Historical Note - Jackson to Johnston - Jan 17

We just finished Day 4 of THE WINTER WAR command simulation, which took place on January 17, 1862.  Historically, Jackson's Headquarters was in Romney on that day (as it is in the simulation), and he wrote the following to his commander, General Joseph E. Johnston:

Summery of First Four Days

We are on a holiday break now, but here is a summery of the 1st four days of campaigning:

Day 1 (January 14, 1862):

·         Federals take Romney after cavalry skirmish between the 1^st Virginia Cavalry (US) and two companies of Ashby’s Cavalry at Kern’s Farm

·         Federal cavalry scouts Confederate positions at Three Churches and Lowell’s Cross Roads

Day 2 (January 15, 1862):

·         Federal infantry under Colonel. E. Tyler arrives at Romney from Burlington around noon. Confederate infantry under Colonel J. Burks and then Brigadier General R. Garnett arrives and  retakes Romney after fighting around the Malone Farm and Sulphur Spring Run

·         Confederate Infantry under Brigadier General S. R. Anderson takes Okonoko without an engagement and crosses the Potomac to advance on Old Town, Maryland (opposite Green Spring Depot)

·         Federal infantry and artillery under Colonel N. Kimball arrives at Leith Farm, north of Romney in the evening.

Day 3 (January 16, 1862):

·         Confederates take Romney after skirmish at Leith Farm between Colonel Kimball’s 1^st Brigade, Lander’s Division and the Stonewall Brigade supported by Colonel Burks’ Brigade.

·         Anderson’s Brigade withdraws back across the Potomac, pursued by Colonel S. Dunning’s 2^nd Brigade of Lander’s Division.  Colonel Dunning takes Lowell’s Cross Roads after a brief skirmish and captures Confederate commissary supplies.

Day 4 (January 17, 1862):

·         Federals abandon Lowell’s Cross Roads after burning captured supplies

·         Confederate cavalry under Turner Ashby routs the 1^st Virginia Cavalry (US) on the road between Romney and Fort Van Meter.

·         Federal cavalry scouts Confederate positions at Romney, Three Churches, and Higginsville

Engagement	Date	Outcome	Valley District (Confederate)				Lander's Division (Union)
			Killed	Wounded	Missing	Total	Killed	Wounded	Missing	Total
Kern's Farm (Romney)	Jan. 14, 1862	Union Victory	1	6	1	8	1	8	1	10
Romney	Jan. 15, 1862	Confederate Victory	184	645	131	960	168	580	126	874
Leith Farm (Romney)	Jan. 16, 1862	Confederate Victory	17	92	20	129	31	107	22	160
Lowell's Cross Roads	Jan. 16, 1862	Union Victory	30	103	22	155	19	73	14	106
Jones' Farm (Moorefield Rd.)	Jan. 17, 1962	Confederate Victory	1	8	1	10	1	16	3	20
Four-Day Total:			233	854	175	1262	220	784	166	1170

Day 4 Over

The only engagement on Day 4 of the campaign was between two battalions of cavalry. Lieutenant Colonel Turner Ashby routed the 1st Virginia Cavalry (US), regaining control of Fort Van Meter and the areas south of Romney.

Although the largest Federal cavalry unit is temporarily "hor de combat," other Union cavalry companies were actively scouting Confederate lines at Romney, Three Churches and Higginsville with reconnaissance now appearing from the direction of Points Cross Roads. . Although the Federals abandoned Lowell's Cross Roads in the morning of Day 4, they left a cavalry company there to observe the eventual approach of Confederate forces which retook the town without an engagement.

The lines have shifted only slightly from the previous day, with no change in control of the campaign objectives. This brings the simulation score to a tie as players prepare for Day 5, which will start after a break for the holidays.

Ashby routs Richmond's Battalion - Moorefield Rd, Day 4

As Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Richmond's Battalion of the 1st Virginia cavalry was returning to Fort Van Meter after a brief reconnaissance at Wergman (south of Romney), his men encountered enemy cavalry led by Lieutenant Colonel Turner Ashby.

The 1st Virginia had been separated from Colonel Erastus Tyler's force while attacking the enemy flank at Mileson to assist in Tyler's withdrawal from Romney on Day 2 of the campaign. Lieutenant Colonel Richmond's men were forced to retreat from Romney in the direction of Fort Van Meter to the south. On Day 3 of the campaign (and again on the morning of Day 4), they advanced toward Romney to find an enemy infantry regiment posted across the Moorefield Road at Wergman.

The presence of the Virginia cavalry (US) at Fort Van Meter was known to Jackson's command. He dispatched Turner Ashby with whatever cavalrymen he had available to ensure that Lieutenant Colonel Richmond's battalion was trapped and engaged. Ashby moved via Bethel Church, passed through Fort Van Meter on the morning of Day 4, and followed the 1st Virginia towards Romney. When Lieutenant Richmond declined to engage Confederate infantry at Wergman and headed back south, he ran into Ashby on the Moorefield Road, which runs along the east bank of the South Branch of the Potomac. They met near a farm reportedly owned by a man named Jones.

Ashby advanced and closed, having a slight numerical advantage and higher quality soldiers in his command. The two sides fired at each other for a few minutes before the 1st Virginia was forced to retreat. With the enemy on both sides of them, Lieutenant Colonel Richmond's command has broken up, every man for himself. It will take them 24 hours to reform, well behind Federal lines, and the command will be in a "shaken" condition for an additional 24 hours. They may lose more men missing during their retreat to friendly territory.

Road Upgrade - Effective Day 5

There will be an upgrade of a road in the Campaign Map effective on the start of Day 5.  The road that was listed as Green Spring Road is actually the Moorefield and North Branch Turnpike, which ran from Green Spring Depot to Moorefield. This will be upgraded to Turnpike Status in the simulation. The road runs north-south through the following localities in the campaign theatre: Green Spring Depot, Donaldson, Springfield, Hanging Rocks, Romney, Fort Van Meter.

Confederate Re-Occupy Lowell's Cross Roads

A Federal cavalry company at Lowell's Cross Roads held the town as Confederate infantry and artillery approached up the Potomac Turnpike from the direction of Higginsville. Piles of supplies captured by the Federals the previous day were burning at the edge of town. The Federal infantry and artillery that had been at Lowell's Cross Road the previous day and night were no where to be seen. The cavalrymen retreated towards Okonoko and Confederates moved into town.

Approximit Lines - Close of Day 3

Prisoner Exchange Negotiations

Although not originally part of the simulation manual, couriers have been moving back and forth between Lander's and Jackson's Headquarters and negotiating an exchange of prisoners.

Lander's Division has provided the following list of prisoners held by their command to Jackson's Headquarters:

Infantry
3rd Arkansas	21
1st Georgia	23
7th Tennessee	9
14th Tennessee	13
1st Virginia Battalion	9
4th Virginia	31
5th Virginia	18
21st Virginia	6
23rd Virginia	18
27th Virginia	4
33rd Virginia	1
42nd Virginia	8
48th Virginia	12
Total Infantry	173
Artillery
Rockbridge Artillery	4
Cavalry
Company A, Ashby's Cavalry	1

In return, Jackson has provided the following returns of prisoners held by the Valley District:

Infantry
7th Indiana	21
13th Indiana	4
5th Ohio	2
7th Ohio	23
8th Ohio	6
29th Ohio	20
84th Pennsylvania	55
1st Virginia	18
7th Virginia	12
Total Infantry Held	161
Artillery
Battery "H," 1st Ohio Light Artillery	3
Battery "L," 1st Ohio Light Artillery	4
Total Artillery Held	7
Cavalry
1st Virginia	16
Washington Cavalry	2
Company "A," 1st Maryland Potomac Home Brigade	2
Total Cavalry Held	20

The exchange has not yet taken place.

Day Three Over - Scores Posted

Scores have been posted for Day 3. All 8 points have been awarded for the day. It is clear that the objectives are occupied as follows:

Burlington: Lander
Green Spring Depot: Lander
Romney: Jackson
Slanesville: Jackson
Springfield: Lander
Three Churches: Jackson

Although not an objective, the Federals have successfully taken Lowell's Cross Roads, a strategic location east of the South Branch of the Potomac.

Federals Take Lowell's Cross Roads - 4:00 p.m. (Day 3)

Federals under command of Colonel Samuel Dunning have taken the small town of Lowell's Cross Roads. Confederates that defended the town were forced to withdraw towards Spring Gap and Higginsville. Federals captured six commissary wagons and a significant amount of commissary supplies during and as a result of the engagement.

Commissary Trains Under Attack: Lowell's Cross Roads, Day 3 - 3:15 p.m.

The Federal infantry has four regiments engaged. Two are along a wood line, firing east into the Tennessee regiment north of two. One is across the Jersey Mountain Road firing west into  the second Confederate regiment to arrive. A fourth Federal regiment came through the woods, flanking the Confederates on Jersey Mountain Road. They turned to face the new threat, only to take flanking fire from the enemy across the road at the top of the hill. The Confederates broke and began to flee to the south.

As the infantry fought, a running battle was taking place on the Old Romney road to the east. Federal cavalry came out of the woods and attacked the Confederate commissary train as it was on the move, capturing several wagons. The Confederate train guards counter-attacked, recovering some of the wagons and driving off the Union troopers.

With the Confederate regiment on Jersey Mountain Road driven back, the Federal regiment that had been engaging it was able to turn and fire on the Tennessee men north of town.

The Confederates are in a tough position, but another Confederate regiment is approaching up the Jersey Mountain Road. Will they make it in time?

The engagement continues...

Engagement in Progress - Day 3, 3:00 p.m. - Lowell's Cross Roads

At 3:00 p.m. on Day 3 of the campaign, a Confederate infantry regiment carrying Tennessee colors advances at the left oblique from its position on the Potomac Turnpike at Lowell's Cross Roads. It advances up the hill to its north and engages a company of cavalry.

As the cavalry and Tennessee regiment engage, half of the commissary train in Lowell's Cross Roads town departs on the Old Romney Road towards Spring Gap. The other half remains in town.

The cavalry holds surprisingly well against a larger body of infantry, but Federal flags are seen moving through the woods on the Confederate left.  Federals move completely around the Confederate left and start appearing on the Jersey Mountain Road to the southwest of town. 

As the lead Federal infantry regiment reaches the road, a Confederate regiment moving up from the Elliott Farm opens fire. The Confederates regiment is ascending a hill and cannot see Lowell's Cross Roads on the opposite side of the crest.

The Federals had declined to engage the Tennessee Regiment north of town, and continued to move around the flank and prepared to engage the second Confederate regiment on Jersey Mountain Road. After finally driving off the Federal cavalry, the first Confederate regiment to engage turned and moved against the Federal rear.

Union infantry outnumbers the two Confederate regiments, with one Federal regiment on the Jersey Mountain Road and the others under cover of the woods to the north. But the Federals have one enemy regiment to their front and another to their rear.

As the fighting picked up on the hill on west side of Lowell's Cross Roads, the second half of the Confederate commissary train left town and began to ascend the hill on the east side of town, heading up the Old Romney Road towards Spring Gap.

To be continued....

Contact! - Day 3 - 3:00 p.m. - Lowell's Cross Roads

Confederate infantry withdrew from their position west of Old Town, Maryland (across the river from Green Spring Depot) and were pursued by Federal cavalry. The cavalry cross the Potomac,  passed through Okonoko, and eventually crested a hill north of Lowell's Cross Roads around 3:00 p.m.   In the valley below was the town, a regiment of Confederate infantry, a few cavalry detachments or cavalry, and a Confederate commissary train unloading supplies.

The morning of Day 3 featured an engagement near Romney. The focus of the afternoon now shifts to the northern portion of the campaign theatre. Will there be action a the town of Lowell's Cross Roads?

Contact on the morning of Day 3

A small force of infantry and artillery under Colonel Nathan Kimball was forced to withdraw from the Leith Farm north of Romney around 6:30 a.m. on Day 3 of the campaign.  Shortly thereafter, a Federal cavalry detachment or company appeared on the Northwest Turnpike just west of Evans Farm. The cavalrymen were coming from Mechanicsburg Gap, and encountered Confederate infantry and artillery just west of the covered bridge.  The artillery opened fire and the cavalry quickly retreated back down the turnpike.

Around 10:00 a.m., another Federal cavalry unit, this one the size of several companies or a battalion, appeared on the Moorefield Road south of the Wergman Farm. A Confederate infantry regiment was deployed at Wergman and advanced to engage the cavalrymen, proudly displaying its Georgia colors. The Federal cavalrymen refused to engage and withdrew back towards Fort Van Meter, about 10 miles south of Romney.

There was no other contact in the morning of Day 3. As we start the afternoon, there are units advancing and units withdrawing. It remains to be seen whether there will be additional contact during the day.

Skirmish Report - Romney, Day 3 - 6:00 a.m. - 6:30 a.m.

A Federal brigade and battery arrived at the Leith Farm (Romney) at 6:00 p.m. on Day 2 of the campaign. It arrived on the Green Spring Road from the direction Hanging Rocks, but it was too late to lend support to Colonel Erastus Tyler's command, which had already been forced to retreat down the Northwest Turnpike to Mechanicsburg Gap.

The Federal brigade could have retired back to Hanging Rock, but it was still there at 6:00 a.m. on Day 3 of the campaign (Jan. 16, 1862). As day broke, two Confederate batteries moved to the front of their infantry and engaged. They were a four-gun battery of mixed guns and a six-gun battery, also of mixed guns. A six-gun battery of 10lb Parrott rifles to the left rear of the Federal line returned fire as a company of sharpshooters moved forward on the right and began firing on the Confederate six-gun battery, later identified as Capt. William McLaughlin's Rockbridge Artillery

The left section of McLaughlin's Battery began to take heavy losses. A Confederate brigade (later identified as Garnett's Brigade) maintained its position to the rear of the two batteries. McLaughlin's Battery lost its Number One gun routed, but the infantry stayed in place. When a combination of sharpshooter fire and counter-battery fire routed the Rockbridge Artillery's Number Two gun, the infantry moved forward.

Garnett's Brigade advanced at the left oblique along Big Run, with the left of the brigade entering the woods east of the stream. This provided cover for most of the brigade, while allowing the four-gun battery and remaining guns of the Rockbridge Artillery to have a clear field of fire as the infantry advanced toward the Federal right.

Garnett's right regiment began to take heavy losses from the Federal sharpshooters (1st Company Andrews' Sharpshooters) as it move along Big Run. It began moving at the double quick and then opened fire. The sharpshooters continued to engage, but where overwhelmed and forced to retreat.

The Federal regiment at the Leith House, the 7th Virginia (US), opened fire on the advancing Confederate line, which started pivoting around the Federal right flank. The 84th Pennsylvania moved up on the Federal right along Big Run, but then fell back slightly before turning to engage. Hesitation by the 84th exposed the flank of the 7th Virginia (US).

As Garnett's Brigade pressed the Federal right, two additional regiments carrying Virginia colors came through the woods and flanked the 84th Pennsylvania. That was too much for the Federal line, which gave way and retreated, withdrawing from Romney back towards Hanging Rocks.

The Federals left 31 dead on the field and had 22 men captured. They managed to carry off between 10 and 15 Confederate prisoners.
(Note: The entire engagement was fought under AI.)