Battle of Port Republic June 9, 1862: Part 1.

Port Republic on the Shenandoah River

~Orders of Battle~
Union Forces

MG Irvin McDowell (not present) Department of the Rappahannock
approx 4,600 men

BG James Shields Division (not present)
BG Erastus Tyler's Brigade

7th IN Inf                        5 stands
7th OH Inf                        7 stands
29th OH Inf                        7 stands
110th PA Inf                       3 stands
1st WV Inf                          5 stands

Col. Samuel Carroll's Brigade

5th OH Inf                          8 stands
66th OH Inf                         7 stands
84th OH Inf                          4 stands

Btty L 1st OH Arty                   3 stands        x4  6 pdr,    x2 12 pd How
Btty H  1st OH Arty                 3 stands        x3 James Rifles
Btty E   4th US Arty                3 stands         x3 10 pdr Parrot

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Confederate Forces

MG Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson   Department of the Valley
approx 7,000 men

MG Richard S. Ewell''s Division
Col. W.C. Scott.  (Steuart's) Brigade

 1st MY Inf                   3 stands
44 VA Inf                   2 stands
52nd VA Inf                   3 stands
58th VA Inf                   3 stands

Col. James A. Walker  (Elzey's) Brigade

12th GA Inf                   3 stands
13th VA Inf                  3 stands
25thVA Inf                   3 stands
31st VA Inf                 3 stands

BG Richard Taylor's Brigade

6th LA Inf                      5 stands
7th LA Inf                      4 stands
8th LA Inf                       5 stands
9th LA Inf                     4 stands
Wheat's Bn (Louisiana Tigers) 2 stands

BG Charles Winder's "Stonewall" Brigade (Jackson's Division)

2nd VA Inf                     3 stands
4th VA Inf                      4 stands
5th VA Inf                      4 stands
27th VA Inf                    2 stands
33rd VA Inf                    3 stands

Poague's  Btty             3 stands       x1   12 pd How,  x1 10 pd Parrot, x1 6pdr
Carpenter's Btty          2 stands       x2  3" ord
Rain's Btty                 2 stands      x2 3" ord,
Chew's Btty               2 stands      x2 12 pd Nap

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After the victory at Cross Keys, Jackson orders his force across the Shenandoah River  to meet Brigadier General James Shields division. BG Charles Winder and the "Stonewall Brigade" are positioned on the Luray Rd.
RULES: Confederate players gets initiative  on first turn. Stonewall Brigade is deployed into line. Confederate BG Richard Taylor's Brigade arrives during Turn one movement phase.
Starting on Turn 2. One Confederate Artillery Battery arrives on the table and deploys. One battery per turn
Starting on Turn 3. Confederate brigades arrive on table one brigade per turn.

Turn 1. Confederate Initiative. Jackson orders Winders brigade forward. The Federal Brigades of Carroll and Tyler are deployed running along Lewiston Lane and the road to Mt Vernon Furnace (top to bottom) The Luray road run across the map from left to right.  The Coaling is represented by the large structure on the hill on the bottom right side of the map.  The small village of Lewiston is represented by the lone cabin at the crossroads. Lewis Mill is located at top right corner on the Shenandoah River which runs across top half of may from left to right.

Federal guns placed on the Hill near The Coaling.

BG Tyler's Brigade along with Battery E 4th US Artillery.

Carroll's Brigade with Battery L and Battery H 1st Ohio Artillery.

BG Charles Winder and the Stonewall Brigade advancing forward from the location of the Baugher Farm.

"Stonewall" Jackson.

The Confederate Brigade Moves North with the woods on their right flank and the Shenandoah River on their left flank.

The Federal View of the battlefield. Two Brigades deployed on high ground controlling the road and intersection. three batteries of artillery. protection from being flanked on the right by the Shenandoah River. 

Turn 2. Federal Initiative. Taylor continues to hold his fire. The Confederates are not in range of his muskets, but could be hit with artillery. Tyler orders the 1st WV Infantry regiment to extend the left flank and protect against any advance through the treeline.  Jackson and Winder move forward BG Richard Taylor arrives with his brigade of Louisiana soldiers and immediately advances in column formation into the woods. Poague's Battery arrives on the field and is ordered to move forward.

the 1st WV Infantry moving to the Federal Left flank.

BG Erastus Tylor's view of the field from on the hill.

Carroll's Brigade.

Both Confederate Brigades move forward. Winder's Brigade in brigade battle line on the left and Taylor's Brigade in column on the right.

Turn 3.  Confederate Initiative. Winder and Taylor continue to press forward. Poagues battery rushes forward and deploys.  on the Federal side, Tyler's 1st WV Infantry continue to move toward the left flank. Col. W.C. Scott commanding Steuart's brigade arrives on the field.

The West Virginia Infantry are almost in position to defend the federal left Flank.

Col. W.C. Scott commanding the Brigade of  BG. George H. Steuart who was wounded the day before at Cross Keys.

Turn 4. Confederate Initiative. Winder's brigade continues to move forward through the fields. Taylor continues to advance through the woods using them as cover. Jackson orders Scott to move his brigade up in support of Winder.  Poagues Battery deploys and readies to fire.  Carpenter's Batter arrives on the field and Col James Walker arrives commanding BG. Arnold Elzey's Brigade.  Elzey was another Brigade commander wounded  the day before at Cross Keys. Tyler's 1st West Virginia Infantry move into position on the federal Left.

Still holding his fire. waiting for the right time his guns can do the most damage.

Gun crews ready.

The Confederates can be seen in the distance advancing forward.

Col James Walker in command of BG. Arnold Elzey's Brigade. 

Scott's brigade advancing

BG. Richard Taylor's brigade moving as fast as they can through the thick woods.

Poague's battery making their guns ready as Winder's brigade advances.

Rushing headlong into the jaws of death. Soon the field will be thick with smoke and the rattle of muskets. Will Stonewall Jackson pull off another victory like he did the day before or is he pressing his luck? Will Federal Brigadier Generals Tyler and Carroll be able to hold against the Confederate attack that is coming?

To be concluded.....

Battle of Cross Keys June 8, 1862: Part 2.

Trimble's Brigade fighting for the hill.

Elzey's Brigade in Action.

Scheneck's Brigade emerges from the wood line near Cross Keys. bringing the Federal right flank into action.

Turn 6. Federal Initiative  Stahel and Milroy's Brigades continue to fire at the Confederates. The 15th Alabama and the 21st Georgia Infantry from Trimble's Brigade both rout and retreat from the hill. The 21st North Carolina and the 16th Mississippi Regiments step forward and continue the fight for the hill.

The Confederate artillery stay busy as they fire on both Stahel's and Milroy's Brigades.

Elzey's Brigade

Trimble's Brigade manages to drive off the 41st NY from Stahel's Brigade. During the volley General Stahel is wounded and removed from the field.

The Confederate Right flank.

Turn 7. Confederate Initiative The battle continues along the front. As the Artillery Batteries open fire on Milroy's Brigade a piece of shrapnel hits Brigadier General Milroy in the chest knocking him from his horse. He is severely wounded and taken from the field. His Brigade stalls and holds position.The 2nd West Virginia Regiment routs from the field under pressure from the 12th Ga Infantry. Two brigade commanders down and mounting casualties on the Federal side brings Brigadier General Blenker  to order Koltes brigade forward.

Taylor's Louisiana Brigade arrives on the Confederate Right Flank. The reinforcements come at a critical moment.

Taylor's Brigade arrives on the field.

Turn 8. Federal Initiative  The musketry begins to die off as the lines are adjusted. Individual regiments take it onto themselves to either move forward or hold position. Koltes' Brigade rushes forward in column formation. Battery I limbers up and moves forward as well.  Elzey's Brigade, still on the advance side of the creek continue to exchange fire with the remnants of Milroy's Brigade.

Confederate Right Flank.

Confederate Left Flank.  Brigadier General Scheneck's Brigade continues forward.  Confederate Brigades of Steuart and Patton hold their position.

Elzey's Brigade holds the middle.

Battery I moving forward.

General Blenker observing the situation as reinforcements are called up.

Turn 9. Federal Initiative.  Scheneck's Brigade moves ever closer to the Confederates.  Battery I  deploys forward of Milroy's Brigade in the center.  The Federals advance all along the front.

Confederate Right Flank. Taylor's Brigade crosses the creek in support of Trimble's Brigade.

Confederate Left Flank.  Scheneck's Brigade comes within musket range and prepares to let loose with their musketry.

"Battalion, Fire by Company! Ready........"

"Load Canister!"

Turn 10. Confederate Initiative.  Steuart and Patton's Brigades open fire on Scheneck's Brigade causing heavy casualties. The Confederate Batteries open fire in the center  Trimble's Brigade resumes its attack on the hill.

Battery I  1st Ohio Light Artillery is shaken by the confederate cannonade. 

Scheneck's brigade returns fire after taking major hits from the Confederates. 

MG Richard Ewell observes the action from the center of the field. 

Battery I firing canister at the enemy. General Koltes's Brigade goes into line and prepares to advance up the middle.

The firing n the Confederate right flank continues hot and heavy. Taylor stands ready to order his brigade to pass through Trimble's Brigade and carry the hill.

General Bohlen's brigade is called up as well. General Blenker sits impatiently as Bohlen's Brigade passes by.

Turn 11. Confederate Initiative The Confederate Guns concentrated in the middle supporting the advance of Trimble and Taylor on the right flank eventually drive the last few regiments of  Stahel's brigade off the hill. 

The sun begins to set on the battlefield and the musketry begins to die off. random shots are heard in the distance with the last few canons. The evening air is filled with the low cries of the wounded and dying.

General Blenker slowly drops his binoculars to his lap and hangs his head in disgust. He knows he was unable to carry the field but he is sure he could have if he had more time. 

Parting shots.

Federal Losses  =   x2 Brigade Commander. x5 regiments  27 stands
Confederate Losses = x6 regiments   23 stands

Narrow Confederate Victory.

MG John C Fremont's division is defeated and they fall back toward Harrisonburg Va.  MG Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson in Port Republic prepares for the attack of Shield's division coming down the Luray Road on the east bank of the Shenandoah River. On June 8th, Federal Cavalry from Shields Advance force crosses the river and enters Port Republic. Jackson himself is almost captured. He rallies an artillery battery and infantry to drive off the Federal Cavalry.  With the Federal Cavalry ran out of town, Jackson orders BG Charles Winder and the Stonewall Brigade to deploy and ready for action on the east side of the Shenandoah River. The Battle of Port Republic is about to begin.