Battle of Kernstown, Frederick County Virginia: March 23rd 1862

 This article is my personal interpretation of this battle. Any mistakes are my own. The numbers I’ve assigned to formations within each army are my own conclusions.

The artillery positions are my own” guesstimate “. Apart from Chew,s Battery I have little information of which battery went where.

In the early part of 1862, the Union General James Shields was tasked with restricting the movements of the Confederate Army in the Shenandoah Valley. The Valley was a major supply area for the Confederate army.

The Union General George B. McClellan had been busy pestering President Lincoln that he didn’t have enough troops in his Army of the Potomac to take on the Confederate army covering Richmond ( He already had twice as many men as the Confederates on that area).

To placate McClellan, Lincoln requested General Shields to send two of his three Divisions. When these troops assembled and moved out of Winchester, the local Southern inhabitants sent messages to the Confederate Army that the Union Corps were vacating the area.

The man tasked with defending The Valley, Major-General Thomas J. (Stonewall) Jackson, got his army marching North on receipt of the news. In advance of Jackson’s force was Colonel Turner Ashby with the 7th Virginia Cavalry accompanied by Chew,s Light Horse Artillery battery.

Moving toward Winchester, Ashby was surprised to run up against a sizable force of Union Cavalry. After a brief and intense skirmish, Ashby realised what he was up against and promptly retreated back to Kernstown. The results of  this encounter were passed to Jackson.

During this brief battle, the Union Commander Shields was badly wounded and command of the Division passed to Colonel Nathan Kimball of the 1st Brigade. As Ashby and his Cavalry were fighting a running battle with Sullivans Brigade leading back to Kernstown, Jackson’s main army reached the same place.

Kimball, realising he was facing Jackson’s army, decided to place his own Brigade on Pritchard’s Hill to the west of the main Valley Road. Sullivan was to the east, once again skirmishing with Ashby’s Cavalry. Ashby had been reinforced with six companies of infantry.

Tyler’s Division was the reserve. Kimball also had the services of a Brigade of Cavalry under Colonel Thornton F. Brodhead, but apart from patrolling the area this cavalry were not used.

Jackson decided to attack immediately, but very quickly realised  the Union troops were present in greater strength. Jackson decided to try and flank the Union position on Pritchards Hill by moving further west on to Sandy Ridge.

Kimball realised Jackson’s intentions and sent Tyler and his 3rd Brigade in the same direction. When one of Jackson’s Aides pointed out the Union strength, Jackson replied “we are in for it!”. 

With his small army strung out in a wide arc at the mercy of a strong Union presence he knew he’d have to move fast……

THE UNION ARMY:

1st Division 5th Corps; Army of the Potomac;

7,300 = 7.300pts x 6 = 43.8 or 44 points r/u.

Brigadier-General James Shields ( wounded ).

1st BRIGADE: Col Nathan Kimball @ 1pt.

14th Indiana Infantry (400) 1 stand @ 2pts.

4th Ohio Infantry (400) 1 stand  @ 2pts.

8th Ohio Infantry (400) 2 stands @ 1pt = 2pts.

67th Ohio Infantry (400) 1 stand @ 2 points.

84th  Pennsylvania Infantry (400) @ 2points.

2nd BRIGADE: Col Jeremiah Sullivan @ 1pt.

5th Ohio Infantry (300) 2 stands @ 1pt =2pts 

39th Illinois Infantry (300) 1 stand @ 1pt.

13th Indiana Infantry (300) 1 stand @ 2pts.

62nd Ohio Infantry (400) 1 stand @ 2pts.

3rd BRIGADE: Col Erasmus Tyler @ 1pt.

7th Indiana Infantry (400) 1 stand @ 2pts.

7th Ohio Infantry (400) 1 stand @ 2pts.

29th Ohio Infantry (400) 1 stand @ 2pts.

110th Pennsylvania Infantry (400) 1 stand @ 2pts.

1st West Virginia Infantry (400) 1 stand @ 2pts.

THE UNION CAVALRY BRIGADE:

( Not used in this battle but included for completion.)

Colonel Thorton F. Brodhead @  1 point.

1st Michigan Cavalry (200) 1 stand @ 1pt.

1st Ohio Cavalry (200) 1 stand  @ 1pt.

Ringolds Pennsylvania Cavalry (200) 1 stand @ 1pt.

1st West Virginia Cavalry (200) 1 stand @ 1pt.

1st Maryland Potomac Home Cavalry ( 200) 1 stand @ 1pt.

ARTILLERY:

Battery H: 1st Ohio: 1 stand of  Horse Artillery @ 1pt.

Battery L: 1st Ohio: 1 stand of  Horse Artillery @ 1pt.

Battery E: 4th U.S. Heavy Foot Artillery: 1 stand @ 2points.

Battery A: West Virginia Light Foot Artillery: 1 stand @ 1pt.

Battery B: West Virginia Light Foot Artillery: 1 stand @ 1pt.

( 4 guns per battery x 5 = 20 guns x 50 gunners = 1000 gunners = 1pt x 6 = 6pts of guns.

CONFEDERATE FORCES.

VALLEY DISTRICT DEPARTMENT OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA: 4,150 = 4.150 pts x 6 = 24.9 or 25pts r/u.

Major-General Thomas J. Jackson @ 1point.

THE STONEWALL BRIGADE:

Brigadier-General Richard B. Garnet @ 1 point.

2nd Virginia Infantry (250): 1 stand @ 1pt.

4th Virginia Infantry (250): 1 stand @ 1pt.

5th Virginia Infantry (250): 1 stand @ 1pt.

27th Virginia Infantry ( 250): 1 stand @ 1pt.

33rd Virginia Infantry (250): 1 stand @ 1pt.

2nd BRIGADE: Colonel Jesse S. Burks @ 1pt.

21st Virginia Infantry (250): 1 stand @ 1pt.

42nd Virginia Infantry (250): 1 stand @ 1pt.

48th Virginia Infantry (250): 1 stand @ 1pt.

1st Virginia Infantry (250): 1 stand @ 1pt.

Hampden Virginia Light Foot Artillery (3 guns) 1 stand @ 1pt.

3rd BRIGADE: Colonel Samual V. Fulkerston @ 1pt.

23rd Virginia Infantry (250): 1 stand @ 1 point.

37th Virginian Infantry (250): 1 stand @ 1 point.

ARTILLERY:

Rockbridge Light Foot Artillery (4 guns) = 1 stand @ 1pt.

Carpenter’s Virginia Light Foot Artillery (4 guns)= 1 stand @ 1pt.

West Augusta Light Foot Artillery (3 guns) = 1 stand @ 1pt.

Danville Light Foot Artillery ( 3 guns ) = 1 stand @ 1pt.

CAVALRY:

Commander Turner Ashby @ 1pt.

7th Virginia Cavalry (250) = 2 stands @ 1point.

Chews Light Horse Artillery (3 guns) = 1 stand @ 1 point.

Infantry Skirmishers = 1 stand @ 1 point.

Note: 20 guns x 50 gunners = 1,000 gunners = 1.000pts x 6 = 6 points of artillery.

 

BATTLENOTES:

* The Confederates move first on the first Game-Turn. From Game-Turn 2 onwards both sides throw a dice to see who moves first.

* The Confederates on the left flank will not advance beyond the wall.

* The Confederates retain the Initiative Point for the entire Game, which will end after Eight Game-Turns. However, the Union army wins any tied results.

*  At the end of eight Game-Turns:

  The Union army wins if it looses less stands than the Confederates, and/or pushes the Confederates at least one square away from the wall or gains the right flank by causing Ashby to retreat.

The Confederate army gets a draw if they have lost less stands than the Union army and/or still holds the wall at the end of the 8th Game-Turn.

* THE TREES.

These block line-of-sight. Stands cannot move onto any square containing a tree. Stands cannot be moved over or through any square containing a tree. Stands cannot fire through the trees.

* THE BRUSHLINE.

The Confederates behind “ The Brushline” were vaguely visible to Turnballs troops on Pritchards Hill, therefore:

Any Union stand firing through the brushline at Confederate stands must deduct 1 point from each Firing Die.

* THE RIVERS:

 Opequon Creek can only be crossed by the bridges. Hoge’s Run ( also known as Hogg’s Run and Hoke,s Run.) can be crossed by troops as normal. Troops can fire while standing in the Run. ( In the historical battle it doesn’t seem to have impaired movement etc.)

THE SNAKEFENCE: can only be crossed by Infantry.

HISTORICAL NOTES:

Jackson was caught out by the strength of the Union forces, at one stage uttering the words “ we are in for it!”.

However realising the position he was in he moved quickly. Initially starting the attack against Kimball he moved his brigades left in order to outflank the Union troops on Pritchards Hill.

Kimball ordered Tyler to move onto Sandy Ridge to forestall any flanking moves by the Confederates and to attack any of their positions in that area.

In fact the Confederates held their own, especially at the wall. The Confederates under Garnet and Folkerston reached this defensive point before the Union soldiers.

By the end of the day, the Confederates were starting to retreat through lack of ammunition . Garnet seeing what was happening with his brigade started pulling his men back. The battle became a confused affair for both sides as units and formations became entangled with each other.

Jackson was beside himself, angry with Garnets action. Moving to the west he asked a retreating infantryman why he was going. He said it’s because he had run out of ammunition. In asking why he didn’t use the bayonet the man kept going.

The Union troops fought hard, however it seems that Kimball was hesitant and  followed Jackson’s movements. When the Confederates started retreating, Kimball did not order a pursuit. The awarding of the Initiative Point staying with the Confederates is to reflect this.

The Confederates retreated through lack of ammunition so they might have won this battle. However I’ve allowed for a draw for the Confederates. As always with all the blogs, history is yours to do with as you wish.

CREDITS:

The majority of the figures used were Miniature Figurines and Peter Pig along with a few Essex Miniatures. The flags are Peter Pig.

The buildings are from Peter Pig. Most of the trees are from Guagemaster. Some are of unknown provenance. The roads and rivers are of thin card. The 10mm snake fence I cannot remember. The hills are a mixture of Brian from Essex Miniatures and homemade from cork tiles.

All the bridges are scratchbuilt. The “ brushline” is made from pan scrubbers and cardboard.

The tents are scratchbuilt. The hedge sections are from Pendraken Miniatures and the wall from Alternative Armies(?).

The round 40mm MDF bases are from Minibits and the square 40mm bases are cut from picture-framing cardboard.

The 3foot (90cm) x 2foot (60cm) cloth with the 2” (50mm) squares printed on was a custom mat from Deep Cut Studios.

Sometimes when playing these games, I get a moment when I have to check line of sight so I use this Army Painter Target Lock Laser Line to check it. A very handy tool to have….

The Battle of Downham Station; Norfolk; England February 5th 1871. [ Fictional ].

 This article is a work of historical fiction and is my personal interpretation of this era. Any mistakes are my own.

In the early hours of February 5th 1871,  a thick fog had formed covering the coastal waters of the east coast of middle England.  Steaming slowly through this gloom, on patrol, was the Armoured Corvette " PALLAS".

As the  Corvette steamed slowly through the calm waters, a Duty Lookout on the bridge spotted lights in the gloom. The Captain ordered a course change to intercept  those lights that were not expected. As the Pallas drew near, French Tricolours were spotted.

On being hailed a French voice replied in broken English that "echapper ....impoundment"!! .. The Captain and his Officers decided that the ships must have escaped impoundment by the Prussians. The Fleet sailed on. A signal was sent to the Coastguard station at Great Yarmouth.

The Harbourmaster at Kings Lynn watched the ships drop anchor as the sun rose and the fog lifted. Dockworkers and civilians watched in puzzlement as boats were launched into the water and troops were seen scaling down the sides of the ships.

As the boats came to the docks people thought they were French. The troops formed up on the dockside and gutteral voices issued commands. As people turned away, shots rang out  and these same soldiers held civilians. This broke the spell, people started shouting, screaming and running from the docks.

.

The Harbourmaster immediately ran for the Telegraph Office, hundreds of civilians were streaming away from Kings Lynn.

Meanwhile, senior Prussian officers were sending engineers and men to the railway yards to commandeer a train. Companies were sent forward to find horses. At the same time, troops of the Seebattalione were being sent toward the royal estate of Sandringham.

Within the hour,  Units of the Prussian 10th Armeekorp were on the train steaming toward Cambridge. Meanwhile there was shock and consternation at London and Windsor. At first, there was disbelief.! An Invasion! By Prussians!. As realization set in orders were swiftly transmitted. All available Militia and Military personnel were to head toward Kings Lynn by any means possible and engage the enemy.!!

Soon, the troops of the Windsor Garrison were packed into trains and Goods Waggons heading North. Meanwhile, The County Militia of Norfolk were scrambling in the same direction.

Eventually word spread along the Telegraph that the enemy were heading south toward Cambridge. It was decided that the enemy should be met at Downham Station…

BRITISH HOME DIVISION [ A scratch force ].

Acting C-in-C ; General Henry Abadie  @ 1 point.

General Evelyn Barker  @ 1 point.

General Edmond Wavery  @ 1 point.

1 stand of Grenadier Guards @ 4 points.

3 stands of Regular Line Infantry @ 3 points = 9 points.

1 stand of Regular Horse Artillery @ 1 point.

1 stand of Cavalry [ 6th Dragoons ] @ 2 points.

2 stands of Militia Horse Artillery @ 1 point = 2 points.

8 stands of Militia Infantry  @ 2 points  = 16 points.

[ personal weapons include the Beaumont-Adams revolver and the Snyder-Enfield Rifle.]

PRUSSIAN 10TH ARMEEKORPS.

Commanding: General Der Infantrie, Konstantin Bernhardt Von Voights-Rhetz @ 2 points.

19th INFANTRY  DIVISION;

Generaleutnant Emil Von Schwatzkoppen. @ 1 point.

4 stands of Line Infantry  @ 3 points = 12 points.

1 stand of Dragoon Cavalry @ 2 points.

1 stand of Light Foot Artillery  @1 point.

20th INFANTRY DIVISION:

Generalmajor Alexander Von Kraatz-Koschau @ 1 point.

4 stands of Line Infantry  @ 3 points  = 12 points.

1 stand of Hanovarian Jaegers  @ 2 points.

1 stand of Dragoon Cavalry  @  2 points.

1 stand of Light Foot Artillery.  @  1 point.

CORPS ARTILLERY; Oberst Moritz Van Der Goltz.@ 1 point.

1 stand of infantry Artillery Guard  @ 1 point.

1 stand of Heavy Foot Artillery  @ 2 points.

1 stand of Horse Artillery  @ 1 point.

[ Catchment area for the 9th and 10th Armeekorps;  Province of Hanover, Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, and Dutchy of Brunswick.]

SCENARIO RULES:

* The Prussians move first on the first Game-Turn and have the Initiative Point.

* From Game-Turns 2 to 8, each side throws a 12 sided die to see who Moves first and has the Initiative Point.

* Both sides are using Rifled Muskets and Artillery.

* The game is played for 8 Game-Turns, the Winner being the player who looses the lower number of stands.

THE BACKGROUND OF THE GAME:

In 2023 The Wargames Association of Reading ran their annual “ Warfare”event at Farnborough. Their theme was the 110th Anniversary of H.G. Wells. They requested games with a Victorian theme ( like “ The battle of Dorking”)

I worked out a Participation game with the Prussians and British, along with a  basic back story. I did some historical checking, to bind into the scenario.

However, at the last minute, my buddy got a call from the hospital for some long overdue surgery. Forward to 2024 and I received an invitation from The Newbury and Reading Wargames Association to put on Participation game at “ Colours”, their event at Newbury Racecourse.

This we did and it was a brilliant day, with lots of interest and people playing. We also managed to stage the same game at Warfare 2024, thanks to the club finding us a space.

I must admit, I really enjoyed setting up this scenario. In Medieval times The Hanseatic League had traded goods at Kings Lynn therefore I assumed the Prussian High Command would have information on the harbour area. Similarly the 10th Armeekorp had their Cantonment around Bremerhaven. That’s how I chose Kings Lynn for The Prussian raid-in-force.

THE TRAIN;

This was for the most part scratchbuilt, the “ Dajeeling ” engine body came from MPRO on Etsy, a Narrow Guage engine. I filled in the gaps in the body with plastic straws and cardboard.

I then filled in the bottom with picture framing cardboard. I then glued on a set of wheels from Peter Pig. The company does sets of wheels either Half round ( for armoured trains ) or full round for railway carriages.

 

I put some American Civil War railway figures ( Peter Pig 15mm) in the Engine before I put the roof on. 

The carriages were scratch built. I used the Peter Pig Flatcar and built the body using plasticard.

The railway line was purchased from Ironclad Miniatures. The station was a 15mm model kit from Kestrel and purchased online from Amazon.

Most of the buildings that make up Downham were from Total Battles Miniatures 15mm Black Powder range. Most were purchased as painted but two were painted by myself. Three of the larger houses were purchased from a Bring and Buy and repainted. The barn next to the station is from Peter Pig.

The scenery sections including the roads were made from picture-framing cardboard and Bluetack.  The hedgerow came from Pendraken Miniatures. The fences were scratchbuilt from matchsticks. The tents are scratchbuilt from cardboard.

All the figures came from Irregular Miniatures. The flags are from Pendraken Miniatures.

THE HISTORY;

During the 19th century, authors wrote novels by way of a warning to the Government of the day. Their concern centred around the paucity of Regular Troops within Great Britain. There were only 7,000 Regulars available. The vast majority of the troops were serving in British Dominions overseas. The Government relied on the Home Fleet to protect Britain.

Because of this situation every County was issued a License to raise Militia Battalions. There appears to be some standardization of uniform, the majority being either gray with red turnbacks, cuffs and trouser seams, or, Rifle green with red or black turnbacks cuffs and seams. They carried the standard rifle.

The Yoeman cavalry came from more well off Landowners and they paid for their own horses and equipment. Obviously there were very few of this group.

The Militia Artillery were well trained. Their uniform was based on the Royal Artillery uniform with County variations.

The Regular troops which were available wore the standard British Infantry uniform with shako. However the Home Service uniform was gradually being introduced. This was still a red jacket with grey trousers, however the Prussian helmet came in, dark blue with a brass spike and trousers tucked into boots.

The Grenadier Guards still wore the bearskin.

At that time, just after the Franco-Prussian War, the Kaiser was asked by a British journalist if he would invade Britain. The Kaiser replied he would not. However British Diplomacy depended on maintaining the Balance of Power in Europe. Supporting side A against B, then supporting side B when A got too strong.

 Prior to the Franco- Prussian War, Germany had been a patchwork quilt of small states which had been manipulated by either France or Britain according to political necessity. 

Under the Kaiser and, after a brief Civil War, Germany had become a unified  country in the heart of Europe. The Prussians had previously defeated Austria in seven weeks settling the issue as to who would be the dominant force within the old Holy Roman Empire. Germany had arrived on the world stage.

This situation turned the previous Political order, which had lasted some two hundred years, upside down. With the shock defeat of France, Britain now had a new powerful political adversary to deal with…..

( note: the picture above shows the 9th and 10th Armeekorp. The 9th has quite a few Essex Miniatures figures in it. I originally did the 10th then decided to add another” corps”….as you do!..).