The Battle of Fair Oaks

The Battle of Fair Oaks, 31st May, 1862

By Bryan Olson

Game Details:

Rules: A modified version of Rally Round the Flag by Scott Monsour

Scenario: Fair Oaks by Paul D. Stevenson (Guns at Gettysburg Scenarios 3, On To Richmond)

Scale: One Infantry base= 80 men, One Artillery base = two guns

Ground Scale: 1”= 25yds (apx.)

Table Size: 6’ X 8’

Table Overview:

Mission: To win the scenario, each side is tasked with holding the greater length of the Duane’s Bridge Road. (Game length is 16 turns)

Deployment

 

 

 

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="Laws brigade, deployed near the Fair Oaks Station. Laws Brigade consists of the 4th Alabama, 2nd Mississippi, 11th Mississippi, 6th North Carolina, and the Mississippi Riflemen."][/caption]

 

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="Pettigrew’s Brigade starts on the Nine Mile Road. Game Note: Pettigrew and Hampton’s brigades have hold orders until the start of turn four, when they will receive their order to attack."][/caption]

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="The Courtney House, Hampton’s Brigade is seen in the distance."][/caption]

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="Wade Hampton’s Brigade, consisting of the 14th Georgia, 19th Georgia, 16th North Carolina and Hampton’s Legion."][/caption]

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="Gorman’s Brigade, lead by the 1st Minnesota, enters the table on a path near the Adams House."][/caption]

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="Couch’s Brigade is deployed near the center of the table. The brigade consists of the following regiments, the 62nd New York, 65th New York, 7th Massachusetts, 31st Pennsylvania, and 1st Pennsylvania battery (h)"][/caption]

Turn 1

 

 

 

 

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="From just inside the tree line the 65th New York and 31st Pennsylvania deliver a deadly fire on the 2nd Mississippi. This fire reduces the regiment’s strength by two bases."][/caption]

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="The regiments of Couch’s brigade prepare to open fire on the advancing rebels."][/caption]

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="The Mississippi riflemen open fire on the 62nd New York. Also seen in this photo; The 1st Minnesota is ordered deploy to the left of the 62nd New York along the rail fence."][/caption]

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="The 10lb rifled guns of the 1st Pennsylvania battery open fire on 11th Mississippi."][/caption]

 

Turn 1 Casualties

Confederate: 2 Infantry Bases

Turn 2

 

 

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="Law’s brigade advance into smoothbore musket range and opens fire on the Union line."][/caption]

 

 

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="The first regiment of Gorman’s brigade advances into the fields of the Craig farm."][/caption]

 

 

Turn 2 Casualties

Confederate: 1 Infantry Base

Turn 3

 

 

 

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="The federals rush to get their troops into a defensive position before the confederates commence their attack."][/caption]

 

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="The 4th Alabama charges the 1st Minnesota, the 1st MN fails to pass their morale check and falls back."][/caption]

 

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="The 6th NC charges and engages the 62nd NY in close combat."][/caption]

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="The 11th Mississippi charges the 7th Massachusetts, and is repulsed."][/caption]

 

Turn 3 Casualties

Union: 1 Infantry Base

Confederate: 2 Infantry Bases

Turn 4

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="Turn four arrives and General Whiting orders the Brigades of Hampton’s and Pettigrew’s to commence their attack."][/caption]

 

 

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="Following up on their success from the previous turn, the 4th Alabama charges the 1st US Artillery battery. The battery fires a deadly volley of canister at the charging rebels and repulses them. However in the turmoil the 4th Alabama does manage to knockout one base of Union artillery."][/caption]

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="Continued from the last turn, the close combat between the 6th North Carolina and the 62nd New York ends when the 62nd fails a morale check and is forced to fall back."][/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="Hampton advances his brigade towards the Courtney Farm."][/caption]

 

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="Pettigrew’s Brigade advances."][/caption]

 

 

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="Hatton’s Brigade arrives on the Nine Mile Road. His brigade consists of the following regiments, 1st Tennessee, 7th Tennessee, 14th Tennessee, and the Tennessee Riflemen. Hatton is ordered to advance his brigade to support Pettigrew’s attack."][/caption]

 

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="The Philadelphia brigade arrives. This brigade is commanded by William Burns and consists of the 69th Pennsylvania, 71st Pennsylvania, 72nd Pennsylvania, and the 106th Pennsylvania."][/caption]

Turn 4 Casualties

Union: 2 Infantry Base, 1 Artillery Base

Confederate: 3 Infantry Bases

Turn 5

 

 

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="Near the Adams farm, the rebels continue to inflict havoc on the federals. Having defeated the 62nd NY in close combat last turn, the 6th NC once again charges the 62nd NY and this time the 62nd routes from the table. The lead regiment from the Philadelphia Brigade (96th Pennsylvania) is forced deploy to meet the 6th NC’s advance."][/caption]

 

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="Once again the 11th MS charges the 7th MA and this time the attack is successful."][/caption]

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="Looking for a little payback the 1st Minnesota charges the 4th Alabama and pushes them back."][/caption]

 

 

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="Hampton begins to deploy his brigade for the assault on the Federals holding Courtney Farm."][/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turn 5 Casualties

Union: 1 Artillery Base

Confederate: 1 Infantry Base

Turn 6

 

 

 

 

 

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="The 11th MS once again charges the 7th MA and defeats them in close combat. However the casualties from this assault are too great and the 11th MS is forced to fallback shaken."][/caption]

 

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="The 6th NC charges the 69th PA, the 69th fails morale check and falls back. This forces 72nd PA (Zouaves) to form up and confront the 6th NC. Subsequent fire from 72nd PA stops the rebels advance and the 6th NC falls back shaken."][/caption]

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="For the second straight turn the 1st MN charges the 4th AL and defeats them in close combat."][/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="Pettigrew’s Brigade reaches the wood line."][/caption]

 

 

Turn 6 Casualties

Union: 2 Infantry Base

Confederate: 4 Infantry Bases

Turn 7

 

 

 

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="Union reinforcements continue to poor in. The first of Dana’s regiments arrives. Dana’s Brigade consists of the 19th Massachusetts, 71st Pennsylvania, 72nd Pennsylvania, and the 106th Pennsylvania."][/caption]

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="After four turns of furious attacking the strength Law’s brigade is just about used up. Pictured here, the Mississippi Riflemen covers the retreat of the 6th North Carolina."][/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turn 8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turn 8 Casualties

Union: 1 Infantry Base

 

Turn 9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="On the far side of the Courtney House, Hampton’s Legion and the 14th Georgia charge forward and defeat the 15th Massachusetts and 34th New York in close combat."][/caption]

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="The 16th North Carolina charges and pushes back the 71st Pennsylvania."][/caption]

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="The 22nd North Carolina charges the 82nd New York and is repulsed."][/caption]

 

Turn 10

 

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="Union troops continue to give way in and around the Courtney Farm."][/caption]

 

 

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="Hampton’s Brigade continues to push forward."][/caption]

 

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="Just in the nick of time the Philadelphia fire Zouaves form up and block Hampton’s flanking move."][/caption]

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="Following up on their successful charge the 16th North Carolina once again charges the 71st Pennsylvania. This time the 71st holds until they are forced to fall back due to a failed morale check caused by mounting casualties."][/caption]

 

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="The only bright spot on field for the Union army is the 31st Pennsylvania and 65th New York who continue hold back the confederate attack."][/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

Turn 10 Casualties

Union: 7 Infantry Base

Confederate: 5 Infantry Bases

Turn 11

 

 

 

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="The Union’s defensive position in the Courtney farm crumbles."][/caption]

 

 

 

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="72nd Pennsylvania with the aid of the 1st US Artillery hold off the attack from the 16th North Carolina."][/caption]

 

 

 

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="Disaster!!! The 7th Michigan squanders a great opportunity to break up the unrelenting Confederate attack. They Charge into the flank of the 34th Georgia and are repulsed! On the nine dice rolled they fail to score a single hit."][/caption]

 

 

Turn 11 Casualties

Union: 1 Infantry Base

Confederate: 3 Infantry Bases

Turn 12

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="Having been driven from the Courtney farm the Union Army prepares to make a final stand around the Adams farm."][/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="The Final regiment from Dana’s brigade arrives."][/caption]

 

 

 

 

Turn 13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turn 13 Casualties

Union: 1 Infantry Base

Confederate: 3 Infantry Bases

Turn 14

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="All along the lines both sides exchange a deadly fire. Casualties are very heavy."][/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turn 14 Casualties

Union: 5 Infantry Base

Confederate: 8 Infantry Bases

Turn 15

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="The Rebels make their final assault on the Union line. All along the line the Yankees give way."][/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="With their line shattered all the Union army can do is retreat or surrender."][/caption]

 

Turn 15 Casualties

Union: 5 Infantry Bases

Confederate: 6 Infantry Bases

Conclusion
Well, it’s pretty apparent that the Union army failed to show up for the battle. They were pushed all over the field by the Rebels and in the last turn they lost control of the Duane’s Bridge Road. Therefore this battle is a:

 Confederate Victory!

Final Casualties Totals

Union: 25 Infantry Bases & 3 Artillery Bases
Confederate: 38 Infantry Bases