General Butler’s plan had been daring. Just as darkness fell on the Federal lines at Bermuda Hundred, the bulk of the two corps of the Army of the James would withdraw behind a thin line of garrison troops and make a night march to the two pontoon bridges over the James River. Then, while it was still dark, the bulk of those corps would cross those bridges and deploy for a surprise attack at two points against the outer defenses of Richmond – all before sunup. To minimize traffic congestion and the noise of two corps on the move, almost all the artillery and cavalry of the Army of the James had been left in reserve on the south side of the Deep Bottom crossing. This would be a lighting infantry strike to open up the back door to Richmond. Despite the logistic challenges of a night march across a major river, the units were in place.
As General Butler rode among the black soldiers of Paine’s Division forming up in the foggy woods fronting Four Mile Creek, he must have been a comical sight. No officer looked less like a military commander than overstuffed, stump-legged, pop-eyed Ben “The Beast” Butler, who almost enjoyed the contempt his southern opponents had for him. However, no general in the entire Union Army was a stronger supporter of the black soldiers that made up the United States Colored Troops than was he. And today he was determined to prove that they were much more than uniformed ditch diggers. He had been appalled at how they were misused at the Crater and how their white commanders had failed to lead them. That would not happen today, as he had planned this attack with 16 pages of detailed instructions. The task, however, was daunting, as the entrenched position facing his well-trained but not fully tested black regiments had twice rebuffed the great General Hancock and his highly regarded II Corps. Finally, as the first hint of dawn attempted to pierce the morning fog and the brigades began to move out, General Butler gave his black soldiers a final bit of encouragement as he told them to “Remember Fort Pillow!”
The scenario starts with the 5 a.m. turn and goes until the end of the 8 a.m. turn, for a total of seven turns of battle. The Union has the initiative and is active first for the entire scenario. For the Union to win, they must capture and hold any two of the Confederate high ground artillery position behind the front lines by the end of the 8 a.m. turn: the one artillery position directly on the front lines does not count towards the Union victory conditions. The Confederates win if they can prevent that.
The Confederates can set up using the picket system of numbered hidden units. For each real unit, the Confederates get one dummy picket. The Confederate player should record which picket number corresponds to which real unit. Both real and dummy units can be placed anywhere in or north of the Confederate heavy works. Both real and dummy pickets can move up to three inches per action or – if it is a real unit – use an action or reaction to fire. Once a real unit fires, it must be placed on the game table. Any time a Union unit gets within three inches of a picket, it is spotted and if it is a real unit, it must be placed on the table. If it is a dummy picket, it is removed.
Historically, once the works were breeched, the Confederates began heading for the rear. To reflect that, for every one of the high ground artillery positions the Union occupies, all Confederate units suffer an immediate +2 MMP morale penalty as long as that position is Union-occupied. If the Confederates retake that position, then the +2 MMP morale penalty immediately disappears.
The Union sets up each brigade in their designated brigade area in any formation they choose. On the 5 a.m. turn, the Union is limited to advancing one regiment per brigade forward as skirmishers. However, the brigades of Terry’s Division – which had been assigned a supporting role – must keep all their regiments in their brigade area until they are released. The Union player rolls a 1D6 for the brigades in Terry’s Division – Abbot’s, Pond’s and Plaisted’s brigades – at the start of each of his active turns to see if these brigades are released from their reserve position. It takes a 1 or 2 them to be released. Likewise, the Corps reserve brigade of William Birney can only be released on a 1D6 roll of 1 rolled at the start of each Union active turn. Historically, W. Birney saw no action.
The expanded scenario gives the Union the use of the entire 2nd Division of the X Corps, which arrives at 5.30 a.m. Historically, this division remained in reserve along the Grover House Road throughout the battle. The Confederates get all the artillery batteries of Hardaway’s Virginia Artillery Battalion along with the automatic arrival of Benning’s Brigade on the 6 a.m. turn. The Expanded Scenario is also extended to the 9 a.m. turn for a scenario length of nine turns of battle. The Expanded Scenario also increases the Union victory conditions to any three of the Confederate high ground artillery positions.
The area is classic tidewater low country. The streams and creeks are muddy, meandering and often spread out creating shallow swamps and marshes. The creeks in the scenario should be treated as one inch of heavy woods for movement and the swamps are treated as heavy woods in their entirety, but without any of the cover benefits of heavy woods. The slopes are gentle and there is no movement penalty for going up or down them. The dark gray roads are named and all other light gray roads are considered to be trails. A unit on a higher elevation can see over one on a lower elevation, but cannot fire over it unless it is two elevations higher. The woods are broken by two farms and have been thinned by grazing animals, so all woods are considered to be light woods.
Units firing from behind heavy works are not penalized for being in disorder, extended line or skirmish order, but rather have a consistent heavy works firing benefit of +2 DRM. All infantry and artillery units in the heavy works receive a -4 DRM target benefit against all fires coming across the works regardless of the formation they are in. Units directly in the heavy works receive a -4 MMP benefit to all morale checks and affect dice-down resolutions unless the fire and/or charge is coming from behind the works, in which case there is no morale or target benefits.
Assume that the Confederate artillery revetments each hold only one battery and are positioned so that a battery in any of them on ground higher than the heavy works can do non-canister firing over any Confederate unit that is directly in those works, provided the target unit is over one away from any friendly unit. If the artillery is pulled out of the works, it can only fire over friendly units if it is two levels higher than the unit. Confederate artillery in the works has an arc of fire of 45 degrees without pivoting. It takes a full action for that artillery to pivot or to be pulled out of its revetments and re-limbered as field artillery.
Rather than a single abatis of a line of tightly packed felled trees, New Market Heights was protected by an abatis field that was deeper but less dense than a traditional linear abatis. Units moving through the abatis field do so at the heavy woods movement rate, and all charges into or out of the abatis field are done in disorder, with only a 1D6 charge bonus. The abatis field gives no protection from fire. The abatis field is two inches deep for 10mm, three inches deep for 15mm, and four inches deep for 25mm games. There is clear ground of two inches for all figure scales between the edge of the abatis field and the fraise (see below).
It is unclear as to whether the front line heavy works were protected by a fraise or chevaux-de-frise. However, for this scenario, use either and treat either simply as an inch of rough terrain, with all charges across them being done in disorder and the total charge distance, if successful, being limited to occupying the works beyond.
A few of the more experienced officers, having seen attacks against entrenchments falter because the soldiers would stop and attempt to fire back at soldiers protected by heavy works, ordered their troops to charge with unloaded or uncapped muskets. This forced the attacker to keep going and take the position with the bayonet. To do this requires two declared actions – “this unit(s) will be charging with empty muskets” – with the last action being a charge. Units so doing cannot fire this active turn, but get a -1 MMP benefit throughout their active turn. For the following reaction, assume loaded muskets.
The attack was started in a heavy morning fog that gradually lifted as the sun came up. Hence, maximum visibility for the 5 p.m. and 5.30 a.m. turns is 6”/12”/18” for 10mm/15mm/25mm figures respectively. For the 6 and 6.30 a.m. turns it is 12”/18”/24” respectively and unlimited visibility starting with the 7 a.m. turn.
Conceptually, Butler’s concept of a dual simultaneous attack both against New Market Heights and up the Varina Road towards Fort Harrison was validated, as it presented the Confederates with two crises in an area where they would have enough resources only to deal with one. At New Market Heights, the Confederates easily rebuffed the initial attack, since it was done piecemeal without any mutual support. After regrouping, however, the Federals were able to break into the works at three different points, which ended the issue and precipitated a full Confederate retreat. Despite heavy losses, the Texas line was first breached by Holman’s Brigade with the 22nd USCT in the lead, quickly followed by Draper’s Brigade with the 5th USCT in the lead. Gary’s cavalry line was outflanked and rolled up by the 3rd New Hampshire and the 24th Massachusetts of Terry’s Division.
The Confederates responded by sending Benning’s Brigade under Colonel DuBose first to New Market Heights and then recalled it to help defend Fort Harrison. The recall of DuBose was quickly followed by a general recall from New Market Heights, as a possible Union penetration beyond Fort Harrison was deemed more serious than the loss of New Market Height. It appears that the final breach of the Confederate line happened just about then. Whether the Confederates simply evacuated or were driven continues to be debated. But one fact remains: the cost for taking New Market Heights for the Paine’s USCT Division had been high. About 800 of its 1,300 men were killed, wounded or missing, and of the 16 Congressional Medals of Honor given to black soldiers in the Civil War 14 of them were earned on New Market Heights. The following actual participants tell the story of their courage.
The Union Perspective: “It was a deadly hailstorm of bullets sweeping men down as a hailstorm sweeps leaves from a tree.” – Sergeant Major Christian Fleetwood, 4th USCT, awarded Congressional Medal of Honor
The Confederate Perspective: “No troops up to that time had fought us with more bravery than did those Negro soldiers.” – J. D. Pickens, Texas Brigade
The Commander’s Perspective: “The capacity of the negro race for soldiers had then and there been fully settled forever.” – Major General Benjamin F. Butler
Ben Butler’s two-pronged offensive did take New Market Heights and Fort Harrison, which collapsed the exterior ring of Richmond’s southeast defenses, and in that regard the offensive was an operational success. It did not, however, as General Butler had hoped, make a strategic breakthrough that would have opened the back door to Richmond. Lee was quick enough to respond to the threat and reserves were promptly shuttled up from Petersburg. However, it did force Lee to make some costly counterattacks and added another tightening of the noose that Grant was slowly wrapping around the Richmond and Petersburg defenses.
RM: Rifle muskets, RC/P: Repeating carbines and pistols, MM/P: Mixed muskets and pistols, MM: Mixed muskets, SBLC/P: Sharps breech-loading carbines and pistols, RM/P: Rifle muskets and pistols.
(2 LB) morale benefit when rallying USCT regiments. However, Butler cannot advance beyond Four Mile Creek.
The X Corps had may have had as many as 16,000 men when it first pulled out of the Bermuda Hundred lines, but straggling on the night march to New Market Heights probably reduced it to slightly less than 12,000 men. 1st Brigade/Third Division – Brigadier General William Birney (1 LB)
Corps Reserve – brother of the Corps Commander. This brigade was kept safely in reserve and saw no action. Roll 1D6 each turn for release only after all three brigades of Terry’s Division have been released. It takes a 1 for the brigade to be released.
• 29th Connecticut – 360 men – 6 figures – RM – Veteran
• 7th United States Colored Troops – 360 men – 6 figures – RM – Veteran
• 8th United States Colored Troops – 360 men – 6 figures – RM – Veteran
• 9th United States Colored Troops – 360 men – 6 figures – RM – Veteran
• 45th United States Colored Troops – 480 men – 8 figures – RM – Trained
First Division – Brigadier Alfred H. Terry (1 LB)
Historically, the division was initially held back as support and was not fully committed to the attack until about 7 a.m. After being committed, the 24th Massachusetts and the 3rd New Hampshire eventually outflanked Gary’s Cavalry Brigade.
1st Brigade – Colonel Francis Pond (1 LB)
Beginning with the 5 a.m. turn, roll 1D6 each turn for brigade release. It takes a 1 or 2 for release.
• 39th Illinois – 240 men – 4 figures – RM – Elite
• 62nd Ohio – 360 men – 6 figures – RM – Veteran
• 67th Ohio – 360 men – 6 figures – RM – Veteran
• 85th Philadelphia – 360 men – 6 figures – RM – Veteran
2nd Brigade – Colonel Joseph Abbot (1 LB)
Beginning with the 5 a.m. turn, roll 1D6 each turn for brigade release. It takes a 1 or 2 for release.
• 3rd New Hampshire – 240 men – 4 figures – RM – Elite
• 6th Connecticut – 360 men – 6 figures – RM – Veteran
• 7th Connecticut – 360 men – 6 figures – RM – Veteran
• 7th New Hampshire – 360 men – 6 figures – RM – Veteran
• 16th New York Heavy Artillery – 480 men – 8 figures – RM – Trained
3rd Brigade – Colonel Harris Plaisted (1 LB)
Beginning with the 5 a.m. turn, roll 1D6 each turn for brigade release. It takes a 1 or 2 for release.
• 10th Connecticut – 240 men – 4 figures – RM – Elite
• 11th Maine – 360 men – 6 figures – RM – Veteran
• 24th Massachusetts – 360 men – 6 figures – RM – Veteran
• 100th New York – 360 men – 6 figures – RM – Veteran
• 1st Maryland Cavalry – Used as divisional provost guard (not available)
Second Division – Brigadier Robert S. Foster (1 LB)
Historically, Foster’s division was kept in reserve along the Grover House Road and was never committed to this attack.
1st Brigade – Colonel Rufus Daggett (1 LB)
• 3rd New York – 240 men – 4 figures – RM – Elite
• 112th New York – 360 men – 6 figures – RM – Veteran
• 117th New York – 360 men – 6 figures – RM – Veteran
• 142nd New York – 360 men – 6 figures – RM – Trained
2nd Brigade – Colonel Galusha Pennypacker (1 LB)
• 47th New York – 360 men – 6 figures – RM – Veteran
• 48th New York – 360 men – 6 figures – RM – Veteran
• 76th Philadelphia – 360 men – 6 figures – RM – Veteran
• 97th Philadelphia – 360 men – 6 figures – RM – Veteran
• 203rd Philadelphia – 480 men – 8 figures – RM – Trained
3rd Brigade – Colonel Louis Bell (1 LB)
• 13th Indiana – 240 men – 4 figures – RM – Elite
• 4th New Hampshire – 240 men – 4 figures – RM – Elite
• 9th Maine – 360 men – 6 figures – RM – Veteran
• 115th New York – 360 men – 6 figures – RM – Veteran
• 169th New York – 480 men – 8 figures – RM – Trained
Third Division/XVIII Corps – Brigadier General Charles J. Paine (1 LB)
Paine’s division of about 3,800 men was attached to X Corps for the attack on New Market Heights. Though the black brigades had good officers, their division commander, Brigadier General Charles Paine, was unskilled and initially committed the brigades piecemeal. On the first assault, Duncan’s Brigade was mauled by the Texans, but Colonel Draper then organized a second assault with his and Holman’s brigades, which eventually broke the Texan’s position.
1st Brigade – Colonel John H. Holman (1 LB)
• 1st United States Colored Troops – 360 men – 6 figures – RM – Veteran
• 22nd United States Colored Troops – 480 men – 8 figures – RM – Veteran
• 37th United States Colored Troops – 480 men – 8 figures – RM – Trained
2nd Brigade – Colonel Alonzo G. Draper (1 LB)
The 36th USCT was originally recruited in North Carolina in August 1863 as the 2nd North Carolina Colored Volunteers.
• 5th United States Colored Troops – 360 men – 6 figures – RM – Veteran
• 36th United States Colored Troops – 480 men – 8 figures – RM – Veteran
• 38th United States Colored Troops – 480 men – 8 figures – RM – Trained
3rd Brigade – Colonel Samuel A. Duncan (1 LB)
• 4th United States Colored Troops – 360 men – 6 figures – RM – Veteran
• 6th United States Colored Troops – 360 men – 6 figures – RM – Veteran
• 10th United States Colored Troops – 480 men – 8 figures – RM – Trained
Independent – 2nd USCT Cavalry – Not involved, strength unknown.
Due to the small number of Confederate units and the large frontages to be held, it is recommended that the six-figure Confederate units be modeled as three-stand units with two figures per stand. Estimates for the total number of Confederate defenders vary from as low as 1,800 to as many as 3,000 men.
Area Commander: Brigadier General John Gregg (1 LB)
Starts at Camp Holly.
Gregg’s Texas Brigade – Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Bass (1 LB)
To cover the available frontage, the 4th Texas and 5th Texas should probably be modeled with 3 stands of 2 figures each.
• 1st Texas – 240 men – 4 figures – RM – Elite
• 3rd Arkansas – 240 men – 4 figures – RM – Elite
• 4th Texas – 360 men – 6 figures – RM – Elite
• 5th Texas – 360 men – 6 figures – RM – Elite
Benning’s Brigade – Colonel Dudley M. DuBose (1 LB)
Historically, they were sent as reinforcements to New Market Heights. But very soon after they got there, they were recalled and were countermarched to reinforce Fort Harrison, which was also under pressure from the Union XVIII Corps advancing up Varina Road. Unfortunately, by the time they arrived there, the fort had fallen and the battle was over. So for most of the morning, they spent most of their time moving back and forth and little time fighting. Beginning with the 6 a.m. turn, at the start of each Confederate active turn roll 1D6 for arrival; it takes a 1 or 2 for them to arrive on the north edge exit of the New Market Road. In the Expanded Scenario, they automatically arrive at 6 a.m.
• 2nd Georgia – 240 men – 4 figures – RM – Elite
• 17th Georgia – 240 men – 4 figures – RM – Veteran
• 15th Georgia – 360 men – 6 figures – RM – Veteran
• 20th Georgia – 360 men – 6 figures – RM – Veteran
1st Virginia Light Artillery Battalion – Lieutenant Colonel Richard A. Hardaway (1 LB) (not present)
The following batteries can set up in any of the artillery revetments, but only one battery per revetment. The 3rd Richmond Howitzers and Rockbridge Artillery are automatically available, but the Powhatan and Salem Virginia Artillery must each roll 1D6 at the start – they are available if they roll a 1 or 2. In the expanded scenario, all four batteries are available.
• 3rd Richmond Howitzers – two sections, 3” ordnance rifles – Veteran
• Rockbridge Artillery – two sections, 20 pdr Parrott rifles – Elite
• Powhatan Artillery – two sections 3” ordnance rifles – Veteran
• Salem Virginia Artillery – two sections, mixed guns – Veteran
Department of Richmond – Lieutenant General Richard S. Ewell (1 LB) (not present)
Gary’s Cavalry Brigade – Brigadier General Martin W. Gary (1 LB)
Gary’s brigade fights the entire scenario dismounted as their horses had been sent to the rear. The 24th Virginia Cavalry was formed in March 1864 from depleted companies of the 42nd Virginia Cavalry and Dearing’s Cavalry Squadron.
• Hampton’s Legion – 180 men – 6 figures – RM/P – Elite
• 7th South Carolina Cavalry – 180 men – 6 figures – RM/P – Veteran
• 24th Virginia Cavalry – 180 men – 6 figures – RM/P – Veteran
City of Richmond Battalions
These battalions arrive at 6 a.m. on the north exit of the New Market Road. In the Expanded Scenario, they start in the works.
• Elliot’s 25th Virginia Reserve Battalion – 240 men – 4 figures – MM – Trained
• Guy’s 2nd Virginia Reserve Battalion – 240 men – 4 figures – MM – Trained
Whenever the two opposing units have equal situational MMP modifying factors – good or bad – do not include them in the final impact resolution calculation, as follows: since both opposing impact units are within two inches of the enemy, neither one suffers the +1 MMP detriment in charge impact resolution. Since both opposing impact units have a 1 LB leader with the lead impact unit, neither side gets the leader benefit for impact resolution. However, if one side had a 2 LB leader and the other side had a 1 LB leader, then just factor in the beneficial difference of 1 to the side that had the leader advantage
The highest Final Impact Value (FIV) wins. For each unit the FIV is calculated as follows: a unit’s FIV equals 2D6 plus the number of figures actually in impact minus the unit’s charge or impact MMP.
Example: 4th Texas – in the impact resolution the Final Impact Value (FIV) of the 4th Texas would be calculated as follows: Though the 4th Texas has 6 figures, it only has 2 figures that are actually involved in the impact that can be add to the 2D6 impact die roll from which its charge MMP is subtracted. Its charge MMP starts with its elite BMP of 3, which is improved by a -4 since it is in heavy works. However, a unit’s MMP can never be lower than zero, hence its final charge MMP is zero. This means that its Final Impact Value would be 2D6 +2. So if the 4th Texas rolled a 7, its final total would be a 9.
Example: Draper’s Brigade – In the impact resolution, the FIV of the 5th United States Colored Troops would be calculated as follows: The 5th USCT has six figures for a 6 that are actually involved in the impact and that can be added to the 2D6 impact die roll, from which its charge MMP is subtracted. Its charge MMP starts with its veteran BMP of 4, which is worsened by +2 since it is in disorder to a 6. However, it has two regiments in support, which lowers its charge MMP back to a 4, and since it is charging it gets an additional – 1 MMP benefit for a net MMP of 3. However, if the charge was being made with uncapped muskets the 5th USCT would be entitled to an addition -1 MMP benefit. In that case, its final charge MMP would be a 2. This means its Final Impact Value would be 2D6 + 6 – 2. So if the 5th USCT also rolled a 7, its final total would be an 11.
So, in this case, Draper’s Brigade, led by the 5th USCT, has won the impact resolution by 2, which means the entire 4th Texas falls back two inches in disorder and loses one figure. Since the charge would have been over a fraise or chevaux-de-frise, the victorious 5th USCT along with the rest of Draper’s Brigade can only occupy the space immediately behind the works. Likewise, should another charge come in over the fraise or chevaux-de-frise, those units would also occupy the works rather than being able to pursue the 4th Texas.
Historically, this was how Draper’s Brigade broke the Texas line. Simultaneously, Holman’s Brigade, with the 22nd USCT in the lead, would peel back the 3rd Arkansas the same way. With their works being penetrated in multiple places and with a second crisis developing along the Varina Road, the Confederates decided to abandon the New Market Heights position.
Union troops cross the Confederate defences on Marye’s Heights, by Adam Hook © Osprey Publishing Ltd. Taken from Campaign 55: Chancellorsville 1863.
One big advantage of works is that they are usually designed to facilitate rapid lateral movement against the attackers, which are also being slowed by the obstacle field. To show this capability, allow a regiment – right before impact resolution – to concentrate as illustrated. However, allowing a regiment to do this leaves a portion of the works now undefended and should another attack come the position could be compromised.
That was exactly what happened to Hampton’s Legion. It concentrated to rebuff the 6th and 7th Connecticut, and then the 3rd New Hampshire and 24th Massachusetts poured over the now vacant flank of the defensive works and began to roll up their position. At that point, the Confederates decided to flee.