but I always surprise myself how much I enjoy such games. With the Christmas holiday there was no rush so played through over several days. I did take too many photos. As a little bit of background the Duncan field had seen significant hard fighting during day one of Shiloh. With the cessation of fighting overnight the two armies took up defensive positions, the Confederates expecting an easy victory day two and the Union being supported by significant reinforcements. The Union forces took the initiative on the second day and the area around the Duncan farm and the Hornet’s Nest saw heavy fighting for a second time. Eventually the exhausted, hungry Confederates were over run and out flanked causing them to retreat and lose the largest battle of the civil war to date.

Back in 2018 I visited the battle field here is a shot from the confederate lines across the Duncan Field. A wide open space to attempt to cross under fire !

A shot along the Union line which utilised a slightly sunken road, always hard to estimate the thickness of the woods on the day.

The modern memorial at the Hornet’s Nest which actually saw heavier fighting during day one.

This is of course only a small segment of the battle on day 2, the basis of the scenario is from This Bloody Field by Brad Butkovich but I have adapted to shrink the size of the battle to my 6x5 table. The forces are broadly equal in size and the battle is a tough head on fight for control. As it is the second day the confederate forces all have a reduced leadership as they are hungry and caught by surprise by the Union assault on day 2. The terrain and set up has been translated to the battlefield below.

The Duncan field is open ground the rest of the battlefield counts as light cover apart from the Hornet’s Nest which is thick cover. I used my ACW home rules based on bolt action which work well for solo play giving lots of tactical decisions through each turn. The uncertainty was increased as both forces only had 12 command dice in the bag and this would not be enough to activate the whole army in a single turn. The white dice gave some interesting random events. I took too many photos so skip through as you wish. On to the battle. The skirmish figures in the photos were just their for fun and played no active part in the battle.

Boyle’s Brigade supported by artillery on a slight hill. They are advancing towards the sunken Road

Statham’s Brigade ready for the assault along the Duncan Field

On their left Trabue currently being overseen by Gen Beckinridge

The initial phase of the battle sees the artillery open up

The confederates advance to the fence 

Union artillery open up

A storm of musket fire across the field

The confederate left Anderson’s Brigade are looking to advance along the edge of the field

Firing all along the fence line

Union troops belonging to Smith’s Brigade move to reoccurs the Hornet’s Nest

The confederates are under pressure to sweep the Union army away so choose to step off into the field in force !

Long range fire has taken an early toll on the Union troops left on centre several units are forced to pull back under fire and a weakness in the line develops

Confederates crossing the Duncan field are hit with a massive volley

And some are turned back

But fire across the field is so intense Union forces are being pushed back as well

Smith’s brigade as plugged the initial gap but now the centre has opened up

Meanwhile Martin’s Brigade is sent on mass to take the Hornet’s Nest

Some Union reinforcements arrive and are hurriedly deployed to the sunken road to strengthen the centre

The Union army is in disarray some regiments pulling back others rallying and moving back up

After about an hour the sunken road is virtually unprotected

The rest of Martin’s brigade storm into the Hornet’s nest 

Hard fighting across the field

On the confederate left flank the battle is stalled

The Union forces in the centre are in a bit of a pickle with three units retreating and yet to rally

The confederates against the odds have taken the Hornet’s nest

Rebels yell as they charge in possibly a rash decision ?

But the dice gods are with them needing 4’s to hit

The Union response needing 4’s !!!!

The Hornet’s nest is taken

Another attempt to cross the open ground of the Duncan field

Still no progress on the left beyond the Duncan Farm

Martin’s brigade is now pushing forward through the thicker trees of the Hornet’s nest and threatening to outflank the Union centre

One small units is able to charge the artillery

The Union centre in a mess still

Confederates are still being forced back in numbers

The final regiment holding the Union left is assaulted and pushed back

The Union position is now outflanked

The Union forces have managed to get back control of the sunken road

The fighting across the field continues

With sporadic firing around the Duncan farm

At this point I called the battle as a minor confederate victory, having outflanked the Union position. This is probably the best they could do as more and more Union reinforcements would now be arriving on both flanks making the confederate gains unholdable. Given a solo game this was most enjoyable and kept me occupied over the Christmas period. Not sure if I will get another game in before new year, but plenty of painting to do 😀

and finally some Christmas presents. I really do have a lot of stuff to work on at the moment but every body needs a few figures for Christmas here are mine 👍 together with an original Roman Wargame which my son bought me 😀

Lots to be getting on with and looking forward to the new year