US HISTORY CIVIL WAR BATTLE SIMULATION

In this simulation, you will act as advisors to the commander of the Union Army (General
George McClellan) stationed outside of Washington, D.C. in 1862. You have been given the
responsibility of stopping the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia (ANV). All of this information
is true and accurate. You will be given a number of reports which you must read and evaluate. After
you have considered all the information, you must plan the strategy for the Union Army and submit
your suggested battle orders to McClellan.
The Union Army which you command is located near the city of Washington, D.C. and is
composed of 5 divisions, each made up of 20,000 men. Four divisions are infantry and one is cavalry
(horse-mounted soldiers). Your infantry divisions can travel about 20 miles a day on foot while your
cavalry can cover over 50 miles in ten hours.
The following page is a map of the area north and west of Washington, D.C. Your army is
location north of the Potomac River and east of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad. The mountains to the west are 700 to 1000 feet high and are rather steep. It is
impossible for a large army to cross these mountains, but several “gaps” or passes are located north of
the Potomac River.
Confederate troops are now moving north into Union territory. On the following pages are a
series of dispatches and reports you have received from your staff. After you have considered this
information, you must prepare and present your suggested battle orders.
 September 11, 1862
From: General Sheridan, Commander of United States Cavalry
To: General McClellan, Commander of the Union Army of the Potomac
Subject: Movement of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia
In recent weeks, General Lee has organized the Army of Northern Virginia into two
commands. Five divisions are commanded by General “Stonewall” Jackson and five
divisions are commanded by General Longstreet. When both armies combine, their total
strength numbers are 50,000 to 55,000. These troops are supported by three cavalry
brigades under the command of “Jeb” Stuart. My patrols tell me they are well-armed but
poorly supplied.
On September 5th, my patrols found the Confederate army had entered Union
territory, crossing the Potomac River into Maryland. On the 6 th of September, General
Lee’s Army occupied Frederick, Maryland. The following day, Stuart’s cavalry cut all
communications with Harper’s Ferry and destroyed the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
bridges on the Potomac River.
On the 9th of September, Longstreet’s command, the left wing of Lee’s army, began
to move west on the National Road toward Hagerstown. Since that time, we have lost all
contact with the main Confederate Army. Stuart’s cavalry has cut all the lines of
communications west of Washington. General Lee’s troops have occupied all the “gaps” in
the mountains and we have been effectively screened off from any Confederate
movements west of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The last report I received from Harper’s Ferry was three days ago. At that time,
our garrison was not under attack, but a force of about 2,000 Confederates was on high
ground north of the Potomac.

General Sheridan
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September 12, 1862
From: The War Department, Washington, D.C.
To: Major General McClellan, Commander, Army of the Potomac

General,
Word has reached the War Department that General Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia are again on the
march. A dispatch was received yesterday informing us that General Lee and his army had crossed the Potomac
River near Leesburg. We have been unable to contact our forces at Harper’s Ferry, and we must therefore
conclude that it has been isolated by the enemy.
The invasion of Maryland by the Confederate army poses the gravest threat to the Union cause. General Lee and
his army must be stopped and the Capital must be protected at all costs.
General McClellan, any decision you make must be influenced by the following:
First, if General Lee should win a major battle, the Confederacy may receive help from Great
Britain or some other European power.
Second, supplies and arms have been critical items for the Confederates so far in this conflict.
However, General Lee will be able to replenish both in the rich valleys of Maryland and
Pennsylvania if he is not stopped. The loss of Harper’s Ferry with its arsenal and arms
production factories will seriously hurt our war effort.
I am sure you appreciate the graveness of the situation. We have built a grand army to protect our cause. Use it
now to preserve the Union.

Edwin M. Stanton
Edwin M. Stanton
Secretary of War
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 HIGHEST PRIORITY MESSAGE
September 14, 1862
ATTENTION COMMANDING GENERAL
FROM: GENERAL J. HOOKER
TO: GENERAL McCLELLAN
SUBJECT: CONFEDERATE BATTLE ORDERS FOUND AT FREDERICK, MARYLAND
At 1100 hours, our advanced companies of Indiana Volunteers occupied the abandoned
Confederate camp outside the city of Frederick, Maryland. A Sergeant Mitchell found
the attached message wrapped around three cigars near the deserted Confederate
headquarters.
My staff officers made a positive identification of General Lee’s handwriting. This
message must be considered authentic. Several of my staff officers served with
General Lee before the war and are very familiar with his handwriting.
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Special Order 191 September

12, 1862
Subject: Deployment of the Army of Northern Virginia
General Jackson,
The enemy has appointed George McClellan as the
Union army’s newest general. He now commands the
Army of the Potomac. He is an able general, but a very
cautious one. His army is in a very demoralized and
chaotic condition, and will not be prepared for offensive
operations – or he will not think it so – for three or four
weeks. Before that time, I hope to be into the far
northern parts of Pennsylvania. No time should be lost
in completing your siege of Harper’s Ferry. The main
army is five miles south of Hagerstown. General Hill
occupies Turner’s Gap and controls Boonsboro. General
Stuart and his cavalry occupy Sharpsburg and
Crampton’s Gap. General Jackson, the Federal garrison
at Harper’s Ferry must be subdued by the 17th of
September. I plan to reconcentrate the army at
Hagerstown and to advance further into Pennsylvania by
the 20th.

Robert E. Lee
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 September 15, 1862
GENERAL McCLELLAN’S STAFF REPORTS

Your staff met and discussed Special Order #191. They are divided on what course of action
you should follow.

One part of your staff feels you must move against Lee immediately for the following reasons:
1. General Lee has made a fatal error. He has over-extended himself. His supply lines are
stretched across the states of Virginia and Maryland. He has entered our territory and
he is two weeks away from his bases of supply or from reinforcements.
2. Special Order # 191 is authentic. We have General Lee’s plans for the next three or
four days. We know the deployment of his army and their location.
3. General Hooker feels that the Union army must strike as soon as possible to cut the
Confederate supply lines and divide their army. He feels the war could end in a Union
victory in the next two days.

The other part of your staff feels any aggressive action on your part may invite disaster for the
following reasons:
1. Special Order #191 is a trap to lure you away from Washington, D.C. Lee intends to
lure you toward Hagerstown.
2. You should fall back and take a defensive position between the Confederate Army and
Washington, D.C. Lee intends to attack you from Harper’s Ferry, if you send the army
north toward Hagerstown.
3. The Union Army should continue to patrol along the mountains, but no Union force
should be committed until more information is obtained.

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September 15, 1862
Headquarters, Army of the Potomac
George McClellan, Commanding

BATTLE ORDERS TO THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC: