Combat Risk to Corps or Divisional Generals

Chancellorsville -Spring 1863. Another example to help understand the battlefield and the risk of leaders, Division and Corps. Hop into the saddle to take a ride with Gen. Hooker –

Hooker has 7 Corps Generals, none were seriously hurt and taken out of action, and this was in woods with a crushed flank, we tend to think with impressions, surprising fact for this battle. A major victory for the Southern army, yet the Northern Leadership was little effected.

Gen. Hooker had 20 Infantry Divisions, 20 Division commanders at Chancellorsville.

In the III Corps with Sickles is Berry, (present in our Seven Pines game) he is in the woods and is in the rear but close to the action where a Division Gen. should be. Barry is with one Brigade, has to cross a road to get to the rear of his next brigade, he is told by his staff to not expose himself. He runs over and makes it, the other brigade is in command, things are good, he runs back at which time a rebel SHARPSHOOTER HITS HIM IN THE ROAD, HE DIES.

Gen. Whipple in the III Corps with Sickles, late in battle, the men are digging in on the new line north of the crossroads, light skirmish fire, snipers are bothering the men, the Gen. is in the act of sending an order to get Berdan’s men to assist when a SNIPER in a tree hits him in the chest, he dies OF RIFLE FIRE.

Gen. Devens with the XI Corps with Howard, his Division is hit first by Jackson’s men, hot – chaos – bad. Devens is up close for command and control in the heavy woods, he moves up to rally one of his brigades that is breaking, is HIT BY SMALL ARMS IN THE FOOT WITH THE FRONT LINES, wounded out of action.

Total, 3 out of 20 Division Generals, 0 out of 7 Corps Generals.

No hits from Artillery, very poor ground for artillery, short fields of fire, short-range work.

Of note is that two of the hits were from what is described as Sniper/sharpshooter fire, in the Firebell system this is represented by the random Crisis Cards. The Artillery would play a role in just two months at the Battle of Gettysburg were Gen. Hood, Gen. Pender, and Gen. Sickles would fall from Artillery hits.

Interesting info huh? Note, remember this is not counting the Brigade Generals/Colonels on the firing line – they die. By giving these examples in major battles known by many, it helps to see the result compared to Firebell.