Turn Eleven
8:00 PM, September 5, Night (Visibility: 1 Hex)
Union:
Union Moves:
Despite the darkness of night the Union army continues to move to the west. Birney’s two brigades under deTrobriand and Graham are nearly opposite Hope Bridge where, in the darkness, the division of Henry Heth is entrenched on the opposite side. Moving to reinforce Birney is the division of Robert Schenck. To the north the cavalry continues to battle at Toll Gate Bridge where the 1st Texas refuses to lay down their shovels. (See Map Below) They took another 40 casualties from the dismounted troopers of Farnsworth’s brigade. Elsewhere the Federal troopers continued to rundown the Confederate scouts and eliminate them from the battle.
Confederate:
Confederate Moves:
The Confederates of the 1st Texas stayed in column formation entrenching while the 5th Texas was moved up in battle line to share the same hex with the 1st. The 5th Texas was disrupted by their movement and when they fired offensively against the cavalrymen on the heights above were unable to inflict any losses on the Federals. The remainder of the Confederates around the crossings continued to entrench.
To the west the first brigade of Maj. Gen. A.P. Hill’s Division arrived on the field. Hood will now double his effective force on the southern side of the battlefield.
Above: The Toll Gate Bridge and the uneven fight between the infantry in column formation and the dismounted troopers. Remember the visibility is one hex.
End of Turn Eleven:
Total Strength:
USA: 18,849 (+599)
CSA: 26,467 (+2,396)
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Total Casualties (infantry + cavalry):
USA: 179 (+1)
CSA: 175 (+82)
​
Artillery Losses:
USA: 0
CSA: 0
Right: The overhead map of the battlefield. The nighttime action has become concentrated at Toll Gate Bridge in the north.
editor's note:
With night fallen both sides will have to decide how long to move and how long to rest their men. Each night movement fatigues their men by 50 fatigue points. I would expect both sides to move some units for a few hours and then rest them before they become too fatigued. But both sides are also racing for positions along the river and neither feels they can slow down. I am curious to see if one side or the other decides to move throughout the night and damn the consequences. For the Federals it might make more sense to do so as they control the initiative in the battle and can rest during the day after they have occupied the hexes of their choice in the darkness. It should be a long and interesting night!
Turn Twelve
9:00 PM, September 5, Night (Visibility: 1 Hex)
Union:
Union Moves:
The Federals continued their heavy fire on the 1st Texas and inflicted further heavy losses on the Rebel unit. The area around Toll Gate Bridge is sure to be a focal point of the Union strategy on day two and these are just the opening salvos. Elsewhere Federal cavalry has continued to hunt down and bag scattered Confederate scouting units on their side of the river. To the south the III Corps is still moving for Hope Bridge.
Mallory wrote to Brogden about the continued action against the 1st Texas that, “I hope they continue to sit there entrenching giving me free shots. If we're real lucky, they'll rout away just before they complete the entrenching, disrupting the units behind them. Or, better yet, they'll rout away just after they complete the entrenchment - and I'll mount up and move across into the completed entrenchment!” Brogden wrote back that, “I am moving some men to the last unexplored ford (Worthington Ford). I am going to collect the III Corps near Hope Bridge and along the Baker Valley Road for future movements as needed. During my next move I will probe Hope Bridge. I predict it is guarded due to proximity of the victory objective nearby.”
Confederate:
Confederate Moves:
For the Confederates it was another turn of movement moved forward AP Hill’s arriving brigades and kept entrenching elsewhere.
Deciding it was time to once again discuss overall strategy Swanson wrote to ask Hively, “Is A P Hill heading to defend Worthington Ford and Monocacy Junction? The trenches that Stuart and the supporting infantry are building should be completed by the time they get there. When they arrive at their destination they should rest before digging anything new so that they can recover from their fatigue.” Swanson went on to explain his thoughts on the beating that the 1st Texas was taking near Toll Gate Bridge. “When I can I will move some more men to Toll Gate Bridge. I'm getting shot up badly there in that firefight but I must keep units on the river hex (the 1st Texas digging, and the 5th Texas firing) or his cavalry may get on our side of the river and create havoc after dawn.” Lastly, he asked Hively’s opinion on the possibility of a brief foray over the river to scout enemy positions. “It seems possible that they have nothing opposing us at Hughes Ford in the north. I'm thinking that next move I may have a look and see as it would be nice to have a force on his right flank. It may even be possible to get at the rear of his cavalry opposing me at Toll Gate Bridge. Any thoughts on this?” Swanson replied that he was moving to Monocacy Junction with A.P. Hill’s Division to take over the defense of that sector by morning. As for Swanson’s proposed recon across Hughes Ford in the north he did not object to the idea in order to find out whether the enemy was still there.
End of Turn Twelve:
Total Strength:
USA: 18,846 (-3)
CSA: 29,707 (+3,240)
​
Total Casualties (infantry + cavalry):
USA: 182 (+3)
CSA: 257 (+82)
​
Artillery Losses:
USA: 0
CSA: 0
Right: Hughes Ford is the northernmost crossing point on the map over the Monocacy River.
editor's note:
The Confederates are wondering whether or not the enemy is still at Hughes Ford?! Of course the enemy is still at Hughes Ford! Who in their right mind would leave a ford unguarded in such a scenario as this? Nonetheless, Swanson may get lucky as Mallory has not placed his men in an ideal defensive posture near that ford and they may well be taken by surprise by the Confederate move. But even if they are surprised the night movement by the Rebels will automatically disrupt them and they will not have a chance to melee any unprepared units they bump into. It should quickly confirm though that the Federals still have designs on Hughes Ford for the morrow.
Turn Thirteen
10:00 PM, September 5, Night (Visibility: 1 Hex)
Union:
Union Moves:
The Federals were very active this turn. In the north Mallory pushed forward with his cavalry to Hughes Ford to see what was going on across the river. The 1st Michigan Cavalry ran directly into about 750 infantrymen and cavalrymen supported by four artillery pieces within a trench west of Hughes Ford. The 1st Michigan, already being caught in the open, decided to charge over the river in order to, at the least, cause a stir. The result was to be expected as the cavalrymen were easily repulsed. At the Toll Gate Bridge the men of Farnsworth’s brigade continued their unrelenting fire on the 1st Texas and dropped another 60+ men from their ranks as they continued to try and rush to finish their trenches. The 5th Texas, brought up for support, could do little damage firing uphill into the wooded terrain above them.
To the south the Federal scouts rode across the railroad bridge at Monocacy Junction and directly into the waiting rifles of the Confederate cavalry. Though the Federals were wiped out they did uncover that the crossing was heavily fortified. At Hope Bridge the Federals pushed up the river’s edge and made contact with the infantry of Heth’s Division for the first time in the battle. The 47th North Carolina of Pettigrew’s Brigade and the 7th Georgia of Anderson’s Brigade were entrenching near the bridge when Federals from Graham’s and deTrobriand’s brigades opened fire on them. (See Map Below) Few men were hit on either side but now both armies know that every crossing point will be a hotly contested point of contention. From the Hope Bridge in the south to Hughes Ford in the north the two armies are now in close proximity.
Brogden wrote to Mallory that he intended to keep probing the enemy lines and look to divert a division of the III Corps to Monocacy Junction to keep the Confederates concentrated in the center to hopefully take men away from the southern flank where the rest of III Corps were heading. After seeing the Confederate defenses in many places Mallory wrote that, “They're probably hard at work entrenching at all crossings.” He regretted the damage done to the Michigan cavalry regiment at Hughes Ford but felt that at least they knew what they were up against at that point. Agreeing with these sentiments, Brogden wrote back that, “I do think they are at every crossing at this point. The only question is at what strength? I'd advise parking your oncoming artillery at some elevation near enough to a crossing of our choosing to put a hurt on them just before we advance at early dawn. Finding open spaces to fire into their reinforcements, and possible flanking fire to the defenders, is also advisable. I think they will be very hesitant to attack us now as they will be trying to decide where we will hit them at dawn.”
Confederate:
Editor's Note:
Routed! The 1st Texas (and the 4th Texas who were a hex behind them but not engaged) were driven back from the Toll Gate Bridge. The Texans, who were desperately attempting to finish their trenches, were unable to do so. They paid a heavy price as they lost 211 of 426 men at the bridge while never even firing a shot. This is a very regrettable loss for the Confederates as the crack unit has lost 50% of their manpower and is now in the high fatigue range. Unbeknownst to either side is that the 1st Texas was just one turn away from completing their trenches. Had they not routed during this turn they would have completed them.
This is doubly, in fact triply, important because the routed Confederates disrupted the units directly behind them when they routed (Fitz Lee’s Cavalrymen). Lee’s Cavalrymen were well along in their trench building but now that they are disrupted were automatically stopped from completing them. The entire Confederate defensive scheme around Toll Gate Bridge is now derailed. The only nearby unit that can come up and restart the trenches is the 3rd Arkansas.
In this instance things worked out perfectly for the Federals.
​
Confederate Moves:
Responding to the routs at Toll Gate Bridge the Confederates have moved up the 3rd Arkansas to try and restart the entrenching efforts two hexes away from the bridge. The 5th Texas continues to hold the same hex adjacent to the Federal cavalry just across the river and under the guns of the cavalrymen. The Confederates at Hughes Ford took a measure of revenge by unleashing a heavy fire into the mounted cavalrymen of Custer’s 1st Michigan. Elsewhere there was little movement beyond the continuing arrival of units from both AP Hill’s and Early’s divisions from the west. Though each move costs them 50 fatigue points I don’t believe they intend to waste any time coming up.
To the south the North Carolinians and Georgians at Hope Bridge have stopped entrenching and moved into line to return fire on the suddenly appearing Federals east of the river.
Hively wrote quickly to Swanson to state the obvious that, “It looks like our weak spot is the Toll Gate Bridge.” Swanson fully agreed and wrote back that, “It's frustrating that the men defending bridge [the Texans] have suffered heavy casualties yet caused little in return and not completed the trenches.” He vowed to keep contesting the crossing as long as possible, presumably with the 5th Texas who remained in the same hex opposite the Yanks. “If they had infantry there I'd be more concerned, but I don't see a need to move artillery there at present. Besides, if I move it there and unlimber it during the night the artillery will disrupt and will be susceptible to being uncrewed and lost.”
Above: The area around Hope Bridge with both sides bordering the river during the night.
End of Turn Thirteen:
Total Strength:
USA: 18,682 (-164)
CSA: 32,792 (+3,085)
​
Total Casualties (infantry + cavalry):
USA: 346 (+164)
CSA: 340 (+82)
​
Artillery Losses:
USA: 0
CSA: 0
Right: The overhead map of the battlefield. Most of Schenck's III Corps division is headed to Monocacy Junction leaving only Birney's division opposite Heth to the south.
editor's note:
The move against Hughes Ford by the Federal cavalry was a costly one for the Yanks. The Michiganders took heavy losses and were quickly routed (the regiment has lost 184 of their 326 men). While they did establish that the Confederates “were there” I have to wonder… where did you think they’d go? They knew they were there at sundown and I can’t rationalize why they might think the Rebs would abandon a crossing point after having fought for it up until nightfall. It was a heavy price to pay for the info gained but, I guess, it could be worse. At least they are 100% sure they are still there now. Ironically had the Federals not crossed during this turn Swanson was preparing his own foolish escapade across the river to check on the Yanks. Neither seems to have trusted that the other was still there.
To the south the position of Heth’s Division around Hope Bridge is interesting. Hively has opted to set up away from the bridge and try to utilize some high ground just a few hexes away. The area is a very tough one to defend as it is surrounded by high ground east of the river. Should the Federals eventually get heavy artillery on the heights north of Heth’s position it will become a very hot area to try and hold under a plunging fire. The Confederates will have all of their trenches completed though so they will minimize their losses as much as possible as a result. Any Federal advance over the bridge will be a risky one as Heth’s large division is poised to crush any unit which comes west of the river. It will be an interesting morning around that bridge.
I am most enjoying the action around Toll Gate Bridge. This crossing promises to be the most advantageous for the Federals to reach the other side of Monocacy River. The ground east of the river is wooded and elevated and gives the Federals a point-blank firing position to utilize against any defenders in the open ground west of the river. With properly used artillery the crossing should be secured by the arriving Federal infantry of the II Corps by late morning. Then it will be a matter of laying down a covering fire while the infantry crosses.
Will it happen like that? We will have to wait and see together.
Turn Fourteen
11:00 PM, September 5, Night (Visibility: 1 Hex)
Union:
Union Moves:
The Federal cavalrymen continued to fire away at the 5th Texas across Toll Gate Bridge and inflicted another 30+ casualties on them. To the south the Union III Corps regiments near Hope Bridge have all moved into battle line to engage the only two Confederate regiments along the river’s bank.
Responding to the rout of the 1st Texas during the previous turn, Mallory wrote, “The Reb unit entrenching at the Toll Gate Bridge appears to have routed away, putting a stop (for the time being) to their entrenchment efforts and (maybe) disrupting anyone entrenching behind them. That leaves the disrupted 5th Texas, but our Defensive Fire this round reduced that some already. I plan to continue firing as long as our ammo holds up.” Mallory was more correct than he knew as the rout of the 1st Texas disrupted all other efforts to entrench nearby. The 5th Texas continues to hold the hex blocking the bridge though they have already lost 58 men and inflicted only two casualties on the Confederates. Swanson continues to fire away desperately at the Union cavalrymen but I don’t believe he realizes that the modifiers created from the terrain makes it extremely one-sided.
Confederate:
Confederate Moves:
The 3rd Arkansas has moved up to share the forward hex with the 5th Texas. This prompted automated defensive fire and the Texans, again, saw more of their men fall. To the north the 4th Virginia Cavalry rode across Hughes Ford and was immediately disrupted by the wooded terrain. They did discover a few question marks in some hexes to their front. Elsewhere units continued to move forward despite the increasing fatigue numbers in many units.
Swanson and Hively briefly discussed overall strategy during this turn. They continue to divide the board in half with Swanson covering the northern crossings and Hively the southern ones. As AP Hill’s Division arrives at Monocacy Junction he will relieve the units of Stuart’s Cavalry Division as well as the two brigades of Johnson’s Division which are defending there. Hively preferred to keep his two divisions separate with Heth to the south at Hope Bridge and AP Hill to the north at Monocacy Junction. He wrote though that “if Heth is not under too much pressure, I will move a brigade or two of Heth to the Monocacy area. Heth's area is very defensible and is quickly getting fortified. I'll move as much away from that area as the Yanks allow.”
End of Turn fourteen:
Total Strength:
USA: 18,660 (-22)
CSA: 36,201 (+3,409)
​
Total Casualties (infantry + cavalry):
USA: 368 (+22)
CSA: 407 (+67)
​
Artillery Losses:
USA: 0
CSA: 0
Right: The overhead map of the battlefield. Action around Toll Bridge and at Hope Bridge continue.
editor's note:
Moving the 3rd Arkansas up to join the 5th Texas puzzles me. I believe it is a show of force to bluff that they are stronger at the crossing than they currently are. I’m not sure the Yanks care one way or the other how strong the Rebs are so long as they continue to win this one-sided skirmish.
I will also note that Mallory has a number of Union batteries now on the field and has set them up far behind the river’s edge. This is a major error in my opinion. Once the sun comes up at dawn every gun needs to be at point blank range to blast away at whatever enemy is across the river. There are numerous hexes with higher ground and wooded terrain fronting Toll Gate Bridge which could be packed with guns come dawn. Instead, Mallory is choosing to set up further away from the river and advance once he can see what he is up against. I think this overly cautious move is a mistake as he will then have to move his guns up under enemy fire rather than during the night when they would be concealed and safe. But that's just my opinion. Easy to watch from above and make those calls, right?
Both sides continue to ignore fatigue issues and move non-stop. Let’s hope neither side regrets that decision tomorrow.
Turn Fifteen
12:00 AM, September 6, Night (Visibility: 1 Hex)
Union:
Union Moves:
The Federal cavalry opposite Toll Gate Bridge opened fire on the newly arrived Arkansans during this turn. Their fire continued to be very accurate as another 50+ casualties were inflicted on the units beneath them near the bridge. Elsewhere the Michiganders of Custer’ brigade dismounted and opened fire on the 4th Virginia Cavalry which had crossed at Hughes Ford to the north.
At Hope Bridge to the south the Federals were the ones to break off the fighting as they fell back a hex to rest for the night.
The continued fighting at Toll Gate Bridge played directly into Federal hands and Mallory knew it. He wrote to Brogden that, “I plan to keep pounding away at whatever they have at the Toll Gate. They've up'ed the ante there by moving in another regiment (the 3rd Arkansas) to replace the one that routed away. In poker terms, I'm calling their bid by moving the 5th NY cavalry into the fray. It won't reach the crossing until next turn, but it will add over 300 more carbines, in the hands of B-quality troopers, to the fight. If the Rebs want to stay there in the clear, firing uphill against our boys in the forests, I'm all for that!” The action by the 4th Virginia Cavalry did not worry him at all and he predicted they would quickly fall back over Hughes Ford.
Confederate:
Confederate Moves:
The Confederates have finally given up the area at Toll Gate Bridge and fallen back a hex. The 4th Virginia Cavalry was likewise recalled at Hughes Ford. Elsewhere the Confederates continued to dig in and bring up reinforcements across the board.
Swanson finally had to admit that the “casualties continue to be too high” at Toll Gate Bridge and so he would abandon the bridge and fall back a hex to defend on better ground. Likewise he now knew the Federals were still at Hughes Ford and fell back there as well. But Swanson is always thinking offensively and stated to Hively that, “I am currently thinking that an opportunity may arise for us to launch a massive attack in the south. It's very early still but if that seems to be a good option later all the cavalry will be sent down there to assist. The cavalry are of minimal use in defending entrenchments.”
Hively agreed with the move to fall back from the crossing points in the north, once more stating that the “Toll Gate is the weak point in our line." He continued to say that, "I expect them to try to overwhelm you there with massive artillery. There is no good defensive terrain in that area for you to use.” “On the cavalry idea,” he continued, “I am not disagreeing, but we don't have to attack, just defend, and cavalry may be more useful to threaten the flank/rear of any penetration they make later.”
End of Turn fifteen:
Total Strength:
USA: 18,659 (-1)
CSA: 39,154 (+2,953)
​
Total Casualties (infantry + cavalry):
USA: 369 (+1)
CSA: 468 (+61)
​
Artillery Losses:
USA: 0
CSA: 0
Right: The Confederates finally fall back a hex from Toll Gate Bridge.
editor's note:
I was wondering how long the unequal fight at Toll Gate Bridge would last. From the very beginning it was a gamble that didn’t pay for Swanson. Had the Texans completed their trenches in time it would have been worth it to stay. But once they were routed there was no more reason to stay in a clear hex fighting uphill against enemy units using forests for cover. The 4th Virginia’s action over Hughes Ford was equally as pointless though much less costly. Now that the Federals have gained the immediate hex across Toll Gate Bridge they need to hurry and bring up every gun they can. Large numbers of Federals will be arriving during the next few hours and over a hundred cannon will be at the disposal of Mallory by noon tomorrow. With the high ground at the river’s edge now secure it should be time to bring up the guns and begin to build breastworks to protect them before morning.
The next few hours should be very interesting as both sides wait for the sun to come up.