Lead the way! (#4) Answer!

[4th-MSM]

You are in command of a detachment of Union Militia cavalry. Your mission is to search for and capture bushwhackers that have been reported 65 miles from your present location. Once you arrive in the area, you divide your detachment into three scouting parties and assign each party to scout separate creeks for signs of the enemy, leading one of these search parties yourself.

As you travel farther along the creek, you continually discover signs that indicate the recent presence of bushwhackers, as well as reports from local citizens of recent sightings. It is getting dark, so you decide to set up camp in a meadow near the creek - despite your concern over the recent signs of the bushwhackers presence. At 1:00 in the morning, you are awoken when your camp is approached by an unknown force that refuse to identify themselves. You estimate that you slightly outnumber them. What do you do?

(This scenario was based upon a report in the ORs. I will post the report and the outcome either Sunday or Monday, depending on the amount of responses.)

 

[Youngblood]

I would not have camped in a meadow, i would have set up a fake camp in the meadow and set up around it for ambush purposes. But anywho...

We are being approached by a force who wont identify.

Give em a last warning before i open up on them, then...... Open up on them if i get no answer or a bad answer.

 

[Union_Buff]

1. Demand that the unknown force positively identify themselves to us
2. Form a skirmish line just in front of the camp in the meadow
3. And if the force does not identify themselves, open fire

 

[huskerblitz]

1. Douse any fires in camp.
2. Identify yourself and demand their identity.
3. Instruct men to form a skirmish line in the direction of the approaching force.
4. Pray they are friendly.

 

[damYankee]

I would not have camped in a meadow, i would have set up a fake camp in the meadow and set up around it for ambush purposes. But anywho...

We are being approached by a force who wont identify.

Give em a last warning before i open up on them, then...... Open up on them if i get no answer or a bad answer.[/

I agree,. I would prefer to be on high ground, not in a clearing or meadow.
I assume the bushwhackers know the area better than I do,. Therefore I would find either higher ground near the meadow or a tree line, set up a dry camp with no fire, I would have the men dig in if there were no other cover.
I would maintain a ready group of two squadrons ready to mount and challenge, and would rotate them throughout the night, two hours watch per squadron. These would be the hinge of my "L" trap.

The fire would be on the short end of my line, like a large " L," with the stream flowing near the L like this,
L . |
The small dot is the fire, the line is the stream. The fire at the short end of the "L", my plan is the classic L shaped ambush, pull the enemy into a crossfire with their backs against the stream and my main force composing the long line of the "L" . When challenged if the do not respond the fire would come from the line forming the long line of the "L" , hoping they will either turn to fight that line or advance on it, then unleash the men on the short line to swing the hinge trap, firing down their line.
The simplicity of the "L" trap is it allows mobility,. My detachment would be well trained in this maneuver before they ever set out to hunt an enemy down.

 

[damYankee]

I would not have camped in a meadow, i would have set up a fake camp in the meadow and set up around it for ambush purposes. But anywho...

We are being approached by a force who wont identify.

Give em a last warning before i open up on them, then...... Open up on them if i get no answer or a bad answer.[/

I agree,. I would prefer to be on high ground, not in a clearing or meadow.
I assume the bushwhackers know the area better than I do,. Therefore I would find either higher ground near the meadow or a tree line, set up a dry camp with no fire, I would have the men dig in if there were no other cover.
I would maintain a ready group of two squadrons ready to mount and challenge, and would rotate them throughout the night, two hours watch per squadron. These would be the hinge of my "L" trap.

The fire would be on the short end of my line, like a large " L," with the stream flowing near the L like this,
L . |
The small dot is the fire, the line is the stream. The fire at the short end of the "L", my plan is the classic L shaped ambush, pull the enemy into a crossfire with their backs against the stream and my main force composing the long line of the "L" . When challenged if the do not respond the fire would come from the line forming the long line of the "L" , hoping they will either turn to fight that line or advance on it, then unleash the men on the short line to swing the hinge trap, firing down their line.
The simplicity of the "L" trap is it allows mobility,. My detachment would be well trained in this maneuver before they ever set out to hunt an enemy down.

 

[gunny]

The hard part here is not eyeballing other responses as I scroll down. But, given the situation and being aware that I was in the presence if the enemy I would not camp in an open field. #2 - I would be in 50% alert already.

On approach of the force and their response to not identify themselves I would have a standing order to sound the alarm and tell the force they had stumbled upon a full brigade and would suffer certain death if they didn't approach with arms at the trail.

If they open fire I destroy them.

If they fall back I destroy them.

My way or the highway if you will!

 

[M.Warren]

Like mentioned above. This whole scenario was SNAFU from the start. Mistakes were made. Splitting your forces in a textbook ambush situation.. Camping in an open field... In the words of George Clooney's character from O Brother.. D@mn boys, we're in a tight spot!

 

[1SGDan]

Security in enemy territory should be at least 50%,
Under the circumstances any force that refuses to identify themselves must be considered hostile.
If the unknown force continues to advance on your position without response then you should open on them.

 

[rhettbutler1865]

I don't wish to be repetitive, but when I read "...set up camp in a meadow..." I said out loud to myself, "Well, I wouldn't do that." But since we are already there, demand identification from the unknown force. (Of course you would not have made any fires), so let them know who you are, and if no response, open fire immediately.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

SO interesting! I think Dam Yankee's camp is where I'd wish to be, like everyone has said, seems so odd since this was a genuine report, a meadow was chosen.

I have a question? Since they have already refused to identify themselves, doesn't this tell you they are enemy or do you act on the assumption neither of you are clear, perhaps the other force is friendly and doubtful about you?

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

Wake everyone up and form them for a dismounted defense; identify yourself and challenge the unknown force again, which is quite likely to be the bushwhackers, but could potentially be one of your other parties blundering around in the dark.

 

[M.Warren]

Wake everyone up and form them for a dismounted defense; identify yourself and challenge the unknown force again, which is quite likely to be the bushwhackers, but could potentially be one of your other parties blundering around in the dark.

agreed. Firing into the darkness isn't the best idea for obvious reasons. If you're a religious man, get your head lower than your butt and start praying its a deer!

 

[4th-MSM]

SO interesting! I think Dam Yankee's camp is where I'd wish to be, like everyone has said, seems so odd since this was a genuine report, a meadow was chosen.

I have a question? Since they have already refused to identify themselves, doesn't this tell you they are enemy or do you act on the assumption neither of you are clear, perhaps the other force is friendly and doubtful about you?

That's what makes it a hard decision. Both friendly and enemy forces are known to be operating in the area. Uniforms are not a good indication for either side, as not all the militias had proper uniforms and the bushwhackers were known to wear captured federal uniforms at times. In this situation it is too dark to see what they are wearing anyway, but your unit is one that was issued proper uniforms.

The meadow does seem like a strange place to set up camp, but I assume it was for easy access to the water. The brush was reported to be thick in that area. Other than that, the terrain wasn't described beyond what I've included. I just checked a topographical map of the general area and the hills tend to rise rather steeply from 60-100 feet above the creek, but their motive for the location chosen wasn't given in the report.

I would say more but I don't want to accidently reveal the results prematurely.

 

[yellowthornoftexas]

The hard part here is not eyeballing other responses as I scroll down. But, given the situation and being aware that I was in the presence if the enemy I would not camp in an open field. #2 - I would be in 50% alert already.

On approach of the force and their response to not identify themselves I would have a standing order to sound the alarm and tell the force they had stumbled upon a full brigade and would suffer certain death if they didn't approach with arms at the trail.

If they open fire I destroy them.

If they fall back I destroy them.

My way or the highway if you will!

Only problem with that Gunny is them boys don't fight like Marines!!! Lol

 

[yellowthornoftexas]

Keep the high ground, not the low ground, cold camp, 50% security total perimeter, avenues of approach, watch the flanks.

 

[M.Warren]

The meadow does seem like a strange place to set up camp, but I assume it was for easy access to the water.

That very well could have been the case but judging from the other info given in the OP,

It is getting dark, so you decide to set up camp in a meadow near the creek - despite your concern over the recent signs of the bushwhackers presence.

Its possible if not likely they just got caught with their pants down by fast sunset in a mountainous wooded area. I do look forward to hearing the outcome of this scenario because at this point there really isn't a fail safe answer for the unfortunate series of events leading to this situation, in my opinion.

 

[M.Warren]

Keep the high ground, not the low ground, cold camp, 50% security total perimeter, avenues of approach, watch the flanks.

Good call on the cold camp and security, but personally I'd have ordered my men to take shelter within the edge of the wood line, in pairs 10 meters apart with one man from each pair awake at all times through the night. I think that would be the most secure option for the given situation with each pair in position to cover the flank of the next and the ability to hear anyone moving toward you in the forest ground cover. Deciding on a safe word for friendlies before splitting your force would have been a good idea too and avoided a friendly fire situation.

 

[yellowthornoftexas]

That's a good call, the tree line, but a failure to realize, tactics then differ from now so maybe it seemed reasonable to be in the meadow.
Wonder how this'll work out.
Fix bayonets, cold steel... Lol

 

[Tom Elmore]

I would tell the sergeant to quietly rouse the men and upon my signal (hopefully you have a bugler or drummer with you for this purpose) make as much racket as possible, but to not fire until commanded. Then I would yell out, as a ruse, "Sergeant, alert the regiment to prepare for action!" If it's the enemy, they might be intimidated and withdraw. If friendly, they may be coaxed into revealing themselves. Either way, the good news it that it's hard to hit anything in the dark, especially for militiamen.