American Civil War Game Club (ACWGC)

   Gentlemen,

   I'm glad to announce that the III Battle of the Hill came to its conclusion!

   Started on April 14th, 2007, it lasted for 29 turns and was
   joined by 7 players belonging to the two formations.

   Lt. General Joseph C. Mishurda,
   lead the Northern Army to the Victory,
   obtaining a Draw with Advantage over the Southern Army,
   under command of Maj. General Jerry Wells,
   replacing Lt. General Alessandro Staccioli.

   Even if this battle is named the Battle of the Antietam Creek it was fought, for its greatest part, over the Red Hill

   east of the creek itself, for this reason you may find it reported as the Battle of the Red Hill in some history book.
   The Southern Army, actually a Corps size formation, moved very quickly toward the Antietam's ford, occupying a
   wide area from the Middle Bridge up to the Upper Bridge.
   Gen. Harney, replacing Gen. Staccioli on the field as commander in chief, decided to set-up his headquarter at
   Porterstown in the very early hour of the April 14th 1864. General Staccioli decided to leave the command of his
   Corps to Gen. Harney because Gen. Harney was the first senior commader to reach the field of battle and he
   studyed the field before the arrive of the entire force. So Gen. Harney ordered to put the main force of his army in
   the area around the Middle Bridge, to cover the main approach along the Sharpsburg & Boonsborough
   Turnpike. The Italian Division, supported by the Texas Rangers under Gen. Wells was deployed on the center
   of the confederate line, with the Rangers on the left, while the entire Greenoak Rifles Division was scattered to
   cover the northern approaches at the Upper Ford and Upper Bridge. At that time, around 8.40 am, Gen. Harney
   left his headquarter to execute a personal reconnaissance of his right flank... that was the last time someone
   saw him before the end of the battle...
   The confederate commander, Gen. Staccioli, soon informed by a staff officier of the sudden disappear of Gen.
   Harney and his staff officers, decided immediatly to replace him with Gen. Wells, who, in the morning,
   accompained Gen. Harney on the field for an ispection, before the arrive of the Southern Army.
   Gen. Wells confirmed all the orders sent by his predecessor and assumed the command of the Army placing
   his headquarter in the same town of Porterstown. Moreover he ordered Gen. Stewart's green cavalry brigade
   to cover his left unguarded flank pushing his men up to the Lower or Rohrback Bridge.

   While all this was happening on the southern side, the Northern Army, under Gen. "Old Joe" Mishurda was
   rapidly marching down the Turnpike passing through the town of Sharpsburg and caming from west.
   The union cavarly made a good work identifying the southern approach and this drove Gen. Mishurda to
   prepare this plan of battle:
   The main force of the Union Army, the Cast Iron Division under Gen. Watkins, replacing Gen. Mishurda who
   assumed the command of the full Corps, was to execute a forced march to gain the control of the Lower
   Bridge, trying to turn the confederate left flank. At the same time the PA Scottish division under Gen. Miller,

   supported by the Charlotte Division under Gen. McDonald was to execute a feint over the Middle bridge, to
   draw the attention of the confederates.

   Thanks to the superiority of forces under Gen. Mishurda, he found no serious problem forcing the ford at the
   Lower Bridge against Stewart's cavalry, anyway, Gen. Stewart was able to slow down a little the federal
   movement and that made a good service to the rebels late in the battle.

   Gen. Miller's men did not found a heavy resistance over the Middle Bridge and they was able to attack and
   repuls the confederate sooner than expected. Gen. Wells, as a matter of fact, decided to give ground slowly
   and to retire toward better positions under cover of the Red Hill's woods. So the feint was soon transformed
   into a real attack and "Old Joe" ordered to Gen. Miller to push on his men with the help of Gen. McDonald.

   From this point on, the battle became a slow slaughter over the foot of the Red Hill, with the rebels slowing
   retreating and the yankee pushing ahed with bloody assaults. The ability of Gen. Stewart to delay Gen.
   Mishurda action allowed Gen. Wells to avoid to be sourronded on his left flank by an overwhelming force.

   The battle was fiercly fought by both the two armies and the losses was high. The Confederates was able
   to maintain a little advantage over the Unionists up to the first hours of the afternoon, then, tired and
   overwhelmed, they was forced to leave the field in a disrupted state. Nevertheless their morale was still
   high and the Northern Army was too tired and blooding to sustain a strong pursuit.

   Once more, I sought a very fought battle and I've to admire the good obstinacy showed by the southern
   commanders who fought a battle under very negative starting conditions up to the last turn! Thank you to
   them and to the northern team as well.

   BTW, Gen. Harney at last appeared on the battlefield and, reading his report, we know now that an enemy
   cavalry scout party captured him near the S. Pry's Mill & Farm, but he was able to free himself, escape and
   after an adventurous journey join back the confederate lines... even if somene in the rebel ranks continue
   to tell that he felt drunk that morning in a local inn and spend all the day after the innkeeper, a local beauty
   girl!

   Here are some figures to better describe the batte:
   - Northern Army's initial strength: 18,535 points (ratio 1.26).
      15,100 infantrymen
      4,300 cavalrymen
      15 artillery guns
      31 horse artillery guns
      6 supply wagons
      450 ammunition rounds.
   - Southern Army's initial strength: 14,670 points (ratio 0.79).
      10,700 infantrymen
      5,700 cavalrymen
      20 artillery guns
      29 horse artillery guns
      10 supply wagons
      400 ammunition rounds.

   Final strengths:
   - Northern Army
      10,450 infantrymen (4,650 killed, wounded or captured - 31%)
      3,450 cavalrymen (850 killed, wounded or captured - 20%)
      37 guns (9 destroyed or captured - 20%)
      309 ammunition rounds (141 fired or captured - 31%)
      Brig. General John J. Abercrombie, killed

      Brig. General Leonard F. Ross, killed
      1 x Colonel, killed
      1 x Colonel, captured
   - Southern Army
      6,825 infantrymen (3,875 killed, wounded or captured - 36%)
      4,150 cavalrymen (1,550 killed, wounded or captured - 27%)
      45 guns (24 destroyed or captured - 49%)
      110 ammunition round (290 fired or captured - 73%)
      Brig. General William N. Pendleton, wounded

   More details will follow in the III Battle of the Hill's web page.

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   Some words from Gen. Wells, commanding the Southern Army:

   After the battle at South Mountain the Confederates, unable to halt the Union advance fell back and
   took up defensive positions in the vicinity of Sharpsburg, using the terrain as an equalizer.  Their
   artillery placements carefully chosen with their backs to the Potomac River, controlling a few fords but
   unable to remove the army quickly to the other side in the face of disaster.
   It was hold or lose the Army of Northern Virginia, Richmond and the war.
   The battle raged, at first on the left and then on the right and center.
   The left and center was an artillery hell.
   Late in the battle the right wavered but just in the nick of time additional troops rallied and came up fill
   the weak spots and hold the line.
   Exhausted and having seen the bloodiest day of the Civil War, the surviving Union troops disengaged
   for the night expecting the Confederates to slip off into the night, channeling men and ordinance
   across the fords to beat the daylight.
   But come morning the Confederates were still entrenched in the postions that they had held at nightfall.
   The foes gazed at each other for some time, each too injured to want to fight and the following night the
   Confederates seeing the fight was done slipped back into Virginia with little oppostion to lick their
   wounds but still able to fight again another day.

   Gentlemen of the North we salute you.

   Kind regards,
   Jerry
   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   These Regiments/Batteries receive the "Antietam" battlename for future memory of their actions:
   - 4th MS Cav. Regiment  for their hard fighting, having lost half of their number.
   - 2nd VA H.Art. Battery for their brave efforts in holding our right center and right flank.
   - 4th VA H.Art Battery for their devastating effect on assaults on our left flank.
   - 2nd AR H.Art. Battery of the Queensland Horse Brigade.

   My personal applause to Gen. "Old Joe" Mishurda who fought this battle leading his men up to the
   front line. I saw him riding in front of his regiments as a simple colonel, drawing both fire and enemy's
   appreciation. And to Gen. "Red Hill" Wells who lead his men up to the end, dividing with them their
   efforts and sufferings.

   Congratulations to the winners and thank you to all the players partecipating.


   General Simone Tombesi,
   Hill Challenge's Master

Dear General Simone Tombesi,

Thank you Sir!, for all your efforts in putting these affairs together. It is truely appreciated.

Thank you Gallent Men of the North: the PA Scottish Division under Gen. Miller, and Charlotte Division under Gen. McDonald. Job well done indeed.

Lt Gen Joseph C. Mishurda



Lt General Joseph C. Mishurda,
"Killer Angels"
VI Corps, AoS, USA

General Tombesis,
Thanks again for a great battle. Your efforts are much appreciated. It was something of a hair raising experience at times for us rebs as up to 13 regiments would rout at a time towards the end, a significant portion of our army. We had to remove some from the field as they were a bad influence on those around them. Now that they have seen the elephant I am sure they will do their duty next time around. Fortunately the heavy woods of Red Hill shielded some of this unfortunate activity from the view of the yanks and those that held rose to the occasion.
A very gentlemanly affair from beginning to end, we appreciate the character the enemy displayed.
Kind regards,
Jerry

Col. Jerry Wells
2nd Div. I Corps AoG
Texas Ranger Division