SHILOH 1862 (Van Dorn Variant 2) AAR

[Curtis Lemay]

Turn 5 (10:00am)

Prentiss’s infantry is now completely surrounded. Now we have to reduce the pockets.

[Curtis Lemay]

Similarly, Sherman’s units now must be reduced.

[Curtis Lemay]

Reduction against Prentiss continues.

[Curtis Lemay]

Two pockets of Sherman’s division are eliminated. Work now shifts to the last few.

[Curtis Lemay]

At top, see that the remainder of Sherman’s division has been forced into a single hex, like Prentiss’s infantry. The Union continues to form its main line of resistance. Note that it makes full use of the sunken road. But, this time, I’ve sent Wallace’s division into a reserve deployment, behind the sunken road, instead of trying to cover the dense terrain between the two positions. I’m expecting a real test of the sunken road position and this will improve its defense. Because of the terrain, the center can be lightly defended, if at all.

[Curtis Lemay]

Turn 6 (11:00am)

Attacks are set up on the remaining two pockets.

[Curtis Lemay]

Sherman’s pocket was eliminated. But another attack has to be set up against the last of Prentiss’s pocket.

[Curtis Lemay]

Finally all pockets are gone. The opening stage of the battle is over. The next stage will require a new plan. But first, let’s check the results of the first stage:

Union losses: 11,860 men; 24 guns; 1 Commander (Prentiss).
Confederate losses: 3,080 men.

So, the Confederacy has gained 8,780 men on the Union (and 24 guns plus a commander). This is better than in the first AAR. Now they have a very significant edge in manpower (for a while). However, all the Union force remaining has yet to be engaged. They are fresh. But time is running short, so I can’t do any dawdling.

[Curtis Lemay]

The Union continues to push their forces to their planned defense line. Note that it makes use of the sunken road. And, it’s a long way from the landing – where the Confederates are trying to get to.

[Curtis Lemay]

Turn 7 (12:00 noon)

This shot shows the Confederate move and plan. Note that up to this point, the action was little different from the first AAR. This is where I’ll deviate, however. Instead of throwing everything at the Union Right, this time, with the aid of Van Dorn, I’ll hit the Union Left as hard as I can, while still leaving superior forces to deal with the Right. Note that III Corps has been sent to join the attack on the sunken road, rather than to overwhelm the Right. We’ll see how that works out.

[Curtis Lemay]

One success against the sunken road already. And the cavalry is in a flanking position.

[Curtis Lemay]

The Union move shows the extra backing the sunken road position has been given. Note that this time (unlike the first AAR), the Union Right doesn’t have an isolated artillery unit to exploit. With the reduced Confederate force there, the going will be tougher this time.

[Curtis Lemay]

Turn 8 (1:00pm)

Note that the Union Right is not getting exploited the way it was in the first AAR. It’s going to be a slower process this time. But there is still superiority there, so it should eventually crumble. At the sunken road, I still plan some bombardments for one side of the sunken road – but only where supporting infantry can be involved. (Pure bombardments didn’t do much in the first AAR.) The Duncan Field clearing allows line-of-sight to the target. But the main attack is directly on the flank of the road. This is where I hope to unravel the position. Lots of cavalry are available to exploit.

[Curtis Lemay]

All attacks were successful, including the attack with the artillery support. More attacks are set up.

[Curtis Lemay]

All attacks were successful again. But there is still no chance for exploitation. But that is getting closer.

[Curtis Lemay]

The Union move adjusts their lines around the sunken road to deal with the threat to their left flank and the arrival of III Corps on their right flank. McClernand’s division on the right mostly holds its ground.

[Curtis Lemay]

Turn 9 (2:00pm)

Cavalry exploit on the left flank, and an attack is set up to pocket a stack there as well. In Duncan Field, another supported attack is planned. On the Union Right position, a pincer tactic is in progress.

[Curtis Lemay]

On the left flank, the pocketing effort has paid off. Now the pocket needs to be reduced. The Duncan Field attack was a success. The pincer tactic continues on the right.

[Curtis Lemay]

The pocket was eliminated. The pincer tactic is coming to fruition.

[Curtis Lemay]

The union left flank was under so much danger that the last positions on the sunken road had to be abandoned to obtain units to fill out a new left flank position. On the right side, the nearly surrounded stack has retreated to hopefully escape.