GTC #3: Session 2

May 9th to 11th

Sedgwick's corps attempts to follow up on its success from the previous day by sending Rickett's division into the woods south of Wilderness Church in order to flank Early's position. Getty hits Early but is repulsed (+2 attack, +0 D/1D result). AP Hill responds by routing Rickett's now out of position division (+6/+6 2DR/a +1 retreat loss). Hill's entire corps digs in anticipation of continued Union attacks. Grant is content to allow the battle to lull and brings up elements of the II and IX corps (mainly units at F0 or F1 and organized). Most Union units end the day in good order and rested while most Reb units are still disorganized and exhausted.

Positions at the end of May 9th. The Rebels regroup and defend the roads leading out of the Wilderness.

Grant's plan to continue attacking the tired Rebel army is compromised with a Rain + 2 result for May 10th. Despite the rain, Warren launches two +0 assaults against Early's position at Trigg. The first fails (-3) but the second succeeds (+4) routing Early back. Sedgwick then leads a grand assault against Field (holding the line between Trigg and Widow Tapp) that is repulsed (+0/+1) but Field pulls back anyway. Double-1s end the turn early.

Despite the rain and poor position, the Union continues to attack in earnest on the 11th. Grant targets E. Johnston's position (one mile south of Trigg as the weak position in the Confederate line and launches five frontal assaults that all fail (-2 to +2 attacks resulting in -5 to +0 outcomes). Union losses are horrific (4,500) compared to Confederate losses (less than 500; i.e., 0 in game terms). Union units begin to slide from the Union left to the Union right throughout the day (with many divisions sent against E. Johnson's division). AP Hill responds by sending Substitute infantry brigades to reinforce Ewell's position. Sheridan's cavalry disengages from the main line and moves to the west edge of the Wilderness.

Positions at the end of May 11th. Eight of the 14 Union divisions are concentrated in Grant's hex and all are disorganized, exhausted and F1. E. Johnson's division is exhausted after repulsing five unsuccessful Union assaults in the rain.

May 11th Strategic Cycle

LEADER RECOVERY:No leaders are ill, so no effect.
STRATEGIC EVENT:Strong Union Logistics. Since the Union is not in position to place a depot or running low on ammo, this event has no impact on the game.
REINFORCEMENTS:Confederate reinforcements are sent to Petersburg to attack Hinks. The Union replacement roll is 6 sending 5 infantry replacements to the AoP along with one cavalry replacement.
VALLEY:In the Valley, Sigel attacks New Market at 14:4 (+1 / +2 Dr/1Da) driving Imboden south to Staunton.
BERMUDA HUNDRED:In the Bermuda Hundred, Butler is passive and can't reinforce Petersburg or dig in Port Walthall. The Confederates successfully attack Petersburg at 18:6 odds (+3 / +2 Dr/1Da), sending Hinks packing to City Point.
DEPOTS:No depots are placed or dismantled.
SUPPLY AND AMMO:All units are in supply and fully provisioned.
UNION COMMAND:Bulter and Sigel both go active.
VP'S:+3 for Port Walthall Junction. Combat losses continue to be lopsided in favor of the Confederates (47 to 10!) resulting an overall VP level of -40.
END GAME DR:Not until May 31st.

May 12th-13th

The third and final day of the rain +2 storm finds the Union army exhausted from fighting in the mud. Grant rests his infantry and sends Sheridan to near Orange Court House in an effort to get around Stuart's left flank. The turn ends early on double-1s after Lee fails to extend the day.

The random event on May 13th is Union Command Paralysis. Lee expects Grant to continue his assaults with a fresh army and clear weather and after winning the first couple of initiatives is able to entrench Ewell's corps in the center and Longstreet's corps on the Confederate left. With mounting casualties, Grant decides it is time to try to maneuver the Rebs out their entrenchments rather than assault them directly. Hancock's II corps slides from the Union left to the Union right at Parker's store. The remainder of the AoP entrenches along a line from Wilderness Church, south to the Trigg and then west to Parker's Store. Lee continues to send detachments from AP Hill's corps on the Confederate right to reinforce Ewell in the center. The main action of the day takes place in Orange county. Sheridan is able to catch Stuart off balance thanks to a couple of initiatives and some good movement rolls (despite the Union command paralysis). In the battle of Berry Run, Sheridan gets the best of Stuart, routing one brigade and eliminating another (three combat losses total). With Sheridan's units at F3 and F4, Stuart is able to counterattack and inflict one retreat loss. The Union losses another cavalry manpower to extended march attempting to react to Stuart's move.

May 14th

Hancock's daring flank move to Shady Grove Church.

Clear weather continues on the 14th (Union night march). Hancock's corps heads west along the Orange Plank road from Parker's Store and then south out of the Wilderness. Barlow routs Steuart's brigade along the way (+4 / +5 1DR/Ea). Hancock halts the march near Shady Grove Church with all three divisions disorganized and at F3 (Barlow is at F4).

With his position flanked, Longstreet pulls back and determines that Barlow's division must be pushed back. Field takes up a position at Corbin's Bridge and Kershaw launches the attack from Waite's shop (+4/+3 1Dr/Fa). With Longstreet evacuating the Wilderness, the roads south of Trigg open up for the V Corps which reinforces Hancock's position. Burnside and Sedgwick each unsuccessfully assault Johnson (Ewell's hex above) in the Confederate center. Double-1s are rolled during Sedgwick's grand assault resulting in potential leader losses. Ewell takes a bullet and is carried from the field while Sedgwick and Burnside both survive. Early is promoted to command the II corps and Ramseur takes command of Early's division. With Johnson's division at F4, Ferrero attempts a bold flanking move in the Wilderness. Anderson's division is sent from AP Hill's corps on the Confederate left to reinforce the center. AP Hill sets up a flank attack against Ferrero but is repulsed (+4 / +1 D/1D). This allows Getty to attack Johnson and push him back (+2/+2 1Dr/1Da). Though Johnson is forced to retreat, 5 Union divisions end the day disorganized as a result of attacking Johnson. Stonewall himself would be proud of the performance by Johnson's division in the past few days! Hill ends the action on the 14th with another unsuccessful attack on Ferrero (+2/+1 D/D). In Orange County, Sheridan and Stuart both rest and recover their forces after the hard fighting on the 13th. A 6-manpower Reb substitute is sent to cause trouble for the Blue Troopers but is recalled when Hancock turns the Confederate left.

Positions at the end of May 14th. The Union is still in the Wilderness! The Union right is held by the II, the center by the V and VI corps and the left by the IX corps. The Confederate line from left to right is manned by the I, II and III Corps, with Ramseur division anchoring the extreme Confederate left (Lee's hex above).