Ball's Ford. Bull Run part 1

Parson Farthingdale and the 11th Massachusetts have been placed in a blocking position at Ball's ford by General Tyler, whilst the remainder of the Division are further north making a demonstration against the stone bridge.

Needless to say, the raw volunteers of the 11th Massachusetts mess it up, and young Lieutenant Fluster leads his skirmishers across the ford.  Not wanting to write a letter to Fluster's mother, explaining how the brave but dim Officer was killed, the Parson takes the Regiment across to shoot some "Rebs."

The Regiment consists of six companies of volunteer Line, under the Parson and Sergeant Major McGork, and one skirmish company under Lieutenant Winfield Armstrong Fluster.

Across the river the Confederates have blocked this ford with units from Cocke's brigade.  The eight companies of the 3rd Texas of Major Quincy Whitemoore, and Cachmole's Tigers, a smaller 3 Company Zouave regiment.

I`m using Sharp Practice 2 for these games, and as a solo mechanism I have randomly generated character traits for all of my Officers.  On drawing a poker chip marked with a Question mark the next officer's chip to be drawn takes the character trait into account.  The results can be catastrophic and the character that was to most affect these games was that of  Colonel Catchmole, an aggressive leader.

My wargames diary... even though I`m trying to blog instead...  Confederates on the wooded hills to the left, Union with two deployment points on the right

The Parson's command squeezes iteslf into the deployment zone of the Jump off point.  Three groups.

Fluster leads his skirmishers forward

The first three chips are Blue... Hail to the Chief

Sergeant Major McGork arries on the right as Fluster's skirmishers advance.  Hope that boy remembers his pistol this time...

After a Coffee Break the Union draw chips again.  The Parson advances.

Up on the ridge the Zouaves of Catchmole's Tigers show themselves, and advance aggressively.

Leaning on his walking cane Major Whitemoore leads the 3rd Texas out of the trees, looking down on the Yankees

Rebel Skirmishers go forward

The Parson tries a controlled volley, with little effect

The 3rd Texas give an answering volley, and it's a proper bobby dazzler!

Parson Farthingdale loses most of his command after two successive volleys from the Confederates.  He then rolls a 1 and finds that he has been shot in the head.  Fortunately this is the Parson's hardest feature, and he is only stunned. The 11th Massachusetts retreat in double quick time.

It's game over.  What was meant to be a delaying skirmish has cost the Union dearly.  Later in the morning Brigadier General Sherman will lead the 11th further around the Confederate flank for the second phase of the battle, just as the Rebels move Cocke's Brigade to Henry Hill also on that flank.