This is a report of the first battle of the American Civil War campaign that Professor Gary Sheffield and I are fighting.
Report to the Confederate C-in-C from the commander of the 8th Cavalry Brigade, Triangle.
Sir, I beg to report an engagement with enemy forces at Triangle.
My brigade advanced to the settlement as ordered, and prepared field defences. An enemy force of cavalry, of greater strength than I had at my disposal, advanced south along the road from Unitedville.
Deploying a mix of dismounted and mounted troops, we succeeded in holding off the enemy for an entire day.
The enemy attempted to turn my right flank, thus cutting my line of retreat to Akragas City. Outnumbered, and with dusk approaching, I pulled back from Triangle village and cut my way out.
During this movement, we destroyed three Yankee mounted units. Such was the damage we inflicted on the enemy that they did not attempt to pursue us.
My force is falling back on Akragas City in good order
My losses are fairly light with all my units remaining intact.
I await your orders.
The situation after the Battle of Triangle.
So, the Confederate cavalry has been forced to withdraw, but they seem to have given the Union cavalry a bloody nose!
Nice little story for the battle report.
ReplyDeleteWEK 3,
DeleteMy opponent thinks that he has gained a tactical advantage by seizing the crossroads at Triangle, but the reality is that I expected that to happen and wanted to give him a bloody nose and to expose the strength of the cavalry that he had screening his advancing troop formations.
All the best,
Bob
Rebel propaganda! Triangle was a glorious victory for the Union against the forces of Secession
DeleteGary S,
DeleteYou might think that … but I couldn’t possibly comment!
All the best,
Bob
A promising start, Bob! Watching with interest….
ReplyDeleteMartin S.,
DeleteI hope that this is going to be a close-run campaign.
All the best,
Bob
A nice opening action to start the campaign. But, bloody nose or not control of Triangle is vital to communications between the northern and southern coasts and to secure ones flanks for an advance to the east, or an enemy advance to the west. I'm looking forward to the next phase of the campaign.
ReplyDeleteMark Cordone,
DeleteWhilst I agree that Triangle has strategic importance, I regard Old Court House as being vital to my ability to switch forces to and from the north and south sectors.
All the best,
Bob
This is a brilliant start to the campaign reports, Bob. Falling back towards Akragas City in good order gives you a strong defensive anchor for your next set of commands.
ReplyDeleteAndrew Bruce,
DeleteCheers! That's my thinking, and I'd rather trade territory in exchange for causing my opponent heavier casualties than to hold a location that is not vital to my overall strategy.
All the best,
Bob
Exciting start Bob - Was it just me that read the despatch with a Southern Drawl Inner Voice?
ReplyDeleteMaudlin Jack Tar,
DeleteCheers! And the drawl was definitely Virginian!
All the best,
Bob
Bob -
ReplyDeleteThis brisk little skirmish has the look for the CSA like one of those tactical successes that carry the seeds of a strategic setback. The Union has established at Triangle a central position that might prove dangerous to the Confederacy.
This could get very ... interesting!
Cheers,
Ion
Archduke Piccolo (Ion),
DeleteI would have liked to have retained control of Triangle, but I expected that the Union would try to capture it using overwhelming force. I therefore decided to make it as costly an exercise for them.as I could.
All the best,
Bob