Battle of Front Royal May 20, 1862 Part 2

Turn 3. Confederate Initiative. Jackson continues to spur his soldiers forward. Taylor's Brigade on the left  moves at the double quick across the field to close the distance. Trimble's Brigade on the right makes slow progress due to the freshly plowed field they have to cross. The 16th MS Infantry lets loose with their first volley on the US 1st MD Infantry Regiment. there are some casualties. When the Federal turn to fire comes, Knapp's Guns of E Btty Pen Light Artillery fire on the 8th Louisiana causing some moderate casualties.  the 29th Pa also opens fire. Their target is the 7th La Infantry.  The 1st Md infantry returns fire on the 16th MS. 

The 1st Md Infantry (US) keeping the 16th Ms Infantry away from the town.

Turn 4. Confederate Initiative. The 16th Ms continues to go back and forth with the 1st Md Infantry. Many of the Infantry Brigades that were supposed to move either stalled out or their orders where lost.

We see the line of battle from the Confederate left side looking East.

MG Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson rides along the line motivating  he men with his very presence.

E Btty receives the order to switch to cannister shot.

Turn 5. Confederate Initiative. The Confederate Line opens with  a barrage of minnie balls along the front. The small force of Federals cannot hold out and they both fail their cohesion tests and are routed. the bridge at the other end of town has now become a popular place as it becomes bottle necked.

The smoke begins to clear and they realize there is no one there for them to shoot at.

Turn 6. Federal Initiative. Making an orderly retreat across the bridge. E Btty continues to fire into the upcoming Confederate force. The Confederate Cavalry has now moved to within striking distance of the bridge. They stand to bag the whole lot.

Soldiers of the 15th AL Infantry Regt. pause before jumping the fence and reforming to continue the advance.

The Federal Cavalry begins to deploy behind the Rail Road track in order to defend the retreat across the bridge.

Jackson's Troops continue to press onward. Not wanting to give the Federals a chance to regroup.

Turn 8. Confederate Initiative. The 6th Va Cav opens fire on the 5th NY Cav as they fight over the rail road track.  On the Confederate left flank Bg Richard Taylor's Louisiana brigade surges forward. The opening Volley on the Cannoneers either kills or wounds the entire battery. Th survivors abandon there guns and makes for the river in a panic. The 7th La Infantry comes to the bridge and opens fire on the panic stricken and routed soldiers causing even more casualties and panic.

The 1st Maryland Infantry Regt. (CS) and the 15th Alabama Infantry Regt. formed up on the road leading into town.

BG Richard Taylor with his Brigade advancing under the fire of the Federal battery.

The last shots of the Battle.

~Conclusion~ Much like the original battle, the Confederate Force take the town. We tried to do the battle a little differently with the Federal Deployment. Historically, it was more or less a running battle with the Union regiments firing and retreating. I wanted to see how they would do in a stand up fight. They almost managed to hold the Confederate Force out of town for the full 10 turn. They were close, but not close enough.

~VARIATION~ You can attempt to fight a "What if" scenario of the same battle. What if MG Banks in Strausburg was able to send Col. Kenly reinforcements? 

To play this what if battle add: 

Col. George H Gordon's Brigade.

3rd Wis Inf     6 stands

27th In Inf      5 stands

2nd  Ma Inf    6 stands

The 2th Pa Infantry of this battle was originally part of this brigade and when Banks finally got word of the battle from stragglers coming in, he considered sending the 3rd Wisconsin but changed his mind because of lack of information of the overall tactical situation. Instead, he ordered a general withdrawal towards Winchester further north.