In this scenario, Bull Run is impassable except for the fords where I stand at a time could cross using broken terrain movement, while Little Rocky Run could be crossed as rough terrain. Woods are light and slopes are gentle. Banks of both streams give a -1 cover benefit to the defender due to trees and brush. Both armies deploy using hidden movement markers (1 dummy and 1 real marker per regiment and battery). Longstreet and Jones are hidden on the board south of Bull Run. The Union enters via any northern or eastern road hex in march column. Deploying to the eastern road delays entry until turn 4; troops on turn 1 come in on the northern road. CSA reinforcements are listed in the OOB on page 33.

Blenker's and Davies forces were assigned the task of attacking the CSA left at Mitchell's Ford and Blackburn's Ford, while Richardson elected to delay until turn 4 and enter on the trail near McLean's Ford. The CSA commanders deployed Longstreet to defend the left and center fords, with Jones at McLean's Ford to counter any unit thrust in that sector. Bonham's two wings were in reserve off-table to follow-up on any Union intrusions south of Bull Run.

As in the actual battle, Blenker merely demonstrated against Mitchell's Ford, with the commander choosing to send long columns of dummy markers down the road towards the ford. Union sighting rolls initially failed to reveal whether or not real troops were present.

In the meantime, Davies massed his forces along the banks of Bull Run near Blackburn's Ford with artillery support and poured fire into the 11th and 17th VA guarding the ford, causing early casualties to the Southerners.

As the Rebels slowly gave way, Davies managed to push his 16th NY and 18th NY regiments across Blackburn's Ford. This freed the CSA commanders to start rolling for reinforcements to get Bonham into the field. In the meantime, the left flank of the 11th VA was able to spot some of Blenker's troops countermarching back northward from Mitchell's Ford.

Sightin g rolls revealed the presence of Battery A, 2nd US Lt. Artillery, which was caught on the flank in the fields between the road and Bull Run; the crew was slaughtered by excellent CSA die rolls. Blenker hustled the 27th PA over to the banks and poured close range fire into the 11th VA, which coupled with fire from Davies troops forced the 11th VA to fall back shaken, but still in good order.

While the attack on the CSA center heated up, Israel Richardson (who would later die at the battle of Antietam) led his forces onto McLean's Ford. Farmer McLean, tired of the sounds of guns and the fear of subjecting his family to the dangers of warfare, would move after the battle to the 'out of the way' quiet community of Appomattox Court House, where a few years later General Lee would surrender many of these same Southerners defending his farm, to Grant. The Rebel guns from the Washington Artillery (posted behind a wooden fence along the slope near Bull Run) plastered the 2nd Michigan with canister and routed them.

However, this reversal was shortlived as Richardson rushed up his guns and eliminated the Washington Artillery, destroying their guns. Without artillery support, the Rebels began to give way.

Richardson ordered a charge once south of the ford and in the process the 17th Mississippi Volunteers turned and routed. Disintegrating within 40 minutes, the 17th was 'picked up', a disgrace to the Southern cause. Victorious blue-bellies, after restoring morale, roared across the ford in force, pushing Jones' remnants before them. Only the timely arrival of Bonham's reinforcements stopped the Yankee attack cold in their tracks at the road intersection.

With night approaching, the Union controlled two of the three fords, and was progressing very well against Jones, but was in no shape to push Bonham off the game board. Davies and elements of Blenker's Brigade had secured much of the center hill, but were stopped 200 yards (4" in the 15mm scale using JR3-ed.) from the table edge. Longstreet and Bonham (his senior) had held on, but Blenker had tied up their troops and kept the Rebs from their goal of being able to utilize Bonham's massive brigade further west. The game was declared a strategic draw, at the cost of over 1500 Union troops and 1200 Rebels.

More First Blood at Bull Run

Introduction and Historical Background
Scenario
Large Scenario Map (very slow: 165K)
Scenario OOB (slow: 100K)

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