American Civil War Game Club (ACWGC)

While helping another member in researching some things I came across a possible tweak that may be of interest in Chickamauga 015 Historical Murfreesboro.

In the research I read Cleburne's report on the battle which said in part:
"Before daylight I formed line, placing Polk’s brigade, with Calvert’s battery, on the right; Johnson’s brigade, with Darden’s battery, in the center, and Liddell’s brigade, with the Warren Light Artillery, commanded by Lieutenant [H.] Shannon, on the left. Wood’s brigade I placed a short distance in rear of Polk’s. This brigade had no battery in the fight, its battery (Semple’s, of six Napoleon guns) having been detached the day before to support Hanson’s brigade, of Breckinridge’s division, and having remained with that brigade on the right of the army."

Where is Semple's battery? Hanson doesn't have them; Wood does, but only four (so two have disappeared).
The battery of Napoleons should probably be increased from four to six and placed (probably undetached as they appear to be under Hanson's command) over with Hanson's other guns.

[Note: Wood is not placed behind Polk but I believe that his placement is correct as Cleburne says later: "General Cheatham’s left did not move forward at the same moment as my right, and my division, inclining to the left as it advanced, a gap was soon left between us, which General Hardee directed General Wood’s brigade to fill."]


In doing that same research I also came across an amusing report made by the Union's R. W. Johnson which said:
"At 6.22 on the morning of the 31st the outposts in front of my division were driven in by an overwhelming force of infantry, outnumbering my forces greatly, and known to contain about 35,000 men. At the same time my extreme right was attacked by the enemy's cavalry."
So, Johnson saying he was attacked by a "known" force of 35,000 men - more infantry than the Confederates even had at the battle. Hilarious, he would have got on well with McClellan.

The convention (probably not always followed) seems to be that if a unit was assigned elsewhere prior to the battle starting it is attached to that new command (e.g. 13th Miss. at First Manassas https://civilwarintheeast.com/confederate-regiments/mississippi/13th-mississippi-infantry-regiment/ - First Bull Run scenario has them attached to Early).
In regard to Cleburne's and Semple's reports that should probably mean that Semple's six Napoleons should be attached to Hanson.

The convention (probably not always followed) seems to be that if a unit was assigned elsewhere prior to the battle starting it is attached to that new command (e.g. 13th Miss. at First Manassas https://civilwarintheeast.com/confederate-regiments/mississippi/13th-mississippi-infantry-regiment/ - First Bull Run scenario has them attached to Early).
In regard to Cleburne's and Semple's reports that should probably mean that Semple's six Napoleons should be attached to Hanson.

There is no advantage to detaching Semple from Wood's Brigade and adding him to Hanson as an "attached" unit. Artillery units never rout (let's be honest) and therefore having them marked as "detached" seems like a non-issue. For future scenario designers using the OOB, having Semple listed as part of Hanson's brigade would necessitate reworking the OOB to move him back to Wood for balancing reasons (one battery per brigade ideally). Stick to the Official Records OOBs as much as possible for the sake of future clarity and scenario construction.

Just my two cents.