Saturday, February 22 was the opening day of our epic multi-player format version of the full Virginia Campaign from "All Green Alike." This module is found in MMP's
Stonewall Jackson's Way II. Six players faced off in this 14 day scenario utilizing the two maps from SJWII and the west map from
Here Come the Rebels. The situation presented is the opening campaign of the American Civil War in July 1861. Two Union armies face off against their corresponding Confederate counterparts in nearby Virginia theaters. One set of opponents face off outside the gates of Washington D.C., while the others maneuver in the Shenandoah Valley. Each side faces an interesting set of decisions as to how to accomplish their goals.
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| The Virginia Campaign - July 1861 |
We completed the first four days of the campaign from July 15 to 18. In the Valley, Patterson's Federals and J.E. Johnston's Rebels quickly and deliberately marched for each other along Mill Creek. Each side launched attacks where local advantages were found, but the end result was stalemate along the line.
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| Stalemate in the Valley |
McDowell's Union Army of Virginia marched on the direct road toward Bull Run. P.G.T. Beauregard's Confederates contested this advance with a series of sharp battles in a fighting withdrawal. General Keyes' Union command was routed while "Shank" Evens' brigade was obliterated in a massive Union counter-attack. The situation in this sector remains fluid and undecided.
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| Union Advance on Bull Run |
1 comment:
Nice write-up, Mike. This was an interesting scenario, to be sure. As the man who played McDowell, marching directly on the enemy seemed to be the thing to do. After all, the 90-day enlistment rule will start to deplete Union manpower in time. But I don't feel like the Federals have much they can bring to bear. Being this early in the war, artillery access is thin; our leaders stink; and neither side really seems to hold a significant edge in manpower. So it presents an interesting challenge in how to try and dislodge a defender in favorable terrain under those circumstances.
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