The Battle of 2nd Bull Run Refought
The following photographs relate to a refight of the Battle of Second Manassas in Christchurch, New Zealand during December 2001 using the Volley & Bayonet Rules. All figures are Heroics & Ros 6mm or 1/300th scale based for V&B "1/2" scale. Trees are by Irregular Miniatures.
Around 5.30pm on the 28th of August Jackson's Rebels rush from their positions on Sudley Mountain and surprise King's Union division strung out along the Warrengton Turnpike. Jackson's attack was poorly executed and despite a deafening roar of musketry King's troops suffered few casualties. King order his troops to remain in march column and make all speed away from the advancing Rebels. By 6.30pm the major components of King's Division have out distanced the Rebel attackers.
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Here the Jackson's troops can be seen pushing towards Young's Branch. Union forces, in the foreground, are still in march column having escaped in part the Rebel rush. |
| In the final hours of daylight one battalion
of King's artillery was to be overrun in march column, while a second battalion
deployed to
carry out a heroic defence against overwhelming Rebel forces. Attacked the
Starke's and the "Stonewall" Brigade the hastily
deployed Union rifled guns of King's division fought with great courage. The
Stonewall brigade was forced back suffering heavy casualties while Starke's brigade
was routed by the defiant Union gunners. However, before sunset a further Confederate attack,
this time well supported by artillery, overrun the last of the Union defenders
north of Young's Branch.
By nightfall the Ewell's division has advanced well into the wooded area northwest of Mt Pone. By morning of the 29th Ewell's artillery is unlimbered and his extreme right flank brigade is withdrawn. The division under "Jackson's" Division under command of Taliaferro is yet to move up having been badly handled by King's rifled artillery. A.P.Hill's Light Division can be seen in the distance forming north of Young's Branch. Bald Hill and Henry House Hill are visible in the top right. By 8am on the 29th of August Union reinforcements are arriving on the field of battle in strength. Major General John Pope orders a movement of troops along the Manassas-Gainsville Road which now threatens the exposed Rebel right flank. |
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| Ewell's division has advanced to the edge of the woods to threaten the marching columns of Yankees in an attempt to slow their deployment prior to the arrival of Longstreet and Lee, still some hours away. The Union defence line on the right runs from Mt. Pone northeast towards Tributary Creek. |  |
By 11am the Union divisions begin to apply pressure on Ewell. In the centre Rickett's Division of the Union III Corps, Army of Virginia advances to push Ewell back from the edge of the woods. A series of firefights results causing heavy Union losses, but Ewell is eventually forced to give ground and fall back. On the extreme left Longstreet and Lee have arrived and several brigades are rushed into line to extend the Rebel right flank. Up until this stage the flank has been held by Major General J.E.B Stuart's weak cavalry division.
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The position around 11am. Longstreet and Lee are arriving on the centre left. |
In the north of the battlefield Major General Samuel Heintzelman is also active. Delayed by lack of deployment room a cautious crossing of the Bull Run is finally attempted. Here Union forces can be seen having just crossed Bull Run at the Stone bridge, while additional Union troops advance onto the lower slopes of Henry House Hill.
| Major General A.P.Hill's Light Division can be seen in the foreground holding the Confederate left flank between Sudley Mountain and Young's Branch. Bald Hill is on the right of his line. Kearney's 1st Division have just crossed the Bull Run at the Stone Bridge at the top of the picture. |  |
Major General Phillip Kearney's 1st Division from the Union III Corps (Army of the Potomac) having forced the Bull Run at the Stone Bridge. Further Union troops comprising 2nd Division of III Corps under Brigadier General Joseph Hooker are about to cross upstream, applying further pressure on the Confederate flanks.
By 12 noon on the 29th of August, Longstreet's Wing is arriving in strength. Brigadier General Wilcox's Division forms up out of range of the Union artillery while Confederate artillery is brought forward to engage the Union guns.
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Wilcox's Rebel Division moves forward. From left to right are the brigades of Featherstone; Pryor and Wilcox. S.D.Lee's artillery moves pass the split rail fences. In the top right can be seen elements of Jone's Division forming up. The split rail fences are by Irregular Miniatures and are for scenic effect only. |
In the northern portion of the battlefield the Union forces are now across Bull Run in strength and pushing forward along Sudley Mountain. Brigadier General Schenck's Union Division are firmly in control of Henry House Hill. While Steven's Division crosses Stone Bridge and pushes forward to support Kearney's Division now deployed 900 yards east of A.P.Hill's Light Division.
Unfortunately, at this stage time was against us and the game had to be left unresolved, an unusual thing in our Volley & Bayonet games.