First Battle of Bull Run or Manassas 1861

Having expanded my American Civil War troops, as detailed in my last post, we met today to try out my recently acquired copy of the Bloody Big Battles ruleset, with the First Bull Run (or Manassas) scenario available from the BBB Yahoo group.

Stuart decided, on consideration, he supported the right of states to secede, so took command of the Confederate Army of the Potomac, under Beauregard, and I took on the balance of the Rebellious forces as Johnson in charge of the Army of the Shendandoah. This left Crafthole with the unenviable task of bringing us to heel as McDowell heading the Yankee Army of North Eastern Virginia.

The rules and scenario made for an interesting battle, with almost all troops Raw and Fragile, and armed with smoothbore muskets (it being assumed the small number of rifles were poorly used by the sketchily trained troops). The Union have an early advantage with more troops on the table, but has the onus to attack as all objectives start in Confederate hands, and Tyler's 1st Division is paralysed to start with by poorer than usual leadership. In fact the only army with any kind of command control is Johnson's. The Union also has rifled artillery, whilst the Rebs can only muster smoothbore Napoleons. To counter this the Rebs have the slight advantage of Jackson's Trained Brigade and JEB Stuart's small band of Trained cavalry, the only trained troops on the field. 

Starting dispositions. In the centre is Henry House Hill (with the Henry House next to it), Bull Run flows to the right of this and is impassable except at a number of fords (some of which I have represented by wooden bridges) and the Stone Bridge, which is another objective. Bald Hill is a third objective, to the left of Henry House Hill. Evans' Confederate Brigade can be seen on top of Matthew's Hill, the other side of Young's Branch, observing the newly arrived US 2nd Division in the background. The forward elements of Johnson's Army have just passed through Newmarket village, another objective in the left foreground, and Cocke's Brigade, under Beauregard, are defending the final objective of Ball's Ford. Schenck's Brigade of the stalled US 1st Division can just be seen on the other side of Bull Run to the right

Another view looking down the table, Bald Hill in the foreground with Henry House Hill behind.

Bartow's and Bee's Brigades of the Army of the Shenandoah approaching Bald Hill

Cocke's Brigade defending Ball's Ford, the objective marker to his front shows this is currently in Confederate control.

Schenck's Brigade on the road to the Stone Bridge.

The Union 2nd Division, Burnside's and Porter's Brigades with attached artillery, arrive on the field.

Evan's Brigade, which includes Wheat's Louisiana Tigers, observe their arrival from Matthew's Hill

After some swift marching Bee and Bartow beat the Yanks to Bald Hill, however the 2nd Division artillery get in the first shot.

Johnson arrives to take command and steady the troops

and there is Jackson standing like...some kind of immovable object, on Lewis Hill taking stock of the situation. While he waits the Union army occupies Henry House Hill with Willcox's Brigade

As Sherman arrives on his flank, and Porter to his front, an outnumbered Evans hightails it back to the Stone Bridge.

The Yankees launch an attack  on Bald Hill but are thrown back by surprisingly well aimed volleys from Bee and Bartow, or perhaps their first whiff of gunpowder makes them a bit flighty .

Jackson finally moves up to make an attempt on  Henry House Hill.

Meanwhile Schenck doesn't do very much, only Schenck knows why.

Evan's turns to defend the banks of Young's branch as Sherman and Porter close in.

Willcox and Jackson close on Henry House Hill.  The Confederates set up their artillery on Lewis Hill in support.

Meanwhile, around Bald Hill, both sides continue to exchange volleys causing much inconclusive disruption.

Jackson charges up Henry House Hill, bayonets fixed...

...Willcox's Zouaves charge down to meet him....

...as Jackson and Willcox clash, Stuart's cavalry arrive in a cloud of dust...

...and Jackson is thrown down the slopes of the hill....

...however he regroups and charges in again...

...and retreats down  yet again.

Over at the crossing of Young's Branch, next to the Stone Bridge, Evans gets himself into difficulties and receives devastating fire from the Yankees

Evans' Brigade disintegrates and breaks under the withering shot and shell

Fierce fighting over  Bald Hill has left both sides largely spent, however Franklin's fresh brigade manages to close with Bartow and sends him fleeing into the woods, broken.

Kirby-Smith arrives in time to plug the gap but is immediately disrupted and spent by the combined artillery of the US 2nd and 3rd Divisions. 

Jackson heads wearily up Henry House Hill again, this time supported by Stuart's cavalry with Cocke in reserve.

and this time he sends Wilcox hurtling back across Young's Branch, he exploits his success and sends an already unsteady Keyes flying as well.

Having recaptured the hill, Stuart and Jackson regroup

Porter makes a last desperate charge,  Bonham's troops  tiredly raise their befouled muskets again to repulse them

The Confederate artillery assists from Lewis Hill

and Porter is hurled back to where he started

Franklin also makes a last attack against Kirby-Smith

but he is forced to halt in disorder by a ragged volley from the Rebs.

With both sides largely spent the battle draws to a close with the Confederates in possession of most of the field.

As the din of battle dies down the Union army falls back like the receding tide of a deep blue ocean.

Jackson rallies on  the other side of Henry House Hill threatening the flank and rear of the US troops attacking Bald Hill

Despite some late Union success with Franklin's Brigade,  the Rebs have just managed to hold on  to Bald Hill

With ammunition getting low, and out flanked by Jackson, the Union army prepares to regroup

Keyes attempts to reorder his Brigade under the cover of some nearby woods.

and Wilcox also tries to rally his few remaining Zouaves.

Sherman and Porter hold off Bonham long enough for the Union artillery to limber up and withdraw

Early and Bonham prepare to pick up whatever discarded Federal kit they can from the field.

Johnson awaits news of the battle outside the Henry House.

Situation at the close of play. The US army captured Stone Bridge, and  also took possession of Henry House Hill for a while but could not hold it. They came within a whisker of taking Bald Hill but ran out of time, energy and ammunition to be able to complete the task. The Union army heads back towards DC to lick its wounds and the Rebs are too exhausted to follow them up. 

A most entertaining afternoon then, and finished in much less time than it usually takes us to complete a battle. The combination of poorly trained troops and a continually changing balance of forces certainly kept things lively. The rules were simple enough to pick up and with enough subtlety to give a good reflection of warfare of the period. I suspect we'll be using them again before too long.