Henry House Hill - First Bull Run

July 21st, 1861 saw First Bull Run, or First Manassas fought by two poorly trained and poorly led armies.  On the left flank of the Union army their attack was successful, driving the Rebels from Matthews Hill back towards Henry House Hill where a brash brigadier and his Virginians stood to stem the tide of retreat.

Scale is 15mm, rules are Johnny Reb III with four players on a 4x6' table.  The Union forces are advancing across open, grassy fields.  The Confederate forces are significantly outnumbered to start, but reinforcements, including mounted troops under a cavalier named Stuart, are on the way.  For game purposes all troops were rated "green."

Initial deployment.

Union view of the waiting Rebels.

Jackson's Virginians.

Knowing they will only grow stronger in time, the Yankees
advance boldly.

Early Union success as green troops do not stand well
against flanking fire.

A charge captures some guns from disengaging Rebs as the rest
of the brigade then advances.

We begin to lever Jackson off the hill as reinforcements arrive
along the Warrenton Pike.

"There stands Jackson like a stone... wait, where'd he go?"  But
Stuart arrives with his Virginia Horse.

The two cavalry regiments pictured above charged the next turn and routed two Union infantry regiments caught in the flank, with one pushing deep into the Union sector.  With several charges going all over the table and being out of practice playing, I missed the photo op.

Slow progress on the left as Georgians fill the woods.

The Confederate line is getting thin and multiple units shaken
by the sight of routing comrades keep them from filling the line.

The only Rebs remaining on the hill are the routing or shaken
remnants of Stuart's cavalry.

End of turn 6 and time to end the game.

The Confederates were outnumbered in infantry, but had a slight edge in artillery and cavalry.  Their cavalry did prodigies of valor in our game but weren't enough to stem the tide.  A good game with both sides experiencing some success.