Battle of Big Bethal, June 10,1861 Part 2

The stage is set for the opening shots of the battle.

Turn 2. Confederate Initiative  The combined forces in the redoubt open fire on the brave federal battery on the road.  The  Federal Artillery begins to take casualties. They rout and fall back.

Forced to advance with no artillery support. The Infantry emerge from the tree line

Turn 3. Federal Initiative. The Union Troops elect to close the distance with the redoubt. The closer they are, the more deadly their opening volley will be. The defending Confederates are considered to be in Heavy cover.

The Confederates continue to pour on the fire. They know that they need to make every shot count if they are to hold this position.

Turn 4. Federal Initiative. The Union Left flank consolidates outside of the treeline and advance.

The 3rd NY and the 1st NY on the left flank advancing up to the redoubt. The Richmond Artillery Battery in the redoubt kept up such a heavy fire that they ran out of ammo for a second time. The first time, they managed to be resupplied.

The 1st NY takes heavy casualties and becomes shaken.

The 5th NY surges from the woods and takes a position forward. They ready their muskets for a volley.

During the beginning of the 4th Turn, the Richmond Artillery gets resupplied. and they continue to fire.

The 3rd NY gives up the field. The advance is halted. With the 3rd NY gone, they have a hole in the line.

Turn 5. Federal Initiative.  The 5th NY and the 1st NY open fire with their first volleys. The redoubt takes casualties. The Whyth Rifles routs and retreats across the creek.

Turn 6. Confederate Initiative. The Confederates on the opposite side of the creek open fire on the 5th NY. They take severe casualties from the combined fire. They retire from the field.

Turn 7. General Peirce is wounded slightly. He attempts to hurry  the 7th NY and the 1st VT Infantry Regts.

Turn 8. Confederate Initiative. The Redoubt holds. The 1st NY Inf are driven from the field. The attack on the Confederate redoubt is stopped cold. General Perice calls off the attack. Without a consolidated front line, he will be throwing away the remainder of his men.

~After Action Report~ General Peirce should have maintained better control of his brigade. Instead the regiments committed themselves piecemeal and were defeated in detail. If all the regiments emerged from the wood line at the same time, they would have overwhelmed the Confederate defenders at the redoubt.
~Historical Outcome~ The surprise was blown on the march inland, when the 3rd NY Inf got lost and backtracked into the German speaking 7th NY. It did not help that they were wearing Gray uniforms as well. The 7th NY opened fire on the 3rd NY and caused a few casualties before a cease fire was ordered. I reflected this in the battle by giving the 3rd NY a slightly lower Cohesion level then the rest of the regiments. Historically they were shaken up by the friendly fire incident. Strangely enough, this battle had the same result as the historical counterpart. A Confederate victory.

A few weeks later, 20 miles outside of Washington D.C., The Federal Army under Irwin McDowell is stopped by Generals Joseph Johnston and P.G.T. Beauregard at what would be called The First Battle of Bull Run. (First Manassas in the south.)