Turn Twenty-Six
7:00 AM, September 6, Light Rain (Visibility: 15 Hexes)
Union:
Union Moves:
Firing continued across Toll Gate Bridge as more guns come into the action there. Across the field the Federals are generally in their positions and patiently waiting for the artillery to do its job and wear down the defenders as much as possible before they attack across the river.
The Federal commanders did notice that the Rebels had turned off their Auto Defensive Fire (or changed it to minimum) as there was a discernible lack of defensive fire now coming from the Confederate artillery. Brogden and Mallory both commented on this with Mallory pointing out, “If they've turned off auto artillery fire (or cut it back to short range only), we should be freer to move around and fire on our turn. Now that you mention it, I was surprised there was no Defensive Fire against some limbered guns I moved, well within their LOS.”
Confederate:
Confederate Moves:
Heavy Union fire routed five Confederate regiments near Toll Gate Bridge during this turn. Steuart’s Brigade of Johnson’s Division is being pulled out of their lines at Crums Ford and Monocacy Junction to move north towards Toll Gate Bridge. The Stonewall Brigade continues to defend Crums while being reinforced by dismounted troopers of Jones’ Cavalry Brigade. Monocacy Junction remains defended by Jones’ Brigade of Johnson’s Division along with two brigades recently arrived from AP Hill’s Division. Counterbattery fire knocked out another Union gun but otherwise less damage was done to the Federals this turn than in the previous turns.
End of Turn twenty-six:
Total Strength:
USA: 38,494 (+1,620)
CSA: 40,906 (-228)
​
Total Casualties (infantry + cavalry):
USA: 1,992 (+122)
CSA: 1,798 (+228)
​
Artillery Losses:
USA: 3
CSA: 0
Right: The overhead map of the battlefield. You can see the II Corps spreading out along the eastern bank of the river across from Toll Gate Bridge.
editor's note:
Doing a little math you will realize that both sides have averaged about 200 casualties for each turn since daybreak. But the Confederate losses have been increasing each turn and the Federals decreasing. At 200 casualties per turn the Confederates could be in for a long day at Toll Gate Bridge and only half the Union artillery is unlimbered still. At some point the Federals will have to conserve ammo but for now they are doing the right thing and blasting away at enemy forces still trying to entrench and hold on to a position near the bridge.
Turn Twenty-Seven
7:20 AM, September 6, Light Rain (Visibility: 15 Hexes)
Union:
Union Moves:
Federal fire continues to plunge down at the Confederates across Toll Gate Bridge causing significant losses. Elsewhere skirmishing continues unabated across nearly every river crossing but especially at Hope Bridge and Toll Gate Bridge.
Brogden and Mallory both began to see the effects their fire was having on the Confederates at Toll Gate Bridge and began to comment on it. Brogden wrote that the area, “is starting to become degraded with the artillery pounding away. A good time to punish them with more artillery fire.” “I just unlimbered eight more guns this turn,” Mallory wrote back, “and still have 38 limbered guns to get into position. Once those are set up and are blasting away, we'll burn through even more Rebs. At this point I'm wearing them down considerably.”
Confederate:
Confederate Moves:
Four Confederate units routed away from Toll Gate Bridge during this turn. Nonetheless the Confederates simply replaced them with other units and continue to try and hold the open fields as near as possible to the bridge over the river. Firing continues all along the lines.
End of Turn twenty-seven:
Total Strength:
USA: 40,341 (+1,847)
CSA: 40,632 (-274)
​
Total Casualties (infantry + cavalry):
USA: 2,151 (+159)
CSA: 2,072 (+274)
​
Artillery Losses:
USA: 3
CSA: 0
Right: Overhead map of the battlefield.
editor's note:
Things are getting bloodier for the Confederates each turn at Toll Gate Bridge. If I were the Yankees I would probably choose this moment to attack as a large part of the Confederates near the bridge are disrupted due to routing last turn. The majority of units are also in column formation trying to entrench and would have to switch formations (losing 50% firing effectiveness) in order to contest an advance next turn. Couple that with dozens of Union guns firing in support and I believe the attack would succeed in gaining a hold west of the river. Confederate artillery is massed near the river as well but they cannot fire on numerous hexes near the river because of the topography of the land. By forcing a crossing the Federals could use their own guns to cover them as they sweep north or south along the river’s edge to uncover other fords before attacking the heavy Confederate artillery concentration.
The two sides are, for the first time, finally equal in number on the battlefield. Although neither side knows the numbers of the other. If the Confederates had fought at all on the eastern side of the Monocacy River they might have had some success during the first day of battle against only the slow-arriving III Corps. The next Union reinforcements to arrive in large numbers do not come until 11 AM from the southeast.
Above: The Federals have a good opportunity to force their way across the bridge at this point. The trenches in their immediate front are lightly manned and the fields are dominated by the growing numbers of Union guns on the ridges east of the river.
Turn Twenty-Eight
7:40 AM, September 6, Light Rain (Visibility: 15 Hexes)
Union:
Union Moves:
Once more heavy Union fire at the Toll Gate was very effective.
Mallory wrote to Brogden that, “At the Toll Gate, I moved guns off the road in preparation for an attack across the bridge. I have no intention of crossing yet, but I want to be prepared to do so when the time comes. I plan to start focusing more artillery fire on the enemy guns on the heights beyond the river as well. Hays' 3rd Division of Hancock's 2d Corps is getting into position on the road, in column formation and behind cover, to pour across the bridge once the cavalry punches a hole. These are large regiments - all over 400 men - and most of them are C-Quality. Again, no hurry.”
Confederate:
Confederate Moves:
Additional routs occurred at the Toll Gate Bridge where Union fire was relentless. At Hope Bridge the skirmishing continued with neither side inflicting many casualties or making any real dent on the other.
It was at this point that the first real discouragement occurred for the Confederates at Toll Gate Bridge. Nearly all morning the Confederates had been taking much heavier losses at Toll Gate Bridge against the ever-increasing Federal batteries over the river. Swanson wrote to Hively, “I'm gradually losing the shooting duel at Toll Gate. The exchange of fire will gradually deplete us there. It looks like I'll need to fall back and let him cross the river. I'm moving more units there and will begin to dig in a new line.” Hively could only agree that the situation up north was not a good one. “I agree,” he wrote. “It is clear the Union has the artillery advantage. There is no way to stop them crossing at the Toll Bridge. Not sure you have time to dig in behind the hills. I plan on sending almost all my reinforcements to help you there. Heth will hold in the south.” Swanson still counseled prudence as he was concerned that another major attack would still come at Hope Bridge. “You should be wary of sending your men up to Toll Gate as there could still be a big push at Hope Bridge (John is probably just waiting for his reinforcements and more artillery). Your other men should occupy the works at Monocacy Junction as I hope to remove the remainder of my men from there soon.” Together they agreed to await developments before deciding where to commit their only reinforcements this day - Anderson’s Division arriving at 1 PM.
End of Turn twenty-Eight:
Total Strength:
USA: 40,238 (-103)
CSA: 40,450 (-182)
​
Total Casualties (infantry + cavalry):
USA: 2,254 (+103)
CSA: 2,254 (+182)
​
Artillery Losses:
USA: 3
CSA: 0
Yes! The casualties are exactly even at this point.
Right: The overhead map of the battlefield.
editor's note:
Interesting. The Confederates are beginning to waver in their original plan to contest the Union crossings at the bridges rather than giving up a foot of land west of the river. At some point this was inevitable as the Union guns are simply too numerous and powerful to resist at Toll Gate Bridge. Confederate artillery is emplaced back from the crossing about 6 or 7 hexes on a slight ridge. So far Confederate artillery has been almost wholly ineffective against Federal artillery and infantry units using the cover of trees from east of the river. Were Swanson to fall back I assume he would use Reich Ridge as a rallying point and try to contain the tide of Federals sure to pour across. If the Federals are wise they will attack soon.
Once across they would do better to turn north to uncover Hughes Ford. Swanson’s line is directly west of the Toll Gate Bridge with his left flank completely in the air. The Confederates could be easily outflanked from their gun-studded ridge and driven back towards Frederick City. If the Federals assault the gun-studded line of Confederates directly west of the bridge they may very well be bloodily repulsed and driven back over the river with heavy losses.
Turn Twenty-Nine
8:00 AM, September 6, Light Rain (Visibility: 15 Hexes)
Union:
Union Moves:
The Federals have continued to fire across Toll Gate Bridge. Fire was partially shifted towards artillery targets as opposed to infantry ones.
Mallory wrote, “At the Toll Gate, I have started directing some counter-battery fire towards the Rebel guns. Even with flank shots, I didn't get anything except fatigue increases. I'll keep that up, though - it would be very helpful if some of those guns could be disabled before our men start to cross.”
Confederate:
Confederate Moves:
Swanson has begun to entrench behind the ridgeline west of Toll Gate Bridge. Units are entrenching at numerous places to contest the Union advance once they storm over the bridge at some point. Elsewhere firing continues along the river.
End of Turn Twenty-nine:
Total Strength:
USA: 40,053 (-185)
CSA: 40,258 (-192)
​
Total Casualties (infantry + cavalry):
USA: 2,439 (+185)
CSA: 2,446 (+192)
​
Artillery Losses:
USA: 3
CSA: 0
Right: The overhead map of the battlefield.
editor's note:
Now is the time for the Union to attack across Toll Gate Bridge. During this turn I playtested the situation to see if an attack would succeed in their initial assaults. They very easily did and threw the Rebels back in each melee. The Rebels are too few in the forward trenches to stop a determined assault. Once over the river the Rebels would have to choose between a counterattack TOWARDS the massed Union guns on the bluffs above them or falling back to their next defensive position.
Turn Thirty
8:20 AM, September 6, Light Rain (Visibility: 15 Hexes)
Union:
Union Moves:
A very heavy cannonading at Toll Gate Bridge knocked out FIVE Confederate guns during this turn. Still more Union guns have been unlimbered near the bridge with still more arriving. Altogether roughly 70 Union guns are now perched on the heights across Toll Gate Bridge firing into the open fields below where the Confederates are still trying to hold as close to the river as possible.
Confederate:
Confederate Moves:
Ouch! The loss of five guns in a single turn really shook things up on the Confederate side. At Toll Gate Bridge the Rebels largely began to abandon their positions near the river in order to take up new ones back a few hexes on Reich Ridge overlooking the crossing. The only units remaining to block the crossing are those in trenches a hex away from the bridge and a few units in the hex directly behind them. Hays’ 9th Louisiana and Law’s 47th Alabama will attempt to hold onto the trenches though both are already suffering from moderate fatigue, low ammo, and have taken significant losses.
All long the Confederate lines the firing continues with seemingly less effect than ever as the Federals build breastworks and take up superior positions in tree lines and on hills.
Swanson is not happy about his increasing losses at the Toll Gate Bridge, “It's disturbing to note that we seem to be inflicting hardly any casualties in the exchange of fire across the river and they are taking a heavy toll on us. Some of my artillery at Toll's Gate is being taken out two guns at a time! Last turn we suffered over 200 casualties and got 63 in return and we're on the defensive and in trenches and breastworks! I don't get it.”
End of Turn thirty:
Total Strength:
USA: 39,990 (-63)
CSA: 39,924 (-334)
​
Total Casualties (infantry + cavalry):
USA: 2,502 (+63)
CSA: 2,655 (+209)
​
Artillery Losses:
USA: 3
CSA: 5
Right: The Confederates have now began to fall back from the Toll Gate Bridge leaving only a small force to keep blocking the road across.
editor's note:
At the moment I am surprised by Swanson’s continued stubborn resistance near the river. The units in the open fields have been cut to pieces and continue to take very lopsided losses. While the total casualties are roughly even in the battle it is mainly the result of a few Union mistakes which caused large losses in singular units in a single turn (i.e. when the Michiganders attempted to cross Hughes Ford during the night). The Confederates west of the Toll Gate Bridge have been badly mauled. For instance, the Texas Brigade has inflicted a total of about 10 casualties on the Federals while having lost 776 of 1,729 men so far. The average fatigue of the Texas units is nearly 700 with two of them already being at Max Fatigue. Law’s Brigade, which has only just arrived this morning, has taken a similar pounding and lost 536 men of 1,929 while having inflicted not a single Union casualty. Law’s units are now partially routed and many are heavily fatigued from having marched all night and then being under fire all morning. These two brigades, two of the finest in the Confederate army, have been seriously depleted and demoralized while achieving nearly nothing other than holding the Federals back for a while longer. But that was their mission. So, will it be worth it? That’s the question. If the Confederates can hold on until the arrival of Anderson’s Division late in the day than I would say that it was worth it. If they cannot then it will have only delayed the Federal attack a few hours while sacrificing some of the best Confederate units in the process.
Across the river the Federals of the II Corps also marched for most of the night and were fatigued at sunrise. But they have had the luxury of resting all morning, largely unseen in the woods and hills east of the river, and are now well rested and prepared to attack at a moments notice.
The window to attack is wide open.
Ironically, on the opposite side, the window to attack is wide open for the Confederates as well. At Monocacy Junction and Worthington’s Ford there are roughly 10,000 infantrymen and 1,700 cavalrymen defending the crossings against Schenck’s III Corps Division with 6,500 men. Schenck’s men are very poorly rated with many units having a rating of “E”. They are also heavily fatigued from marching all night and spending the morning under enemy artillery fire. Were the Confederates to storm across the river here they would easily rout and brush aside Schenck’s men and completely disrupt all Union plans for, perhaps, the entire battle. The rest of III Corps would be forced to abandon their fight at Hope Bridge and rush north to oppose AP Hill’s attack. Heth’s Division, then left unchecked at Hope’s Bridge, could conceivably advance over the river to join in the attack on the III Corps. The Confederates have no way to know that the nearest help for Sickles’ men is still hours away. The only other option for the Federals would be to dispatch a II Corps division from Toll Gate Bridge to move south and help stem them tide of battle. All the initiative would pass to the Confederates at this point. The eventual arrival of I Corps would steady the lines at some point but by then most of the second day of battle would have been used up in the fighting and the Federals would be no closer to crossing than they had been when the day started. With two fresh Confederate divisions still to come (Anderson’s at 1 PM and Rodes’ early on day three) the Confederates would likely be able to hold all three objective flags for the duration of the battle.
At this point I feel that whichever side takes the initiative and attacks first will win the battle. Something has to give!
As to Swanson’s confusion as to why his counterbattery fire is almost ineffective it is simply a matter of modifiers. While the Confederates do have some trenches and breastworks scattered about there are not enough hexes for the Confederates to utilize near the river. Most of the morning the Confederates have been out in the open taking fire. In the hexes with trenches and breastworks the losses have been fewer but with so many routs even the men in the trenches have spent a good portion of the morning disrupted. The Federals are really unhittable in many cases as they are on higher ground and in forests. Some Federal hexes are even protected by trenches or breastworks making them even more protected. For Swanson it is a losing battle here at Toll Gate Bridge. Falling back to the ridge is his best option. Once on the ridge the Confederate guns and infantry will still be at a disadvantage as they cannot hit the hexes nearest the river due to the topography of the land. Building additional lines of trenches, as Swanson is doing, is wise. But this battlefield is large enough that I wouldn’t expect the Yankees to repeat their errors at Fredericksburg and attack frontally. But I have been wrong before.
Above: There is a prime opportunity for the Confederates to take the initiative and attack across Monocacy River in the center of the board. Federal units here are badly outclassed and in a poor position to resist any attack.