Woodscrew Armies Campaign - First Action

 

Early skirmishes between 10th Cavalry and the 
9th 'Green Tigers' light infantry.

In the battle that was to develop, both sides seemed eager to get to grips.  As the skirmishing about the town continued on between a few hundreds on either side, the western half of the Union cavalry brigade formed a flank guard: two battalions dismounted, and the other forming a mounted reserve on either flank. In the distance, along the road west, they could descry approaching the long columns of Chinese infantry.

Chinese Conscripts marching to battle

Arriving on the field, General Jackson ordered up 37th Brigade to take over the fight for the town, whilst the half-brigade of cavalry were to mount up and join the rest of the formation over to the west. Thirty-eighth Brigade following on the 37th, Jackson directed to cross the river where it bent eastwards, and fetch a loop around the town,  recross behind the place, and assail the Chinese left rear.

37th Brigade takes over the fight for the town;
38th Brigade sets off on its flank march

Focusing upon the considerable numbers of enemy to his front - though still distant - Brigadier-General Remington E. B. 'Reb' Klamath tended to overlook the possible menace to his right, that gloomy dark woodland none too distant from the mounted half-battalion on that end of his line.  Sure enough, the bulk of the 9th 'Green Tigers' had been making their way through the thick undergrowth.  This took some considerable time, during which the 37th Brigade were bringing vastly superior numbers and firepower to bear upon the town's garrison.  

Half the Union cavalry as flank guard in mixed
mounted and dismounted formation - flying 
artillery to hand

A battalion appearing upon the left flank of the infantry shortened the odds against the 'Green Tigers'  infantry, but, despite the cover of woodland and tumbledown urban dwellings, their fewer numbers and the Union superior rate of fire, began to tell. A further 'Green Tigers' battalion suddenly appeared lining the woods athwart the flank of 10th Cavalry. Several horsemen fell to their galling fire. The dismounted line quickly changed front to take up the deadly duel. Although several more cavalymen fell, they brought down a fearful retribution, completely shattering the battalion facing them.  

The gallant fight of the 'Green Tigers'

The morning's fighting sustained by the 'Green Tigers', alone on the Chinese side, had exhausted that formation. Against heavy odds, the cost prohibitive, their resistance collapsed before the rest of the East Column could be fairly engaged. The scant survivors of the gallant 'Green Tigers' fell back in disorder, through the woods and out of the town, and scattered off to the northwest.  

General view...

The Column Commander, Li Kuan Yu, was later to give due credit to the 'Green Tigers'' performance, having inflicted heavy losses upon the Union soldiery, and having held their positions long enough that 6th Infantry might occupy the village ahead of the enemy. So they did, but the commander of the 6th observed movements to the southeast that indicated a likely flank march by the enemy.  Whilst about a third of the formation entered the town, the remainder lined the riverbank against the likely appearance of Union infantry on the other side.

Part of 6th Chinese Regulars anticipating the 
38th Brigade flank march

If the Chinese hoped to enter the village first and in time to place it in a defensible state, they were to be disappointed.  As the 6th entered the northern end, there were the Unionists, en masse, at the southern.  The firefight that ensued could have had but one result, but by sheer grit and determination, the Chinese held their ground for a considerable while, whilst the decisive events unfolded behind them

Urban fighting.  Against enormous odds, the 
Chinese held out for a good hour.

The flank march of 38th Brigade took a long time - a good couple of hours at least.  As they emerged from a gap in the hills - the Gardner guns mounting the one nearer the bridge - they saw well over 2000 infantry lining the west bank of the river. For his part, Li Kuan Yu ordered those 2000 to cross the river and engage the Union formation before they could properly deploy.

By this time, 39th Brigade had long since entered the field, and promptly marched westward to support and take over operations on the west flank from the cavalry.  Following them came the 110th Heavy Artillery.

The arrival - too late to see action - of 
110th Heavy Artillery

As the 39th marched westward, the cavalry mounted up, and withdrawing a very short distance to their left rear, made way for the newly arrived infantry. The flying artillery, however, they kept in action against the approaching Chinese lines, 13th and 15th Conscript formations. Accompanying the the latter was a battery of smoothbore cannon. These ordnance opened up a long range fire against the 39th Brigade column. An unlucky shell burst beneath Brigadier-General Lyle B. Atkinson's horse, occasioning the demise of mount and rider, both.  

Destruction of 13th Conscript Formation

Retribution was not long delayed.  Deploying well within range of their own magazine rifles, and far beyond that of the conscripts' muskets, they opened up a telling fire. Advancing, they did come in for some loss to Chinese gunfire, but their own rapid fire simply shredded the 13th Conscript formation. Within the half-hour, their scant remnants were scattering westwards.

6th Regulars engage 38th Brigade before the latter
can deploy

The 6th Regulars at least had firearms that could match the range of the Union, however disparate the rates of fire between muzzle loader and magazine. Quickly splashing across the marshy stream and mounting the opposite bank, they opened a brisk fire upon the Union column before they could properly react. But just as Jackson demanded a great deal from the troops he commanded, those troops could be relied upon to deliver. Unfazed by the enemy fire, and their, losses 38th Brigade took up the fight with deadly effect.  

Duel between 6th Regulars and 38th Brigade

At this point I'll take up the narrative from a game mechanics point of view.  The significant dice in the picture preceding are the low scoring ones.  Their pip scores add to the hits upon the enemy; at this long range, only 1s, 2s and 3s count, for a total of 14 hits by the Union (superb shooting!) and just 2 by the Chinese (they had done well so far, but this was no better than average).  These hits get 'translated' into losses by a system of my own devising, but which owes a good deal to a certain late Charles Grant.  The two hits scored by the Chinese cost 38th Brigade two figures in addition to the four already taken out earlier.  But the 14 hits by the Union worked out at 9 lost to the 6th Chinese Regulars - more than 60% of the formation that crossed the river.

Superb Union shooting!

Now, these battlefield losses represent not only KIA, WIA and MIA, but also stragglers and others who, for reasons legit and otherwise, 'leave the colours'.  Many of these will no doubt return to their units after the action has ended.  So these battle losses are divided into sixths. How they are dealt with depends upon the outcome of the action. 

Who stays in the field (wins) recovers half the battle losses (three sixths) at its end, the other half being permanently lost.
Who leaves the field (loses) recovers one-third of battle losses (two sixths) at its end, with one sixth becoming POW.  The final half is also permanently lost.

6th Regular Formation... shredded

The resistance of 6th Regulars collapsed under the shattering blow just received, the remnants recrossing the river and abandoning the village.  This defeat, and the routing of 13th Conscripts signalled a general retreat by the Chinese East Column, even though two conscript formations, 15th and 16th, had not been engaged.  The battered corps abandoned the field and reeled westwards.

Chinese column retreats

There was no real pursuit - the Chinese withdrawal had been too precipitate for contact to be maintained. The cavalry might have gone after them, but they had been knocked about rather badly early in the day, and Jackson had no desire to use them wantonly. Who knew what else might be in the offing?

End of action

The Union had won its first encounter - hardly to be wondered at, as they had the numbers (20,000 to 18,000 in round numbers), and vastly superior firepower into the bargain. Overall losses amounted to 2167 on the Union side, and all of 6000 on the Chinese (including 1500 prisoners of war).  The latter's best two brigade-sized formations were so reduced as to bring into question their possible disbandment.  These numbers are after returns of stragglers, etc, and amount to 13 figures lost on the Union side, and 36 lost to the Chinese - most of them from their best troops, the troop scale being 3 figures to 500 men.

End of action

The victory won, General Jackson was soon enlightened as to the strategic reality of the situation. Messages were arriving from LOC troops down the road southeast seemed to indicate the presence of a large body of Chinese troops somewhere down that way. Prisoners questioned confirmed the existence of this South Column (Nan Zhuzi); in addition, suggesting strongly the existence of two more columns, one to the west (Xi Zhuzi) and another to the north (Bei Zhuzi).  

Of immediate concern was the apparent threat to his lines of communication and his trains. Hastily preparing his plan for the continuation of the campaign, General Thos. J. Jackson issued his orders...

To be continued...