Young's Branch 21 JUL 1861

Having returned from a recent trip back East to walk several ACW battlefields, getting my 10mm ACW collection onto the table was Priority #1.  With visits to Gettysburg, Antietam, First/Second Manassas, and Harper's Ferry, I had plenty of choices to make.  The battle selected to kick off a string of ACW battles on the tabletop was First Manassas.  While I tackle the entire battle, Young's Branch is focal to the table as it defines the major Confederate interior lines.  Having seen an old map with the battle labeled as Young's Branch, I figured that a reasonable name for this scenario.

Young's Branch battlefield

Looking north toward Stone House from Sudley-Manassas Road. 
Henry House in the right foreground. 

With the battlefield and scenario set, I sent out a call for players.  While Stew (A Terrible Loss of Lead and Wealth) suggested that he had to invite himself to grab a seat at the table, that is not quite true.  There was a bit of convincing needed and finding a slot in his busy schedule.  
 
Stew and I sat down on Saturday afternoon to give the scenario a run-through.  For a change for me, both players resided in the same time zone.  Stew chose to command the Federal Army under McDowell.  I would command the twin armies of Johnston and Beauregard.  This would be Stew's first remote game and the first with the rules.  Being a longtime Fire & Fury aficionado, I wondered how he would take to my adaptation of Fields of Honor.

Without wasting anymore print, let's move on to the fighting of the actual battle.

The battle begins with the arrival of Burnside's Brigade moving south along the Sudley-Manassas Road following McDowell's grand flanking maneuver.  Warned of the Federal arrival to his left, Evans quickly moves the bulk of brigade from guarding the Stone Bridge over to Matthews' Hill.  With reports of large Federal formations arriving to the north, Beauregard sends Bee and Bartow north from Henry Hill to support Evans.

Evans stands alone on Matthews' Hill.

Burnside shakes his brigade out into line.

Bartow and Bee race to Matthews' Hill.

Before reinforcements could reach Matthews' Hill, Hunter brings up the rest of his division (Porter's Brigade) in support of Burnside.  With artillery unlimbering on the knoll across Sudley-Manassas Road, the attack begins. Outnumbered nearly seven-to-one, the 4th SC puts up a valiant fight.  Evans' 4th SC is cut to pieces in a hail of lead as Wise's guns stand on the heights alone.  Evans must retire back beyond the crest.  Both Hunter orders both Burnside and Porter to press on.

Hunter's Division attacks!

Evans' losses are heavy but the Federals pay a price.

The Rebels retire off of Matthews' Hill.

Blue lines push the Rebels back.

As the Rebels fall back to The Stone House,
 Hunter's Division secures Matthews' Hill. 

Facing overwhelming odds, Evans gives up Matthews' Hill. Seeing Evans' predicament, both Bee and Bartow form up along the Warrenton Pike near The Stone House.  Will the Rebels make a stand at Young's Branch at the crossroads?  No!  Evans' Brigade breaks and scatters.  With pressure from Hunter's division increasing, the Rebels choose to fall back from Young's Branch.

Rebels fall back to Young's Branch.

Bee and Bartow continue to retire
back over Young's Branch.

Beauregard reaches Robinson House at the head of Hampton's Legion and Staunton's artillery section.  Staunton unlimbers along the rail fence on Henry Hill.

Beauregard arrives!

The Confederates face more trouble than Hunter alone offers.

To the east, Sherman discovers the ford across Bull Run and begins crossing his brigade to the other bank.  Sherman quickly moves his brigade up toward Young Branch while drawing a bead toward Robinson House.  Without wasting any time, Sherman pushes two regiments across the stream bringing Hampton's Legion into range of his rifled muskets.  Taking fire from Robinson House, the advance is slowed as Sherman halts to redress the ranks.  Ignoring the growing number of casualties, Sherman prepares the assault that Beauregard knows is coming.  With only Hampton's Legion and Staunton's artillery holding the Rebel right, how long can Beauregard expect to hold on?

Beauregard waits.

Sherman crosses Bull Run and approaches Young's Branch.

Wasting no time, Sherman advances across Young's Branch.

Sherman's boys suffer at the hands of
Beauregard's crippling volleys. 

Sherman prepares to attack Robinson House.

Reports reach Beauregard that Jackson's Brigade has reached the field.  Jackson is moving swiftly north up the Sudley-Manassas Road.  Jackson will not arrive in time to save Bee and Bartow.  Both Rebel brigades are crushed by the weight of advancing Union troops.  What are Jackson's plans now?

Jackson arrives!

Back at The Stone House, Hunter readies his division to wade across Young's Branch to counter Jackson's march northward.  Both Burnside and Hunter form up and splash across the stream.  Seeing the Federal response, Jackson orders his brigade to form up across the Sudley-Manassas Road.  McDowell sees that Heinzelman has reached the field of battle.  Franklin comes up to support Hunter.  Wilcox crosses Young's Branch to link Sherman with Hunter.  Hunter continues his advance toward Henry Hill and Jackson's waiting Rebels.  Casualties mount as the distance closes.

Hunter's Division forms up at The Stone House.

Hunter crosses Young's Branch

Jackson begins to deploy.

Federals press on toward Henry Hill.

Support arrives for Hunter.

Back on the Confederate right, Sherman storms up Henry Hill to take Robinson House.  Success!  While the Rebels defending Robinson House are ejected with great loss, Sherman finds himself facing reinforcements from Cocke's Brigade.  Rebels line the rail fence atop Henry Hill.  Beauregard is carried to the rear, mortally wounded.

Sherman takes Robinson house!

McDowell presents a wide front.

While Cocke moves up to line Henry Hill with Confederate infantry and Jackson forms up on his left, the Federal masses march on.  Heinztelman continues pushing his boys hard on the Federal right.  Jackson's left is becoming threatened as Franklin and Howard press down Chinn Ridge.  In the heavy fighting at Robinson House, Sherman's success is short-lived.  He is repulsed in counterattacks.  Sherman's Brigade is broken. 

Cocke lines Henry Hill awaiting
the assault he knows is coming.

Battle overview.

Sherman breaks.

In a surprise to Heintzelman and Franklin, Elzey's Brigade appears along Chinn Ridge.  Perhaps over-extended, the 5th MA is caught in flank and destroyed.  Could this be a turn to Confederate fortunes?  No! 

As the Federals bear down upon Jackson, the firefights reach a crescendo.  Jackson's Brigade is broken and Johnston falls, mortally wounded.

Federals close in on Henry Hill.

More Federal reinforcements come up.

Henry Hill is still in Rebel hands but not for long.

With both Beauregard and Johnston dead on the field and four brigades wrecked out of eight, Jackson orders his army to retire from the field.

A brilliant Union victory!  The war may be over!

Congratulations to Stew on a very well-played game.  He managed to keep up a deadly fire throughout the battle and shredded many of the Rebel regiments.  We played for about six hours straight.  Whew!  That is a very long game.  The Rebels could have put up a little more resistance but, at this point, resistance seemed futile.  

I wonder how the Rebels could have played their hand differently?

While this was Stew's first remote game, I hope to see him back at the table another time.  Facing an opponent who offers a challenging game is a great pleasure.

Thank you, Stew!