"First Bull Run / Manassas test run with Fire & Fury" Topic

Me and the guys finally got our act together for a quick play through of the First Bull Run with Fire and Fury. We had a lot of fun… a brief writeup here:

link

It is a really good scenario. I have run it at a convention before and it went down to the last turn as the Union assaulted HH Hill and won the day.

I have to agree that timing is everything when re-enacting this battle. I start at 9:00am with Burnside emerging from the woods in road column. You know Evans almost formed column and attacked before the Federals could get themselves sorted out and into formation. Also Bee and Bartow were not that far away. Bee's original intent was to prepare defenses on Henry Hill. Evans, who could see him, sent him a message which Bee interpreted as an order (some confusion on seniority)to join him on Matthew's Hill so he could mount his counter attack.

The Confederates are usually able to hold Matthew's Hill until 11:00am when Sherman shows up on their flank. I like to use "Carnage & Glory II" which is a computer moderated system when I game this battle because it keeps track of fatigue which helps to model how the troops, tired after the long night march run out of steam. It is Sherman and Keyes who typically assault Henry Hill but usually Jackson has occupied the reverse slope by then.

Always lots or back and forth and I have seen this battle go both ways.