Millersville - June 1863

A report of our most recent American Civil War engagement using the Volley & Bayonet rules and 6mm miniatures. This fictional engagement was set in June 1863. 

The 15th of June found the Army of Northern Virginia moving north for its invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania. In front was Ewell's II Corps. Travelling south of Ewell, and west of the Blue Ridge Mountains, was General Longstreet's I Corps. As reports came in of Union forces east of Longstreet, Lee ordered A. P. Hill's III Corps forward to a position where it could reinforce I Corps. By the morning of the 16th of June, Lee was determined to strike at a portion of General Hooker's Army of the Potomac, which was itself moving north.

By midday on the 16th, Lee had concentrated much of his force in the vicinity. He had at his disposal some 34,000 bayonets, 90 cannon, and 2,000 cavalry. In the centre, left, and forward positions were Longstreet's three divisions. Of these, Hood's Division would form on the Rebel left. The majority of A. P. Hill's Corps - Pender's and Anderson's divisions - formed to the rear of Longstreet, while Heth's Division formed on Longstreet's right.

Opposite them, drawn up between the town of Millersville and a small hill, was Major General Hancock's II Corps. The corps comprised three small divisions. From right to left, these were Caldwell's 1st Division, Gibbon's 2nd Division, and Hays' 3rd Division. Together, they contained a mere 10,500 bayonets but were heavily reinforced with some 48 cannon. Hancock's position was clearly strong, and his artillery bolstered it further.

A general view of the battlefield with the Confederates on the left.

Despite this, Lee's plan was simple. He would attack both wings and then, as they unravelled, crush the brittle centre. Hood's Division would begin the battle with a determined attack on Caldwell's 1st Division. This was expected to unhinge the Union right; furthermore, as it was nearest to the Union line of communication, success here would draw in reinforcements and weaken the Union left. In an effort to demonstrate further against the Union right, Jenkins' Cavalry Division was thrown out on a wide flanking manoeuvre.

Hood's Division contained four brigades supported by Henry's artillery, which numbered some ten guns. Two brigades led the attack, which was delivered soon after 1:00 pm, specifically those of Law and Robertson. These brigades advanced with clear resolve, their battle lines sweeping forward with a grim, rhythmic precision as the officers' commands echoed down the ranks. Yet it was the determined actions of the Union 4th Brigade of the 1st Division, from Hancock's II Corps, which were particularly notable. The Federal infantry held their fire until the Confederates were painfully close, unleashing a sudden, crashing volley that one survivor later described as "a blinding sheet of flame, followed instantly by a leaden storm that tore through our ranks like a tornado through a forest." The Rebel attack was repelled, as was a subsequent one. More of Hood's brigades soon extended the line over successive hours, but valuable time was lost, all with no real gain.

The Union right around 4pm with Prince's Division extending the right.

With the advance of the Confederate infantry stalled, Jenkins' cavalry took on a more active role. Crossing Brothers Creek to the north, they threatened the arriving Union reinforcements. Yet their ability to contain these reinforcements was limited. Indeed, as Union brigade after brigade deployed, the cavalry fell back over creek.

Later in the day, when Birney's Division, itself part of the Union III Corps, crossed the creek Jenkins struck. The Rebels cavalry charge Birney's 3rd Brigade unprepared and caused significant casualties. However, by then the Union right was secure.

On the Union left, things were more complicated. Here, the Confederate attack began around 2:00 pm, when brigades from General Pickett's Division surged forward to dislodge Union troops holding the southwestern part of the town of Millersville. With their battle flags fluttering in the afternoon breeze, the men raised the piercing, discordant yell that always signalled a Southern charge. The brigades of Garnett and Kemper advanced across the open ground while Wolford's brigade, from McLaws' Division, attacked from the northern part of the town, having secured a section of it earlier.

The brigades of Garnett & Kemper's attack Millersville.

The outnumbered defenders were from Gibbon's 1st Brigade. The brigade comprised four Pennsylvania regiments and was commanded by Brigadier General Alexander S. Webb. As the Rebels advanced, rifle fire thinned their ranks. The air became instantly choked with thick, sulfurous black powder smoke, completely blinding the men as they frantically loaded and fired by instinct. Faltering, the Confederates fell back. The repercussions of the failed attack were significant, and valuable time was lost as Lee was forced to reorganise his troops.

Additional Confederate brigades were moved to the south, including several batteries of cannon. These included Pegram's and Garnett's artillery; unable to cross at a meandering stream, they were forced to move first west, and then east after finally crossing a bridge. While some success had been gained for the Union the their left remained vulnerable.

Fortunately, the Union commander, Major General Joseph Hooker, had arrived around noon. Having been apprised of the situation, he had the foresight to dispatch two divisions from Sedgwick's VI Corps to the left as they began to arrive on the field. These were Wright's 1st Division and Howe's 2nd Division. Moving rapidly in march column, Sedgwick's brigades utilised interior lines to speed their movement.

Leading the advance down the Millersville Pike was the 2nd Brigade of the 2nd Division, under the command of Colonel Lewis A. Grant. 

Grant's Brigade moves down the Millersville Pike.

The brigade comprised five under-strength regiments from Vermont. Fittingly, this brigade was famous for its rapid marching pace. They used a long, swinging stride that allowed them to cover ground faster than almost any other brigade in the army. Howe's Division soon formed just east of Millersville, with the 2nd Brigade on the left and Brigadier General Thomas H. Neill's brigade astride the pike.

Opposite them, Heth's and Pickett's divisions began to form behind and to the right of the now-massed Rebel gun line. Lee's gun line south of Millersville now comprised 48 cannon of various calibres, some from Longstreet's corps and others from Hill's Corps. The guns included 12-pounder Napoleons as well as various rifled pieces, with some batteries even comprising a mix of rifled and smoothbores. 

Part of Pickett's Division move past Millersville, a portion of which is on fire.

When the Confederate batteries opened up in unison, the absolute fury of the bombardment shook the very earth underfoot. Solid shot ploughed deeply into the open ground, kicking up great fountains of dirt and stone, while screaming shells burst directly over the exposed Federal lines, raining down jagged iron fragments upon the men. As one Union artillerist recalled, "It was a perfect hell of fire, where the air was filled with the hideous shrieking of dynamic iron." For a time, the Rebel artillery dominated the ground.

However, soon, General Howard's three divisions further bolstered the Union left. Now Sedgwick's cannon were supplemented by more guns from Howard's XI Corps, the Rebel artillery came under heavy pressure.

Now, under General Lee's direction, Heth and Pickett moved to regain the initiative. Heth's division advanced on the angle between two Union divisions. They were, however, met with well-aimed volleys that sapped the enthusiasm of Heth's brigades. Here, Pettigrew's and Davis's brigades suffered crippling casualties.

The situation around 7pm looking west with the Union forces in the foreground.

With the light fading, the battle began to draw to a close. Lee's soldiers had fought well, but Union determination was on full display on both wings. Reluctantly, Lee ordered the army to disengage. While today had not bought success the army would push north tomorrow. The invasion would continue.

So ended an outstanding engagement involving three players. The scenario was developed using the "Road to Glory" system included in the rules. In this system, players randomly draw two cards from a deck and select one. The Confederate player selected "Full Deployment #26", while the Union commanders selected "Advance Guard - Centre #7". As for the miniatures, they are all from the Heroics & Ros 6mm range and come from my own collection. They are based for half-scale, where each massed infantry or cavalry stand is 1.5 inches square, and 1 inch represents 200 yards. The table measured 4' by 3'.