"...Go back and give them the bayonet"

-- Stonewall Jackson, CSA

HISTORICAL SETTING

The battle of Kernstown, VA was brought about by the faulty scouting of Major General T. J. "Stonewall" Jackson's cavalry commander, Colonel Turner Ashby. Ashby skirmished with a small four-regiment Union force on March 21st near Winchester, and rushed a courier to Jackson with news of the small enemy force. Jackson, who had been eager for quite some time to pounce on a small isolated Union force, was quick to take action.

Union troops assault a Confederate position at the First Battle of Winchester (Kernstown) on March 23, 1862. Image based on a drawing by Alfred Wand.

He immediately sent his small army from Mount Jackson at dawn on the 22nd, and marched them an incredible 36 miles during the next day and a half, arriving at Kerristown at about 2:00 PM on the 23rd.

Jackson immediately issued attack orders to his troops, and by 3:30 they were maneuvering toward their assigned positions. Jackson's plan was to pin the Federal center and launch a vigorous attack against their right flank. The two brigades of Jackson's flanking force ran into strong opposition at the north end of Sandy Ridge. Jackson watched the battle unfold with growing concern as more and more Federal infantry appeared to thwart his clever plan. He finally realized that he must be outnumbered by at least two to one, but there was nothing he could do about it now.

His flanking force fought valiantly and repulsed repeated enemy attacks, but was finally forced to withdraw, due partly to being outnumbered and partly because one of the brigades was experiencing a severe, ammunition shortage. The battle ended at 6:00pm.

The Union force, led by Colonel Nathan Kimball, a tough old veteran of the Mexican War, suffered 550 casualties to Jackson's 700. The easy victory that Jackson yearned for was not to be had today.

Battle of Kernstown March 23, 1862

Historical Setting
Wargame Notes
Orders of Battle
Map (slow: 82K)