ACW: Leesburg, March 1862

After the Battle of Ball's Bluff, the Confederates fortified the Potomac crossing at Leesburg with Forts Evans, Johnston and Beauregard on the surrounding hills.  Many Leesburg residents, including anti-war Quakers and slaves, assisted in the construction. Fort Evans was built between Leesburg and the river.

Over the winter the Union General Mclellan hesitated to take on the Confederate positions.  They were scouted as well armed, with multiple guns.  Believing himself to be outnumbered Mclellan was content to wait.  

Confederate General Joe Johnston was however well aware that the Union outnumbered him, and that his impressive guns were actually wooden quakers.  On 6 March 1862, the Confederates prepared to evacuate Leesburg and destroy all forage in the surrounding countryside as they went. 

The next game in my American Civil War is a Dawns and Departures mini campaign set as the Confederates withdraw.

Three small Union Forces have been detailed to scout the Leesburg position from three separate crossing points over the Potomac.  Each has a route to the town of Leesburg, with the possibility of catching up with the withdrawing columns of the Rebels and inflicting a defeat. 

The first of the expeditions involves Captain Sherman Lincoln Parker, and his Engineer Company who have been detailed to take the southern route from Edwards ferry.  The Union is overlooking the fact that Parker's troops are black because they are something of an elite unit, being Regulars rather than USCT.  

The "Shermanettes" sing Barbershop, and do so with extreme sarcasm.  They also do Mathematical equations with the skills of the Futurama Globetrotters. (But without the basketballs or hoops)  They are probably my favourite ACW unit, although historically quite early to justify (but I`ve just painted them so I don`t care.

The Mission is to survey the bridge over Goose Creek (on table 9) and ensure that it will stand the passage of the Army whenever General McLellan decides to advance. 


Parker is accompanied by two companies of the 11th Massachusetts under Major Jesse P. Grosswiener and Lieuteant Holden P. Sackrider.  Parker has also been ordered to reconnoiter Fort Beauregard.

The guide for the Shermanettes is from my civilians list, "Young Earl," an alcoholic Quaker with issues...  Somewhere on this grid are six other civilians... 

The "Shermanettes" will attack tables 9, 10, 11 and 12, but will face a fierce rearguard from the 7th Virginia Infantry. 

ACW. The "Shermanettes" Roll Call. 

1st US Engineers

Captain Sherman Parker 

Master Sergeant Freeman

Young Denzel

Morpheus Fishburne

Sam Jackson

Billy Smith

Sidney P.

Quilp advances on table with two Companies.  The Engineers of Captain Sherman Parker reach the bridge.  No Confederates have appeared yet!

Sergeant Horace P Butt arrives with his skirmishers in the treeline.  Where are those confounded Johnny Rebs?

The Rebs appear and unleash a controlled volley.  Nasty!

Horace P. Butt and his men fire on the Rebel line through the trees

Captain Parker and his engineers cross the bridge, keeping clear of trouble.  I really like these figures.

The Rebs move froward, taking them out of sight of the Union skirmishers.

The Rebel Yell, and on they come.

Major Quilp is thrown back.

The Union are done for, and the Confederates can withdraw in good order.

Epiliogue

On the 8th March Fort Johnston fell to Union troops and Leesburg was occupied.  the Leesburgers were not overjoyed by the presence of their new occupiers, who imposed martial law. One Union solder referred to them as "a perfect sneering nest of Rebels," and wrote "The people were the bitterest in their hatred of Northern mudsills of any we had met."