Battle of Frederick (fictional)

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Infobox Military Conflict
conflict = Battle of Frederick
partof = the American Civil War
date = August 1863
place = Frederick, Maryland
result = Draw, strategic Union victory
combatant1 = flagicon|USA|1861 United States (Union)
combatant2 = flagicon|CSA|1861c CSA (Confederacy)
commander1 = Ulysses S Grant
Edward Ord#
Phillip Sheridan
Henry Hunt
George Custer†
James McPherson†#
commander2 = Robert Edward Lee
James Longstreet
P.G.T. Beauregard
John Bell Hood (wounded)
J.E.B. Stuart(wounded)
Jerome B. Robertson†
strength1 = 65,000 in Army of the Susquehanna , 50,000 in the Washington army, and 20,000 in the Army of the potomac.
strength2 = 65,000 infantry, 6,000 cavalry, 8,000 artillery
casualties1 = 30,000

(5,000 killed 14,000 wounded 11,000 captured/missing)Eicher, p.99.]

casualties2 = 25,000

(6,000 killed 17,000 wounded 2,000 missing)

This is the end climax of the fictional series of what-ifs by Newt Gingrich. This battle is the end of the book '. The other two books are "Grant comes east" and '.

Opposing forces

This book has Lee's army, fresh after defeating the Army of the Potomac at Gunpowder River, dealing with Grant's army of the Susquehanna as it marches through the Cumberland Valley and towards Virginia. Lee's army consists of three corps, two of Veteran Troops under James Longstreet and John Bell Hood. Longstreet's corps numbers around 15,000, with divisions under Allegheney Johnson, 4,000, Lafayette McLaws, 6,000, and Robert Rodes old division (Now under Pierce Doles), 5,000. His largest division under George Pickett is now much reduced since Gunpowder River, and it's now the garrison of Baltimore. Longstreet's corps largely bore the brunt of the fighting there, so it's mainly kept in reserve at Fredrick. Hood commands the II corps, he's been recenty promoted. His performance is usually aggresive and at times sloppy, but always remains as dependable and brilliant. Commanding the largest corps, it numbered 28,000 men, with veteran divisions under Jubal Early 8,000 men, Jerome B. Robertson, 7,000, R.H. Anderson's small command, 6,000 and Alfred Scales's survivors from Fort Stevens, 7,000. Lastly there was Beauregard's new third corps who were mainly troops who used to garrison the Carolinas and Virginia. Divided into three divisions, the officers names are not mentioned. Most likely though, they would've been Robert Ransom, Samuel French and Roswell Ripley, the department commanders underneath Beauregard at the time. His corps numbered close to 20,000 men, but were mainly green troops. Beauregard was often at odds with Lee through this campaign, and jealous. This would take its toll during the battle.

On the Union side, Grant commanded all Union forces, and was directly in command of his troops sent from the west, The Army of The Susquehanna. This army consisted of the XIII corps, under Edward Ord. This was Grant's second largest corps, somwhere around 16,000 men full of veteran troops from Shiloh and before, these were the original core sector of Grant's army and its commander was legendary. His next Corps was only temporarily attached under Ambrose Burnside, the IX Corps taken from east Tennessee. It numbered around 16,000 men as well, including one division that is made up of colored troops who never fired a shot. His third corps was the XVII Corps, his best unit of hardened veterans. His second in command, James Mcpherson, was in charge of those troops. This Corps also had Division commanders such as Blair or Logan. At 13,000 men though, it was the smallest corps in the army. His final Formation was the XIX corps, under Nathaniel P Banks. Made up of crack troops, this formation was the heaviest, numbering over 20,000.

Grant also had available to him three other commands, his cavalry, under Ben Gierson and George Custer numbered close to 6,000 sabers.

George Sykes commanded the fragment of the once proud Army of the Potomac which numbered close to 15,000-20,000.

Lastly, Winfield Scott Hancock commanded the garrison of Washington, close to 50,000 green troops.

Buildup to battle

The Campaign begins after Lee has smashed the Army of the potomac at Gunpowder River and Grant has finally brought his army east. Grant, located in Harrisburg advanced towards the Cumberland valley and Virginia. Lee, on the other hand, in Baltimore, reacts quickly to this problem. While this plays out, George Custer brings his brigade to smash the railroad in Frederick as two Virginia regiments of cavalry defend it.

Robert E. Lee meanwhile advances his army and plans to send it by rail to Frederick to smash into Grant's advance. Back in that town, Custer pushes the cavalry under Phil Duvall back and is able to destroy a portion of the B&O Railroad before J.E.B. Stuart arrives with three brigades of cavalry and overuns Custer's half-strength brigade which shortly surrenders.

First day

At the same time however, Lee himself feels the result of the destruction of part of the railroad as he nearly dies in a train derailment. Lee along with Alfred Scales's Division arrive at the town and build defenses on the mountains, the Catacoin, beyond. James McPherson brings his Corps up, driving them relentlessly. When they arrive, his first brigade immediately engages and suffers heavily. After a half hour, his entire first division was engaged. Fifteen minutes later, his second division arrives and begins to forces Scales' command back. Not wanting to be a hollow wreck, Scales slowely pulled back. By the time McPherson's third and fourth divisions arrive, Scales was in full retreat.

McPherson occupies the heights but needs reinforcements, but Ambrose Burnside's corps stops to rest, which angers Grant. Burnside is relieved and Phillip Sheridan takes his place and tries to drive his men to the front.

McPherson goes into the town of Frderick, as Lee sets a trap to attack his isolated corps. Scales builds defensive positions in the town as Jerome Robertson brings his men to the south of town to flank and capture McPherson's corps and Stuart brings his troopers to the north. McPherson's corps enters the town and slaughter ensues. His men are taken piece by piece by groups of Confederates and easily killed. Then Robertson smashed through McPherson's flank and bags most of his Corps, and in the process kills McPherson. The remainder of his corps flees the town and the day's actions are mainly over, except for a small fight with the IX corps. A enormous tactical victory for the Confederates on the first day, with over 7,000 casualties on the Union side for 2,000 on the Confederate side.

Second day

The next day begins with various skirmishes. Lee is dug in on a ridge to the east of the town. By now the rest of the army has arrived and is dug in, Longstreet on the right eserve, Hood in the center, and Beauregard on the left. After Grant probes his line, (Banks on the left, Ord on the right, Sheridan in the center and McPherson in reserve in Frederick itself. Grant is on a long ridge, with the town in the center. A road goes up his entire line, which is on the banks of the Monacey. Throughout the day, the Union make small attacks but to little effect and the fighting on that day is over.

Third day

The third day begins with Ord assaulting a Confederate salient on the river. After a fierce artillery barrage and duel, Ord attacks and suffers heavily. His first division is nearly destroyed at the ends of Hood's muskets. The second and third divisions redouble their efforts and temporaily push the confederates back to the ridge. Ord follows up on a frontal charge where he is defeated, until Jubal Early's men smash into Ord's line at the ford and after losing heavy casualties pushes Ord across the river for good.

At the end of the day, Lee has lost 6,000 men, half of them in Early's division, and the past three days add up to 10,000. Ord on the other hand lost all but three thousand of his Corps, whiich makes the total loss in the army the past three days 23,000.

Lee now feels his advandtage and wants to use it. His plan is to send two of Beauregard's divisions as well as Robertson and Mclaws to assault the union right by going down south, cross the river, and roll up the road that longs along the Union line.

Grant on the other hand decieds to wait, for now he has Sykes in Lee's rear assaulting Baltimore and Hancock between Lee and the Potomac.

Lee is now also building pontoons to prepare to retreat if need be.

The Hornet's Nest

After skirmishing throughout the morning hours, Grant shifts Sheridan to reinforce Ord. By twelve, Beauregard assaults union pickets at the ford with Stuart's cavalry. After defeating them, he continues up the road on a two division front. But instead of waiting for Mclaws and Robertson's veterans, he goes in without them. He initialy drives Ord, who then pulls back into the railroad cut.

The section where the colored and Ord's men are form in a rail road cut. Beauregard tries to rush the position but suffers heavily. He then tries to surround it and mass his attack that way, the same tactic he used at Shloh in a similar position. This sector called the hornets nest, holds for hour after hour. Casualties mount as he fails to take the position. The colored troops in particular do well, by blunting Beauregard's attack. Eventualy Robertson arrives and bayonet charges the position with the Texas Brigade in the thick of it. Robertson is killed and his division is torn to shreds. After hours of fighting, Ord surrenders, but not without inflicting over 10,000 casualties. Lee is furious with Beauregard and thinks of relieving him, for now Grant has bled Lee dry. Lee orders a frontal assault along the entire line and Early, Richard Anderson, Johnson, Doles and Scales to assault Sheridan and Banks. Sheridan and his men put up a fierce fight but are routed after tearing Early's division to shreds and wounding the commander. Banks pulls back as well, the onrushing confederates see victory in sight as they rush up Braddock's heights. Scores of Union are captured as Longstreet and Hood bring their forces upon the fleeing federals.Finally it seemed the road was over and there was a clear road all the way to Washington.

Hunt's battery

Hunt forms a massive battery along two roads in Frederick, with McPherson's old command behind him. After the hornet's nest, Lee directs personally McLaws and two of Beauregard's divisions along with Robertson's old command to assault the town. Going up the two roads, Stuart leads the advance against 160 guns. The assualt is torn to shreds as scores fall on the road. Mclaws is killed but his division along with Robertson's old division and Johnson seize the guns. The victory was nearly theirs until Banks arrived and made short work of the attack. Stuart is wounded and Hood was hit near the breakthrough in Sheridan's line earlier. The attack in Frederick was torn apart, divisions torn to shreds. Lee led the assualt until taken custody of and sent to the rear.Lee nearly saw them break another time,only to meet failure. The rest of Lee's forces withdrew across the river, ending the battle since they withdrew the next day.

Grant won, barely. He lost over 30,000 men killed, wounded and captured. Two of his corps commanders were lost, another wounded. McPherson, Sheridan and Ord's corps were hollow wrecks, he lost two thirds of his force.

Lee lost 25,000 men, half his infantry. Mclaws, Robertson, Anderson, Johnson and all three of Beauregard's divisional commanders were dead. Early, Hood, Fitz Lee, Stuart, Jenkins, Beauregard and Jones were wounded. This was the turning point of the war, and it cost the south's last hope: The army of Northern Virginia.

References

[Never call Retreat]