An ACW ambiance – Ambulance and Campsite

The Perry ACW ambulance, based as a roadside pick-up of wounded confederates.

In preparation for our recent behemoth replay of Chancellorsville in 28mm, resulting in an unhistorical Union victory and neither Stonewall nor Hooker harmed, I painted some useful ACW “fluff” units, which helped set the right atmosphere on the gaming table.

The Union campsite - perfect for portraying the 11th Corps under Howard.

Both sets are from the excellent Perry Miniatures ACW collection, and especially the campsite setup came in handy as they would act as the slumbering and unprepared 11th US Corps under Howard, getting their coffee stuck in their throats as 20.000 Rebs under Stonewall came out of the woods next to their quiet camp.

Some great pictures from the game can be found through Mark’s blog and also Michael’s.

Close up - some tobacco in the pipe and bacon in the frying pan,

not bad for camp life.

The ambulance was a larger project with many parts, and I decided to piece the whole thing together on a mini diorama, depicting a roadside pick-up of wounded confederates by the master surgeon and his assistants.

The Confederate Medical Service

Staged photo showing the principle service of the Ambulance Corps.

During battle, when casualties started to mount, it was custom for men to fall out of rank to help carry the wounded away to safety and medical attention. However, this “good deed” had many volunteers once the firing started, as it presented soldiers scared of the on-going battle with a pretext to leave the front line, depleting the ranks. To counter this development a regulated ambulance Corps was formed, containing men who was no longer fit for active combat.

The driver and old Jolly Jumper wait while loading is completed.

Build as a copy of the Federal system, each regiment had its own surgeon and assistant surgeon, who both held officer's ranks. The senior ranking surgeon could, based on either merits or simple inadequate manpower, be promoted to divisional surgeon with added tasks and adhering directly under the surgeon general.

Wounded await transport to the field hospital.

This system might look effective on paper, but in reality most of these surgeon, while sporting the best of intentions, were not up to par professionally to the great regret of their “clients”. The only treatment for complex bone-shattering musket ball wounds was amputation, or crude surgery, with non-sterilized tools and bandages.

An unlucky fellow gets loaded onboard - next stop the surgeon!

This meant, that the real fight for survival was not on the battlefield, but in the army hospitals, were infected wounds and unsuccessful amputation along with different camp diseases, would be the big killer.

William Blackford of the 1st Virginia Cavalry, on amputations in the field hospital: "Tables about breast high had been erected upon which screaming victims were having legs and arms cut off…the surgeons and their assistants, stripped to the waist and bespattered with blood, stood around, some holding the poor fellows while others, armed with long, bloody knives and saws, cut and sawed away with frightful rapidity, throwing the mangled limbs on a pile nearby as soon as removed…"

A Civil War surgeon kit - perhaps more fitting for home improvements

than precision surgery...

About 174.00 Union soldiers suffered extremity wounds during the Civil War. Of these, 30.000 resulted in amputation. If the amputation was preformed within the first 24 hrs, you had a 75% chance of survival. After 24 hrs complications like blood poisoning or bone infection could set in and your survival rate dropped to about 50%. (Source: Museum of the Confederacy)

ACW ambulance - in a somewhat impractical white color.

The uniform of the surgeon was similar to that of Confederate officer, while the index color on cuffs was black for this branch. The ambulance crew and helpers in the Ambulance Corps would wear a red hat-band to distinguish them from the men of the ranks.

Wounded soldiers wait in the cool shade of the tree.

A British observer following the war as part of the Army of Northern Virginia later reported that: “In the rear of each regiment were from twenty to thirty negro slaves, and a certain number of unarmed men carrying stretchers and wearing in their hats the red badges of the ambulance corps – this is an excellent institution, for it prevents unwounded men from falling out on the pretense of taking wounded to the rear”.

Thank you very much for reading!

Stonewall Jackson & the Battle of Chancellorsville

Stonewall Jackson pointing at the Plank Road,

leading his Corps on the flanking march at Chancellorsville .

Long have I wanted to play a classic battle from the Eastern theatre of the American Civil War, but replaying these massed infantry battles at the significantly reduced ratio offered by the 28mm scale, takes both time and space. So, with Christmas around the corner, and a few days of holiday coming up, I decided the time was perfect to arrange a large all-day-game of 28mm ACW at our local gaming club here in Stockholm.

Stonewall on the Plank Road.

I quickly settled on the Battle of Chancellorsville, mainly because it’s considered Lee’s finest victory, but also as it is a showcase for unconventional tactics and more importantly markes the end of the career and the life of one of the Civil War’s, if not all time’s finest generals, Stonewall Jackson.

Stonewall have always fascinated me, with his enigmatic mix of military pragmatism and fanatic religious zeal, making him one of the big characters of the Civil War. At the Battle of Chancellorsville all these characteristics would concert in him, to form one of the most daring moves ever made on a battlefield.

Color adaption of B&W photo.

Actual photo of Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson.

Chancellorsville was one of the key battles of the Civil War fought by 85.000 Union troops under Hooker vs. 40.000 Confederate under Lee. The battle was fought over a series of days in the beginning of May 1863, just next to the Rapidan River in Virginia, only a few miles away from Fredericksburg, where Lee scored a mayor victory over Burnside only five months earlier. 

Stonewall Jackson with the Virginia flag waving behind him.

Taking up the reins after Burnside, Hooker and the Army of the Potomac had taken up a defensive position, carefully gaining the advantage of the high ground while deploying his massive army in a strong centralized fashion. On the other side, Lee was sitting down with Stonewall to have a council on the best way to attack the Yankee position.

Stonewall informing Lee about the possible flanking route.

The Army of Northern Virginia under Lee was outnumbered about 2,5 to 1. Still Stonewall suggested to Lee, that the Army be divided, and he’d be allowed to take his Corps of 27.000 men on a 12 mile march around Hooker’s flank, using a local unmapped plank road through some deep part of the forest. Lee looked at Stonewalls suggestion, and understood the potential. While 13.000 Confederates would stay visibly to Hooker’s front, fixing his attention, Stonewall would march around the flank, in broad daylight but covered by terrain, to hit the Yankee flank, and roll up their line. It was a risky but clean shot at victory, and Lee approved the plan.

The Battle of Chancellorsville.

To the left the 12 miles flanking move of Stonewall Jackson is traced in red.

Source: Wiki.

On the 2nd May the Union far flank was made up by Howard’s 11th Corps, resting behind the lines, at a position they thought safe and secure. Though scouting parties had noticed the commotion made by Stonewall’s move, and reports even reach Hooker who consequently told Howard to “Be prepared, enemy might try to go around your flank”, Howard made no efforts to raise the alarm, but simply moved two guns up the flank, just in case. Then Howard went south to inspect some skirmishing going on with what was actually Stonewall’s rear-guard, leaving his 11th Corps without its commander. It was a huge blunder.

20.000 Confederates storming at the unsuspecting Union soldiers in camp.

Advancing in complete silence, the 27.000 Confederates swung around the flank, and quietly reformed into battle line reading to storm the 11th Corps camp site. With him Stonewall had Rodes, Colston and A. P. Hill. Strict orders were given to officers that neither the feared Rebel Yell nor drums or bugles were to be used during the advance. Surprise was key. When all was ready Stonewall quietly told his generals: “You may proceed”.

The massive 2 miles wide battle line of Confederate infantry started to move forward through the wood. Slowly they picked up speed, still silent. Ahead through the trees they could see the clearing and the camp of the Union 11th Corps.

Another view at the command stand.

All minis are Perry, flag is GMB.

Enjoying a relaxed time behind the lines, the soldiers of the 11th Corps were quietly going about their business in camp, some preparing coffee others meals. Suddenly the woods around them came alive. Out from among the tress at the wood's edge came foxes, deer, birds and even squirrels, all storming through the camp scared wild. This mystic phenomenon of nature was soon explained to the Union troops, as behind the animals followed some 20.000 Confederates acting as a massive wall of “clappers” on the hunt. 

The deeply religious Stonewall Jackson is being watched by his men,

as he quietly takes council with God.

As Howard’s men threw away their coffee cups scrambling for their muskets, the 20.000 Confederates let the Rebel Yell ring out. The few Union units, which actually formed and made a stand were quickly overlapped, and had to fall back. It was a rout, and Howard’s Corps disintegrated loosing about 25% of its men in the process, despite the return of its commander, who now was desperately trying to rally his troops. 

While inspecting the forward lines, Stonewall is shot by Confederate pickets,

mistaking his scouting party for Union cavalry.

Stonewall’s push went on for nearly two hrs from 5.30 pm to about 7.15 pm, and only stopped when the now likewise disorganized Confederate attackers were reaching the heavy defensive Union earthworks around Chancellorsville. 

It was later that evening, while on a full moon ride, inspecting the enemy lines and the potential of a night attack, that Stonewall Jackson was hit three times by friendly fire. One of the bullets tore through and broke his left arm. In Civil War medical terms that meant amputation. 

Stonewall Jackson died from post-surgery pneumonia, 

at this plantation office in Guinea Station, just south of Fredericksburg.

Lee went on to fight out Chancellorsville, taking full advantage of the push created by Stonewall. Later during the battle, when news of Stonewall’s amputation reached Lee, he was deeply touched, and is suppose to have said: “Jackson lost his left arm, I’ve lost my right”. It would be a right arm sorely missed by Lee at Gettysburg, just some months later.

Stonewall never recovered from surgery. Instead pneumonia set in, and eventually he died on May 10th, 1863. When he understood that death was the inevitable prospect, he commented that: “The Lord have granted my wish, I always wanted to die on a Sunday”.

The funeral cortege of Stonewall Jackson.

Stonewall Jackson's last words:

A few moments before he died he cried out in his delirium, "Order A.P. Hill to prepare for action! Pass the infantry to the front rapidly! Tell Major Hawks"—then stopped, leaving the sentence unfinished. Presently a smile of ineffable sweetness spread itself over his pale face, and he said quietly, and with an expression, as if of relief, "Let us cross over the river, and rest under the shade of the trees." (Source: Wiki)

Thank you very much for reading!

Cobb’s Legion – Battle of Fredericksburg

The Georgians on Mary's Heights

Christmas is nearing, and so is the 151st anniversary of the Battle of Fredericksburg. Fought mainly on the 13th December 1862, this battle was one of the mayor victories achieved by the Army of Northern Virginia.  The ponderous Lee was afforded the chance of a defensive style battle, which he so relished. 

The Rebs securely entrenched on Mary's Heights - picking their targets

With both Longstreet and the charismatic Stonewall Jackson at his disposal, it is perhaps fair to say that the South was at an advantage when it comes to competent leaders at this particular battle. I’ve chosen to paint one of Longstreet's units from Lafayette McLaw’s Brigade of Cobb’s Georgian Legion. They were at the receiving end of a series of futile but heroic Union attacks on the Rebel position atop Mary’s Heights.  

Time and again the Union charged uphill in the open

At the cost of tremendous casualties the Union troops showed both defiance and valour, as they were bid to charge again and again, marching into the hail storm of fire served by the Rebs securely entrenched behind a stone wall. 

For those with further interest in the Battle of Fredericksburg, I can recommend the movie "Gods and Generals", were the battle and the valor of the Union troops is well captured.
God & Generals

The Civil War Podcast

http://civilwarpodcast.blogspot.com/

Here is a recommendation for all of you, who like me, enjoy listening to either historic Podcasts or audiobooks while painting miniatures.

I’ve been painting a lot of ACW this last year. When mapping out the project, I also scouted Itunes for a good Civil War Podcast, to accompany me through the many hours of work, and kind of set the background with a nice 1860’ies atmosphere.

The Civil War Podcast, by Colorado based Rich & Tracy, quickly became my favorite.
This Podcast is delivered in weekly slices of about 45 min, a very suitable bite in terms of processing and thinking about the information received.

The show runs with historical chronology of the war (We are about to touch on First Manassas!) and is presented in a very humble and respectful ambiance, with a clear feeling of well prepared story telling spiced up with anecdotes and quotes from actual soldiers and battles.

Each show deals with a particular subject, and is always wrapped up with a book recommendation for the particular subject of that week. So I also find it very giving in the sense of getting inspired to great books on the period.

Give them a listen, they have been the back drop to a lot of my recent painting.

Blog
http://civilwarpodcast.blogspot.com/

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Civil-War-1861-1865-A-History-Podcast/346347708797430

Gettysburg - Pickett’s Charge

The Virginians press forward under heavy fire

In the wake of almost unbroken success against the yanks, Lee endeavored to risk it all in a gamble to finally beat the Union Army on it’s own ground, and a chance at gaining the recognition of foreign powers, that could lead to Southern independence.

His idea was, after the previous days focus on Little Round Top, Devil’s den on the right flank, to break what now was presumed to be the weakened Union line in the center, and roll up their formations as he did with Jackson at Chancellorsville.

Many regiments would suffer unrepairable casualties of +50%

This fatal charge would be carried out over open ground, affording the Union guns and units under General Hancock excellent aim at the approaching rebels.
The ”honor” was given some of the South’s most valiant warriors – the Virginians of Pettigrew, Trimble, and Pickett.

From their position on Cemetery Ridge, the 12.500 Virginians rose up, and to the words ”Forward, you free men of old Virginia”, they started this suicidal march over open ground straight at loaded guns and prepared positions. 

"Lo" Armistead with the iconic hat on the point of his saber

Suffering more than 50% casualties, the Virginians almost took the position on what was to be remembered as “The Angle”. The Union line wavered for a few minutes, but reinforcements was pouring in, and casualties on the rebel side was too high to sustain momentum. Terrible casualties were suffered. Among the dead or dying was the brigadier general Lewis Armistead, who lead the final closing charge at the head of the 57th Virginia. Armistead has been depicted many times over (personal favorite is the paintings of Don Troiani), and even portrayed on film, gallantly carrying out this charge with his hat on his saber. 

After the failed charge, Lee is said to have asked Pickett's to gather his division in case of a Union counter attack - to which Pickett, allegedly all teary eyed, replied: "Sir, I have no division".

 For those interested in the battle of Gettysburg I can really recommend the visually impressive “Gettysburg”, starring among others Tom Berenger as Longstreet and Martin Sheen as R.E. Lee. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107007/