13th May

Further east in Sperryville the Union unit  being a Cavalry Regiment  declined battle and retired to Flint Hill.

May 13th  The Battle or Luray.

The Union force deployed along the road through Luray which linked Newmarket and Sperryville, with the brigades from Shields Division having the presence of mind to build defensive works to defend

The Confederate deployed south of the town, refusing their left flank, deployed a massed battery of 10 guns and two enormous regiments on their right with the obvious intention of attacking the union's left flank.

The rebel artillery quickly got to work pounding the union regiment on the end of the defensive line, reducing it's size by 10% every time they fired while at the same time the green rebel infantry shambled forwards.

Knowing that they had reinforcements arriving from their right and rear the Union commander ordered a brigade of 4 regiments to redeploy to protect the Union left

The centre of the Confederate division advanced within musket range to threaten more of the Union line. Meanwhile the regiment on the Union left finally succumbed to the artillery fire and was wiped out while it's supporting unit faced off against the green rebel units. 

This unit fared no better. The combination of artillery and musket fire plus losing a melee reduced it to two companies, who were still fighting till the end.

At this point the Confederate reinforcements had arrived from the south east from Rose River. However a large Union force arrived from Newmarket and knowing more was coming later from the north from Bentonville, Jackson decided that "tomorrow is another day" and gave the order for his men to withdraw.
The Union commander happy with his day's work and with his left flank dangerously exposed declined to pursue.

The Union forces have responded to the Confederate attack on Luray by sending in reinforcements from NewMarket and Bentonville. Further west a large force has moved east to threaten Harrisonburg and it's garrison.

The Confederates have launched two attacks.
One at Sperryville and a large scale assault on Luray with forces advancing from Conrads Store and Rose River.
Further south General Johnson's force has retired back to Staunton.

The supply phase of the turn two has been completed. The confederate will move first in turn three.

The Battle of McDowell

As Brigadier General Edward Johnson crested the pass at Stuart Gap he audibly gasped at the number of Union regiments arrayed in the valley below.

  
"Orders is orders" he sighed to his ADC. "Form the men up and lets see what we damage we can do."
The artillery was deployed on the high ground giving them a wide field of fire on the enemy. With only three infantry regiments to play with two were sent down the left flank to put pressure on the union right while the third was deployed next to the artillery.

The early exchanges of artillery fire resulted in the Union losing one of it's batteries

 
The two Confederate regiments crested the hill and poured down on the Union infantry below resulting in the death of Brig. General Robert Schenk.

  The Union right flank moved forwards to engage the Confederate infantry on the hills across the river inflicting considerable damage to one regiment. 

 
Realising that the game was up Johnson signaled his army's withdrawl. The Union's response was to cross the stream and harry them as they left the field of combat.

The Confederates have finally put down their banjos and moonshine and moved.

The two large forces in the centre of the theatre of operations have both moved east into the adjacent valleys.

Meanwhile further south a force has moved through Stuart's gap to attack the union troops at McDowell.

After the holiday hiatus we're back on the road. The Union forces have moved, concentrating in towns of Luray, Newmarket and Brandywine.

Start of turn 2.

The eagle eyed viewers will notice that detachments have been deployed in Front Royal and Rose River.

Plus the fickle hand of fate has determined that the Union move first this turn.

Turn 1 Union move.

The Union have concentrated their forces in Page Valley, leaving a strong force in New Market and a small force to protect their left flank in Sperryville.

The force in Moorfield has marched down the west of  South Fork Mountain to Bushy Run.

Turn 1. Confederate Move

The Rebs have moved from Staunton to HarrisonBurg, Buffalo Gap to West Augusta, and have concentrated at Conrad Store with a force moving from Ruckersville to Rose River.

Shenandoah Campaign.

Time for some continuity in our gaming at the club.

The campaign is using the Columbia Game Shenadoah block game as the mechanics for the campaign but we'll be fighting the battles with my 10mm ACW figures.

Commands will be allocated soon to the 6 generals but their identities will be kept secret from each other until the campaign progresses.

I'll publish battle reports when there is table top action but to wet one's appetite here is a map with the starting positions.