Simulation Premise

Romney and the South Branch Valley

Federals under George B. McClellan and William S. Rosecrans launched a successful campaign in western Virginia in the summer and fall of 1861, with victories at Philippi, Rich Mountain, Carnifax Ferry, and Cheat Mountain.  As the winter of 1861-1862 set in, both sides ascribed importance to the Romney, the seat of Hampshire County Virginia, and the surrounding area. Strategic considerations included:

1. Food and Forage around the South Branch Valley for the winter

2. A stepping off point for the attack or defense of the B&O Railroad from New Creek Depot to Green Spring Depot.

3. Establishing a presence to protect and promote loyal interests

Confederate and Federal forces established the occupation of Romney as a priority.


Bath-Romney Campaign: Historical Premise

Major Thomas J. Jackson, commander of the Confederate Valley District, was not opposed to fighting in the winter. In December 1861, he led an expedition to attempt to destroy dams that were critical to the operation of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. Re-enforced by Brigadier William W. Loring's Army of the Northwest, Jackson left Winchester and set off on a winter expedition on New Year's Day 1862. On January 4th, Jackson captured the town of Bath after a short skirmish and then  moved on Hancock, Maryland.

 

As Jackson was moving on Bath, Brigadier General Frederick W. Lander was on his way to take command of a new division of the Army of the Potomac. It was being carved out of William Rosecrans' Department of West Virginia, with additional new units from Ohio and Pennsylvania. Lander arrived at Hancock around the same time that Jackson appeared on the opposite bank of the Potomac, demanding that the Federals surrender the town. Lander refused. Jackson shelled the town to little effect and then turned his men around on January 7th and started moving on Romney.

 

Lander correctly guessed Jackson's intentions. He had his men at Hancock withdraw to Cumberland, leaving Hancock to elements of Williams' Brigade, Banks Division. Lander then rushed to Romney, where several units of his new command were occupying the town. Knowing he would be outnumbered by Jackson, Lander ordered the evacuation  of Romney and withdrew towards Patterson Creek.  By January 14th, Jackson was headquartered at Bloomery Gap and preparing to move his Valley District into Romney and contemplating a move against Cumberland. This is when THE WINTER WAR simulation begins.

 

Non-Historical Elements

THE WINTER WAR command simulation is loosely based on the second half of the Bath-Romney Campaign, but provides a "what if" scenario. Certain non-historical elements have been added or changed to enhance the game experience, make the simulation more practical to run, and more fair and interesting for the players. These include:

 

1. Absence of Loring: Brigadier William W. Loring is not present in the simulation. Army of the Northwest units report directly to Jackson. Historically, Loring was present and there was considerable friction between he and Jackson, culminating in the "Loring-Jackson Incident."
2. South Branch Bridge Out: The B&O Railroad bridge over the South Branch of the Potomac is out between Green Spring Depot and Okonoko. Historically, this bridge was destroyed in the summer of 1861, but repaired by the end of November. In THE WINTER WAR, the B&O stops at Green Spring Depot.
3. Federal Troop Arrivals and Organization: In THE WINTER WAR, new units have arrived from Ohio and Lander's Division is fully organized as of January 14th. Historically, this did not happen until one week later.
4. Frenchburg: Historically, the town of Frenchburg had been burned by Colonel Samuel H. Dunning while returning to Romney after his command defeated Confederate militia at Hanging Rocks (Blue's Gap) on January 7th. In the simulation, Frenchburg appears as a larger town than what is was originally and is not burned.
5. Unit Strength: Sickness had depleted much of Jackson's force between when it left Winchester and when it finally arrived in Romney.  Unit strengths in THE WINTER WAR are greater than what they would have been historically.

Scored Campaign

THE WINTER WAR is a scored campaign simulation based on the objective of successfully occupying Hampshire County Virginia in January 1862.