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. 

Confederate Situation report - Evening 17th June

Gen'l Ransom

Gen'l Beckinridge

Generals Ransom & Beckinridge - StauntonBobby Ranson sent out scouting parties west to Jennings Gap and north to Harrisburg, with a view to determining enemy intentions. Meanwhlie he ordered his command to prepare defensive positions and then where appropriate to rest.

Most of Ransom’s command was thus rested by the time that Beckinridge’s Corp marched into Staunton at about 10pm at night after a day’s march from Waynesboro.

By midnight first reports from scouts at Harrisburg had filtered back, a map of the Harrisburg area is available and it is clear that he Yanks are preparing to defend the town.

At present no defences have been prepared at Harrisburg, enemy strengths are consistent with the numbers that you expect to have moved north from Staunton.

Detailed examination of the railroad tracks east from Staunton to Rockfish Gap indicate severe damage in at least two places within an hour’s ride of the town.

You are shocked at the wanton damage and ruination caused to the town of Staunton, consensus of your officers is that this I no way to fight a war.

Major Caleb Early (No Relation), from the 37th Virginia Cavalry reports,

“Sir, best we can see, Hunter has move out of his prepared positions here at Staunton and retired back to Harrisburg, where there are no positions prepared. It don’t seem right to me sir. He has his supply wagons with him, but not as many as I’d expect to see for a full division.”

Meanwhile the reliable Capt Wellington J. Finch arrives back in camp at about midnight from Jennings Gap.

“Sir, just back from Jennings Gap. No enemy activity there Sir. Folks in the mountains there say the Yanks keep themselves to themselves, not been no enemy activity in the area for over two months. My uncle, old Rufus Merriweather lives up there and he said to me that story is that General Kelley is looking for a quiet war, he’s not interested in starting any fighting”.

General Early - Waynesboro
Your Corps is resting overnight at Waynesboro with the intention of marching on Staunton in the morning

Union Situation Report - Morning,17th June 1864

Gen’l Hunter
As per orders issued on the morning of 16th June, General Sullivan prepared to break camp and marched his division north to Harrisburg during the morning, afternoon and evening of 16th June.

To cover this withdrawal General Stahel and Col. Weynkoop’s cavalry brigade screened the southern approaches to Staunton until nightfall and then too with drew to the north under cover of darkness.
These activities were completed successfully and without interference from any enemy activity.

Maps of Harrisburg are available online to prepare your defenses.

Gen’l Crook
Received his orders to prepare to move on Harrisburg mid afternoon on the 16th, this morning General Hunter received a note from him confirming that this division is ready to march, estimated time of arrival being end of day if normal movement is ordered or mid-day if forced marching requested.







Gen’l Averell
Deployed his 1st brigade at Winchester on the 16th, he is now in the process of preparing to move south, escorting supply wagons to Strasburg, where he will deploy his 2nd Brigade, likely morning of the 18th June and finally the same with the 3rd brigade on morning of the 19th at Mt. Jackson.





Gen’l Siegel
Reports to General Hunter that his troops in Martinsburg and Harpers Ferry are…

“mostly untrained greenhorns, not worth a dud nickel in combat but as long as the rebs don’t realize this they’re good to garrison our key supply depots”. 

Campaign Diaries -Morning 17th June 1864

Gen’l Ransom
You are finally able to carefully draw in you command to the south eastern approaches to Staunton mid morning on the 16th June, avoiding detection by the yanks, deploying your regiments along the crest line of the Fisherville ridge.

You are confronted by an unexpected sight, Yankee wagons rolling north followed first by one infantry brigade and then later in the day by a second. Late afternoon you see some of the artillery pulling out.

At nightfall there are many campfires to be seen but significant levels of activity remain in and around Staunton, after dark Capt. Wellinton J. Finch leads a scouting party down to the town and returns with more news.

"General, Sir, looks like the yanks have done skiddadled, there’s plenty of campfires down there but not more than a handful of blue-belly stragglers to be seen. One strange thing is that there’s not much in the way of supplies left behind, usually them blue-bellies leave all sorts lying around.”

Gen’l Beckinridge
As planned you march from Waynesboro to Staunton, arriving there after nightfall, nothing eventful happens on the way.

Gen’l Early
As planned you march from Lynchburg to Waynesboro, placing the artillery destined for Beckinridge’s corp at the lead of your column, to facilitate it’s rapid deployment when convenient, you arrive early evening on the 16th.

Information has come in from local sympathisers at Cross Keys that General Crook is located there, he has a strong division of 3 brigades but no artillery with him. Additionally a cavalry brigade was in the area on the 14th June.

Information has come in from local sympathisers at Jennings Gap, this indicates that there is a Yankee Corps based at McDowell under general John Kelley, 6 infantry brigades, one cavalry brigade and supporting artillery. These guys are mostly westerners and traitorous Virginians that have sided with the yanks.

Union Situation Report - Morning 16th June 1864

Gen’l Hunter
Fresh from the recent successful action at Waynesboro, Gen’l Stahel leads his brigade
into Staunton around mid-day on the 15th June.

As you were breaking camp around the town of Waynesboro an attack by rebel cavalrymen was beaten back, more casualties were inflicted than taken and Stahel, although hard pressed, was able to exit the field in an orderly manner.

Col. Weynkoop, Stahel’s brigade commander reports:

“Sir, I vos honoured to be able to strike a blow for mine country. Ve vos able to put our Sharps carbines to good use and gave the rebels a bloody nose. Da rebs vere over twice our number, but our men had ze guts to fight to to toe.”

(OK I can’t speak with a Dutch accent – let alone write in one – but you get the idea!)

Prisoners captured during the fight indicate that you were up against Gen’l Bobby Ransom’s Virgina cavalry brigade, they out numbered you 2:1 and had artillery support. Stahel made the right decision to evacuate the town when he did!

In Staunton the supply situation has not improved, however a message from Gen’l Averell has indicated that he is in Winchester with his cavalry division and he plans to escort the next supply column down to Staunton with his Cavalry division, dropping off a brigade at the major towns en route to deter further partisan activities.

You must expect an enemy attack in the next few days at Staunton, assuming that Ransom’s brigade is the vanguard of a larger force heading north. A map of Staunton is available for you to determine your defenses. As such you will be able to dig-in each of Sullivan’s two infantry brigades and each artillery batteries.

If you should send for help then Crook is at Cross keys and is a full two days march away, Tibbits at Port Republic is a day and a half’s march away, but would be held-up on the road by Crook’s division, unless Crook elected to wait for Tibbits to march through Cross Keys. Averell at Winchester is 3 and a half days march away. Force marches will obviously make these troops more readily available but will cost supply points.

In Harper’s Ferry and Martinsburg General Siegel is organising your 3rd(reserve) infantry division, about a dozen regiments, these are generally raw, 100 day militiamen but may be called upon if required. However their main function is to feed replacement regiments to you as replacements are needed and to guard the Federal Armoury at that location.