Jackson's Valley Campaign is easily one of the greatest campaigns in the history of warfare. Jackson's force, which never numbered more than 10,000, soundly whipped four Union armies that numbered more than 100,000 men. Jackson's speed, daring, and strategic skill was proven.

The Battle of Front Royal was just one part of the campaign. The Shenandoah River was between Jackson's army and Union General Banks' Army. Jackson decided to flank Banks by crossing the river at Front Royal, but he'd have to brush aside the small Union garrison there first. Historically, this battle let Jackson cross the river, then flank and defeat Banks. I had no one to game with that day, so I decided to play it solo.

The battlefield has rolling terrain with the Winchester Pike going up the middle of the battlefield. Two small homes were on the battlefield, and forks of the Shenandoah River came together near on the Eastern portion of the battlefield. The Winchester Pike has a short road that leads to a small residence that is surrounded by a fence. A fence also runs along the North side of the short road. The map was 3.5'x2'.

The Union has a brigade while the rebels have two brigades. The Union brigade is split into two regiments and one small battalion. There is also a section of 10 lb. Parrotts. The battalion is posted on a hill about 6Ó from the North edge of the battlefield. One Union regiment is located behind the fence that runs along the North side of the short road, while the other Union regiment is taking cover behind the fence that surrounds the residence. For the sake of this report, the regiment taking cover beside the house will be called Regiment #1 and the other regiment will be Regiment #2. The regiments are Green while the battalion is a Veteran unit. The battery is also a Veteran unit. All Union infantry is armed with Rifled muskets. The Union commander, Col. John Kenly, is located directly behind the house.

The rebels arrive at two different times. Col Bradley E. Johnson's brigade, with the 1st Maryland, the Louisiana Tigers, and a battery of two sections of 6 lb. guns, arrives at the south edge of the battlefield on turn 1, in any formation. Brig. Gen. Richard Taylor's brigade, with the 6th Louisiana, the 7th Louisiana, and the 6th Maryland Cavalry, arrives at the south edge of the map on turn 3 in any formation.

The rebels need to capture both of the bridges over the forks of the Shenandoah River intact. The Yankees need to burn down one of the two bridges. Now, onto the game!

Off in the distance, the Yankees see Col. Bradley E. Johnson's veteran brigade approaching. The 1st Maryland charges Regiment #2. A sheet of flame erupts from the Union line, but the green troops miss completely. Then, to everyone's surprise, the 1st Maryland breaks and runs just as the unit reaches Regiment #2. As this action dies down, the Louisiana Tigers charges Regiment #1. This time, the Union fire decimates the rebel regiment and only 30 survivors of the original 360 turn and run. The Union battalion changes formation to march column, and moves toward the bridge over the North fork of the river. The southern artillery appears on the field and unlimbers only 300 years from the Union lines. The first turn has decimated Johnson's brigade. One unit if running away and the other unit down to only 8% of its strength. For the time being, it was basically Johnson and his battery on the battlefield for the Rebels, waiting for Richard Taylor and his brigade to come up and save the day.

The next 20 minutes was little more than a continuation of the previous turn. This turn truly finished off Johnson's hope that a miracle would occur and the remnants of his brigade would try to renew the attack with reinforcements. This turn a train arrived on the battlefield, far behind the Union line. This had no effect yet, though. The Tigers failed two morale checks and retreated all the way to the edge of the board as the 1st Maryland exited the battlefield. The Rebel artillery and Regiment #1 exchanged shots at each other and both missed completely. The Union battalion moved onto the bridge over the North Fork, but failed to set it ablaze. Though the battle did not have much happening in it this turn, everyone knew that the next turn could easily determine the game when Richard Taylor and his rebel infantry arrived on the battlefield.

Turn 3 started off with a bang, literally. The rebel artillery and regiment #1 once again exchanged shots. While the rebel artillery went unhit, Regiment #1 took 15% casualties. What was left of the Tigers charged Regiment #1 (though they were suppose to flee after taking 60% casualties, this scenario called for them to advance toward the train no matter what). Union defensive fire soon eliminated the remaining Tigers.

The infantry of Brigadier General Richard Taylor then arrived on the field. Immediately, the 7th Louisiana charged regiment #1, but were thrown back with 30 casualties just as quickly. The 6th Louisiana charged Regiment #2, but took moderate casualties and fell back in a routed state. The 6th Maryland Cavalry slipped around the Union right flank by galloping 1200 yards down the Winchester Pike with the intent of stopping the Union battalion from destroying either of the bridges. The Union battalion tried again, but failed to ignite the bridge over the North Fork. Turn 3 gave the Confederates hope, but the Union was still in control of the battle.

Turn 4 was little more than a continuation of the events in turn 3, at least till the last phase of the turn. The 6th continued to rout, but finally rallied at the edge of the table. The Union artillery opened fire on the 6th Maryland Cavalry, causing 20% casualties. At the same time, Regiment #1 inflicted light casualties on the 7th. Union Regiment #2 charged the Confederate Cavalry, and pushed the troopers back 150 yards before they surrendered to the horde of Union infantry coming at them.

Meanwhile, the 7th charged Regiment #1, but was thrown back with moderate losses. Suddenly, a bullet ripped into Richard Taylor's coat, and he fell to the ground seriously wounded. At the same time, the Union battalion finally got the bridge ignited. The small amount of hope that had been coming to the Confederates was now gone. Their best general down, and their only hope of victory -- the bridge -- was burning nearly a mile in front of their front lines.

Turn 5 showed that the Rebels were still within the reach of victory, if they had a few die rolls go their way. The Rebel artillery started things off when it fired and caused the unit to go shaken and fall back 200 yards in disorder. Lucky for the Union, Regiment #1 managed to get a volley off at the 7th before it broke. This caused most of the 7th to fall as casualties. As this was going on, the 6th and Regiment #2 charged each other, leading to a melee. This caused more than half of the 6th to become casualties, while Regiment #2 lost 36% of its strength. With the bridge burning, the Union battalion decided that they could now help out the rest of the Union force in fighting the Rebs, so they advanced 900 yards towards the front lines.

Turn 6 was the final turn, and was pretty much a mopping up operation on the part of the Union troops. Regiment #1 rallied to good morale, and charged the 7th. The Louisianans, after seeing the Union completely victorious nearly everywhere on the battlefield, surrendered on spot. The Union battalion charged into the melee between the 6th and Regiment #2. The 6th was wiped out, but the melee also caused the Union battalion to take 38% casualties, while Regiment #2 was nearly eliminated. The bridge over the North Fork collapsed, and the Union victory was complete.

The Confederates never really had a chance, and didn't win a single charge. Charges by the Rebels caused one Rebel regiment to surrender, two units to rout off the board (which can't happen, by the JR3 rulebook, but I used a home rule), and a fourth unit (the 6th Louisiana) to be wiped out. They never even made it to one of the bridges, much less secured the two of them.

Historically, this would have been a devastating defeat for the Rebels. Jackson's army never numbered more than 10,000, and a defeat like this, which cost well over a thousand casualties, would be a major setback. Two excellent brigades were all but destroyed, and an excellent general, Brigadier Richard Taylor, was seriously wounded, all in under two hours of battle. As bad of a defeat this was for the South, perhaps this result could have worked out for the Confederates. Maybe Jackson would finally not seem as invincible, and Kenly's force would be available to fight another day (unlike it was historically).

The Union lost the equivalent of two units, but this was nothing compared to the loss of the two Confederate brigades. There was little the Confederates could have done, with the exception of possibly using different dice! The die rolls, not strategy defeated the Rebels. Banks' force was temporarily saved, and nearly 1/3 of Jackson's force had been lost.