First Trago Mills 1862

Sunday's Solo saw a return to Epic scale ACW: Whilst the good people of Trago Mills loved their quiet town along the fertile banks of Scrumpy Run, its location astride the line between Virginia and the putative West Virginia meant trouble in 1862...

The (entirely fictional) first battle of Trago Mills supposes a Confederate foray into the Union heartland further west. The first key objective was the ford over Scrumpy Run, the second being the town itself. A third objective was the road over what would eventually be known as 'Heartbreak Ridge, the heights dominating the border country in these parts.

The town and nearby farm were garrisoned by local militia battalions loyal to the Union. The defense was bolstered by four infantry brigades of Union volunteers and an artillery battalion of five batteries.

The attacking portion of the Army of Northern Virginia consisted of a makeshift corps of six infantry brigades, also supported by an artillery battalion.

The advance to contact of this informal corps, under Federal rifled artillery fire, was protracted.

The rebels made every effort to press forward aggressively, but were hampered by the trappy country, with dense cropfields and fences, copses and of course Scrumpy Run itself.

The sun was already at high noon as the first assaults went in.

Yet deploying and attacking in haste appeared to pay off for the Confederates - first the ford then half of Trago Mills fell at the first assault!

In short order the other half of Trago Mills is 'liberated' by the Sons of the South!

But even at this northern end of the line the Federal defence was still well layered and intact.

The Rebels advanced against the centre objective.

Against a formidable defence of steady infantry... 

Backed up by artillery up on Heartbreak Ridge.

The Confederate Artillery Brigadier attempted to bring up his own guns to support the attack in the centre...

 But there is little room to deploy them.

The attacks go in regardless!

And the Red Cow Farm also falls to the Rebels!

Elsewhere, the Union line holds firm:

Bringing simply too much fire power to bear to allow a sweeping Rebel advance.

As the sun sets (at the end of Turn 6) the Rebels have taken one objective and 2 Victory points. The Trago Mills objective remains in contention, whilst the Union firmly hold the Heartbreak Ridge objective and have gained 1 VP. A minor victory to the Rebels, who draw off and hope for a more crushing victory next time!