Battle of Fox’s Gap 1862 ACW

Another battle at the start of this week, myself and Martin have managed one a month so far this year,so we only just managed to squeeze this in following my long holiday in early September. This time back to ACW and a version of Fox’s Gap from 1862. Many of you will know the back ground to this battle which was all engagement preceding the much larger battle of Antietam. The confederate forces under Lee tried to block the movement of McClellans Federals across the mountains at both Fox’s Gap and Turner’s gap. Eventually although they were forced to retreat the Union army was too slow to capitalise on the Ada vantage and this allowed Lee to regroup and led to Antietam a few days later.

This scenario of which there are lots on the internet is based on a JReb scenario but I have adapted it for my collection, space and V&F. It gives a sense of the battle rather than a truly accurate refight.

The table setup. To make things fun Garlands brigade who are initially holding the high ground behind the  stone wall are in hidden deployment, the Union commander not knowing which or how many Regiments are on the table. Scammon’s brigade arrives for the Union turn one with the next brigades arriving on successive turns. The Confederate reserves are similarly phased but must all enter the battlefield from the North (this end of the table) the Union player also didn’t know this. We had a special rule where potentially Garland or Reno could be killed in action but I completely forgot about this during the battle and we didn’t roll for it ! To simplify the setup we made the stones wall as cover whilst the wooden fences aren’t they just slow movement.

Scammon’s Brigade advances towards the higher ground with the attached West Virginia cavalry occupying the farm buildings at the base of the hill. In the distance Crook’s brigade arrives and come under fire immediately from the angle of the stone wall on the hill. (The hidden deployment will end when trooos are within 12” or they start to fire)

Anderson’s brigade marches onto the table in column 

Garlands brigade is spread thin but they open up a ferocious fire  on the advancing Union troops knowing that any damage will help if it comes to melee

Crook’s brigade starts to deploy and seek to outflank the hill at this southern end of the battlefield the Union has significant numerical advantage 

Dayton’s Brigade arrives from the north as well ! But the Rebels are still outnumbered

The flanking move in the South

Rather than attempt to move right across the table Drayton deploys his troops into open formation and starts to move through the woods hoping to outflank the Union at this end of the battle

The Union make a first push for the gap but are driven back ….yeehaa

The confederate flanking movement seems to be working drawing Christ’s brigade from on the road to protect the Union flank

The battle was very tense here and could have gone either way, the Union prepare a second attack on the gap and again hand to hand fighting on the slopes

But eventually the rebels hold and drive the Union forces back, you can see by the gold rings which denote shaken units that the Union assault has been blunted at least for now.

Although it felt like a slight side show and I didn’t take many photo’s Garland’s brigade has continued to hold the angle against a much superior force, trading volleys at long range they plug away at each other but the Rebels hold on eventually driving the Federals back on this flank. The last photo show the Confederate horse artillery chasing the withdrawing Union forces into the woods to the south.

What a fun battle the scenario worked out really well, the hidden deployment working, with out this we might need to randomise the location of reserves or the Union forces would know the rebels are weak on their right flank ? One thing we noticed was the need to get troops into open order which or ACW is a real advantage especially when defending. A win for the Rebels as they held the ground against the superior Union force.

We has a trip out to Ulverston (south lakes) and came across a couple of nice books

I really only bought this as I was at the battlefield a few weeks ago and wanted to run through the battle again.

This is also a useful little book with a lot of smaller battles listed

 And a spot of painting…….before family stuff took over the second half of the week requiring me to cancel a planned battle for Friday 🙁

Another ECW infantry unit completed and ready to go.

I have several more on the go but may only get to them in a couple of days

As always thanks for popping by

Matt ♥️