http://www.shoelessbivouac.net/acwhrules.html -- Select "Download" link.
Update (12-16-08) - This the final fine-tuning adjustment for troop releases.
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<center><b>Historical 1st Manassas - ver. 1.3
R.D. Richard / S.K. Hendley
A Grand Battle Scenario For John Tiller's / HPS Campaign Antietam
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<u>Note</u>: Burnside (Hunter) reached Sudley Ford around 9:15 AM. The shift in deployment (from Scenario 103) complements this fact.
The following setup more or less commits the Union player to attempt McDowell's brilliant strategic opening flank maneuver.
<ul>a. Push forward the "historical" battle start time to 9:00 AM.
b. Shift Hunter's and Heintzelman's divisions forward (west) along the Sudley Ford trail by 4+ turns - placing Burnside's 2nd Rhode Island on hex 28, 13 and all other units trailing behind as per Scenario 103's setup. A barely perceptible change in troop "release" times more closely approximates Hunter's and Heintzelman's historical arrival times at Sudley Ford.
c. "Tyler's 3 brigades (Schenk, Sherman, and Keyes), situated some 600+ yards east of the Stone Bridge, begin the morning "fixed" until their release, beginning with the 10 AM turn (Sherman) as per McDowell's previous night's instructions. Tyler was instructed to stand ready to support the advance of both Hunter and Heintzelman.
d. Richardson's brigade (Tyler) begins the day "attached" to Col. Miles Division and was assigned to guard the Manassas-Centreville Road above Blackburn's Ford. Richardson also enjoys a small chance to be released, beginning with the 11 AM Turn.
e. Longstreet - like Richardson - similarly enjoys a small chance to be released, beginning with the 11 AM Turn.
f. Montgomery's 1 NJ, 2 NJ Vol. brigade (BG Runyon) may arrive at 3:20 PM as per reinforcement schedule.
g. Col. Miles Division has been positioned closer to Centreville's VP objective hex - otherwise it's possible for a rebel force to capture the Centreville VP objective without a "release" of any U.S. forces other than the 29th NY (Blenker) and Col. Miles, himself, due to the 5-hex Release Routine.
g. Bonham and Jones enjoy a small chance of being released, beginning with the 1 PM turn.Â
h. Blenker and Davies (Miles division) similarly enjoy a small chance of being released, beginning with the 1 PM Turn. (The sole intent here is to insure a measure of "battlefield doubt" for both USA and CSA formations that never actually engaged in battle on July 21. So, anything should be possible if not highly probable.)
i. VP Objectives have been added to the map to invite a more historical path without demanding a precise a chain-of-events.
j . Victory conditions have been shifted to refect the added Union VP objectives.</ul><hr noshade size="1">
<u>Notes</u>:
<b>USA</b>
<ul>i. 4th Michigan (Wilcox) is removed from play, because his regiment "... was detached for rear-guard duty at Fairfax. Several games have this unit popping up at a wild variety of locations and times. The Official Records indicate that it never left Fairfax and was not involved in the battle" --R. Berg.
ii. Richardson's brigade (Tyler) begins "attached" to Col Miles division and assigned a defensive position along the Manassas-Centreville Road near the Butler house. Richardson enjoys a small chance to release, beginning at 11 AM.
iii. Montgomery's brigade (BG Runyon) may arrive as reinforcements late in the day.
iv. Union Division Commanders, Hunter, Heintzelman, Tyler, and Miles have been placed on the map for 'historical' purposes only. Because the program's "In Command" division leader bonus proves a-historic for our "historic" 1st Manassas battle (USA division commanders lacked the experience to lead anything more than individual regiments, which is precisely what they did.) - it is strongly recommend leaving them "fixed" in place for the remainder of play - but, this decision is left up to each team of players to determine.
v. Howard's brigade (Heintzelman) is strongly encouraged to continue along the Sudley Ford path of his Division as per his historical account, but again this decision is left up to each team of players to determine.</ul>
<b>CSA</b>
<ul>i. Jones' brigade was the only confederate force that pushed across Bull Run as per Beauregard's confusing (!) , ever-changing early morning instructions. (Ewell and Holmes never knew exactly what was expected of them so remained "in reserve".)
ii. 9 GA (Bartow's brigade) never arrived on the Manassas battlefield - having been left behind in the Shenandoah, hence, has been removed from the map.
iii. Bee's 6th NC should arrive near the battlefield just after 12 Noon as per reinforcement schedule.
iv. Roger's battery, assigned to Col. Cocke's brigade included Heaton's section - which is represented by one of Roger's three sections. Davidson's section (Latham's Arty - Cocke) has been deployed north of Evans position near the Carter Mansion as per Berg's OOB.
v. 1st VA "Unattached" is Col. J.E.B. Stuart (but unidentified in the game.)
vi. BG E.K. Smith's senior Colonel Arnold Elzy was returned to the officer replacement pool (for now), if only because Smith - although wounded in the climactic early afternoon battle near the Henry house, began the day in fit and healthy fighting spirits.
vii. According to Early's own narrative, he was ordered to move to reinforce the left "between 12 n. and 1 p.m." In game terms, this won't do if he is to have any chance to arrive near the Chin house before the end of the historical battle (nearing 4:40 p.m.). His "release" time has therefore been adjusted to fit within the context of this historically significant possibility.
viii. Bonham remained near Mitchell's throughout the day. Bonham and Jones, however, share a small chance to release - since anything's possible. (note: Bonham and Longstreet received direct orders to advance towards Centreville around 5 p.m..)</ul><hr noshade size="1">
<u>Sources</u>:
<ul>Rich Walker (OOB's) / Doug Strickler (Map).
Rich Walker (OOB's) / Doug Strickler (Map)
<i>First Blood--The 1st & 2nd Battles of Manassas</i>, c. 1990 -- Richard Berg's GBACW series.
<i>First Blood</i>- William C. Davis, c. 1983 (Time-Life series) - unfortunately the best book I own on the subject - from a view of the day's events from both sides' perspectives. Battle map details confirm R. Berg's troop deployments at 9:15 AM, July 21.
<i>Lee's Lieutenants</i>--Douglas S. Freeman, c. 1942 (renewed 1970)
Fighting for the Confederacy --E. Porter Alexander, c. 1989
General Jubal A. Early, <i>Narrative of the War Between the States</i>, c. 1989</ul>
Fld. Lt. D. Shoeless, CSA
Secretary of the Cabinet (Ret)
1st Tenn Provisional Army