Simulation Rules: Contact Report - Part V (newly arriving units)

In this series on Contact Reports, we saw sample Contact Reports representing a contact between a Confederate cavalry detachment commanded by Captain John Q. Winfield and a Federal infantry detach under Captain Henry Rizer (Contact Report - Part I and Contact Report - Part II). When players receive a contact report, they respond with orders to attack, withdraw, or maintain their position. We saw the possible orders that can be issued and their corresponding results in Contact Report - Part III and Contact Report - Part IV.

In the post titled Strategy and Tactics: Decision to Engage - Part I we went back to the contact between Captain Winfield's and Captain Rizer's detachments to examine how a player might assess a contact report and make a decision to attack, withdraw, or maintain his position. In our example, the Confederate player had Captain Winfield maintain his position. The Federal player had Captain Rizer maintain his position, but called up another company as re-enforcements. The original contact was at 9:00 a.m. and the players will hold their positions and observe each other until the end of the day, or another unit arrives. Captain Rizer is waiting from Company E, Third Maryland Potomac Home Brigade. Captain Winfield is unaware that Captain Rizer has called for re-enforcements, and is simply observing.

If contact is made, Contact Reports come out each day of the simulation at:

• 9:00 a.m.
• 12:00 p.m.
• 3:00 p.m.
• 6:00 p.m.

If no new contacts are made, no report is issued and the simulation continues moving forward.

In the case of Captains Winfield and Rizer, contact was made at 9:00 a.m.  Based on the orders given Company E, Third Maryland Potomac Home Brigade moved from Old Town to Captain Rizer's position between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m., while Captain Winfield's men held their position out of range.  Captain Crawford Shearer, commander of the Third Maryland Potomac Home Brigade battalion, has accompanied Company E, and will take command as the senior Federal Officer present.

                                                                                                                                                                











At 12:00 p.m., new contact reports will be issued as a result of Company E's arrival.