A Last Letter to Old Fluss and Feathers

On November 1st 1861, Benjamin Hawkes (Assistant Adjutant General of the Department of Harpers Ferry and Cumberland, wrote to Lieutenant General Winfield Scott, command of the Army of the United States. He reported increasing Union sentiment, as well as Brig. Gen. Benjamin Kelley's weak condition. (He was still recovering from a wound received at Philippi.)

Winfield Scott may have never
read Hawkes' correspondence from Romney

 

Hawkes enclose a proclamation by Kelley to the people of Hampshire County and the area surrounding Romney. It was a sort of carrot and stick approach, trying to encourage cooperation in the recently occupied area, while making it clear that attacks against supply lines, messengers and outposts would not be tolerated.

 

It is not clear whether or not Winfield Scott received the correspondence. He was retired from the army on the same day (without reduction of salary and benefits), and was replaced by Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan.

 

Kelley's proclamation shows his concern about supply and communication lines, which will be critical features in the B & O WINTER Command Simulation.



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HDQRS. DEPT. OF HARPERS FERRY AND CUMBERLAND,

Camp Keys, Romney, Va.,

November 1, 1861.

Lieut. Gen. WINFIELD SCOTT, Commanding Army of the United States, Washington, D. C.:

DEAR SIR: Inclosed .you will find proclamation of the general to the people of Hampshire County and the Upper Potomac. I am happy to inform you that it is effecting great good among the people. The Union sentiment of this county is rapidly developing itself, and many of the citizens are coming in and availing themselves of the terms of the proclamation. The general being a Virginian himself, and a personal acqnaintance of many of the inhabitants, is enabled to exercise a salutary influence over them. The general arrived from New Creek this evening, and I am sorry to say is not very well. I hope he will be better in a day or two.

And am, with great respect, yours, & c.,

BENJ. F. HAWKES~ Captain, and Assistant Adjutant- General.

[inclosure.]

To the People of Hampshire County and the Upper Potomac:

My object in addressing you is to give you assurance that I come among you, not for the purpose of destroying you, but for your protection in all your rights - civil, social, and political. I am here, backed by the forces of the United States, to protect you in the rights of property as well as person, so long as you are peaceful citizens and loyal to the Government of the United States, the flag of which has so long and so well protected you, and under the folds of which you have lived long, happily, and prosperously. But if you attempt to carry on a guerrilla warfare against my troops, by attacking my wagon trains or messengers, or shooting my guards or pickets, you will be considered enemies of your country, and treated accordingly. I shall put as few restrictions upon the ordinary business of the people as possible, and will give as free ingress and egress to and from Romney as the safety of my troops will admit. Citizens who have fled, under an erroneous belief that they will be imprisoned or killed, are invited to return to their homes and families, assured that they shall be protected whenever they give evidence that they will be loyal, peaceful, and quiet citizens. Every reasonable facility will be given the people to seek a market on the railroad for their surplus produce, an(l to obtain supplies of merchandise, groceries, & c. All persons who have taken up arms against the Government are hereby required to lay them down, return to their homes, and take an oath of allegiance to support the Government of the United States. By so doing they will receive all the protection due to an American citizen.

B. F. KELLEY, Brigadier-General. ROMNEY, VA.,

 October 28, 1861.

 

[From Official Records - Volume V, Chap. XIV, pp. 638-639]

Romney and the B & O

The "B & O WINTER" command simulation was provisionally titled "Romney Winter." The simulation covers the period and area covered by what is alternatively called The Romney Expedition, The Romney Campaign, or Bathe-Romney Campaign of January 1862. The campaign was part of an effort by Stonewall Jackson to continue disruption of the B & O Railroad and prevent the resumption of rail services on the main line that had been destroyed the previous summer.

Romney itself was not well situated as a defensive position. Its strategic importance was in the road network and its access to various points on the B & O.  In a letter to the Adjutant General of the Confederacy in September 1861, Colonel Angus MacDonald (commander of what would become the 7th Virginia Cavalry), gave this description of Romney in relation to the rail line:



Colonel Angus MacDonald understood the importance of Romney.

"From Romney to the mouth of Little Cacapon is 25 miles; to the mouth of the South Branch, 18 miles; to the town of Cumberland, 27 miles; to New Creek Station, 18 miles; to Piedmont and Bloomington, each 25 miles. All of these are points on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and any one of them may be attacked by a days march from Romney. The distance from the month of the Little Cacapon to Bloomington is about 60 miles. The mean distance from Romney to the railroad is about 20 miles.

It is, I presume, impossible that either army can winter on the top or at the foot of Cheat Mountain. Jacksons force added to mine could hold the rich valleys of the South Branch and Patterson's Creek, and draw from them abundant supplies during the winter, and always have the power to prevent the use -safe use at least - by the enemy of either the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad or Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. If my command is to winter here, it is time to provide quarters for them. In less than fifteen days inclement weather will compel us to strike our tents, if the cowardice of the enemy, now outnumbering us five times, will permit us so long to hold this post. Two-fifths of my regiment are now, by the requirements of the Department, in Berkeley and Jefferson. If I had a regiment of volunteers and three additional pieces of artillery my camp would be defended by them, whilst my mounted men could at any time strike some point on the railroad or canal, and prevent their available use by the enemy." (OR, Chap XIV, pp. 200-201)

MacDonald makes some critical points:
- Romney has strategic importance in striking at the B & O
- There are supplies in the area could be utilized in winter by those who control the area
- Inclement weather could be a problem
- Preventing, or disturbing, the enemy's use of the B & O and C & O is of great importance.

Although Jackson would eventually get much of the credit for the winter initiative against the B & O and control of Romney, MacDonald clearly outlined the key elements of the campaign that would take place three months later.

Marching Speeds

I have been working on the B & O WINTER Manual on the marching speed section.  For purposes of simplicity, I will keep the daylight hours constant through the simulation: 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.  There will be no night marches by infantry or cavalry in the simulation, but scouts, couriers, staff and trains will be able to travel up to midnight.

 

Marches don't always get kicked off as planned. There is a 50% chance that any marching column will start off at 7:30 a.m.   For those that are delayed, a roll of a 4-sided die will determine whether they leave at 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. or 11:30 a.m.   All units with marching orders will be on the road by 11:30 a.m., but delayed starts will limit the distance covered during the day.

 

Marching speed will be measured in miles per hour. Each type of unit (infantry, cavalry, artillery, supply trains and couriers/scouts./staff will have a base movement speed. That base movement speed will then be modified each day by:

• Road Quality (The National Road, Valley Turnpike and Northwest Turnpike are significantly better than other roads in the campaign theatre.)
• Unit Experience: Units will more experience march faster. Green units march slower. Columns are slowed to the rate of the slowest unit in the marching column.
• Morale: Morale is affected by multiple factors. Lower more equates to slower marching speeds.
• Column Size: The bigger the marching column or supply train, the slower it moves.
• Marching Weight: Standard issue before a march will be 3 days rations and 40 rounds of ammunition. Players may order and issue 5 days rations and 60 rounds of ammunitions before a march, but it will increase weight and slow down the column slightly.
• Precipitation:  If it rains or snows, the rate of speed will decrease in direct proportion to the amount of precipitation.
• Random Modifier: Marching columns are affected by many things, that are often intangible and random. A random modifier may either slightly increase or decrease marching speed on a given day.

Players can influence which roads units take, column size, and marching weight. Morale is harder to influence, but ensure that units are well supplied is one of the keys to maintaining good morale. Weather and random factors are beyond the player's control, as is the time that units will start off on the march (despite whatever orders they were given). It is, therefore, impossible for a player to predict how much distance a marching column will cover in a day, beyond a rough estimate. Such is the command experience.

Plotting the Day's March

Keeping track of lots of units and the status of objectives across a large campaign theatre can be confusing. With different types of roads and modifiers on marching speed, it can also be a challenge to know how far a unit marches in a day.  B & O WINTER is still at least two months away, but some of the logistical work for operating the simulation is coming into place.

A large campaign map pasted onto a display map will be where the strategic movement takes place. A variety of map pins and push pins will represent the status of objectives and location of units. Dividers set to the map's scale will help determine how far a unit marches in a day and where its end of the day pin gets pushed into the map.

Map objectives have been pasted onto the display board for easy reference, and road quality will also be added in the future for easy reference (it's a movement modifier).

Hancock Maryland

Lander was in Hancock Maryland at the beginning of Jackson's Romney campaign. After taking Bathe, Jackson advanced to the Potomac across from Hancock. He shelled the town and called for Lander to surrender. Lander refused. Jackson couldn't find a good place to cross his men, and continued on to Romney.

In the B & O Winter Command simulation, Hancock will be the initial headquarters of Brigadier General Lander.



Contemporary Illustrations of Hancock Maryland. Note the railroad and telegraph wires.

The Romney Petition

We previously saw Jackson's response to petitions from the Army of the Northwest. The Stonewall in the Valley site has a page with the Romney Petition (below). Jackson forwarded it, but naturally didn't approve it.

January 25, 1862.

        To Brigadier-General Loring,
        Commanding Army of the Northwest:

 

        GENERAL: The undersigned officers of your command beg leave to present their condition to your consideration as it exists at Romney.

        It is unnecessary to detail to you, who participated in it all, the service performed by the Army of the Northwest during the last eight months. The unwritten (it will never be truly written) history of that remarkable campaign would show, if truly portrayed, a degree of severity, of hardship, of toil, of exposure and suffering that finds no parallel in the prosecution of the present war, if indeed it is equaled in any war. And the alacrity and good-will with which the men of your command bore all this hardship, exposure, and deprivation would have done honor to our sires in the most trying times of the Revolution.

        After being worn down with unremitting toil and wasted by death and disease, the remainder were about preparing quarters to shield them from the storms of winter in a rigorous climate. Many had prepared comparatively comfortable quarters, when they were called upon to march to Winchester and join the force under General Jackson. This they did about the 1st of December, with the same alacrity which had characterized their former conduct, making a march of some 150 miles at that inclement season of the year.

        After reaching Winchester, as expected, was ordered in the direction of the enemy, when all cheerfully obeyed the order, with the confident expectation that so soon as the object of the expedition was attained they would be marched to some comfortable position, where they could enjoy a short respite and recruit their wasted energies for the spring campaign.

        The terrible exposure and suffering on this expedition can never be known to those who did not participate in it. When men pass night after night in. the coldest period of a cold climate without tents, blankets, or even an ax to cut wood with, and without food for twenty-four hours, and with some of the men nearly two days at a time, and attended by toilsome marches, it is not to be thought strange that some regiments which left Winchester with nearly 600 men should now, short as the time has been, report less than 200 men for duty. Instead of finding, as expected, a little repose during midwinter, we are ordered to remain at this place. Our position at and near Romney is one of the most disagreeable and unfavorable that could well be imagined. We can only get an encampment upon the worst of wet, spouty land, much of which when it rains is naught but one sheet of water and a consequent corresponding depth of mud, and this, too, without the advantage of sufficient wood, the men having to drag that indispensable article down from high up on the mountain side.

        We are within a few miles of the enemy and of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, which imposes upon our men the continued hardship of very heavy picket duty, which will in a short time tell terribly upon their health and strength. We regard Romney as a place difficult to hold, and of no strategical importance after it is held. Besides, the country around it for some distance has already been by the enemy exhausted of its supplies. Your army could be maintained much more comfortably, and at much less expense, and with every military advantage, at almost any other place. Another consideration we would endeavor to impress upon your mind: All must be profoundly impressed with the paramount importance of raising an army for the next summer’s campaign. When we left Winchester, a very large proportion of your army, with the benefit of a short furlough, would have enlisted for the war, but now, with the present prospect before them, we doubt if one single man would re-enlist. But if they are yet removed to a position where their spirits could be revived, many, we think, will go for the war. In view of all these considerations and many others that might be presented, we ask that you present the condition of your command to the War Department, and earnestly ask that it may be ordered to some more favorable position.

William B. Taliaferro was one of the signers of the Romney Petition. He continued command of a brigade under Jackson during the Valley Campaign, and eventually commanded Jackson's Division. He was later sent to the Charleston, where he fought at Fort Wagner and then Florida, where he fought a Olustee.

        Respectfully,
        WM. B. TALIAFERRO,         Colonel Commanding Fourth Brigade Northwestern Army.        SAML. V. FULKERSON,         Colonel Thirty-seventh Virginia Volunteers.        VAN H. MANNING,         Major, Commanding Third Arkansas Volunteers.        J. W. ANDERSON,         Major, Commanding First Georgia Regiment.        A. V. SCOTT,         Captain, Commanding Twenty-third Virginia Volunteers.        JESSE S. BURKS,         Colonel, Commanding Third Brigade Northwestern Army.        D.A. LANGHORNE,         Lieutenant-Colonel; Commanding Forty-second Virginia Volunteers.        P. B. ADAMS,         Major, Forty-second Virginia Volunteers.        J. Y. JONES,         Captain, Commanding First Battalion P. A. C. S.        R. H. CUNNINGHAM, JR.,         Captain, Commanding Twenty-first Virginia Volunteers.        JOHN A. CAMPBELL,         Colonel, Commanding Forty-eighth Virginia Volunteers.

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          HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHWEST,
          Romney, Va., January 26, 1862.

        As this is a respectful communication, and presents for the consideration of the honorable Secretary of War the true condition of this army, and coming from so high a source, expressing the united feeling of the army, I deem it proper to respectfully forward it for his information. I am most anxious to re-enlist this fine army, equal to any I ever saw, and am satisfied if something is not done to relieve it, it will be found impossible to induce the army to do so, but with some regard for its comfort, a large portion, if not the whole, may be prevailed upon.
        At the earliest possible moment I shall write more fully.
        Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
        W. W. LORING,         Brigadier-General, Commanding, &c.

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          HEADQUARTERS VALLEY DISTRICT,
          Winchester, February 4, 1862.

        Respectfully forwarded, but disapproved.
        T. J. JACKSON,         Major-General, Commanding.

Discord in the Confederate Camp

The make-up of Lander's command through the period covered by the B & O WINTER is much less clear than his Confederate counterparts. Major General Thomas J. Jackson's Valley District was composed of his "Stonewall Brigade," a few batteries, the 7th Virginia Cavalry, and a three militia "brigades." To launch a campaign against the B & O and re-take Romney, Jackson requested support from the Army of the Northwest operating to his southwest against Rosecrans' Department of West Virginia. Brigadier General William W. Loring not only sent three brigades of infantry, but accompanied them himself. 

Brig. Gen. William W. Loring; No friend of Jackson.

Jackson was not amused with the actions of Loring and his command.

Jackson envisioned and led what would be called the Romney Campaign, Romney Expedition, or Bath-Romney Campaign of January 1862, but the majority of the infantry in the campaign came from Loring's Army of the Northwest. To make a long story short, relations between the two commanders and their commands were strained. It developed into what is has become known as the Loring-Jackson incident, which affected the course of later campaigns because of re-assignments as a result of it.

Although Loring was transferred out of the east and no court martial took place, Jackson had made formal charges against him:

More on the incident will appear in later posts. The B & O WINTER Command simulation is still under development. I am not sure yet whether Brig. Gen. Loring will appear in the simulation personally, or I will take an "alternative history" approach and just put the three brigades from the Army of the Northwest directly under Jackson's command. 

Who's in Command Anyway?

Brigadier General William S. Rosecrans needed clarification that Lander was not under his command 

 

The organization of the armies was in flux throughout the war, especially the Union armies. Those in the area that is now West Virginia were no exception. We have already seen that two key Union commanders in B & O Winter were present in the West Virginia Campaign in the spring and summer of 1861: Brigadier Generals Benjamin F. Kelley and Frederick W. Lander. When the "Young Napoleon" (George McClellan) left Western Virginia for the Department of the Potomac, things quickly began to change.

 

The Department of West Virginia was established, replacing the Department of the Ohio in September 1861, and Brigadier General William S. Rosecrans assumed command. At the time, Winfield Scott was still the overall command of the Union Armies. Scott had eyed Lander for command of a newly created Department of Harpers Ferry and Cumberland to guard the B & O. At the time, Lander was a Brigade Commander in Stone's Division, Army of the Potomac. Scott had already indicated this intention in an order to Brigadier General Thruston, who was at Cumberland, on October 20th 1861.

 

Unfortunately, Lander was wounded at Edwards Ferry on October 22nd, and command of the newly created Department of Harpers Ferry and Cumberland went to Brigadier General Kelley, also recovered from a wound a Philippi until Lander could take over command, but as the US Army transitioned from Winfield Scott, McClellan eliminated the department.

Lander was eventually assigned to a division in the Army of the Potomac and sent to the same area. It is difficult to determine the exact status of the division and it often fails to appear in returns the Army of the Potomac during the period (January 1862). Lander's Division, which would eventually be the foundation of Shield's Division appears to essentially have been carved out of Rosecrans' Department of West Virginia (which would become the Mountain Department). This happened while Rosecrans was in the east advocating for his command. While the Romney Campaign was underway, Washington found it necessary to write to Rosecrans (who was in New York at the time) and inform him that Landers was not under his command, but rather under the Army of the Potomac. 
To reconstruct an order of battle for Lander's Division from material available online, it was necessary to identify regiments that were in Shield's Division, the Railroad District, or other organizations around the time and see try to find their brigade assignment under Lander through regimental records. I have yet to find a stand-alone order of battle for the division for the period of January - February 1861, as it appears to be a command that was being formed and in transition between Rosecrans' command and the Army of the Potomac, and soon to have a brief stint in the Army of the Virginia.

 

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SPECIAL ORDERS,                                                            HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
No. 147.                                                                                             Washington, September 6, 1861.



I. The following brigadier-generals of the volunteer service will report to Major-General McClellan for duty in the Department of the Potomac: Brigadier-Generals Abercrombie, S. Casey, Meade, L. P. Graham, F. W. Lander, Sedgwick, C. J. Biddle, Duryea.

II. Instead of reporting for duty in the Department of the Potomac, Brig. Gen. John F. Reynolds will repair to Fort Monroe, Va., without delay, and report to Major-General Wool for assignment to the command at Hatteras Inlet, IN. C.

III. Brigadier-General Viele will report to Brig. Gen. Thomas W. Sherman, in New York, for duty with his expedition. IV. Capt. J. M. Korvell, assistant adjutant-general, volunteer serv- ice, is assigned to duty with Brigadier-General Richardson.

* * * * * * *

By command of Lieutenant-General Scott:

                                                                                                                E. D. TOWNSEND,

                                                                                                                   Assistant Adjutant- General.

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                                                                                                     HEADQUARTERS OF THE ,ARMY.
                                                                                                     Washington, D. C., October 20, 1861.

Brig. Gen. C. M. THRUSTON, U. S. A.,
Cumberland, Md., via Grafton, Va.:

Organize and dispatch a detachment of troops from those nearest at hand to protect the North and South Branch Bridges, with other parts of the Baltimore and Ohio road within easy reach of Cumberland. Brigadier-General Lander will be sent to take general direction of the service in that quarter, with other instructions and troops for the same object. The greatest expedition is required in this first movement from Cumberland. The agent of the road will be instructed to give you all advice and assistance in his power. If time permit, call for any necessary detachment of troops from New Creek, or even Grafton, to save the bridges of the road.

                                                                                                                               WINFIELD SCOTT

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                                                                                                     HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
                                                                                                              Washington, October 22, 1861.

Brig. Gen. B. F. KELLEY,
Grafton, W. Va.:

Proceed with your command to Romney and assume command of the Department of Harpers Ferry and Cumberland until the arrival of Brigadier-General Lander.

                                                                                                                                 WINFIELD SCOTT.
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                                                                                                    HEADQUARTERS OF THE  ARMY,
                                                                                                                                      January 10, 1862.


Brigadier-General LANDER,
Romney, VA.:

Captain Hartsuff has been directed to send from four to six regiments to you at once from Western Virginia.

                                                                                                                                     A. V. COLBURN,

                                                                                                                      Assistant Adjutant-General.

Information has been sent to-day to Rosecrans that you belong to the Army of the Potomac and not to his command.


-

 

Riding that Rebel Down

During the Romney Campaign (and the period covered by the B & O Winter Command simulation), both Brigadier General Benjamin Kelley and Brigadier General Frederick W. Lander were suffering from wounds received in action: Kelley at the Battle of Phillipi on June 3rd 1861 and Lander at Edwards Ferry on October 22nd 1861. Lander was to be assigned to the Department of Harper's Ferry and Cumberland, but due to Lander's wounding, Kelley was assigned.

Both officers, Colonel's at the time, fought at Philippi. Kelley was wounded a shot fired by a quartermaster as the Confederates retreated. Lander, mounted, rode down and captured the man who fired the shot that wounded Kelley.

Brigadier General Benjamin F. Kelley

Brigadier General (Then Colonel) Frederick W. Lander at Philippi

Opened, Closed, Re-opened

The main line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was opened, severed and re-opened several times during the war.

Jackson vs. Lander

B & O Winter will pit forces under Major General Thomas J. Jackson against those of Brigadier General Frederick W. Lander. Jackson's  command will include the Valley District and the Army of the Northwest. Lander's command will include his own division and units assigned to him from the Department of West Virginia.

 

Bank's Division is nearby at Harper's Ferry and could become involved, as could other elements of General Joseph E. Johnston's Division.

B&O Winter: A Campaign Command Simulation

B&O Winter is a Civil War Campaign Command Simulation that is under development. It roughly covers the campaign area and period associated with the Romney Campaign of January 1862. The simulation is expected to run in the fall or winter of 2015.  More information forthcoming...


NOTE: This post refers to a command simulation that has been completed. It has been superceded by THE WINTER WAR command simulation that started in November 2016.