Union Situation Report - Morning 19th June

Gen’l Hunter
Following the unlucky defeat on the Harrisburg battlefield, your army is awaiting further orders. Whilst your 1st Infantry Division took a pounding after holding off two enemy divisions and throwing one back in confusion.

Casualties
All leaders should refer to the casualty reports posted separately by your admin staff, those listed as missing include dead and wounded not found on the field, those captured and those that skedaddled on the in the heat of battle and likely to return overnight. Missing troops will return to your active strength as soon as you spend 24hrs stationary in one location.

Wounded will remain reasonably close at hand as they are treated and can begin to be re-incorporated into your active strength as soon as you take 2 days break at a supply depot to refit and re-organise.

Those listed as killed are dead or too gravely injured to remain in service. Observers on the field of battle report back to you that despite your losses you were able to inflict a severe body blow to Gen’l Beckinridge’s forces at Harrisburg. His infantry divisions are believed to be badly mauled. However, Early’s Corps was largely untouched during the battle.

Supplies
All brigades actively engaged in the battle at Harrisburg will find that they have expended supplies (ammunition, water and food) in participating in the battle. Quartermasters are reporting that this is not yet a big problem, all infantry brigades have 2 days rations left, that plus what can be secured locally should see the troops through . Similar story for all cavalry brigades.
Quartermasters recommend that you fall back onto a supply base where you can re-supply, re-organise and recover your forces and prepare for the next rebel attack that is undoubtedly going to come.

Enemy Dispositions
Full details of Early’s location are as yet unknown, awaiting reports from Gen’l Averell’s & Stahel’s cavalry to confirm their actions. It is assumed that Early’s infantry divisions will be heading north – to press their current advantage. Ramsom’s Cavalry Division will likely be perusing you to collect information. It is likely that your Cavalry divisions can successfully screen / delay any enemy pursuit if so ordered.

Confederate Situation Report - Morning 19th June

Gen’l Early
Following the success of the day on the Harrisburg battlefield, Ol’ Jube issues orders as follows:

Gen’l Ransom – to pursue the Yankees, northwards, vigorously, if necessary as far as Winchester.
Gen’l Rodes – to lead his infantry division in support of Gen’l Ransom
Gen’l Beckinridge – to rest your Corps for 24 hours at Harrisburg and then to march north towards Winchester, behind Ransom & Rodes.
Gen’l Ramseur – to detach one brigade form your command and allow it to advance to Harrisburg where you are to hold and dig in. the balance of Ramseur’s division is to remain in current location.
Additionally approaches will be made to the Yankees to organize a prisoner exchange at first opportunity.


Casualties
All leaders should refer to the casualty reports posted separately by your admin staff, those listed as missing include dead and wounded not found on the field, those captured and those that skedaddled on the in the heat of battle and likely to return overnight.

Wounded will remain reasonably close at hand as they are treated and can begin to be re-incorporated into your active strength as soon as you take 2 days break at a supply depot to refit and re-organise.

Those listed as killed are dead or too gravely injured to remain in service.

Observers on the field of battle report back to you that despite your losses you were able to inflict a severe body blow to Gen’l Hunter’s forces at Harrisburg. His infantry division is believed to be crippled, and one of the two cavalry divisions present on the field has also taken significant casualties.

Supplies
All brigades actively engaged in the battle at Harrisburg will find that they have expended supplies (ammunition, water and food) in participating in the battle.

Quartermasters are reporting that this is not yet a big problem, Beckinridge’s brigades have 2 days rations left, that plus what can be secured locally should see the troops through . Similar story for Rodes’ brigades that force marched to Harrisburg from Staunton. Ramseur’s brigades at Staunton have also expended a day’s supplies, without the benefit of drawing fresh vitals from the
wrecked town.

Union Situation Report - Morning 18th June

Gen’l Hunter
Please refer to map of Harrisburg

The Enemy is upon you!

Enemy scouting & cavalry pickets encountered in some force in and around the Bridgewater area. When pressed by your own pickets then they are standing their ground and calling in re-enforcements to keep you away from that area.

However, of greater concern is the evidence of the arrival of an enemy infantry Corps to your direct south from Staunton. From their battle-flags you can determine that this is Beckinridge’s Corps, with Echol’s Division deployed on your left flank, between the forest area and the Staunton Road. Gordon’s division is deployed to your centre, more or less across the Staunton Road. As noted above you are unable to detect what is present on your right flank across the river at Bridgewater.

You do not appear to be in a position where flight is an option as dis-engaging from Harrisburg would likely leave you open to your supply lines and rearguard being ravaged.

In the city of Harrisburg you have Sullivan’s Infantry division, plus Weynkoop’s cavalry brigade. I will allow you to make hasty preparations overnight to provide cover for all your troops should you decide to stand and fight. At present you are out numbered about 2:1.

However, your advantage is that you have the option to call in re-enforcements quickly, something that the enemy is unlikely to be expecting Crook is half day’s forced march away in Cross Keys with his infantry division, beyond him is Tibbet’s cavalry brigade at Port Republic, again a half day’s forced march away. If there arrival is timed correctly then you could be able to deliver a crushing flank attack on the rebels outside Harrisburg.

You would also expect Averell and his cavalry division to be in Strasburg by now, if he were to force march south he could likely be in Harrisburg by nightfall. Please supply a deployment plan for the coming battle at Harrisburg as soon as you can.

Note: Infantry & Artillery can deploy anywhere in the top half of the map, along the line that includes the small settlement between Bridgewater and Harrisburg diagonally across to the lake on your left flank and then anywhere along the north border of the forest area.

Cavalry can deploy in Bridgewater if required or anywhere designated above for infantry or cavalry. 

Confederate Situation Report - Morning 18th June

Gen’l Ransom
Please refer to map of Harrisburg
Your forces are deployed south of the Bridgewater settlement, on the opposite side of the riverbank from Bridgewater its-self. You have been probing enemy positions in this area and are meeting stiff resistance, when pressed re-enforcements are being called up and your scouts and pickets are being forced back.

The enemy is determined that you do not get to collect detailed intelligence from this area – Capt Wellington J.Finch reports back.

“Gen’l, Sir, it’s hotter than heck there Sir. Ain’t seen those blue bellies fired up so much in months. They’s definitely expecting us and they don’t want to let us get a foothold across the river without a real fight”. 

Further along the line, on your extreme right flank reports are that again pickets are out in force and that preparations are being made to make a stand.

Maj. Caleb Early reports back.

“Sir, heavy infantry pickets encountered all along the northern edge of the forest on our right flank. Road to Cross Keys is unprotected as far as we can make out”.

Both sets of scouts also report back that they are still trying to figure out exact enemy numbers, however, they have not seen anything yet to indicate that Hunter has been re-enforced since he left Staunton.

See notes about supply below.

Gen’l Beckinridge
Please refer to map of Harrisburg
Your Corps is deployed on the southern edge of the map and is ready for battle. Deployement is as suggested by Gen’l Early, your artillery reached you over-night and their location is left for you to determine as is the alignment of your brigades / regiments.







Gen’l Early
Please refer to map of Harrisburg
As ordered Ramseur’s division has remained in Staunton to guard against attack from Jennings Gap, Rodes’ division will arrive in place to support Beckinridge’s right flank mid morning. General Early himself has ridden ahead and is sharing Gen’l Beckinridge’s facilities until such time as his lead division is deployed.

General Rodes will be required to determine an order of march for his division.

Note: It is now clear why there were no supplies left in Staunton by the retiring Yanks, the place has been ravaged, there is nothing to sustain a regiment in the area let alone a Corps. All your troops have had to consume a unit of supply to maintain their body & souls and be able to fight this coming day.