Great Victory at Antietam!

[Drex]

Gentlemen and Officers of the Shenanadoah! It is my honor to post the AAR of Lt. Bill Bullock's(4/1/VIII) great victory at Antietam.
Sun, March 11, 2012 7:47:44 PMNorth Woods - After Action Reprort
From: William Bullock <bill_bullock@prodigy.net> View Contact
To: Drexel Ringbloom <drexelr1@sbcglobal.net>


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Sir,

I am pound to report a Major victory for AoS. It was at Antietam, a 16 turn North Woods scenario. I always thought the key to to the right flank of the Union line was Nicodemus Heights, but capturing it and holding are two very different things. Doubleday Division is strong enough to jump that poorly supported horse arty, but not strong enough to advance from there. So, I decided to be bold and swing Mansfeild's Corps all the way around to the Potomac to just south of Dovenburger's Mill. Then march in column down the tow path across the stream and swing west towards the Howe house.

I had to demonstrate vigorously down the Shapsburgh Pike, and spread Rickets very thin covering the cornfield, to keep hold his troops in place while I marched, but it paid off. I grabbed lots of arty from the heights, established my self at the north end of the West Woods, and pushed past the Miller house. All of which kept my opponent on the defensive and by turn 7/16 I had a corps of infantry in line to take on the flank of a division of dismounted cavalry, which as you know can be a points bonanza.

Unfortunately by now my opponent had realized how thin my left was and marched around the East Woods and turned my flank.

Personally, I found his flanking attack a little "gamy." I used the river to covered my flank attack, Sedwich however,was due to be attacking though the East Woods and would have smashed his troops from behind if that attack had been tried in real life. Sedwick wasn't in this scenario though, so I just had to write of the arty that got captured and fall back across the Pike. It was weird how my oponet kep his units in column. He also wasn't careful about keeping me from having enfilade fire on his units, finding clear field of fire for his cannon, or even keeping his cannon stacked with foot troops. So while I lost ground on my left, I was able to pound away at tightly packed formations for three rounds with little or no returned fire. Plus I kept capturing arty turn after turn. It was costly to make those attacks while he had greater weight in that part of the field, I was reduced by 56% by the end of the battle, but he was down 70%

Meanwhile, I was rolling through Jeb Stuart's out manned division on my right, and even managed to kill the MG. By the end of the battle I had made it to Hauser farm, emptied the sunken road of trooops and had his back turned to the follow up Union attacks. I needed 800 points for a major victory and ended with 20,000. My gallant opponent seemed less than grizzled, but it was my first game in two years, so all in all I was delighted in the outcome.

Respectfully Submitted.
Lt, Bill Bullock 4th brigade, 1st Division VIII Corps AoS


It is my intent to post all victories at the Winchester Arms so please take a few miutes after your victory to give me your battle particulars so we can regale our comrades with your feats of arms. Send all AARs to drexelr1@sbcglobal.net.