Longstreet Campaign 1862 River Crossing Union v Confederate

The second game in Dave and I's Longstreet campaign set in 1862 was the 'River Crossing' scenario with Dave's Rebels attacking. Perhaps part of the Seven Day's battles with General Hooker's brigade attempting to hold the Rebels back while the Union evacuates its baggage train.

Hooker deploys his brigade to defend the four potential crossing points on the river. There are two objectives which the Rebels place in the cornfield and woods on the Union left. The stream adds a complication in that it won't be easy to redeploy units if the Rebels elect to attack a single crossing point:

It is immediately apparent that the Rebel plan is to overwhelm the Union forces on the left where the crossing is widest. Will they manage to cross before Hooker can send more men over to contest the crossing?

Rebel cavalry cross the river with strong infantry columns following up:

The Rebel cavalry dismount while the defenders open fire. Hooker rushes troops across the stream in support:

The Rebel cavalry get much the worst of the encounter in the field, they also prevent the following Rebel infantry from deploying properly. To increase the pressure the Rebels approach the other crossing in force:

With the Rebel cavalry largely dispersed their infantry charge across the field. Some Union troops have come up in support behind the field now though:

The Rebel charge is repulsed and casualties are strewn all over the field. The Rebels are also about to try to take the stone wall in front of the other crossing:

A mass Rebel charge sees them capture the stone wall and push the Union infantry almost out of the cornfield. They have taken heavy casualties though and the Union line has buckled but not broken:

The Union infantry are forced out of the cornfield but General Hooker has reserves ready to stabilise the line:

Co-ordinating fire and the bayonet Hooker recovers the cornfield and the Rebels break from their losses:

Another great game which, while it was not that close at the end, felt closer when the rebels stormed across the river! Dave's plan to attack in one place was interesting in that it immediately isolated half my force but it also resulted in his units getting in each other's way and blocked off his artillery support for much of the battle. 

I'd probably have attacked in two places or at least threatened to but I'm by no means sure that would have been a better option. We now have a second battle to play for 1862 and are continuing to enjoy the games greatly.

One other thing I'm trying to do is use as many of my varied 15mm ACW collection (built up over many years) as possible. The armies in the first game were mainly AB figures, in this one the figures were mainly inherited by me and I'm sure Mike who left them to me would have been happy to see them take the field again.

Finally here is a statue of our Hero, General 'Fighting Joe' Hooker:

and here is his very own entrance to the Massachusetts State Hall!