The Army of Northern Virginia Command Stands and Flags

I remodeled my command stands for my Confederate Army. I followed suit with what I did with the Union Army. I placed Generals with an aide on one stand and the HQ Guidon and a escort on another stand. Army, Corps, and Division Generals are represented by two stands. Here are a few of the modified Generals.

General Robert E. Lee with his ANV HQ flag escort. General Longstreet with a Confederate Battle Flag  and General Stonewall Jackson with a National Flag. I wanted the Corps commanders to have some variety in their flagss.

Stonewall Jackson rides into town.

General A.P. Hill with his "Light Division" on the march.

The Cavalier, J.E.B. Stuart and a Confederate Battle flag HQ.

General Jubal Early and General John B. Gordon. I modeled some "Stainless Banner" flags for Corp and Division level HQ's. This way I would be able to do some '63-65 battles.

Another view of Early and Gordon.

Battle of Williamsburg May 5th 1862: Afternoon: Hancock's Assault Part 2

Last turn saw Brigadier General Winfield Scott Hancock bring his brigade onto the field and into line. The combined force of Major General Daniel Harvey Hill and Brigadier General Jubal Early stand fast to meet them on the field. Hancock's men move into musket range.

"Forward men, Let's Go!"

"Hold your fire.......... Hold your fire."

"..........................now."

Turn 6. Confederate Initiative. The Confederates open the ball with the rattle of musketry all along the line. The Federal Brigade takes massive casualties. 

The 33rd NY Infantry fail their cohesion test, break and rout from the field. This causes the right flank of the Union Battle line to weaken. Hancock's only option in to shorten his line or try to extend enough to protect his weakened flank.

During the Federal Army Turn of Turn 6. One of the supporting Federal Regiments is ordered to take the position of the routed regiment. They go into column formation and quickly move to the right.

Turn 7 Federal Initiative. A change of plans has caused a serious disadvantage for the Federal side. Feeling that the Brigade has pushed far enough, Hancock orders his men to open fire. with the new regiment taking the right flank of the line. the regiment that held the center collapses and retreats leaving a new hole in the center.

General Hancock rallies his men.

Turn 8 Federal Initiative. Hancock calls up the supporting regiment as the left flank folds up and runs. With no more reserves and a front line that is shortened. It seems long odds that the Confederates will be driven from the field.

The Federal right flank, behind the fence, exchanges fire with Early's men. 

Major General D.H. Hill rallies his troops as they continue to keep up a strong rate of fire. 

Turn 9. Federal Initiative. Brigadier General Hancock decides to disengage. the right flank ceases fire, goes into column and marches along the road away from the fight in good order.

"At the Double Quick, March!"

Hancock sits in the saddle disheartened as he watches his right flank fall back down the road. Soon he will order the regiment to his front to fall back as well.

Turn 10. Confederate Initiative. With no enemy in range to their front. General Hill and General Early order a cease fire. Their men have fought hard and have earned a victory. Each regiment calls for water and ammunition.  The only chore left is the ghastly duty of recovering the dead and the wounded from the field.

The combined engagements during the Battle of Williamsburg  result in a 2-1 victory in favor of the Confederates. Historically the battle resulted in an overall draw. The first two engagements that I fought, Hooker's Assault on Fort Magruder, and Longstreet's Afternoon Assault, both basically ended historically accurate. The final engagement, Hancock's Assault, strayed from the historical lines. I enjoyed the battle and hope to come back to it later on. I believe that some of engagements can be reworked a bit to give more leeway. Adding a few more turns in Longstreet's assault for instance could allow a player to bring Kearny's division onto the field.

Battle of Williamsburg May 5th 1862: Afternoon: Hancock's Assault Part 1

~Orders of Battle~
Union Forces

BG. Winfield S Hancock's Brigade

49th PA Inf                        6 stands
6th ME Inf                        6 stands
5th WI Inf                         6 stands
7th ME Inf                         6 stands
33rd NY Inf                      6 stands

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Confederate Forces

MG D. H. Hill

MG D.H. Hill Brigade

5th NC Inf                   5 stands
23rd NC Inf                 5 stands

BG Jubal Early's Brigade

24th VA Inf                    7 stands
38th VA Inf                    5 stands

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While General Joseph Hooker was fighting with Confederate General Longstreet in front of Fort Magruder, BG Winfield S. Hancock crossed Cub Creek on the Federal Right flank and pushed into the unoccupied line of defenses. Hancock's Brigade was set up in a position to threaten Longstreet's Left Flank. Major General Daniel Harvey Hill was in command of Longstreet's Reserve force. Hill was with General Jubal Early's Brigade on the grounds of the nearby College of William and Mary. Upon hearing the sounds of battle, General D.H. Hill ordered General Jubal Early's brigade forward. The two commanders split command of the brigade and attacked Hancock's formation.

Both Brigades set up in Brigade battlefront.

BG Winfield Hancock and his brigade.

Confederate Major General D.H. Hill

Confederate BG Jubal Early

Turn 1 Federal Initiative. General Hancock orders his brigade forward. In response, General Hill also orders his brigade forward. He orders his men into column formation  in order to move to a forward position more quickly.

General Early's men slowly pressing forward.

Turn 2. Confederate Initiative. Each of the armies continue to close the distance with each other. The ground is in a good condition and the troops have no problem traversing the ground. General Hancock considers taking one of the redoubts and holding it. 

General Hill continues to move his two regiments forward in the hope of deploying at the edge of the freshly plowed field. 

Turn 3. Confederate Initiative. General Early's men marching in line of battle, clear the field they were crossing. General Hill deploys his regiments into line of battle at the edge of a filed to their front. General Hancock decides against holding position and decides to use his numbers to his advantage and press forward. He orders two of his regiments, the 7th ME and the 33rd NY into column formation to utilize the road and move forward faster.

General Hancock surveys the ground. He watches as his men move into the enemy.

General Hill with his regiments.

General Early at the lead of his advance. In the distance he spots the dark blue Federal uniforms in the distance.

Turn 4. Federal Initiative. General Hancock continues his forward movement. The 7th ME and the 33rd NY move past the redoubt and deploy forward of the position. the 49th PA, and 5th WI and 6th ME move up in support. General Early brings his men up and clears the house. One of his regiments goes around the back end of the house in the hope of gaining position of the Federal advance.

Turn 5. Confederate Initiative. General Hill orders his men to load and prepare to fire. General Early anchors his line between the fence and the house. The 38th VA advances forward to deploy into line across from the fence.  Hancock's brigade continues to move forward at best possible speed. the 38th NY wheels right in order to take up a position behind the fence and counter the advance of the 38th VA Infantry.

General Hancock looks out across the field. The stage is set. The band is in tune. The ball is ready to open...

To be concluded.