The following is my personal interpretation of this battle. Any mistakes are my own. I would also like to thank Marvin Scott for the information that he provided about the battle
In keeping with the Anaconda plan devised by the Union General Winfield Scott, Brigadier General Ulysses Grant came up with a plan to take the Confederate forts on the Mississippi River thereby splitting the Confederacy in half and fracturing the Confederate supply lines.
When Grant put his ideas to his Superior, Halleck, he was met with indifference. Grant was at that time, a local Commander of the Union Garrison of Cairo.
Grant was lucky in that he got on well with Admiral Andrew Foote, the commander of the Mississippi River fleet. The Admiral interceded with Halleck on Grants behalf and managed to convince the General that Grants plan was sound. During 1862 Grants efforts aided by Footes river fleet made progress against Fort William Henry partly helped by the fact that the Fort was prone to flooding. The 2000 Confederate troops that survived the attack made their way to Fort Donelson on the Cumberland River
Grant moved his Army in pursuit while Footes Squadron moved out of the Tennessee River, up the Ohio, then into the Cumberland. As Grants troops marched the 12 miles toward Fort Donalson; they were slowed by the delaying tactics of Confederate cavalry led by Nathan Bedford Forrest.
Eventually, Grant’s force arrived at the Confederate held fort. There were two Union Divisions. John McClernand’s, which took the right flank, and Charles Smith’s, on the left.
From the 11th to the 14th the Union Army and Navy launched sporadic attacks against the Fort but these were beaten off by the Confederate defenders. The ships of Andrew Foote’s river Squadron suffered a lot of damage. The Gunboats could not elevate their guns to hit the Fort effectively. The Confederate gunners of the Battery facing the river used plunging fire, so were able to cause considerable damage to the Union Flotilla.
The Union General Grant realised that he needed more troops in order to besiege the Fort. Therefore he called up Lew Wallace’s Division which had been left at Fort William Henry. In a meeting at Crisp House, Ulysses Grant met with Andrew Foote to discuss tactics. It was decided that one of the Gunboats still operational, would make a demonstration against the River Batteries of the Fort while troops surrounded the defences on land.
Union reinforcements arrived and were added to Lew Wallace’s Division arriving from Fort William Henry. Grant positioned Wallace’s Division in the centre of the line allowing McClernand’s Division to move to the right completing the investment of Fort Donalson and the adjacent town of Dover.
The Confederate General; John B. Floyd held a meeting with with his Senior Officers: Gideon Johnson Pillow, Simon B. Buckner and Nathan B. Forrest. There was a realisation that starvation and attrition would take its toll on the Garrison. Therefore, It was decided to attempt a breakout from the Fort, south -east toward Nashville. ———————.
THE UNION ARMY: 24,500 = 24.5 pts x 3 = 74 points.
C-in-C: Ulysses “Sam” Grant @ 2 points.
1st DIVISION;
1 General, ( John McClernand ) @ 1 point.
5 stands of 2nd class Line Infantry @ 2pts = 10 points.
3 stands of Dragoon Cavalry @ 1 point = 3 points.
2 stands of Light Artillery @ 1 point = 2 points.
2nd DIVISION;
1 General ( Charles Ferguson Smith ) @ 1 point.
11 stands of 2nd class Line Infantry @ 2 points = 22 points.
1 stand of Skirmish Infantry @ 1 point.
1 stand of Light Artillery @ 1 point.
3rd DIVISION;
1 General ( Lew Wallace ) @ 1 point.
14 stands of 2nd class Line Infantry @ 2 points = 28 points.
1 stand of Skirmish Infantry @ 1 point.
1 stand of Light Artillery @ 1 point.
note: This force would later be known as The Army of Tennessee.
CONFEDERATE ARMY GARRISON OF FORT DONALSON;
13,000 Infantry,
600 Cavalry.
2,400 Artillery Personnel ( 600 Gunners, 1,800 attached infantry ).
Total: 16,000 = 16 points x 3 = 48 points.
RIGHT WING AROUND FORT DONALSON;
1 General ( Simon Bolivar Buckner ) @ 1 point.
7 stands of 2nd class Line Infantry @ 2pts = 14pts.
LEFT WING;
C-in-C, John Buchanan Floyd @ 1 point.
1 General ( Gideon Johnson Pillow ) @ 1 point.
8 stands of 2nd class Line Infantry @ 2pts = 16 points.
CAVALRY BRIGADE, ( in the town of Dover).
1 General ( Nathan Bedford Forrest ) @ 1 point.
2 stands of Dragoon Cavalry @ 1pt = 2 points.
ARTILLERY;
1 stand of Position Artillery @ 2 points.
5 stands of Light Artillery @ 1 point = 5 points.
UNION RIVER FLOTILLA;
The original Flotilla had 4 Ironclads and 2 Tinclads. I calculated a total of 6 x 100 crew = 600 crew.
0.600 x 3 = 1.8 or 2pts r/u. = 2 ships @ 1 point each.
BATTLE NOTES;
* The Confederates retain the Initiative Point for the entire Battle. Who gets first move in each Game-Turn is still diced for as this decides tied results and who decides the Combat sequence.
* In regard to ranges, I’ve stayed with the ranges for smoothbore weapons.
* Light Artillery move up to 2 squares.
* The Confederate defenceworks count as “Trench”. Plus a 2 point deduction for attacking uphill
( The defenceworks around The Confederate position were a series of trenches and rifle pits behind Abbatis, It had been raining which had changed to snow showers. However, the weather was dry during the battle and doesn’t seem to have affected movement or firing).
* The tree line along Hickman Creek cannot be entered by either side.
* The Gunboats move at 2 squares each Game-Turn.
* The 2 Confederate Batteries facing the river from the Fort can add 1 point to the die roll for the plunging fire.
* The Light Artillery move at 2 squares range.
* Rivers can only be crossed by the bridges.
EXCHANGE OF FIRE BETWEEN THE GUNBOATS AND SHORE BATTERIES;
* The gunboats and shore guns do not have to “ Moveback”. Damage is caused by any lower score. The Gunboats can take two hits. On the first hit, one point is deducted from return fire. After the second hit, 2 points. The third hit destroys the Gunboat.
The same rule applies to the two stands of Confederate guns facing the river. All the other guns follow the normal rules for Artillery.
* The battle will be played for 8 Game-Turns. The winner will be;
A) The Union Army wins if there are any Union stands inside the Confederate Defenseworks at the end of Game-Turn 8.
B) The Confederates win if there are no Union stands inside the Defenseworks by the end of Turn 8.
As an alternative you could fight this scenario as two scenarios. In the first battle, the Union army has two Divisions ( C.F Smith and McClernands) which is played for 8 Game-Turns. McClernands Division is placed in Lew Wallaces position.
In the second scenario, the remains of Smith’s and McClernanand Divisions are positioned as shown on the map above with Lew Wallace’s Division placed in the centre. The Confederate player can either A) leave the remaining stands where they are, or B) moving remaining stands back inside the defenseworks.
CREDITS;
All the figures shown are mostly Peter Pig and Minifigs with some Essex Miniatures. The Gunboats are scratchbuilt. The Hills are a mixture of ones made by Brian of Essex Miniatures and homemade from kneeling pads and cork tile. The trees are from Amazon decorated with runny PVA glue and snow dust.
The “snow” ground is thin card as are the rivers and roadway. The bridges are nearly all scratchbuilt. The houses are mostly Peter Pig with a couple of Hovels.
The defences were made from cardboard and pan scrubbers with added brown Plasticine..
The battle is played on a 3 foot ( 90cm ) x 2 foot ( 60cm ) table.
