From: "Pat Collins" Newsgroups: rec.games.board Subject: CWBS - Three Battles of Manassas Due to the holidays, I had some time to play this fascinating battle - First Bull Run. It's one of three included in MMP's Three Battles of Manassas. The Rebs were blocking Hunter, and part of Heintzlemann from Mathews Hill. The fight continued here, with some very strong stands by weakened Confederate brigades. Bee & Hampton in particular kept making their morale rolls even as their ranks got thinner & thinner. Elezy finally accepted orders to move to their help, and both parts of Bonham got moving to take Cub run Bridge, and block a key Union Road. Jones too started to move down the edge road to Centerville, and Von Steinwher (sp, no doubt) very weak, and poor morale unit. On the union side, Tyler sat like a log, trying to decide what "cross the ford, go to Mathews hill via Henry House hill & attack Rebs in the rear" meant. At 4 PM (some 5 hours later) he figured it out. Miles is still waiting for his orders to arrive. But by 4PM Hunter was wrecked, and failed his attack stoppage roll. So Heintzlemann must carry the battle alone, against Reb cannon & reinforcements. (Jackson, not needing orders to march to the sounds, arrived earlier). At this moment it's not looking good for the Union, based on terrain. Losses seem rather even, with the Union failing some morale checks, while long wrecked Confederate units make theirs. I had forgotten the rhythm of a CWBS battle. Starts slowly as people move into position, and others accept orders. Then, fighting spreads & is hot & furious. Later, brigades get wrecked, fail morale more often. Then, Corps fail attack stoppage & the turns move quickly as fewer units are in contact. And so with First Bull Run. The last turns till dark went quickly as Hunter accepted an attack order, then failed stoppage a turn later. Tyler ended up going Low Ammo destroying Bee. But then he could do little damage to Jackson & Cocke, who wrecked him. While Hunter made roll after roll, Tyler failed his first one! With Cocke coming up from the rear, at least one of Tyler's units was always taking a flank shot. Not good for damage, or morale checks. But still the "Civil War" like things kept happening. Burnside, wrecked & almost out of it routed a near full strength Elzey, sparing Tyler worse damage.Heinzlemenn went a casualty, but his replacement kept making his stoppage rolls until his brigades were too shot up to pass morale. Final tally - Major Reb victory. Myles sitting put let the Rebs walk into Centerville, and take Cub run bridge. Reb 31, Union 11. -- Regards, Pat Last Played: Wilderness War, Lock n' Load X2 (via Vassal), Three Battles of Manassas