Taking Champion's Hill (1863)

I put on an ACW game on Friday 16 May set in the Western Theatre around Vicksburg. The Confederates (Joel and Mal) were holding Champion's Hill which the Union army (Rob, Patrick and Richard) had to take to win.

The Union army consisted of 27 infantry, 3 cavalry and 12 artillery units, and was following Ulysses S. Grant's plan to attack along three roads. Rob (left) and Patrick (centre) each had two divisions from McClernand's corps, while Richard commanded McPherson's corps on the right.

Confederate table edge

The Confederates (historically led by General Pemberton) had 18 infantry, 1 cavalry and 6 artillery units. Mal commanded Stevenson's division on the left, while Joel commanded Bowen's division (centre) and Loring's division (right).

I: Deployment

A general advance by both sides saw Mal's Confederates occupy Champion's Hill.

II: Ridge Occupied

Joel began to occupy the ridge in the centre.

III: Union Batteries Open Up

Now Richard began to bring up the massed artillery on the Union right. He soon inflicted casualties on Mal's infantry on the Confederate far left.

Both Patrick and Rob continued to advance.

IV: Union Cavalry Defeated

Joel's infantry on the far right took a hit from Rob, who now charged his cavalry into the Confederate infantry there but lost and retreated 8".

V: Loring's Division Engaged; Stevenson's Division Bombarded

Joel advanced Loring's division and fired on the Union infantry across the stream.

Richard's guns, deployed near Champion's house, now began a cannonade against Stevenson's division (Mal) on Champion's Hill.

Meanwhile Rob advanced and crossed the stream, firing at Joel's Confederates.

VI: Close Range Firefights

Joel lined up his infantry and gave two hits to one of Rob's infantry units.

Richard, massing at the base of Champion's Hill, fired his guns and forced one of Mal's infantry units back 12" near the Hill.

VII: Stevenson's Division takes Losses

Mal managed to rally two of his disordered units, and dealt casualties to Richard's dismounted cavalry

But Richard was making progress and destroyed one of Mal's infantry units from Barton's brigade

Patrick, who'd been advancing in the centre, destroyed another of Mal's units from Cumming's brigade by artillery fire. Both Richard and Patrick were advancing and closing in on Champion's Hill.

Rob was crossing the stream but faced fire from two of Joel's stacked units on the ridge

VIII: Confederate Counterattack; Ridge under Union Assault

Richard eliminated Mal's cavalry, and the Confederate left flank was beginning to totter

Rob now charged an infantry unit against one of Joel's batteries, which was forced to retreat, creating a gap in the Confederate line. Rob then fired on the infantry behind, causing a hit.

Mal's last infantry unit to the left of Champion's Hill was pushed back and disordered by Richard's fire. Mal, sensing a critical moment, now counterattacked two of Richard's infantry units who were cresting Champion's Hill.

A rebel yell resounded and the first Confederate assault was successful, as was the second, which gave the defenders of the Hill some respite. Joel also plugged a gap in his line, and Rob's infantry fell back 8".

Patrick had faced a slog in the woods but was now concentrating there for an assault on Bowen's division in Joel's command

IX: Union Assault on Champion's Hill

Richard was applying pressure to Champion's Hill. His infantry fired on Barton's brigade to the left of the hill. Richard also destroyed a Confederate infantry unit on the hill crest, while damaging two more with close range fire.

Patrick also inflicted damage on another Confederate unit on the hill. Richard now forced one battery to retreat from the hill, while Patrick fired on and assaulted Green's brigade at the base of Champion's Hill.

Seven Union units were now pressing against two Confederate infantry units on the hill's crest. Mal desperately charged one of them in but was forced back. He also lost another melee against Patrick, who fired at close range beforehand. Mal had now lost 4 infantry units in total.

X: Champion's Hill Taken

The final turn began with Logan's and Crocker's divisions (Richard) steadily pressing on Champion's Hill.

Rob's attack had stalled in the face of Joel's strong position.

However, Patrick now attacked Bowen's division (Joel) in the centre.

Richard wiped out Barton's brigade, which lost an infantry unit. Having concentrated his artillery and infantry, Richard now added 4 hits and destroyed one of Mal's infantry, and forced the other battery off the hill. Stevenson's division had been virtually destroyed.

Conclusion

By play's end Mal had only 2 of the original 8 Confederate infantry units left on Champion's Hill, threatened by an overwhelming force of Union troops. Mal lost 6 infantry and 1 cavalry units, Joel lost 1 infantry, and Rob lost 2 cavalry and 1 infantry units. And so this was a Union win, as in the historical battle.

All in all a successful game that ended near to 11pm. Rob had fixed Joel's forces in place but found attacking difficult owing to the additional saving roll applied to forces on higher ground, as well as a "two-tiered hill" which allowed overhead firing. Patrick had assisted Richard, and likewise fixed Joel in place in the centre. This allowed Richard to coordinate and bring the firepower to bear to effectively capture the hill.

My rules, Beards n' Bayonets are fastplay and designed for a quick and simple game. I used 1:72 Airfix figures for an old school feel. While neither rules nor figures were sophisticated the overall effect seemed to be well received! Thanks to all who played.