High Water Mark?

 Time for another clash between the Blue and the Grey, this small part of the Valley has seen three battles between the combatants with each getting larger and larger as troops are drawn in from surrounding areas with both sides desperately trying to get an advantage in numbers. This time as both licked their wounds from the recent combat at Bartlett's Creek the Rebs advanced once again to pressure the Union forces, circumstances had allowed them to steal a march and position a brigade behind the Union position. General McCabe could only pray that General Johnson with the surprise troops would turn up at the appointed time and at the right place.

The battlefield, Union camp on right.

At 0630 the Confederates advanced, holding back their right flank and sending four brigades against the Federal right hoping that this solid wall would sweep away the defenders and then turn on the Union camp and roll up the Yankee left. I was given the task of holding the Reb right with two brigades and acting in a threatening manner to tempt the Federals in front of me to attack, this turned out not to be a problem as a full division was in front of me and seemed happy to take me on.

The Rebs march at dawn.

Union left moves out.

Yankee artilley moved swiftly forward to take my line under fire while cavalry skirmishers moved on my right, more infantry were behind them, I threw in a reckless charge against the skirmishers and ended up losing that regiment as they were overwhelmed by the troops moving up. Things were looking precarious from my viewpoint as I moved men from left to right to build up a firing line. Over on my left the juggernaut had been stalled as one of the leading brigadiers fell from his horse momentarily stunned by a sharpshooter in the woods on the hill, the confusion was brought under control and the whole line moved forward against the thin blue line on the hill. From my perspective it looked like a walk in the park, but Yankee Gary put up a stalwart defence as his men fell around him, despite horrendous losses time after time the Federals stood their ground.

Rebs approach Gary's Hill.

 

Ferocious fighting.

Gary under pressure.

Union pressure my position on the right.

Riders now came from the Union rear areas warning of Confederate troops behind the lines, although they had arrived on time they had appeared behind the Federal left giving Matt time to pull back a full brigade and rush artillery towards the threat, at this point he continued to pressure my men on their hill and it was not looking good. Gary on the Union right was now trying to rush troops to support his crumbling defence on the hill but they found themselves under fire from Rebel guns which took the reserves in the flank time and again. Despite this the Federals carried on but their morale began to break and several regiments fled leaving a large gap between the Union divisions, the men on the hill had had enough and they too fled to the rear.

Rebel surpise attack.

Rebel race for the camp.

The Confederates now turned on the Union camp and headed for Matt's right flank, Matt had now weathered the suprise attack on his rear but with the collapse of Gary's division he had no option but to pull back. I did not have the infantry strength to follow up and prevent the break off although my guns did continue to pound away at the enemy. The battle was over.

 We had been fighting for just over six hours and it proved an excellent game and visually a perfect wargame. My thanks to the guys for taking the time.

 Nothing else to report, I did go to the club last night and played a game, not a wargame simply a bit of fun. My painting has slowed down again for reasons I won't go into for now although I have now taken delivery of the last packs to finish the army.