Command Radius
Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 3:38 pm
On July2, 1863, General Burling found himself in command of 3rd brigade, (5th NJ, 6th NJ, 7th NJ, 8th NJ, 2nd NH and 115th PA). This was part of Humphrey's 2nd Division of Sickles' III Corp. Sickles advanced his III Corp forward in search of better ground. As he did, his lines grew very thin. Birney, (IIIC, 1 Div) asked for reinforcements before he was even attacked. Humphreys, (IIIC, 2 Div), had Burling in reserve and detached him to Birney. Burling was then placed in The Wheatfield and repositioned twice due to heavy Confederate artillery fire, (Cabell) and was on his way to the Trostle Woods when he was ordered to detach the 2nd NH and 7th NJ to Graham, (IIIC, 1D, 1Brig) in the Peach Orchard. Then he was ordered to detach the 5th NJ to Humphreys to relieve the 63rd PA of skirmish/picket duty. They were placed west of the Emmitsburg Road near the Sherfy House. Burling moved his remaining 3 regiments to the Wheatfield and was near de Trobriand's, (III C, 1 Div, 3 Brig), left. He was then ordered to detach 6th NJ to Ward, (III C, 1 Div, 2 Brig). The 8th NJ was taken without his knowledge and placed in Rose Woods. This left him just the 115th PA which was quickly sent to Rose Woods.
Burling, having no one left to command seeing that his entire brigade had been cannibalized, reported to Humphreys for further orders. When Hood attacked Burling's regiments were at the folowing positions:
5th NJ- Sherfy House west of the Emmitsburg Road.
2nd NH- Southwest angle of the Peach Orchard.
8th NJ- Rose Woods
115th PA-Rose Woods
7th NJ- Center of Peach Orchard
6th NJ- Devils Den near Smith's Battery
This distance is slightly more than a linear mile. This is an almost impossible command situation. Mostly Burling's regiments operated independently reacting to the regimental movements around them. Now Burling's regiments suffered casualty rates from a low of 16% for the 115th PA to a high of about 45% for the 5th and 7th NJ regiments. This is pretty amazing given their lack command and the distance they were deployed over. What was left of Burling's command was reformed by 9:30PM behind the Taneytown Road. All regiments were accounted for.
Now for my question. In the new game will a brigade commander be able to immediately assemble his brigade with the toolbar commands even if that brigade is spread out over a mile and most units, if not all units, are not in that commander's LOS.
Thanks,
Greg B)
Burling, having no one left to command seeing that his entire brigade had been cannibalized, reported to Humphreys for further orders. When Hood attacked Burling's regiments were at the folowing positions:
5th NJ- Sherfy House west of the Emmitsburg Road.
2nd NH- Southwest angle of the Peach Orchard.
8th NJ- Rose Woods
115th PA-Rose Woods
7th NJ- Center of Peach Orchard
6th NJ- Devils Den near Smith's Battery
This distance is slightly more than a linear mile. This is an almost impossible command situation. Mostly Burling's regiments operated independently reacting to the regimental movements around them. Now Burling's regiments suffered casualty rates from a low of 16% for the 115th PA to a high of about 45% for the 5th and 7th NJ regiments. This is pretty amazing given their lack command and the distance they were deployed over. What was left of Burling's command was reformed by 9:30PM behind the Taneytown Road. All regiments were accounted for.
Now for my question. In the new game will a brigade commander be able to immediately assemble his brigade with the toolbar commands even if that brigade is spread out over a mile and most units, if not all units, are not in that commander's LOS.
Thanks,
Greg B)