Scenario Information:
May 25,
1862;
14
Turns [Historical]
May 24, 1862, was a disastrous day for Maj. Gen. Nathaniel
Banks. Learning that the Confederates had taken Front Royal and were
closing on Winchester, Banks ordered a hasty retreat down the Valley
Pike from Strasburg. His columns were attacked at Middletown and
again at Newtown (Stephens City) by the converging forces of Maj.
Gen. Thomas J. Jackson. The Confederates took many US prisoners and
captured so many wagons and stores that they later nicknamed the
Union general ``Commissary Banks.'' Jackson pressed the pursuit for
most of the night and allowed his exhausted soldiers but a few hours
sleep before dawn.
US Deployment at Winchester: Banks now deployed at
Winchester to slow the CS pursuit. He had two brigades of infantry
under Donelly and Gordon, a mixed brigade of cavalry under Hatch,
and 16 guns. Gordon's brigade was placed on the US right on Bower's
Hill with its left flank at the Valley Pike, supported by a battery
of artillery. The center of the line (Camp Hill) was held by the
cavalry supported by two guns. Donelly's brigade was placed in a
crescent on the left to cover the Front Royal and Millwood roads
with the rest of the artillery. At earliest light the CS skirmish
line advanced in force driving the US pickets back to their main
line of battle.
CS Advance on Front Royal Pike: During the night, the
advance of Maj. Gen. Richard Ewell's division (four brigades)
reached Buffalo Lick. At dawn, he deployed his brigades astride the
Front Royal Pike and advanced against the Union left flank. His
leading regiments (in particular the 21st North Carolina) came under
heavy fire from US forces deployed behind stone fences and were
repulsed. CS forces regrouped and brought up artillery. After about
an hour, they again advanced, this time sending regiments to either
side of the high ground to enfilade the Union position. Donelly (US)
withdrew his brigade to a position closer to town with his right
flank anchored on Camp Hill. Trimble's brigade (CS) then attempted a
flanking movement to the right beyond the Millwood Road. This
movement threatened the US left and rear. This movement, in
conjunction with Confederate maneuvers on the left beyond the Valley
Pike, caused the Union line to collapse in this sector.
CS Advance on Valley Pike: In conjunction with Ewell's
advance on the Front Royal Pike, Jackson advanced the Stonewall
Brigade on the Valley Pike at early dawn in a heavy fog. At
Jackson's command, the brigade swept over a hill to the left of the
pike, driving off the US skirmishers who held it. Jackson quickly
placed a section of artillery on the hill to engage US artillery on
Bower's Hill at a range of less than half a mile. Union
sharpshooters along Abrams Creek began picking off the cannoneers.
In response, Banks moved his artillery farther to the right to
enfilade the CS artillery and heavily reinforced his right flank
with infantry. Jackson brought up the rest of his artillery and a
duel ensued with the Union guns on Bower's Hill. It now appeared
that the Union forces were preparing to turn the Confederate left.
To counter this threat, Jackson deployed Taylor's Louisiana
brigade, reinforced by two regiments of Taliaferro's, to the left
along Abrams Creek. Taylor marched under fire to a position
overlapping the Union right and then attacked Bower's Hill. The
Confederate assault swept irresistibly forward over the crest in the
face of determined resistance. The Union right flank collapsed, even
as the left flank was being pressured by Ewell. Union soldiers began
streaming back into town.
US Retreat: With the collapse of both flanks, Union
forces retreated through the streets of Winchester and north on the
Valley Pike. Confederate pursuit was lethargic, as the troops were
exhausted from the non-stop marching of the previous week.
Nevertheless, many Union prisoners fell into Confederate hands.
Ashby's cavalry was disorganized from the actions of 24 May and did
not pursue until Banks had already reached the Potomac River.
May
25,
1862
??
Turns [Hypothetical]
Under
development
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