Friday evening provided another opportunity to revisit the Battle of Gaines’ Mill, part of my 160th anniversary project. This was our second refight of Gaines’ Mill within a week, though this time it drew two different players into the refight. As before the scenario is that defined in the Volley & Bayonet scenario book “A Storm in the Valley - 1862” by Jesse Scarborough.
General Fitz John Porter having retired from the Mechanicsville position had spent several hours of the morning of the 27th of June 1862 deploying the three divisions of V Corps. The dispositions on and around Turkey Hill made much of the natural defences of Boatswain Creek which marked the northern and western parts of the line. Yet he bolstered the defences further by ordering hasty works to be erected by the brigades which were further reinforced with artillery, including several reserve batteries. Deployed along the western end of Turkey Hill was Morrell’s Division while Sykes’ Division occupied the centre, which was more heavily wooded. Finally, McCall’s Division occupied the Union right with Old Cold Harbor visible from the position, some 2,000 yards from the high ground.
As Porter settled down for lunch Confederate divisions were advancing on his position. First to arrive was the division of Ambrose Powell Hill. The division, strung out in road column, moved down Telegraph Road. Advanced elements reached the site of Dr Gaines mill around 12.30pm. With no Union pickets of any consequence encountered the division, comprising some six brigades, was able to press on. By 1.30pm advanced elements had begun to deploy around New Cold Harbor, which would eventually mark the Rebel centre.
Above, the western end of Turkey Hill with Morrell's Union division in the foreground. Below, a view looking north with the New Cold Harbor crossroads visible. The few buildings are not represented.
As Hill’s column began to deploy Longstreet made his appearance. Moving astride the River Road his division would eventually shake out around Powhite Creek some 1,200 yards from Morrell’s Union division, deployed along the western section of Boatswain Creek. Longstreet would form the Rebel right.
Below, Longstreet's division begins to deploy behind Powhite Creek. Large divisions and the resulting lengthy road columns combined to cause delay. Union forces are visible in the right distance along Boatswain Creek.
Hill was caught by surprise by these events and began with renewed energy to deploy.
Yet as A.P. Hill deployed, grey and butternut columns were detected advancing on Old Cold Harbor Road. General Ewell’s Division had arrived! A cheer went up along the Rebel line, as this arrival placed extreme pressure on McCall's now open right. Despite this McCall determined to strike even more rapidly.
In the coming hour two of McCall’s brigades hit the advanced brigades of Hill’s Division while Union gunners poured fire at less than 400 yards as can be seen above. Yet both Union brigades were repulsed and Union hope was quickly replaced with panic. Hill moved to cement his advantage and counterattacked, aided by two brigades from Ewell’s division. The Union flank was undone and over the ensuing two hours Porter and McCall tried desperately to retire, suffering crippling casualties in the process.
Yet Union hope was not lost. From 2.30pm a steady stream of Union reinforcements began to arrive. First was Richardson’s Division from II Corps. Then over the following hours Slocum’s and Smith’s divisions both from Franklin’s VI Corps. Most were thrown to the Union right flank where by 3.30pm the Union position was crumbling. Yet despite the advantages offered Ewell was increasingly unwilling to press his initial advantage. Casualties seemed to be mounting and Ewell feared he would be overwhelmed by Union reinforcements.
Confederate reinforcements were also arriving. Around 3.30pm D.H Hill’s division entered the field. Unfortunately rather than on the Confederate left D.H Hill had taken the wrong road and instead of marching down the Old Cold Harbour Road had taken the wrong turn and now added to the back log forming on the Telegraph Road.
By 4pm Lee was sending a series of riders to his right to seek clarity from General Longstreet on when he would begin his attack. Longstreet replied each time that he was not yet in position and would only advance once his preparatory bombardment had weakened the Union position opposite.
Below, the situation around 4pm. Longstreet is across the Powhite Creek but is yet to deploy his artillery.
Playing on Lee’s mind was the fact he was missing two divisions. Jackson, along with the divisions of Whiting and Winder, were still unaccounted for. What had become of him? Later it would become apparent that Jackson had fumbled his turning movement and taken the wrong road entirely. Neither Jackson, or Winder’s division, would arrive until after dark. Whiting, also held up on his march, would only appear until 7pm, too late to be committed. Yet these facts were, in the late afternoon, unknown to Lee. Instead he turned to his centre.
Above, the Confederate centre. A.P. Hill's brigades are on the left forward of the road, while D.H. Hill's are on the road running left to right - Telegraph Road.
Three brigades from A.P Hill’s Division and a further three from D.H. Hill’s now advanced into the thickets to their front south of New Cold Harbor. Ahead were three Union brigades. Meandering through the thickets was a part of the slow flowing Boatswain Creek, more swamp than creek. The Union brigades were behind hasty works and behind the swampy creek they held firm as blue and butternut exchanged fire over the late afternoon and evening.
Only in one place did the Confederates attempt to cross, and that was at the western end where Ripley ordered his brigade to storm across around 5pm. Roswell Ripley, by birth a native of Ohio and veteran of the Mexican War, had settled in Charleston in 1853 and pursued a civilian life. A supporter of state rights he commanded a brigade comprising regiments from Georgia and North Carolina. The brigade surged across the marshy creek only to be decimated by volleys from Chapman’s Union brigade. Taking heavy casualties the brigade broke in rout.
Meanwhile back on the Union right a new Union line had been formed along Turkey Hill.
The bigades and artillery of Ewell's and A.P. Hill's had been probing the Union lines for some time. By 5pm these demonstrations were paying dividends. First McCall’s division collapsed and two hours later Richardson’s faltered. Lee’s spirits rose.
However, it was Longstreet’s Division which would pay a heavy price today. His guns, bolstered by a battery from D.H Hill’s division, had plied their trade effectively for several hours. In direct support was Kemper’s infantry brigade that also maintained a constant fire.
Finally, around 7pm, Longstreet order a general advance. All along Longstreet’s line Rebel brigades advanced towards the banks of Boatswain Creek. Believing the enemy opposite were near exhaustion, Longstreet intended a final push at dusk. His advance was answered with a withering fire from the entrenched enemy. Kemper’s, Pryor’s and Featherstone’s brigades suffered heavy casualties and by 8pm Longstreet, aware he could not sustain such losses, ordered his brigades to retire from musket range.
Despite the Union left and centre holding, the Union position was compromised. Union casualties considerably outstripped Rebel casualties and with two divisions broken and another nearing exhaustion Porter had no option but to order a retreat. The Union V Corps would fall back across the Chickahominy River.
This was our second refight of Gaines’ Mill and interestingly played very differently from the first, in part due to the reinforcement schedules. The Confederates were hampered by the arrival of their reinforcements with only Ewell’s division converging on Old Cold Harbor. The failure of Jackson and both Winder’s and Whiting’s Divisions to arrive further limited Confederate offensive options. Lacking numbers Ewell was unable to shatter the Union right. Porter’s decision to advance at 1.30pm was, with hindsight, a terrible mistake. Admittedly a small window of opportunity existed while A.P Hill’s Division was exposed in road column. However, Ewell’s arrival slammed the door of opportunity shut. Indeed, only the prompt arrival of Union divisions prevented the Union right from collapsing.
Miniatures here are all from my own collection and are from the the Heroics & Ros 6mm range. They are based for half scale where 1” equates to 200 yards. Terrain is a mix of home made and commercial items with trees and fencing from Irregular Miniatures.
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