Beyond Chancellorsville - 1863

Friday evening and it was time to revisit the American Civil War. Our fictional engagement, set in June 1863, found Fighting Joe Hooker intercepting Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia after Chancellorsville.

As Lee pushed north Hooker shadowed him. A portion of Lee’s army advance further to the west but Longstreet’s Corps, screened by Stuart’s cavalry, advanced further east. On the 17th June Confederate and Union cavalry clashed along Little River, near the town of Aldie. By the 18th both Lee and Hooker simultaneously determined to reinforce their positions, withdrawing their cavalry and committing their infantry.

Hooker would eventually commit four corps to battle. However, by noon only Warren’s II Corps and Howard’s XI Corps were on the field. Marching to their support were French’s III Corps and Sedgwick’s VI Corps. Each corps comprised two or three divisions each of 3,000 to 4,500 bayonets. Lee in contrast could call on only two corps. In particular Longstreet’s I Corps and A.P. Hill’s III Corps. Though again not all were deployed on the field initially. Indeed, by noon only two divisions from Longstreet’s Corps were supported by one of Hill’s, that of Heth’s. Unlike the understrength Union divisions each Rebel division contained at least 6,000 bayonets. 

Lee deployed Heth’s division south of the town. Longstreet deployed one of his divisions around Aldie and along the nearby banks of Little River. The other was to advance north of the town and cross a tributary of Little River as soon as practicable. It is worth noting that Little River meandered first east from the Blue Ridge mountains before turning briefly north around Aldie. It again turned east just north of the town where it was joined by a south flowing tributary.

Hooker meanwhile ordered Warren to advance his corps, comprising three divisions being those of Caldwell, Gibbon and Hays, in the centre. They were then to deploy opposite the town of Aldie and engage the enemy with artillery. Further, Hooker decided to refuse his right but press forward his left. This advance on the left was to be undertaken by Howard’s XI Corps. 

The battle was now to become confusing as Lee and Hooker both pressed for advantage along the river. Each would be reinforced but equally neither reinforcement was sufficient to deliver significant advantage.

Hooker’s advance on the left was initially to show potential. While Union artillery in the centre belched fire on the enemy centre the turning movement looked likely to unhinge the Rebel right and centre.

Fearing catastrophe Lee ordered the Confederate units to the south of Aldie to retire. Warren could now cross the river but he was concerned by reports of Rebel reinforcements and until he was reinforced determined not to cross.

Back in the centre Pickett’s Division was pressing the much smaller Union Division under Gibbon just north of Aldie. Hooker reinforced this division with various artillery batteries. Eventually 36 Union guns were deployed here forcing the Pickett’s brigades back. 

Above and below the area where Pickett’s Division pressed the Union line. Below, a more general view.

Longstreet tried to counter the Union guns but his own guns were inferior in numbers and weight. Throughout the afternoon the Rebel line here was subjected to incessant artillery fire which would eventually silence the Rebel guns.

Lee meanwhile was trying to reinforce both his left and right. Pender’s Division, from Hill’s III Corps, was dispatched to reinforce and extend the Confederate right. Their arrival was sufficient to prevent a renewed Union attack. Below, in the background, Pender’s Division moves forward to reinforce the Confederate right.

No sooner had Pender deployed than the Union III Corps deployed opposite. In theory French’s two divisions were sufficient to press the Rebel left but Hooker was becoming cautious. The Union window of opportunity was soon closed when Jenkin’s cavalry arrived further reinforcing the Confederate right. Jenkin’s division, placed on the extreme right, prevented any further Union turning movement. It is worth noting that despite multiple requests to dismount Jenkins refused to comply convinced that his cavalry provided more of a threat mounted. Now Hill, under Lee’s watchful eye, deployed his own artillery effectively forcing Union guns and infantry to retire from the river reforming to the east.

Above, the Union left before Confederate guns encouraged the Union line to fall back twice forming at right angles to their original position. This, along with the general situation can be seen below.

On the Confederate left Lee’s own turning movement was underway. By mid afternoon this movement by two of Longstreet’s Divisions was pressing forward against the Union right which was you will recall was refused. McLaw’s Division was first across the south flowing tributary of Little River but was soon reinforced by Hood’s Division. Both divisions moved east threatening the Union line of communication. 

However, Sedgwick had by now deployed three divisions of VI Corps and soon the Confederates fell back. 

Undeterred these same Rebel divisions repositioned nearer the Little River tributary and applied pressure on the corner of the Union line. 

Rifled musket and artillery fire now in erupted in unequalled ferocity along the river line clogging the area in thick smoke. So alarmed at the situation Hooker took direct command bolstering two brigades over the course of two hours at great personal risk. One Union brigade dissipated and soon two divisions were exhausted, yet the Union line held.

But this attack was Lee’s final roll of the dice. With darkness finally drawing the fighting to a close both commanders considered the cost of the fighting. Hooker’s casualties had mainly fallen on two of his small divisions, those of Gibbon and Hays. His other divisions had taken some damage but nothing of significance. The Confederates meanwhile had taken considerably more casualties. Like the Union army these had generally been dispersed across a number of divisions. The exceptions being those of the divisions of Pickett and Heth. Both these divisions had suffered heavy casualties and even Lee was left pondering how they would perform if he was able to continue his march north.

The battle was of course fictional and developed with the Road to Glory Scenario System with both armies comprising 4,000 points. Four players were involved, with Alastair and Richard commanded the Rebels  forces while Barrie and I the Union. The miniatures are all from my own collection and are from Heroics & Ros’ 6mm range.