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Sykes’ RegularsSykes’ Regularsat Antietamat Antietam

Wednesday, September 17, 1862

Sharpsburg, MarylandBy Scott Mingus

“The time for attack! The chance for victory!"Capt. Thomas M. Anderson, 12th U.S. Infantry

BACKGROUND

As fighting waned around the sunken road, Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan sent some of Alfred Pleasonton’s cavalry and horse artillery clattering across Antietam Creek via the Boonsboro Turnpike bridge. His position being greatly exposed and unsupported, Pleasonton soon sought infantry to protect his guns. Brig. Gen. George Sykes responded and sent forward a battalion of the 2nd / 10th US Infantry under Capt. John S. Poland, as well as part of the 12th US.

After two of Pleasonton's batteries exhausted their ammunition, Fifth Corps commander Fitz John Porter ordered Sykes to relieve the horse artillery with his own guns. Against his judgment, Sykes reluctantly sent Randol's and Van Reed's batteries across the stone bridge, along with four additional battalions of regulars under the command of Capt. Hiram Dryer of the 4th US Infantry. Lieutenant Randol, finding his horses exposed to Confederate sharpshooters and his position untenable, soon withdrew his battery. Van Reed, posted farther to the right, attracted less enemy fire. The battalion of the 2nd / 10th Infantry, thrown well forward as skirmishers in a cornfield, compelled the Confederate artillerists to leave their guns. However, being few in number and unsupported, the regulars were unable to bring the enemy guns off. Dryer advanced to Cemetery Hill about 4:30 p.m. and called for reinforcements for a general assault. However, Porter and McClellan deferred, and the attack faltered.

Soon, A. P. Hill’s counterattack drove back the Union IX Corps, as well as the regulars to their right flank. Dryer's infantry and Van Reed's battery stayed west of Antietam Creek until 7:30 p.m., when both were withdrawn in the darkness to the east bank. The remainder of Sykes’ division was unengaged on the 17th, but could have been more aggressively handled had McClellan thrown forward all his reserves in a coordinated fashion. Sykes lamented in his official report, “The troops under Captain Dryer behaved in the handsomest manner, and, had there been an available force for their support, there is no doubt he could have crowned the Sharpsburg crest.”

THE WARGAME

The table size is 4’x6’ for Johnny Reb 3, 15mm. All woods are light; roll for visibility in full inches. Antietam Creek may not be forded. The streams, fences and stonewalls require a 1” movement penalty. The scenario runs from 12:20 p.m. until 6 p.m.

CSA – All deployed artillery is unlimbered. Miller’s Battery is frozen unless Yankees come within 6”. It is accompanied by elements of R. H. Anderson’s division, which are not used in the game as they are facing parts of the Union II Corps near the sunken road. Stevens is in skirmish line. The 1 GA / 17 SC / Holcombe Legion are hidden behind haystacks, which offer light cover and a –1 modifier to combat. Jenkins’ brigade arrives at B at 3 p.m. in line. At 3:20, Miller’s battery (and Colonel Walton) withdraws and is replaced by S. D. Lee’s limbered battalion (enter by the church). Maurin arrives there at 4:00 p.m. There are no opening volley benefits for any CSA units.

U.S. – The Union batteries on the table are unlimbered and do not get opening volley modifiers, as they have already been in action. Tidball’s Battery is in front of a gap in the wooden fence. Gibson is in a small grove of trees and rock outcroppings.

The 4th PA Cavalry (mounted) enters on turn 1 at A on the turnpike, immediately followed by Robertson’s Battery (limbered). The latter receives an opening volley benefit provided it unlimbers and stays put for 1 full game turn before firing. Historically, Robertson split his battery, sending one section north of Tidball and one behind Gibson on higher ground. Gibson and Hains must withdraw by 3 p.m.

The 12th and 2nd / 10th US enter in column on turn 2, with Capt. Dryer and the 4th and 14th US at 2 p.m.

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Randol and Van Reed (limbered) enter on the next turn. Upon arrival, Dryer takes overall command of the regulars. All receive opening volley modifiers.

GOALS

Union – Probe the Rebel lines for a weak point that can be exploited by Sykes’ entire division. Seize Cemetery Hill if possible.

CSA – Keep the Yankees from entering Sharpsburg. Hold Cemetery Hill, which commands the turnpike.

ORDER OF BATTLE

Confederate

Elements of the Army of Northern Virginia

Elements of ANV Artillery Reserve – Maj. Hilary P. Jones +1 Wimbish’s Long Island (VA) Battery – 4 mixed guns, veteran Page’s Louisa (VA) Artillery – 4 12# Howitzers, veteran Peyton’s Richmond “Orange” (VA) Artillery – 1 3” Rifle, 1 12# Howitzer, 3 6# SB, veteran Turner’s (Brown’s) Wise Legion (VA) Artillery, Co. D – 4 Mixed guns, veteran

Elements of Jackson’s Left Wing

Elements of D. H. Hill’s Division Artillery Bondurant’s Jeff Davis (AL) Artillery – 2 3” Rifles, 2 12# Howitzers, veteran

Elements of Longstreet’s Right Wing

Evans’ Brigade – Col. Peter F. Stevens +1 1 GA / 17 SC / Holcombe Legion – 150 men, SB, veteran 18 SC / 22 SC / 23 SC – 200 men, SB, veteran

Boyce’s Macbeth (SC) Art. – 4x Mixed, vetElements of D. R. Jones’ Division Pickett’s Brigade – Brig. Gen. Richard B. Garnett +1 8 / 18 / 19 / 28 / 56 VA – 208 men, RM, veteran

Jenkins’ Brigade – Col. Joseph Walker +1 1st SC Volunteers – 207 men, RM, veteran 2nd SC Rifles – 209 men, RM, veteran

4th SC / 5th SC / 6th SC – 219 men, RM, veteran Palmetto Sharpshooters – 90 men, RM, veteran

Elements of Hood’s Division ArtilleryMaj. Bushrod W. Frobel +1 Bachman’s German (SC) Artillery – 2x 12# Napoleons, 2x 3” Blakely Rifles, veteran Garden’s Palmetto (SC) Artillery – 2x 12# Howitzers, 2x 6# SB, veteran Elements of Anderson’s Division Artillery Maurin’s Donaldson (LA) Artillery – 2x 10# Parrotts, 1x 3” Rifle, 3x 6# SB Guns, veteran

Elements of Longstreet’s Reserve Artillery

Elements of 1st Battalion – Col. John B. Walton +1 Squires’ 1st Co., Washington Art. – 2x 3” Rifles, 2x 12# Howitzers, elite Miller’s 3rd Co., Washington Art. – 4x 12# N, elite

Elements of 2nd Battalion – Col. Stephen D. Lee +1 Elliot’s Brooks (SC) Artillery – 4x Mixed, veteran Parker’s Richmond (VA) Art. – 2x Mixed, vet Jordan’s Bedford (VA) Artillery – 2x Mixed, vet Moody’s Madison (LA) Artillery – 2x 3” Rifles, 2x 24# Howitzers, vet

Union

Elements of the Army of the Potomac

Elements of Sykes’ Division, Porter’s V Corps

Elements of 1/2/V – Capt. Hiram Dryer +1 4th US Infantry – 200 men, RM, veteran 1st Battalion, 12th US Infantry – 200 men, RM, vet 1st Battalion, 14th US Infantry – 178 men, RM, vet 2nd Battalion, 14th US Infantry – 121 men, RM, vetElements of 2/2/V 2nd / 10th US Infantry – 402 men, RM, veteran

Division Artillery – Capt. Steven H. Weed +1 Weed’s Battery I, 5th US Art. – 4x 3” Rifles, elite Randol’s Battery E/G, 1st US Art. – 4x 12# N, vet Van Reed’s Battery K, 5th US Art. – 4x 12# N, vet

Elements of V Corps Reserve Artillery von Kleiser’s Battery B, 1st NY Art.– 4x 20# Parrotts, veteran Taft’s 5th Battery, NY Art. – 4x 20# Parrotts, vet

Elements of Cavalry Corps

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Pleasonton’s cavalrymen idled in Joshua Newcomer’s fields near the barn and mill, and are not depicted in the scenario other than the 4th PA.

Elements of 3rd Brigade 4th PA Cavalry – 299 men, BLC, veteran

Horse Artillery Tidball’s Battery A, 2nd US Art – 4x 3” Rifles, elite Robertson’s Battery B/L, 2nd US Art. – 4x 3” R, vet Hains’ Battery M, 2nd US Art. – 4x 3” Rifles, vet Gibson’s Bttry C/G, 3rd US Art. – 4x 3” Rifles, vet

*****OPTIONAL: If the Union commander wants to be more aggressive than McClellan or Porter, bring on Brig. Gen. George Sykes (+2) with the rest of the regulars on game turn 7 at A:

1/2/V - Lt. Col. Robert C. Buchanan (+1) 3rd US Infantry – 200 men, RM, veteran 2nd Battalion, 12th US Inf. – 200 men, RM, veteran

2/2/V - Maj. Charles S. Lovell +1 1st / 6th US Infantry – 182 men, RM, veteran 11th US Infantry – 249 men, RM, veteran 17th US Infantry – 309 men, RM, veteran

This scenario may be combined with the “Sunken Road” and/or “Up Came Hill” scenarios from Undying Courage: Antietam in Miniature.

Sykes’ Regulars at Antietam

Garden

Garnett Bachman

Squires

Jones’Btln.

Boyce

Bondurant

Miller

18 SC

22 SC

23 SC

AH. Piper

Keplinger

LutheranChurch

W. Newcomer

Boonsboro

Pike

Hagerstown Pike

CemeteryHill

to Rohrbach (Lower) Bridge

sunken road

AntietamCreek

von Kleiser

Weed

Taft

Anderson

4 PA

mill

Sherrickfarm

Park

MiddleBridge

CherryHill

stonetoll

house

Stevens

Tidball

Gibson

Hains

Robertson

B

C

Turner

loghouse

J. Newcomer