Battle of New Bern: North Carolina 14th March 1862

 This article is my personal interpretation of the battle. Any mistakes are my own.

By now the War was being waged in deadly earnest.. The Confederacy needed much of its supplies and weapons bought from countries abroad. The main currency used for purchase was cotton which had to be shipped out. In addition, the Confederate Government were sending out Commerce Raiders to attack any Union Merchant ships. 

 Lacking the large industrial capacity of the Union, this was the only way that the Confederate States could supplement the material needed to maintain their forces.

Previously, as the Civil War commenced, a Union General by the name of Winfield Scott came up with the  “ Anaconda Plan”. This was a strategic plan which involved expanding the Navy to blockade Confederate ports and, with the help of the army to attack enemy ports and river defences.

Along with the coastal attacks the plan also involved wresting control of the Mississippi River in order to cut the Confederacy in half. Five days before this battle, the Naval history of the world had been transformed when the first two opposing Ironclads had slugged it out in Hampton Roads making the wooden warship obsolete.

As part of the Anaconda plan and influenced by the historic naval battle that had taken place, the Union Government embarked on a major expansion of the Navy. This involved building armoured ships and “90 day gunboats”, so called because they were built that quickly.

In the meantime, the Union Navy was using any paddle steamers and screw powered vessels that could float in order to enforce the blockade and attack Confederate bases. New Bern on the Neuse river had lost its prestige as a major port. However it was still important in the protection of the railroad.

The line that ran through New Bern, went onto Goldsboro where it connected to the Wilmington Railroad, a major supply line to the  Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. 

 The Union General Ambrose Burnside commanded a Division of troops. With the help of The Atlantic Blockading Squadron, his troops had already taken Confederate forts on Hatteras and Roanoke Islands. These advances gave the Union Flotilla access to Pamlico Sound and Burnside was determined to take New Bern. The first step was to land troops just north of Slocums Creek.

Lawrence Branch, the Confederate General commanding at New Bern knew he had a tough job on his hands. His best troops had been pulled from the line to reinforce the Army of Northern Virginia. 

The remaining troops were not as well trained. Having pulled the remaining troops from a defence line closer to Slocums Creek, the line anchored on Fort Thompson was reinforced. It was here that the Confederates awaited the Union attack,.which soon materialised…

DEPARTMENT OF NORTH CAROLINA COASTAL DIVISION OF THE U.S. ARMY.

11,000 = 11points x 4 = 44 points.

C-in-C Ambrose Burnside  @ 1 point.

1st BRIGADE. 

General Foster @ 1 point.

10th Connecticut: 1 stand @ 3 points.

23rd Massachusetts:  1 stand  @ 3 points.

24th Massachusetts:  1 stand  @ 3 points.

25th Massachusetts: 1 stand  @ 3 points.

27th Massachusetts: 1 stand  @ 3 points.

2nd BRIGADE.

General Reno  @  1 point.

51st New York:  1 stand  @  3 points.

9th New Jersey: 1 stand  @  2 points.

51st Pennsylvania:  1 stand  @ 3 points.

21st Massachusetts:  1 stand @ 3 points.

3rd BRIGADE.

General Parke  @ 1 point.

8th Connecticut: 1 stand @ 3 points

11th Connecticut: 1 stand @ 3 points.

4th Rhode Island: 1 stand  @ 3 points.

5th Rhode Island:  1 stand  @ 3 points.

1st New York Marine Artillery Detachment:

2 stands of Light Foot Artillery @ 1pt = 2 points.

THE NAVAL FLOTILLA:

14 Gunboats each with 50 crewmen = 700 men = 0.700 pts x 4 = 2.8 or 3 points r/u.

3 Gunboat models, each @ 1 point = 3 points.

THE CONFEDERATE ARMY: 6,000 = 6pts x 4 = 24 points.

C-in-C: Lawrence Branch  @ 1 point.

26th North Carolina Infantry = 2 stands @ 1 point = 2 points.

33rd North Carolina Infantry = 2 stands @ 1 point = 2 points.

35th North Carolina Infantry = 1 stand @ 2 points.

7th North Carolina Infantry = 1 stand @ 2 points.

The Special Battalion ( a group of infantry scrapped together from other formations armed with shotguns and fowling pieces.) 1 stand @ 1 point.

27th North Carolina = 1 stand @ 2 points.

2nd North Carolina Cavalry = 2 stands @ 1 point = 2 points.

ARTILLERY;

6 Field Batteries = 24 Guns x 50 gunners = 1,200 gunners:

1.200 x 4 = 4.8 or 5pts r/u = 5 stands of Light Artillery @ 1pt = 5 points.

24 Static Artillery Pieces ( mostly at Fort Thompson.) and Fort Ellis.

24 x 50 gunners = 1,200 gunners.x 4 = 4.8 or 5pts r/u = 2 stands of Heavy Artillery @ 2pts ( Fort Thompson) and 1 stand @1 point at Fort Ellis.

Note: Due to a shortage of labour some of the battery positions never got completed, therefore I’ve only included Fort Ellis. Fort Thompson was fully established.

FIGHTING THE BATTLE.

This is a tough fight for the Confederates. Unless the Union player is very unlucky, it would be hard to loose. Therefore, the Confederate player can draw the battle.

* Game-Turns and dicing for the the Initiative Point are carried out as stated in the normal rules.

* The Confederate Player can move the guns normally in the defense works to the right of the line, but the guns within the forts cannot be moved.

* All the field cannon move at 2 squares movement in any direction.

*  All Infantry apart from the Dismounted Cavalry and the Special Battalion are Line Infantry. Therefore they can only be moved through the face of a square not a diagonal. The Light Field Guns, dismounted Cavalrymen and Special Battalion can move in any direction 

* The Cavalry are classed as Light Cavalry. They can move in any direction. Dismounted Cavalry are always 1 point less than their mounted selves. Therefore if the mounted Cavalry are 1 point, the dismounted Cavalry are zero points so just a basic die is rolled for the stand.

* The abatis in front of the Confederate lines is counted as” Trench” during Firing and Close Combat.

* The Union Infantry stands can be moved in The Creek, but only one square per move. They can still fire after moving whilst in The Creek. In the actual battle the Union troops pierced the Confederate lines via this creek.

* I don’t know if the Senior Officers on the Union side had horses but I have portrayed the Generals as such. However, the Generals can only move at two squares. The roads do not give any extra movement. The weather had been bad so the roads had turned to mud.

THE RIVER BATTLE.

The river flotilla was commanded by Stephen C. Rowan ( not represented ). The river had been rigged with obstacles including a line of hulks to force any ships into range of the guns.

* The hulks cannot be moved. The paddle steamers move at 2 squares speed ( measured from the front of the ship.) The ships guns have a range of 4 squares.

* To make things basic, both the forts guns and the paddle steamers can take two hits The ship or a fortress gun will take a hit on any low score. On the second hit the gun or the paddle steamer causes complete destruction.

VICTORY CONDITIONS:

The Confederates must stay in place for four Game-Turns. From the 5th Game-Turn onward the Confederates can retreat. They can only leave the table via the road junction marked ( TO NEW BERN) .

This is the spot where the bridge crosses the Neuse river. If 8 Confederate infantry stands manage to leave the board by Game-Turn 8  AND/ OR BEFORE ONE Gunboat makes it ( completely intact ) to the Confederate baseline the  battle is a draw.

Historical note: The Confederates were putting up a good fight. However when the Union Infantry penetrated the middle part of the line via the creek, some of the Confederate infantry panicked which triggered a general retreat. The cannon in Fort Thompson and Fort Ellis were spiked by the garrison troops before they left but the Union troops still captured a number of field pieces.

CREDITS.

All the figures are a mixture of Miniature Figurines and Peter Pig. The wagon and tent line models are from Peter Pig. The Fortress guns are also Peter Pig.

Fort Thompson was scratchbuilt from foam board and cardboard ( originally for an 18th century scenario). Fort Ellis is represented by a shop-bought enclosure purchased many years ago. The walls and hedgerow are from the Pendraken 10mm range of scenery..

The farm buildings were scratchbuilt from cardboard. The green scenery bases are from S and A Scenics. The hill sections: some were produced by Brian at Essex Miniatures and some were homemade from cork tiles. The railway track and bridge are scratchbuilt from cardboard and cocktail sticks. The trees are from various manufacturers.

The abatis was scratchbuilt from pan scrubbers cardboard and plasticine.

The plastic explosion markers are from Litco. The smoke markers are cotton wool.

The paddle steamers and hulks were made from card and foamboard. The paddle sections were two halves of a fruit juice carton lid. The stern of the boats are a piece of milk bottle top. The guns were made from plastic paint brush tubing and a berry pin. The supports  are made from cardboard stuck to a coin.

The Gunboat crew figures are from the Peter Pig Colonial range which also includes a ships wheel. The Naval Gun Crew figures are from the Peter Pig ACW range. All the flags are from the Peter Pig range.

The roads and rivers are cut from thin cardboard. The round MDF bases are from Minibits. The square stands are cut from picture-framing cardboard. The battle was fought on a 3 foot (90cm) x 2 foot (60cm) board marked out in 2 inch squares.

Battle of Fornovo: Italy 6th July 1495.

 This article is my personal interpretation of this battle. Any mistakes are my own.

In 1494 a French King led his army into Italy. In every way the force he led was his Army. The days of individual Nobles leading their own Retinues of men tied to them by obligatory service were over. This Army consisted of men paid for by the State.

Amongst the troops of this army were also paid mercenaries. The feared Swiss Pikemen owed no loyalty to any state. “ no pay, no Swiss” was their motto. Prior to this invasion, Italy was a cloistered military environment. Each City-State fought their wars against each other using payed troops from their own neighbourhood, along with any mercenaries looking for work.

Each City Council would raise a “Condotta” or contract with an experienced General to raise troops with structured wages. A period or length of employment was set, usually until a campaign was concluded. Battles between States were not fought until the annihilation of one side. Not only would this lead to unemployment for the soldiers ( the Condottierii ), the generals themselves would be out of a job!!.

Therefore each Italian City-State practised limited warfare. Louis the 8th,s invasion changed all that. This invasion ushered in the era of total war, the destroying of an enemy. Louis also bought with him a new weapon. Mobile artillery firing metal projectiles.

As the French army moved down the west coast of the Italian peninsula, walled towns previously thought impregnable, were stormed and taken with the aid of this new weapon. Louis,s target was Naples. The previous incumbent on the throne had died and Louis decided to invoke a vague family connection to justify his actions. After six months of enjoying the environs of the City, common sense started to kick in.

Sage heads amongst Louis’advisors had been trying to warn the King for months about the tenuous position he was in. A long supply line through enemy territory, no capable support from the sea along with rumours of previously unheard of cooperation between the Italian City States.

The Spanish Monarchy were also angered by Louis’ presumption. The Aragonese Royal Family had held sway over Southern Italy and regarded the Province as one of their own!

Finally, in early June Louis and his army started moving north.As the army passed over mountainous terrain dragging the guns and wagons of loot Louis was expecting an attack which didn’t  materialise. After twenty-five days, the French army encamps in and around the village of Fornovo.

While there, Louis hears about an approaching Italian army. The  City-States of Milan and Venice have finally sunk their differences. After days of negotiation, enough agreement has been reached to put together a force large enough to face the invaders. As the French army leaves Fornovo and crosses the Taro heading north, the troops of the Italian army leave their camp and form up on the eastern bank of the river facing west. There are also squadrons of enemy cavalry ahead on the road across the line of march.

Having prepared for any enemy intervention, Louis gives the order and the French army halts and faces east…….

THE FRENCH ARMY: 10,000 = 10pts  x 4 = 40 pts.

ADVANCE GUARD : 4,200 = 4.2 pts x 4 = 16.8 pts or 17pts r/u.

1 General ( Giangiacomo Trivulzio )    @ 1 point.

500 Men-At-Arms = 1 stand   @ 2pts.

200 Mounted Royal Guard Crossbows = 1 stand  @ 1pt.

300 Infantry Crossbows = 1 stand   @ 1pt.

3,000 Swiss Pikemen = 4 stands @ 3 pts = 12 pts.

( 200 men represented by Trivulzio ).

MAIN BATTLE: 3,250 = 3.250 pts x 4 = 13 pts.

1 General; King Charles 8th of France  @ 1pt.

1 General; Englebert of Cleves  @ 1 pt.

300 Royal Foot Archers = 1 stand  @ 1 pt.

2,000 Infantry Crossbows = 8 stands @ 1pt = 8pts.

500 Men-At-Arms = 1 stand  @ 2pts.

( 450 men represented by Charles and Englebert ).

REARGUARD: 2,500 = 2,500pts x 4 = 10pms.

1 General: Jean De Foix  @ 1pt.

1,800 Crossbow Infantry = 7 stands @ 1pt = 7pts.

500 Men-At-Arms = 1 stand  @ 2pts.

( 200 men represented by Jean De Foix ).

THE CANNON:

30 Guns each with 50 men = 1,500 gunners = 1.500 pts x 4 = 6pts.

2 stands of Heavy Artillery @ 2pts = 4pts.

2 stands of Light Artillery @ 1pt = 2pts.

THE ITALIAN ARMY ( The Holy League ).14,000 = 14pts x 4 = 56 points.

THE EXTREME RIGHT FLANK ( in front of the French Column ).

1,000 = 1pt x 4 = 4pts.

1 General: Piero Duodo  @ 1pt.

600 Light Stradiot Cavalry = 2 stands @ 1pt = 2pts.

500 Mounted Crossbows = 1 stand @ 1pt

( one point is for the General).

THE CAMP: 3,500 = 3.5pts x 4 = 14pts.

1 General; Carlo of Pian Melleto  @ 1pt.

2,500 Spearmen = 5 stands @ 2pts = 10pts.

300 Light Cavalry Crossbowmen = 1 stand @ 1pt.

500 Infantry Crossbowmen = 2 stands @ 1pt = 2pts.

RIGHT WING : 4,000 = 4pts x 4 = 16pts.

1 General: Gianfrancesco Sanseverino Count of Caiazzo  @ 1pt.

500 Mounted Men-At-Arms = 1 stand @ 2pts.

300 Stradiot Light Cavalry = 1 stand @ 1pt.

500 Crossbow Infantry = 2 stands @ 1pt = 2pts.

2,500 Milanese Infantry Spearmen = 5 stands @ 2pts = 10 points.

CENTRE: 4000 = 4pts x 4 = 16pts.

General Roldolfo Gonzaga @ 1pt.

2,500 Infantry Spearmen = 5 stands @ 2pts = 10pts.

500 Crossbow Infantry = 2 stands @ 1point = 2pts.

300 Light Stradiot Cavalry = 1 stand @ 1pt.

500 mounted Man-At-Arms = 1stand @ 2pts.

LEFT WING: 1,500 = 1.5pts x 4 = 6pts.

1 General: Bernardino Fortebraccio  @ 1pt.

500 Men-At-Arms = 1 stand  @ 2pts.

800 Mounted Crossbows = 3 stands @ 1pt = 3pts.

THE CANNON:

10 guns each with 50 gunners = 500 gunners = 0.500 x 4 = 2pts.= 2 stands of Light Artillery @ 1pt = 2pts.

HISTORICAL NOTES:

I have read two or three articles covering this battle. In each case there is a variance in numbers and composition of each army. Therefore, the above numbers are my personal interpretation, as is the formation of each group. The history is also a bit blurred as the composition of each force.

I’m assuming that the Italian artillery pieces were older guns that fired stone shot. The actual battle lasted about half an hour. It also began raining about halfway through the action which put the guns of both sides out of action.

The Italian Men-At-Arms were  at a disadvantage. The Taro was, normally a shallow creek but recently the rains made the river deeper and faster moving. When the Italian knights charged across the river the horses slipped on the shale.

The French bank of the river was also higher with vegetation which caused further problems. As if that wasn’t enough, the Italian lances were made lighter and shattered on impact. Despite all this the Italians kept attacking..

The Stradiots were light cavalry employed by Venice. The men came from the Balkans and were expert horsemen trained in close-quarter hit and run tactics.

Finally, the mounted crossbows. I must admit that I couldn’t find any information on tactics. My personal thoughts are that;

* They were mounted Infantry.

* The crossbows could only be fired while the horse is stationary or while the rider is dismounted..

* These men were not true cavalry. Therefore they could only attack infantry that were not organized in any formation.

* Usually the Infantry crossbowmen carried a large squarish shield called a Pavise. These could be carried on the back with two shoulder straps. This was to allow the crossbow man to be covered when he turned his back on the enemy to reload the bow.

The loading procedure was to place a foot in the stirrup at the front of the bow. A hook fixed to a waist belt was placed on the bowstring to pull the string back as the man stood upright. More powerful bows needed a cranking mechanism which was also suspended by a waist belt.

I have found no mention of the pavise or wether they were carried. With both sides expecting battle I’m assuming they were. Therefore, all crossbow infantry deduct 1pt from their Firing die when firing at enemy Infantry crossbowmen.

Roldolfo Gonzaga was the norminal Commander of the Italian army. The idea was that he would bring forward reinforcements during the battle. However he was fatally wounded which caused some confusion within the Italian ranks and the Reserve never left the camp.

FIGHTING THE BATTLE:

* This is one mechanism that I use for setting historical precedence. The points total for each army is halved. That number is the morale total of each army. However the numbers are SWOPPED OVER.

Therefore:

The French army has 28 points,  The Italian army 20 points.

As stands are removed from play, the points of the individual stands are removed from the Morale total. The first side to reach zero looses the battle.

* The French army retains the Initiative Point for the entire battle. The French army also wins any ties.

* Any stands entering the River Taro must stop on that Game-Turn.

* Troops fighting while in a river deduct 2pts from their combat die. A further 1pt is deducted from any stand fighting Up the bank toward the French side.

* Cavalry do not get the 3pts extra when attacking infantry in a river.

* The Mounted Crossbows are not true Cavalry. These stands do not get the three points for attacking Infantry in the open.

* The Spearmen and Pike must move through the face of a square. Not a diagonal. The same rule applies to the Mounted Knights

* The Spearmen are treated as normal infantry. They are not Pikemen.

* The Infantry Crossbows, Mounted Crossbows and Light Cavalry can move in any direction.

* The Cannon can only fire for the first four Game-Turns, ( due to the rain). The cannon do not move. Apparently, the French left their Cannon behind after the battle.

* The brown hills are mountainous areas. Stands cannot move into this terrain.

* The Italian army moves first on the first Game-Turn. The battle will be played for either 8 Game-Turns or, until one side reaches zero Morale Points within the 8 Game-Turn timeframe.

* THE ITALIAN CAMP:

In the historical battle Mellita’s men never left the camp. The Italian General. Gonzaga held them in reserve ready to call them forward. Gonzaga was fatally wounded so the order never came.

If the players wish to include the stands in the camp, the Italian Player rolls a 12 sided die at the beginning of each Game-Turn, from Game-Turn 2 onwards. A score of 12 is required for the stands to be moved.

* The winner of the battle will be the side that still has morale points left and/or lost the least number of stands.

CREDITS:

The battle was played out on a 3 foot ( 90cm x 2 foot ( 60cm) cloth with 2 inch ( 50mm squares) drawn on).

The hills were made from foamboard with a cardboard covering in green and brown cardboard. The roads and river are made from thin cardboard..

The figures are from The Wars of the Roses, a book by Peter Dennis. I had the illustrations printed in A5. I then cut them out and used a Pritt stick to glue the illustrations to foamboard.

The foamboard was glued to picture-framing cardboard using PVA glue. I also went on Peter Dennis’s “Paperboys” website and purchased the Renaissance French along with the Imperial Spanish Army.

The cannon were scratchbuilt using plastic tubing, cardboard, cocktail sticks and shirt buttons. 

The wagons were also scratchbuilt in the same manner. The waggons move at the infantry pace of two squares.