ACW Action: Battle of Middletown - Part Five.

So, at the end of Turn 13:

The Union cavalry have won the fight on their right flank, but Blake's brigade is hard pressed in the centre and has lost Bleak Ridge to Merlin's troops.

On the Union left, Coverdale's men are on the back foot, with Mutton's brigade

pushing them back from North Hill.

With Blake wounded, Major General Hill is reorganising his brigade to hold the next line of defence.

On Bleak Ridge, Major General Best watches on as Moon's and Henry's Batteries

pound the Union line.

Hill's remaining artillery, 'B' Battery, 5th Pennsylvania, open fire in defence of the ford.

End of Turn 15 and dusk is falling. On the Confederate right, Mutton's men have reached the fence as Coverdale hastens to rally his regiments. In the centre, Merlin's brigade goes forward against the Union hasty fieldworks.

The 5th North Carolina make a gallant charge, but the 8th New York meet them with heavy fire and they are repulsed before reaching the defence line.

Colonel Stevens of the 4th Michigan takes command of Blake's brigade.

On the right, Mutton's men are brought to a halt as the 17th New York repulse the 1st North Carolina, leaving the Confederate brigadier to urge forward the 16th Louisiana to take the fence line.

On the Union right wing, Mount has erred on the side of caution and halted his dismounted troopers, reluctant to enter the wood for the moment in case they are ambushed by Confederate cavalry.

In go the 16th Louisiana and the 17th New York gives way, abandoning the fence line.

In the centre, 8th New York and 5th North Carolina exchange fire as Merlin's advance stalls before the Union fieldworks.

However, a quick counter-attack by the 2nd Ohio catches the 16th Louisiana off-guard and the Union troops regain the fence line.

Mutton urges forward the 15th Alabama, the 6th Virginia close up in support, and the Buckeyes abandon the fence and retreat for Dry River. 

End of Turn Eighteen and night is falling, with Confederate batteries on Bleak Ridge and North Hill shelling the Union lines heavily. In the centre, Hill is trying to threaten Mutton's breakthrough from the flank by moving across a regiment to the road to the ford. Coverdale's regiments are falling back as Mutton's troops press forward.

End of the game, with nightfall. Hill has managed to hold on in the centre, the fieldworks proving too much for Merlin's men, and while Mount is still hesitating before the wood, he has kept open a line of retreat over South Bridge. On their left, the Union troops are recoiling before Mutton's advance, but rallying enough to prevent the Confederates reaching Dry River. But Best's batteries on Bleak Ridge and North Hill will make holding Middletown almost impossible the next morning, given the Union commander only has one battery with which to reply. So Hill resolves to pull out under cover of darkness and fall back.

So victory to the Confederates under Major General Best.

Hill's infantry brigadiers put up a creditable fight even though they were rated cautious, while his cavalry brigadier excelled himself even though rated average. Hill himself proved better than his average rating suggested as well. On the Confederate side, Best left the fight to his infantry brigadiers, both of whom lived up to their bold ratings, being well-forward with their men and pressing their attacks, while the cavalry brigadier, in spite of one bold move against Bleak Ridge, failed to fulfil his orders. Though he could argue Best should not have kept back his third regiment on the rather feeble excuse of 'just in case'!

ACW Action: Battle of Middletown - Part Four

 The struggle continues...

At North Hill 15th North Carolina captures the height, driving back 14th Michigan, but 17th New York are ready in reserve.

The Tar Heels are hit with a devastating volley and give way.

17th New York rushes up to retake North Hill.

But they do not stay long, as 1st North Carolina surges forward and takes it back; 2nd Ohio brings them under fire as 17th New York retreat.

1st North Carolina surge forward, urged on by Mutton, "Drive them boys, drive them!"

And they do: 17th New York receive the charge and give way. Coverdale's brigade is on the back foot!

Meanwhile, in the centre, the 18th Mississippi and 12th Indiana are exchanging fire on Bleak Ridge; the latter get the worst of the shooting and fall back.

Moon's Battery comes into action against 4th Michigan as 11th Texas emerge from the woods once more. The Wolverines abandon the hilltop.

In go the 18th Mississippi to take Bleak Ridge and meet 9th Wisconsin coming up the other side.

The Mississippians win the fight and secure Bleak Ridge. Blake, steadying his men, is hit and wounded by a stray shot and has to leave the field. Hill takes command of the brigade for the moment.

Over on the Union right, Mount and his dismounted troopers are piling the pressure on 14th Texas.

The Yankee breechloaders take a heavy toll of the Texans.

The 14th Texas pulls back into the woods as the Union cavalrymen press forward.

The outmatched Texans are destroyed and Mount and his troopers secure the Union right

and the road to South Bridge.

'C' Battery, 6th Pennsylvania, stand to their guns as they come under heavy artillery fire on the road.

Flanked to right and left, the gallant battery pulls out but is overwhelmed as it withdraws

by enemy artillery fire.

Can Hill and his men hold on?

Has Mutton's capture of North Hill gained a win for Best?

More to follow...

ACW Action: Battle of Middletown - Part Three.

Picking up where we left off last time...

In the centre of the field, the 2nd Georgia charges down The Mound into 11th Indiana; the latter lost the fight and had to retreat, so honours to the Georgians.

Over on the Confederate left, Colbert gets a rush of blood to the head and redirects 11th Texas from its orders to take South Bridge. He dismounts them and sends them through the trees, emerging on the flank of 'A' Battery, 2nd Michigan, on Bleak Ridge. A masterly move, but rather against orders!

The Union gunners are cut down by the Texans and the battery is abandoned.

On the Confederate right, Coverdale's leading regiment opens fire on Mutton's troops, supported by 'B' Battery, 5th Pennsylvania on the road.

Mount, seeing the Texans flanking Bleak Ridge from his position, hastily dismounts his two regiments and sends them forward to protect the flank and block the road to South Bridge. Colbert's inspired move has given the Union cavalry time to react to the threat on their right flank.

Mutton's Brigade rushes forward to attack North Hill.

End of Turn 7, with Merlin's men in the centre about to assault Bleak Ridge. 

2nd Georgia now charged 12th Indiana, but the Hoosiers got in a good volley and then beat off their attackers, holding their ground.

In the distance can be seem Major General Hill and his staff, along with Brigadier General Blake, well up with the troops. And beyond them, the 11th Texans, blazing away at the Union mounted officers, but with a singular lack of success after their triumph over the enemy's artillery!

Over at North Hill, 14th Michigan it shooting at the approaching 15th North Carolina regiment, but the Confederates are unstoppable.

Colbert, seeing the Union cavalrymen blocking his way, dismounts 14th Texas and prepares to engage.

Hill and Blake, seeing the threat to their right - and hearing the bullets whizzing around their ears! - hastily redirects 13th Michigan from his reserves to deal with 11th Texas, as 4th Michigan redeploys to face the Confederate cavalry. Lashed by a good volley, the Texans head back to the cover of the trees.

20th Pennsylvania are ordered forward by Mount, who is showing a pleasing degree of aggressiveness on the Union right, and they open fire with their breechloaders on the less well-armed Confederates.

In the centre, Hill has ordered the 8th New York to throw up some earthworks along the fence line as an extra protection should the Confederates break through at Bleak Ridge.

End of Turn 8. The Union line is holding steady along North Hill and Bleak Ridge, with their cavalry blocking the Confederates on the road to South Bridge. Hill is feeling pretty satisfied; Best realises Merlin's men have a tough task ahead in the centre, but hopes Mutton can get North Hill.

More to follow...

ACW Action: Battle of Middletown - Part Two.

With both sides now on the table, action got underway. Unit titles are randomly created just to add some individuality to the game.

The Union guns - 'A' Battery, 2nd Michigan - on Bleak Ridge opened fire on the approaching Confederate columns.

I have not found my normal explosion markers since moving house, so I resorted to brown sheep's wool, which look more realistic, I think.

Brigadier General Merlin starts deploying his men into line for an attack on The Mound.

The leading Union regiment - 4th Michigan - has moved up onto The Mound ready to resist the Confederate advance.

More of Merlin's Brigade shaking out into line - 18th Mississippi under artillery fire; in the background, Henry's Battery is bombarding the Union guns on Bleak Ridge.

Brigadier Genera Blake, for all his cautious quality, decides to show some grit and pushes up supports for 4th Michigan on The Mound.

On the Union left, Brigadier General Coverdale gets some of his men moving forward to occupy North Hill, directing some of his artillery - 'B' Battery, 5th Pennsylvania - up the road, all prompted by his division commander, Major General Hill, who leads up another regiment from the ford.

Major General Hill and his staff hurrying forward to see what is happening.

Major General Best arrives on the field with his staff.

Brigadier General Mutton and his brigade moves forward, while the cavalry brigade under Brigadier General Colbert trots onto the field in the distance.

20th South Carolina charge the 4th Michigan on The Mound, close quarter fighting under way.

On the left, Colbert sends his men to the road, 14th Texas in the lead, coming under fire from the Union guns on Bleak Ridge as they manoeuvre in column.

The Union infantry brigades are moving forward to secure better positions to defend against the attack.

20th South Carolina are beaten off by 4th Michigan, so Merlin urges forward his regiments for a full scale assault.

Mutton's columns surge forward, trying to reach North Hill, which is still unoccupied. William's Battery deploys on the road in support.

Colbert's cavalrymen - 14th and 11th Texas - are moving towards the Union right, but Best decides to keep one regiment - 3rd Florida in reserve, just in case. Moon's horse artillery battery is to follow the Texans.

The field from behind the Confederates, with Best having all his troops moving forward into the attack.

2nd Georgia takes The Mound, with 4th Michigan retreating, leaving 12th Indiana in the dip behind, Blake in close proximity to bolster their stand, while Merlin is right behind his foremost regiment.

'B' Battery, 5th Pennsylvania, comes into action.

In the centre of the field, Merlin's brigade is pushing forward over The Mound, while Mutton's men reach the next fence line en route to North Hill. William's Battery has limbered up and is advancing, having decided it can give better support if it accompanies Mutton's columns closely.

14th Texas moves along the road to the wood, passing Bleak Ridge to its right.

12th Indiana charge 2nd Georgia in an attempt to regain The Mound.

No luck for the Hoosiers as they are repulsed by the Georgians.

End of Turn Six, with the Confederates on The Mound, the bold Merlin intending to attack Bleak Ridge next; Colbert's cavalry has flanked the Union line on Bleak Ridge, but his orders are to take South Bridge; in the distance, Coverdale has got a regiment onto North Hill, so Mutton will have to fight for it.

More to follow...