The following is a summary of our refight of Second Manassas that marks the 160th anniversary of the historical battle. This refight involved four players and used the scenario found in "Battles of the American Civil War" by Greg Novak & Frank Chadwick.
As General Pope issued what would be his defining orders for the campaign an air of confidence filled his mind. Great words were included in several communications to his subordinates. To Kearny he ordered him to march at the "earliest blush of dawn" via several towns to "be prompt and expeditious and never mind wagon trains or roads until this affair is over." While to McDowall he confidently stated "we shall bag the whole crowd". Victory was within his grasp, at least in his mind.
Evening, 28th August:
Despite Pope's bluster the forces that were converging on the rolling ground of Bull Run were initially limited. The Confederates were numerically superior and massed, while the Union forces comprised just two divisions and these far from concentrated.
Around 5pm as the 1st Division of McDowall's III Corps, Army of Virginia, moved along the Warrenton Turnpike it came under a determined attack by elements of Jackson's command previously deployed around Stony Ridge north of the turnpike.
The attack was delivered with great elan. King's division, strung out in road column on the Turnpike was soon in chaos. The initial focus of the Rebel attack was Gibbon's Iron Brigade, but it soon extended to other brigades. In three hours of fighting King's division suffering crippling casualties, the heaviest amongst the brigades of Gibbon and Patrick. The survivors were forced back to a position south of the Warrenton Turnpike. Above, the attack on King's Union division gains momentum.
Elsewhere Reynold's was moving east towards New Market with his division. Once at New Market his division moved north towards Henry House Hill. Soon after Reynold's advanced brigades deployed, each side of the Manassas Sudley Road, the associated artillery of the division began to deploy. Not a moment too soon as the Rebels from A.P. Hill's Division were also on the move, pushing south towards Young's Branch.
Below, the situation viewed from the Confederate lines with A.P Hill's and Ewell's division advancing towards Young's Branch. Henry House Hill and Bald Hill are in the top right.
As the sun was setting Reynolds' artillery belched effective fire on the advancing Rebels causing a degree of consternation. Reynolds' artillery clearly shown below.
Now, as dusk settled across the fields, commanders focussed on reforming their brigades as battle would be rejoined soon.
Morning, 29th August:
There was no doubt the fighting of the 28th had delivered a bloody nose to the Union forces, who it will be recalled were far from concentrated. However, the night of the 28th/29th, and the morning of the 29th, would see the arrival of what would become, a continuous stream of reinforcements.
First to arrive was Franz Sigel's Corps. Moving at night from the east the corps comprising three divisions. They moved west along the Manassas Gainsville Road before heading north towards King's Division desperately holding the line south of the Warrenton Turnpike. However, moving a corps along a single road would consume considerable time and only in the early morning would the advance elements arrive. Even as the advanced elements deployed the other brigades would be strung out for many miles. From 7am further units added to the traffic jam.
Fortunately, Jackson had become concerned that he was overstretched
and as such failed to press King's depleted division. In fact, so
concerned was Jackson that he retired a portion of his divisions
during the evening from his position in front of King.
Elsewhere Union reinforcements were also arriving. Under the watchful eye of General Pope came General Heintzelman's Corps from around 7am. Behind them came Reno's IX Corps. Again slowed by their road columns and a single route of advance these troops would take several hours to fully deploy. However, progressively they would move across the Stone Bridge before deploying and moving to positions north of the Warrenton Turnpike.
Above, advanced divisions of Heintzelman's corps move across Bull Run stream on the Union right. Below, the situation around 10am. The massing Union forces here have already encouraged elements of A.P Hill's division to fall back.
From 11am Porter’s Corps would finally begin to move into the area of the battlefield, though as elsewhere several hours would pass before the corps would fully deploy near Henry House Hill.
Confederate reinforcements were also arriving, all from the west and attempting to deploy on the western portion of the Warrenton Turnpike. First on the field, around 10.30am, was Stuart's cavalry division which moved behind Jackson's infantry forming in the Rebel centre.
Above, Stuart's cavalry arrive around 10.30am.
Below, the general view of the Confederate right and centre opposite the Union left around 11.30am. The road running from the centre of the picture is the Warrenton Turnpike which is crossed by the meandering Young's Branch, a creek that flows east and eventually into Bull Run.
However, with the Union army forming around the western section of Warrenton Turnpike Longstreet's deployment options were limited. Instead of arriving immediately during the course of the day selected divisions would deploy to the west (off table).
Afternoon, 29th August:
For both commanders the morning had been focussed on
deploying reinforcements, long columns had stretched out over several
miles and snaked their way through the green country side. The afternoon
however would see the next phase of the battle unfold.
Lee remained reluctant to deploy Longstreet's wing
piecemeal. Instead, he continued to deploy the grey and butternut ranks of
Longstreet's infantry to the west only feeding selected divisions and
assets to reinforce Jackson's increasingly hard pressed divisions. In
particular only the divisions of Jones and Hood, as well many cannon
of Longstreet's artillery reserve, were committed to support Jackson directly.
Below, the Confederate right and Union left around 1pm, before the arrival of Longstreet's artillery.
Indeed, throughout the morning and early afternoon the Rebel right had been under an increasing bombardment by Union guns. Franz Siegel was adamant that the infantry of his divisions, and those under McDowall, would not press the enemy. Instead he would use his artillery advantage to bombard the Rebel lines.
Therefore, along the lines an assortment of artillery hurled shot and shell at each other, as well as the supporting troops. The Union artillery advantage would not last as Longstreet's artillery bolstered the previously outnumbered guns of Jackson's wing. By 5pm some 96 Confederate cannon were deployed on the Rebel right. This concentration would finally force a portion of the Union left wing, including artillery, to retire bringing much of the artillery exchange to an end.
However, elsewhere Union forces were advancing. It will be recalled that General Pope had begun the day deploying his reinforcements on the Union right. By noon a deliberate advance was well underway, which moved from east to west. Here the corps of Heintzelman and Reno, well supported by artillery, slowly moved forward. Faced with overwhelming enemy strength A.P. Hill was forced to slowly retire.
Above, the situation around 1.30pm with the Union attack against A.P. Hill's Division underway. Below, the situation around 3pm, showing the advance of Union forces on the right wing.
To the left of Heintzelman and Reno was Porter and his V Corps. Porter was, it will be recalled, late to the field. However he progressively concentrated in the area of Bald Hill and Henry House Hill. Below, elements of Porter's corps move forward while others are deployed on Bald Hill, centre left. Pope is visible on the hill to the right, Henry House Hill.
Leading this advance, at least initially, was Morell's division which crossed Young's Branch near Bald Hill. As Morell's brigades crossed the creek they were met with a vigorous counterattack by two brigades from Ewell's division. Repeatedly General Stuart had requested that his cavalry should be committed to the counterattack but Lee urged caution. As Ewell's two brigades advanced with great elan victory seemed assured. Yet, Morell's brigades stood firm and the Confederate brigades fell back disordered. From the high ground to the north General Stuart was furious.
Above, the general situation in the centre, while below the Rebel counterattack, with one of Ewell's brigades failing a morale check.
As the afternoon advanced the pressure on the Confederate left grew. Despite a tenacious defence around Sudley Road, Hill and Ewell were under intense pressure. Soon after 6pm another Union push occurred. It started with a bloody artillery bombardment directed at the much smaller Rebel gun line. In support Heintzelmen and Reno launched attacks with various brigades from their respective corps.
The pressure was immense and just prior to 6.30pm both A.P Hill's and Ewell's Confederate divisions collapsed.
Above, the situation around 6.30pm on the Union right. One Confederate brigade has disintegrated leaving a gap in the Rebel line.
Below, the situation around 7pm, as Union forces once more advance, securing Stony Ridge in the process.
Faced with the sudden loss of two divisions, and now clearly constrained by terrain, Lee had no option but to order a withdrawal.
As dusk approached Lee's army fell back from Manassas. Though far from demoralised Lee sought another way to out manoeuvre "those people". However, before this could happen Jackson's depleted brigades would need significant rest and reorganisation. Without doubt the divisions of Hill and Ewell were decimated. Union casualties in contrast were significantly less and more evenly distributed. Pope it seemed had almost "bagged the whole crowd" just as he had historically and confidently written, though with more bluster than skill.
While Union commanders had not completely achieved the
scenario victory conditions, which required three Confederate divisions
to be exhausted by the end of the 29th, the Confederate position was
clearly untenable. Indeed there was really no other option than a
Confederate retreat.
The refight of Second Manassas was a excellent way to mark the
anniversary and one that highlighted the challenges of deploying armies
on a battlefield from approach march. From my perspective at the end of
fighting 28th the Union positioned seemed untenable. Yet, by a
coordinated and methodical advance the Union forces were slowly deployed
and bought into battle. Their reward, in our refight at least, was eventual victory. That said on several several occasions on the 29th the battle could have shifted in favour of the Confederates. The most
significant unknown remains the possible earlier employment of Longstreet's divisions,
especially as three divisions on the Union left were themselves near
breaking. But that question can only be answered in a future refight.
As to the miniatures, they are all from my own collection and from the excellent Heroics & Ros 6mm range. As always 1" measures 200 yards and on this occasion the table measures 4' x 3'.
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