Going to post a battle AAR I had in a campaign, pretty fun fight, very hard campaign, hard battles. I do not have a ton of time so I will update this thread over a little bit of time and then compile and post the final in the AAR sticky thread.
Without further ado, The battlemap and early positions as contact broke out on the right flank between some Dismounted cavalry taking cover between a small grove of trees along a wood fence and engaging a confederate infantry brigade.
The Union was on the attack but it was the confederate troops who pushed forward to a fight.
Point A,
Radar showing positions.
Point A, confederate brigade.
Running to engage,
Close up of point A,
During the fight for point A,
The fight at Point A was the backdoor to the Union Army, as the Union army pushed hard towards Jacksonville it took two companies of union cavalry dismounted to hold the confederate brigade at bay. This allowed the regulars of the Union army to advance to a better position next to a house along a stone wall at (point B) with mounted cavalry to support the rear. Custer Commanded from point I on Day 1. The colored division led by the 54th Mass. pushed hard south towards Jacksonville at point H they turned to engage at point C. The Confederate troops first assaulted point A and then cavalry support by infantry made an assault on the union line at point B. The confederate brigade behind the stonewall at D makes it difficult to cross the muddy open fields in front of it without taking heavy fire. The melted snow made it impossible for either army to field artillery so it became a real slugfest in the mud.
Day one Troop movements Map,
Point B on the map became a major point of conflict during the day 1 action. It will be the pivotal moment of the battle at this point.
Point C, heavy fire by 54th Mass forces heavy casualties to key defense point of confederates. The colored division continued to fire and advance their way to capture point C by days end.
Day one movements and engagements.
Closer view over point B
As the confederate brigade was held at bay on the right flank the union regulars marched to the stonewalls at point B. The wheat fields provided a muddy tough path with a brigade of confederate troops behind a stonewall, watching for anyone crossing. well the confederate troops made their strike through the forest hitting B hard.
The assault was led by a cavalry charge followed by infantry marching to support. The confederate infantry faultered their charge and pulled up engaging the union line alone the stonewall, near house. The cavalry looked like they might push through, the attack felt overwhelming and the entire right would fall if any unit fled.
At this point all seemed lost on the right, the dismounted cavalry at point A were barely holding their own on the extreme right flank. point B was on the fringe.
Just as Custer was going to commit in the reserve cavalry, the union line near the house broke ranks and the back row shifted to the right and fired a few volleys into their own ranks and the overwhelming cavalry. The commander told his boys to aim higher as to avoid their own. after a volley they charged into the melee and helped stave off the charge.
The confederate attack retreated, many were shot down as they pulled back.
Day one map again.
As the battle waged at point B, the 54th Mass took fire at point C and fired upon and advanced towards point D.
Closer view of point C.
While the regulars were hesitant to cross the wheat fields the colored brigade marched ahead firing along the way.
Some of the casualties at point C.
They scared the confederates right off their stonewall as the marched towards them and continued a heavy fire. They took the opposite wall where the confederates once held at point D.
At this point The 54th Mass was able to drive the confederates out of the forest and into the wheat fields.
Custer moved his men to take the stonewall and forest near the wheat field at point E.
The Union regulars and reserve cavalry finally move in to support the advance.
The battle at point A was over, the Union cavalry sent the confederates running the same time their cavalry fled the field. the aftermath was devastating to each sides numbers as it was a fierce fire fight.
Union casualties Point A
Confederate Casualties Point A
As nightfall stopped battle for the night the positions stood with the 54th Mass fortified at points D and F in Jacksonville. The Union Regulars and rest of the dismounted cavalry moved to the stonewall at the forest near point E. Custer surveyed from point I until nightfall and moved up to the farmhouse along the stonewall between point B and H.
On the Confederate Side General Hood watched the battle from point J. At point G is where the confederate troops were pushed back to at nightfall where they made camp..
Some of the heaviest fighting in the war to this point came at point B in this battle as the aftermath shows.
Point D. Focus of Day 2 battle, Confederates make an assault across the wheat field.
New day two map of movements.
Point A, Retreating confederates from failed first day assault. Some union troops were forced to pull back also. Remaining troops on the ground from day one A and B points move up to day two stonewall point B. The colored division anchored by the 54th Mass. Moves to points E and D and engage the confederates fresh day two assault.
Closer map to points E and D.
Here is some of the action by the 54th Mass at point E.
Also at point D. Where they deflected a cavalry charge and sent them running.
The confederates held strong but in the end were overcome by the 54th Mass and pushed out of the forest leaving only dead and wounded behind at point E.
At point B of Day two, Hood made a valiant charge on the entrenched right flank at B.
Closer view of day two B.
Once hood committed his cavalry Custer unleashed his as well. Custer figuring by now the muddy wheat field would be packed in by the extensive movement taking place all over it and it was a prime time to unleash his cavalry across the wheat field taking the confederates by surprise.
Hood fought bravely and when his men abandoned him he stayed fighting to the end. Jacksonville would be his last fight. Hood died at point B.
The Union Cavalry pushed hard upon hearing of Hoods death. They hit point C and wreck havoc.
Custers Cavalry thundered across the wheat field and cut many confederates to pieces as they tried to brave the charge.
As Custer forced a mass retreat by most the confederates he pushed on towards point F and took the brigade in the rear out. (closer view of F)
The last confederate brigade sandwiched between Custers cavalry behind and the 54th Mass in front, did not stand long. Custer was soon surveying his field of victory.
The Bloody Wheat Field aftermath.
Point B of Hoods charge, near his death spot, which is off screen in the trees to the left a little
Final Results,