Gavrilo Sartorys
Private
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2019
- Location
- Orléans, France
Here's the situation :
In early September 1862, McClellan's Army of the Potomac contained 8 infantry corps
- the 3rd/1st Corps, under MG(V) McDowell / MG(V) Hooker (3 average Divisions)
- the 2nd Corps, under MG(V) Sumner (2 average Divisions + 1 Independant Bde)
- the 3rd Corps, under MG(V) Heintzelman (2 average Divisions)
- the 5th Corps, under MG(V) Porter (2 average Divisions)
- the 6th Corps, under MG(V) Franklin (2 average Division + 1 Division from the 4th Corps, under MG(V) Couch)
- the 9th Corps, under MG(V) Burnside / MG(V) Reno (3 average Divisions + Kanawha Division)
- the 1st/11th Corps, under MG(V) Sigel (3 small Divisions)
- the 2nd/12th Corps, under MG(V) Banks / MG(V) Mansfield (2 average Divisions)
When McClellan start moving against Lee's separate troops, Lincoln / Halleck / Stanton decide to keep some units stationed at Washington to protect the capital. This decision was quite sound but it deprived McClellan of many veteran units, further replaced by inexperienced volunteers (namely French's and Humphreys' Division).
Of those infantry corps :
- the 1st Corps partly fought in the Valley and fought in Northern Virginia, it had a veteran division (the PA Reserves) which fought in the Peninsula
- the 2nd Corps fought in the Peninsula
- the 3rd Corps fought in the Peninsula and in Northern Virginia
- the 5th Corps fought in the Peninsula and at 2nd Bull Run
- the 6th Corps fought in the Peninsula
- the 9th Corps conducted a coastal operation in North Carolina and fought in Northern Virginia
- the 11th Corps fought in the Valley and in Northern Virginia
- the 12th Corps fought in the Valley and in Northern Virginia
Of the attached inexperienced troops :
- French's Division resulted from putting together newly raised regiments, Weber's Bde from Suffolk and Kimball's Bde from the Valley
- Humphreys' Division was mainly composed of newly raised regiments
The Federal Government kept the 3rd and 11th Corps at Washington, depriving McClellan of one of his best corps (the 3rd) and of an small but effective bunch of fighters (the 11th). If McClellan had both enough time and decision to gather more experienced fighters during the Maryland Campaign, I believe the battle of Antietam would have resulted in more than a bloody stalemate, maybe allowing the capture of a huge portion of the Army of Northern Virginia.
I propose below an alternative order of battle with explanations :
Army of the Potomac : MG(R) George B. McClellan
- 1st Corps : BG(V) James B. Ricketts
- - 1st Div. (4 Bdes) formerly 1st Div., 3rd Corps, Army of Virginia
- - 2nd Div. (3 Bdes + Kimball's Independant Bde) formerly 2nd Div., 3rd Corps, Army of Virginia
The 1st Corps was previously commanded by McDowell, who lost his fame twice at 1st and 2nd Bull Run. I would retain Ricketts rather than Hooker to assume command of the corps. Hooker was a newby while Ricketts was known by his men. I think the troops would be more confident under his leadership. His second division is therefore reinforced by a veteran brigade under Kimball, while the Pennsylvania Reserves are detached to reinforce the 5th Corps under Fitz-John Porter.
- 2nd Corps : MG(V) Edwin V. Sumner
- - 1st Div. (3 Bdes)
- - 2nd Div. (3 Bdes)
- - 3rd Div. (2 Bdes) formerly 1st Div., 2nd Corps, Army of Virginia
The 2nd Corps, containing two solid divisions under Richardson and Sedgwick, is consolidated with a portion of the 12th Corps, providing one experienced division to Sumner's veterans.
- 3rd Corps : MG(V) Joseph Hooker
- - 1st Div. (3 Bdes)
- - 2nd Div. (3 Bdes)
- - 3rd Div. (3 Bdes) formerly 2nd Div., 2nd Corps, Army of Virginia
The 3rd Corps, led by Hooker, is also reinforced by the other portion of the 12th Corps, providing one experienced division to Hooker's veterans.
- 5th Corps : MG(V) Fitz-John Porter
- - 1st Div. (3 Bdes)
- - 2nd Div. (2.5 Bdes)
- - 3rd Div. (3 Bdes) formerly 3rd Div., 3rd Corps, Army of Virginia (Pennsylvania Reserves)
The 5th Corps receives once more the support of the Pennsylvania Reserves.
- 6th Corps : MG(V) William B. Franklin
- - 1st Div. (3 Bdes)
- - 2nd Div. (3 Bdes)
- - 3rd Div. (3 Bdes) formerly 1st Div., 4th Corps, Army of the Potomac
Couch's Division from 4th Corps is normally attached to Franklin's command, as it happened in reality. No more changes in the 6th Corps.
Defenses of Washington : MG(V) Nathaniel Banks
- 9th Corps : MG(V) Ambrose E. Burnside
- - 1st Div. (3 Bdes) consolidated with 3rd Div.
- - 2nd Div. (3 Bdes) consolidated with 3rd Div.
- 11th Corps : MG(V) Franz Sigel
- - 1st Div. (3rd Bdes) consolidated with 3rd Div.
- - 2nd Div. (3rd Bdes) consolidated with 3rd Div.
- 12th Corps : BG(A) Joseph K. F. Mansfield
- - Whipples' Div. (3 Bdes) consolidated with Weber's Bde
- - Casey's Div. (3 Bdes) formed from Morris', Tyler's & Allabach's Bdes
- - Scammon's Div. (2 Bdes) formerly part of Kanawha Div.
The 9th and 11th Corps, composed of the least experienced troops, are stationed for rest at Washington, slowly consolidating and reinforcing. The 12th receives new components, part are newly raised regiments while others are garrison units from Suffolk, Maryland or West Virginia.
So, McClellan has five reinforced corps under him, rather than six average corps, and his troops are composed of experienced fighters. The Cavalry Div. can be consolidated into three brigades rather than five, and assigned to Porter's command. If using a wing structure, McClellan can organize his army this way, assuming that each brigade numbers approximately 1,500 effectives :
Army of the Potomac : McClellan (68,250)
Right Wing : Sumner (25,500)
- 2nd Corps : Richardson (12,000)
- 3rd Corps : Hooker (13,500)
Left Wing : Porter (17,250)
- 5th Corps : Morell (12,750)
- Cavalry Div. : Pleasonton (4,500)
Center Wing : Franklin (25,500)
- 1st Corps : Ricketts (12,000)
- 6th Corps : Slocum (13,500)
In early September 1862, McClellan's Army of the Potomac contained 8 infantry corps
- the 3rd/1st Corps, under MG(V) McDowell / MG(V) Hooker (3 average Divisions)
- the 2nd Corps, under MG(V) Sumner (2 average Divisions + 1 Independant Bde)
- the 3rd Corps, under MG(V) Heintzelman (2 average Divisions)
- the 5th Corps, under MG(V) Porter (2 average Divisions)
- the 6th Corps, under MG(V) Franklin (2 average Division + 1 Division from the 4th Corps, under MG(V) Couch)
- the 9th Corps, under MG(V) Burnside / MG(V) Reno (3 average Divisions + Kanawha Division)
- the 1st/11th Corps, under MG(V) Sigel (3 small Divisions)
- the 2nd/12th Corps, under MG(V) Banks / MG(V) Mansfield (2 average Divisions)
When McClellan start moving against Lee's separate troops, Lincoln / Halleck / Stanton decide to keep some units stationed at Washington to protect the capital. This decision was quite sound but it deprived McClellan of many veteran units, further replaced by inexperienced volunteers (namely French's and Humphreys' Division).
Of those infantry corps :
- the 1st Corps partly fought in the Valley and fought in Northern Virginia, it had a veteran division (the PA Reserves) which fought in the Peninsula
- the 2nd Corps fought in the Peninsula
- the 3rd Corps fought in the Peninsula and in Northern Virginia
- the 5th Corps fought in the Peninsula and at 2nd Bull Run
- the 6th Corps fought in the Peninsula
- the 9th Corps conducted a coastal operation in North Carolina and fought in Northern Virginia
- the 11th Corps fought in the Valley and in Northern Virginia
- the 12th Corps fought in the Valley and in Northern Virginia
Of the attached inexperienced troops :
- French's Division resulted from putting together newly raised regiments, Weber's Bde from Suffolk and Kimball's Bde from the Valley
- Humphreys' Division was mainly composed of newly raised regiments
The Federal Government kept the 3rd and 11th Corps at Washington, depriving McClellan of one of his best corps (the 3rd) and of an small but effective bunch of fighters (the 11th). If McClellan had both enough time and decision to gather more experienced fighters during the Maryland Campaign, I believe the battle of Antietam would have resulted in more than a bloody stalemate, maybe allowing the capture of a huge portion of the Army of Northern Virginia.
I propose below an alternative order of battle with explanations :
Army of the Potomac : MG(R) George B. McClellan
- 1st Corps : BG(V) James B. Ricketts
- - 1st Div. (4 Bdes) formerly 1st Div., 3rd Corps, Army of Virginia
- - 2nd Div. (3 Bdes + Kimball's Independant Bde) formerly 2nd Div., 3rd Corps, Army of Virginia
The 1st Corps was previously commanded by McDowell, who lost his fame twice at 1st and 2nd Bull Run. I would retain Ricketts rather than Hooker to assume command of the corps. Hooker was a newby while Ricketts was known by his men. I think the troops would be more confident under his leadership. His second division is therefore reinforced by a veteran brigade under Kimball, while the Pennsylvania Reserves are detached to reinforce the 5th Corps under Fitz-John Porter.
- 2nd Corps : MG(V) Edwin V. Sumner
- - 1st Div. (3 Bdes)
- - 2nd Div. (3 Bdes)
- - 3rd Div. (2 Bdes) formerly 1st Div., 2nd Corps, Army of Virginia
The 2nd Corps, containing two solid divisions under Richardson and Sedgwick, is consolidated with a portion of the 12th Corps, providing one experienced division to Sumner's veterans.
- 3rd Corps : MG(V) Joseph Hooker
- - 1st Div. (3 Bdes)
- - 2nd Div. (3 Bdes)
- - 3rd Div. (3 Bdes) formerly 2nd Div., 2nd Corps, Army of Virginia
The 3rd Corps, led by Hooker, is also reinforced by the other portion of the 12th Corps, providing one experienced division to Hooker's veterans.
- 5th Corps : MG(V) Fitz-John Porter
- - 1st Div. (3 Bdes)
- - 2nd Div. (2.5 Bdes)
- - 3rd Div. (3 Bdes) formerly 3rd Div., 3rd Corps, Army of Virginia (Pennsylvania Reserves)
The 5th Corps receives once more the support of the Pennsylvania Reserves.
- 6th Corps : MG(V) William B. Franklin
- - 1st Div. (3 Bdes)
- - 2nd Div. (3 Bdes)
- - 3rd Div. (3 Bdes) formerly 1st Div., 4th Corps, Army of the Potomac
Couch's Division from 4th Corps is normally attached to Franklin's command, as it happened in reality. No more changes in the 6th Corps.
Defenses of Washington : MG(V) Nathaniel Banks
- 9th Corps : MG(V) Ambrose E. Burnside
- - 1st Div. (3 Bdes) consolidated with 3rd Div.
- - 2nd Div. (3 Bdes) consolidated with 3rd Div.
- 11th Corps : MG(V) Franz Sigel
- - 1st Div. (3rd Bdes) consolidated with 3rd Div.
- - 2nd Div. (3rd Bdes) consolidated with 3rd Div.
- 12th Corps : BG(A) Joseph K. F. Mansfield
- - Whipples' Div. (3 Bdes) consolidated with Weber's Bde
- - Casey's Div. (3 Bdes) formed from Morris', Tyler's & Allabach's Bdes
- - Scammon's Div. (2 Bdes) formerly part of Kanawha Div.
The 9th and 11th Corps, composed of the least experienced troops, are stationed for rest at Washington, slowly consolidating and reinforcing. The 12th receives new components, part are newly raised regiments while others are garrison units from Suffolk, Maryland or West Virginia.
So, McClellan has five reinforced corps under him, rather than six average corps, and his troops are composed of experienced fighters. The Cavalry Div. can be consolidated into three brigades rather than five, and assigned to Porter's command. If using a wing structure, McClellan can organize his army this way, assuming that each brigade numbers approximately 1,500 effectives :
Army of the Potomac : McClellan (68,250)
Right Wing : Sumner (25,500)
- 2nd Corps : Richardson (12,000)
- 3rd Corps : Hooker (13,500)
Left Wing : Porter (17,250)
- 5th Corps : Morell (12,750)
- Cavalry Div. : Pleasonton (4,500)
Center Wing : Franklin (25,500)
- 1st Corps : Ricketts (12,000)
- 6th Corps : Slocum (13,500)