Battle for Harrison’s Farm : ACW

Well behind on blogging but needed to get something onto the blog. High time we got the ACW collection back on the table but rather than a historical battle we arranged a fictional scenario, based somewhere in the Shenandoah Valley in 1862. Two small forces fighting for the junction between the Harrisonville Pike and the Valley Turnpike. With roughly equal forces we have arranged a slightly randomised deployment, both sides will initially send advanced guards down the Valley Turnpike. A second Brigade will then enter along the baseline at the commanders discretion. The third and final Brigade on both sides will enter randomly along either the Turnpike or Harrisonville Pike. Out of interest this was the first time we played with Skirmish rules and they seemed to add a little something to think about.

The union advance guard gallops south along the Turnpike 

The objective for both sides is to capture the two cross roads, from the south the Rebels advance at pace, beyond the Wheatfield is Copse Hill and the ‘Blue House’

The Union 1st Brigade come on in strength past Harrison’s Farm

Sending a regiment of Zouaves through the farm buildings.....

These are at5empting to outflank a small unit of confederate cavalry who have dismounted at the road junction to await reinforcements, dismounted Union cavalry can be seen in the distance 

As soon as they can confederate artillery opens up

And the Zouaves send out a skirmish line

The whole of the confederate 1st Brigade comes on over Copse Hill and likewise send out a skirmish line

Turn three sees the arrival of the rebel second Brigade who enter along the Harrisonville Pike close to the Blue House

Union troops in this area are very thin........

and somehow mixed orders bring the Union second Brigade on in the wrong place causing an immediate log jam on the Pike

The rebel plan is set, hold the centre, then turn the Union left flank and ‘roll them up’

With too many troops trying to get along the Harrisonville Pike the Union Forces are slow to deploy in the ploughed field and around Harrison Farm

But they advance with some panache 

The first clash of hand to hand fighting, outnumbered the rebels hold their ground for two turns

But the Zouave unit is now looking to outflank the combat as well

Confederate general is hurriedly pulling troops form the second Brigade across Copse Hill

The road junction is now clear save for bodies clad in both blue and grey !

On the rebel right flank there is little to stop the advance if they can just push across the road the Union army will be colmpletely undone

In the centre it turns into a battle of attrition, both sides are gradually being worn down

The rebels are looking like they will break through on their right flank, their first regiment having been destroyed but grape shot the sole cannon on the hill has been knocked out by counter battery fire, but in the nick of time units from the Iron Brigade in their Hardee hats close the gap

Somehow a small company of remaining union cavalry has managed to charge through the cornfield to eliminate the rebel gun.

All confederate reserves are now in play and the line is looking increasingly thin

Whilst more front line units flee the field due to failed morale tests

And then the final nail in the Confederate coffin as the Union right flank pushes the remaining rebels back away from the Blue House, the confederates are now out numbered and outflanked and forced to concede the field, pulling back from Copse Hill, which of course will in due course be renamed ‘Bloody Hill’

A splendid game well fought....reminding me why I like wargaming.🙂 feeling slightly indulgent the next morning (Sunday) and whilst packing up the forces I took the liberty of putting my full Union force on Parade. 

Next up for this force is some more artillery then some sharpshooters 😀