War of Rights(IC)(SEE OOC TO JOIN)

[Bolslania]

The Civil War, the largest number of American casualties of any war America has fought in. A war that split households and friendships. A war known for its brutality. In the real world, the two sides were roughly evenly matched in terms of generals. Let's hypothesize that those people didn't exist. No Sherman, no Grant, no Lee. Just you and your ability. Who will you pledge your allegiance to and how well will you serve them?

The only things that are brought over from reality into this RP are the following:
1. Abraham Lincoln is president of the USA
2. Jefferson Davis is president of the CSA
3. The infrastructure of the USA and CSA are the same as how they were

These are the continuities, the rest is up to you to decide.

In this RP you can play as a commander in either army, a politician, or a spy. How will you serve your side?

As a commander you will lead military forces against the enemy, organize offensives, and seek to end the war.
As a politician you will lead your nation through a time of strife.
As a spy you will gather information for your side, sabotage the efforts of the enemy, and seek to destabilize the oppositon.

The choice is yours, on to battle.

If you choose to play as a military officer, consider this before you decide what kind of officer you wish to play:

Officer of Infantry: As an officer of infantry, you will fight on the frontlines. This aspect of warfare is what most think of when they think of Civil War battles, lines of infantry taking turns shooting at each other before eventually charging in with bayonets. This is the ugliest part of combat, amidst the smoke and screams of the battlefield.

Officer of Cavalry: As an officer of cavalry, you will be responsible for being the eyes of the larger army, scouting and making initial contact with the enemy. During a battle the cavalry may find itself on the flanks, skirmishing with their carbines, held back in preparation for capitalizing on a breakthrough, or charging in sabers raised to finish off the retreating forces.

Officer of Artillery: This is the most laid-back aspect of combat, sitting several hundred yards back from the fighting, making calculations, picking a shell type, and blowing people apart. The job of the artillery is to suppress and disperse enemy troop formations, provide counter-battery fire for their friendlies, and break the will of the enemy.

Corps or Army commanders: As a commander of a Corps or Army, you will be responsible for managing the above forces and deploying them effectively on the battlefield. The over all strategy and planning will be your responsibility, rather than the messy tactical decisions.



Breakdown of Military structure of the Civil War (This applies to both sides)

Infantry Organization
Company- Commanded by a Captain, this is the smallest group of soldiers that will make maneuvers and engage in combat. Standard combat strength on paper was 100 men per company, but due to illness, desertion, and other factors usual combat strength was around 50 men.

Regiment- Companies were grouped together to form regiments—the fighting unit with which soldiers most identified. The regiment was the basic maneuver unit of the Civil War. Regiments could consist of just a few companies or as many as fourteen, but ten was the official number—ten companies of 100 men meant that regiments, on paper, were composed of 1,000 officers and men. Yet because of undersized companies, especially as the war progressed the average Civil War regiment at mid-war consisted of 300-500 soldiers. Volunteer regiments were denoted by numbers followed by the state they represented, for example, the 99th Pennsylvania or the 7th South Carolina. Regiments were ideally commanded by colonels (the “commanding officer”) who oversaw two field officers—the lieutenant colonel and the major—and 30 “line” officers: ten captains and twenty lieutenants, who were in charge of the companies. A few more officers might work on the colonel’s staff as adjutants and aides. Noncommissioned officers—sergeant majors, sergeants and corporals—were also responsible for company-level duties.

Brigade- Regiments were grouped together to form brigades. Brigades consisted of anywhere from two to seven regiments for a fighting strength that could range from a few hundred to 2,000-4,000 soldiers. A brigadier general ideally commanded a brigade, but colonels and sometimes even lieutenant colonels regularly led brigades. When time and will allowed, brigades engaged in training as a unit—“brigade drill.” Up to the brigade level, the Union and Confederate armies were organized in the same fashion and were of similar size. The Confederate army was much more likely to “brigade” regiments from a particular state together than its Union counterpart. Famous brigades emerged on both sides such as the “Stonewall Brigade” and the “Iron Brigade.”

Division- Brigades were grouped into divisions, the size of which varied between Union and Confederate armies. The Confederacy’s divisions tended to be larger, with four or five brigades per division, while the Union most often had to only have two or three brigades per division. Both sides stipulated that a major general command a division, but Union divisions were sometimes commanded by brigadier generals and occasionally even by colonels. The Confederacy, however, rarely employed anyone below the rank of major general at the helm of a division.

Corps- Two or more divisions formed a corps, and here the ranking on the opposing sides diverges. Throughout most of the Civil War, United States general officers could only hope to attain the rank of major general. The sole rank above it, lieutenant general, was only bestowed during the war to Ulysses S. Grant in 1864. At the outset, however, Confederate general officers had more room for rank elevation. There were numerous slots available for lieutenant generals and a small number for the rank of “full” general—simply called “general.” A Confederate corps was ideally commanded by a lieutenant general, though they were sometimes commanded by major generals. A Union corps was ideally commanded by a major general, although brigadier generals sometimes took the command of a corps.

Army-The armies of the Civil War varied greatly in size from two small corps of just a few thousand soldiers to behemoths of several corps of more than 100,000 officers and men. Union armies were commanded by major generals while Confederate armies were under the command of a full general or lieutenant general. At the corps and army level, leadership would be determined by seniority among the available major generals, or by intervention from Presidents Abraham Lincoln or Jefferson Davis.


Cavalry organization

Company- Similar to Infantry companies, Cavalry companies are commanded by a captain, supported by 2 lieutenants. On paper strength is similar to the Infantry, and the in combat strength is also comparable.

Regiments- Early war this was as large as cavalry units got, operating within larger units.


Artillery organization-

Piece- The smallest unit of organization for the artillery was called a “piece,” which was one cannon. Each piece was serviced by 8-20 men, some actually operating the cannon and others providing logistical support such as driving battery wagons and filling limber chests.

Section- The pieces were then organized into a section, which consisted of two cannons, ideally commanded by a lieutenant.

Battery- Two or more sections formed a battery, commanded by a captain who oversaw the lieutenants (commanding sections) below him. In the South, batteries tended to contain two sections and in the North they tended to contain three sections. Batteries tended to consist of 100 to 150 officers and men.

Early in the war, artillery batteries were often just attached to infantry or cavalry regiments.

1. I am the judge and jury (and in cases of bad behavior the executioner). I make the final decision in debates and battles. Co-ops will possess the same powers and responsibilities that I do.

2. Be respectful to the other players here, this is just a game

3. When it comes to the battle, the combatants will send me or my co-op(s) maps of their movements (I recommend a program like Paintz or something like that) and I will make a decision based on that.

4. Be realistic, you're not going to march a full army of heavy infantry and artillery very fast

Put "Musket" in your notes section to confirm you read the rules

CO-OPS
1-Revlona

ROSTER:


UNION:




Major General William Westmann (See "Example App"), Command Army of the Potomac- Bolslania


Brigadier General Max Hernandez, Command 1st Southern Volunteer Brigade, no Army assignment- Romextly

Brigadier General Juan Martinez command 1st Brigade, no army assignment- Langenia






CSA



Major General Ryan AlexanderCommand 1st Corps, no army assignment.- American Pere Housh

Lieutenant General Alexander Robert Henderson III, Command 2nd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia- Revlona




_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

April 20th, 1861

5 days ago Fort Sumter, in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, was attacked by Confederate militiamen. After 33 hours of constant bombardment, the brave boys at Fort Sumter were ordered to retreat. So marks the beginning of a Civil War. Now, men who were once friends must choose a side, whether to fight for their state, or to fight for their country. Already families are being split by this critical choice, friendships being shattered.

Now the armies of both sides ready to march, building up their strength for what they know will be a hard fight. The sides have been set, the battle lines drawn, it is up to you to decide the outcome.

[Revlona]

Lieutenant General Alexander Robert Henderson III
Outskirts of Fredericksburg Virginia
Camp of the 2nd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
May 1st, 1861

War was a dreadful thing, it was a cancer on the earth which killed the righteous and the wicked together in droves. Yet it was a necessary evil, for war also was an instrument of the downtrodden, of the oppressed. Through violence, good hard men could keep those weaker individuals that were innocent of any wrong doing, safe from the wolves of the world. Through violence, freedom could be won, land protected, rights secured. War was evil, this was an assured fact, yet it was a necessary evil.

The worst conflict between men than can happen is not a fight of good vs evil, not a war for freedom, or a bloody revolution. No, the worst and most awful form of conflict humanity can fight is one of strong ideals, ideals strong enough to tear families apart. To force neighbor to fight neighbor on Saturday when just 2 days past of Thursday they had sat down for supper together. To force mother to hate daughter and to force brother to fight brother. A civil war, that was the worst conflict man could fight, for what do you do when across the field, at the other end of your rifle is a man you don't hate nor love, but simply must fight to keep your ideals alive.

That was what these United States of America had come to, brother vs brother, father vs son. With Fort Sumter having been bombarded into submission by southern guns, a true war of blood ties had begun. Northerns and southerns alike rallied to their flag, General Alexander Robert Henderson the thirds own second corps of the still forming Army of Northern Virginia was also still forming. It stood at only 5,000 strong, barely two and a half brigades, yet men marched in the droves to join him for across the way, some 15 miles to the north was camped a Federal Army of near equal strength. Commanded by a General he knew not the name of, all he knew, and all his soldiers and civilians of both nations knew what that the first battle of the American Civil War was most likely just about to begin, all over a little town that stood between the two armies, a little town known as Garrisonville Virginia.

His own men were ready, 5,000 men and counting of the soon to be Army of Northern Virginia, they merely awaited the enemy to begin their own march, this was a defensive war after all and the Federals were trespassing on southern territory. It would not be allowed and soon the first real shots of the war would tell who was in the right, and who would be dead.

[Romextly]

The Southern Volunteers Brigade had just escaped Confederate territory. These were southerners still loyal to the union. They were trudging out of Texas and were starting to regroup in Kansas. The Commander, Brigadier General Max Hernandez had been leading them and they were exhausted. The troops were however ready to move back to Texas and free it from Confederate hands.

[Bolslania]

Major General William Westmann
Dale city
Army of the Potomac

This war was going to be like no other, this war would be fought at home. In all the other wars Maj. Gen. Westmann had fought in the fighting had been taking place hundreds of miles away from home, now it was going to be fought on the doorsteps of Americans.

His cavalry had reported a large buildup of confederate forces, number about 5,000 men, including cavalry and artillery, just 15 miles south from where he was. He was nervous, never had he been on such a back foot so close to friendly territory, if the rebs chose to attack, and he failed, Washington would be wide open.

He needed more time, just a little more time. And he hoped his opponent, a Lieutenant General Alexander Robert Henderson III wasn't it? Yes, him. Felt the same way. Numbering only 6000 men, The Army of the Potomac was not in shape to fight a major battle at the moment, especially when it only had 18 artillery pieces to support itself. But in the name of caution, fortifications would need to be built. He had enlisted help from the citizens of Dale city, offering them pay to help construct the breastworks, walls, and cannon emplacements that would be used if he was pushed back into Dale City. However, he didn't plan on fighting in the city, he planned on meeting his opponent head on, in a field, where he could hope to beat him by sheer numbers alone.

The army had resupplied itself, it was fully stocked with ammunition and rations, uniforms and boots. He was going to march them about 5 miles along the road, hoping to stop them at Dumfries, which was far enough where Washington wasn't at risk, but close enough to react if they didnt do what he though they were going to do, which was march the 25 miles or so from Fredericksburg to Washington.

[Revlona]

Lieutenant General Alexander Robert Henderson III
On the road north Garrisonville of Virginia
Army of Northern Virginia
May 1st, 1861

"Now General Henderson, I'm I correct to understand that the Yankees are only six miles of our positions?" Albert Longbottom, a journalist for the Whig, asked in a typical southern drawl. "Yes this is correct, our scouts confirm that a force of about fifty five hundred to six thousand federal troops had dug fortifications in Dale city before marching south to the town of Dumfries, most likely attempting to sway my forces from making a march against the District of Columbia," General Henderson said, his own drawl much more pronounced.

"Do you intend to march against the Federal forces General?" The journalist asked, his eyes lit with the prospect of reporting on the first true American battle since the Mexican war, and the first battle involving two forces of American nationality. Oh if he only knew what war truly looked like, he would not be so excited.

"I do indeed, the enemy is on southern territory and must be driven away, however I have delayed my march purposefully as you most likely noticed. Federal forces out number my force by nearly a thousand men, not a small number with the size of the two forces which shall meet on the field, I am hoping and expecting to see another brigade join me sometime tomorrow morning, the brigade is at half strength so won't even our numbers out but it should allow for a more even fight, either way, we march tomorrow morning Mr.Longbottom." The General said, standing from where he was seated.

He knew from the jumbled scouting reports that he most likely held superiority in both Cavalry and field guns, yet it would be all for naught if the Yankees merely overwhelmed his infantry. he hoped that Colonel Southtons Brigade arrived on time, if not then he would have to give battle otherwise the enemy force would be to entrenched to force out without superior numbers.

[Bolslania]

Major General William Westmann
Dumfries
Army of the Potomac

"They're in Garrisonville?" General Westmann asked dubiously. Lt. Col Thomas, commander of the 2nd Cavalry, nodded.

"It would appear so sir, it looked like they planned to be there for a little bit" Thomas said. Westmann pursed his lips thoughtfully. He hadn't expected the enemy to break away like that, and staying for a small amount of time in Garrisonville was a strange decision as well. Westmann pondered.

"What is he up to" He said quietly. It could be a trap, meant to lure Westmann into some kind of ambush, he turned back to Thomas.

"Did you see any cavalry or artillery in their camp?" Thomas nodded.

"Yes sir, I'd say that there were a good 20 artillery pieces, and I saw horses and cavalrymen, although we did see those scouts a few hours back." Thomas was referring to the rebel cavalry that had scouted them out when they were leaving Dale City. Westmann nodded, possibly not a trap. This was a good time to be aggressive. If Westmann could quickly close with the enemy infantry, he could win. If he stayed back and engaged from range, then the rebel artillery and cavalry would be able to fire freely into his forces. A plan was developing in his mind. It was a 4 1/2 mile march from Dumfries to Garrisonville, they would need to be fast.


"Right. General Bowman, you will take 1st Corps down the main road and get into the city as fast as possible. Begin shelling with your artillery as soon as they are in range, fire for effect." Bowman nodded grimly. Westmann turned to his 2nd Corps commander,

"You will flank Garrisonville from the west, also getting in as fast as possible and shelling for effect when in range."

"For both of you, take your cavalry and use them to block the retreat from Garrisonville." The two Generals nodded.

"Well gentlemen, on to battle."

1 hour later the Army of the Potomac was on the march to Garrisonville. The cavalry instead of scouting, was screening the column to try and eliminate any scouts that would be looking for them.

[Revlona]

Lieutenant General Alexander Robert Henderson III
On the road north Garrisonville of Virginia
Army of Northern Virginia
Early Morning, May 2nd, 1861

The quiet and peaceful morning was shattered for Lieutenant General Alexander Robert Henderson III as he was roused from bed quite violently, a young Cavalryman shoving open the flaps of his tent and thundering, "General! the Damnyankees are on the march, they were leaving camp when I hightailed it out of there, they were marching fast sir so they might be getting here soon!"

The General was already out of bed and hollering at the top of his voice, "To arm to arms, sound the muster!", trumpets began blaring and drums beating as men awoke and ran to their gathering ground, Henderson himself had just pulled his jacket over his shoulder when Colonel Henry Wells, the armies chief of artillery, burst into his tent.

"Thank god for you Henry, the guns are in place?" Henderson said, meaning the two batteries of 12 pounder napoleons that had been placed upon a hill south of smith lake that overlooked the road into Garrisonville. "Yes sir, my crews slept by their guns and are getting them ready now,"

"Good, make your way to them now, I'm going to have Brigadier General Marscoths 2,000 men form themselves up just outside the town and anchor their left flank on smiths lake, you should be able to pound their infantry quite severely as they approach, Brigadier General Marshals 1,000 men will form to the right of Marscoths and Brigadier General Areola shall form our reserve with his 900 men. Captain Smiths regiment of 300 horse shall take themselves back a bit from out right flank and make charges against any maneuver to turn Marshals right, Captain Huberts 300 shall posistion themselves near your guns to protect against any maneuvers around the lake and to protect the guns," The Lieutenant General said as his artillery officer left and another of his staff entered, quickly jotted down the orders, and ran out to issue them.

Henderson himself would be on another smaller hill to the south, overlooking the entire battle field and able to issue orders quickly and effectively. Now he only awaited on two things, the Yankees from the north, and Brigadier General Henrys brigade which was supposed to be arriving sometime in the morning.

[American Pere Housh]

Major General Ryan Alexander
Confederate 1st Corp.
Jefferson City,Missouri

Major General Ryan Alexander stands in front of a large table in a large room at the governor's mansion surrounded by his division and brigade commanders. He looks at each commander noticing the determination in their eyes, "Men as you have noticed, we are in Missouri which has decided to remain with those damn Yankees. Though they remain a Union state, Jefferson City remains a Confederate stronghold. Until we receive orders from President Davis, our orders are to protect Jefferson City at all cost. Intelligence has reported a brigade of traitors to our cause is forming up in Kansas and if we are sent into battle, they more than likely be our first opponent. "

Ryan heard angry mumbles from his commanders so he calm them down, "I know y'all are angry but they will be dealt with in time. You have your orders no get to it." The officers headed off to wher their commands are stationed at.

[Bolslania]

Major General William Westmann
Just outside of Garrisonville, VA
May 2, 1861

Maj. General Westmann was nervous. This wasn't the first time he'd fought other organized infantry, but this was the first time he commanded the whole battle. As his men formed into line, 1st brigade in the front, followed by 2nd brigade, with 3rd brigade being held back in reserve, his artillery was scrambling to get their guns ready. They had positioned themselves on a nice hill, from which they could almost fire into Garrisonville, but thats not what they would be doing.

The confederate lines were there, waiting for them. So was a rebel artillery battery that was scrambling to get ready, now was the time, before their artillery was ready. Westmann waved at his Brigadier Generals, who nodded and ordered a march. Westmann himself would be watching from the same hill as the artillery, although 50 yds back. He would hold back the 2nd Cavalry in order to protect the cannons and capitalize on any breakthroughs.

Private James Wallace
B Company, 45th Buffalo Infantry, 1st Brigade, Army of the Potomac
May 2, 1861

The general set them off. He was lucky enough to be in the 2nd rank, but he was still marching towards enemy lines. There they were, standing solemnly waiting for him to get in range. He had never seen combat before, and was hoping it was as glorious as the posters made it to be.

They were supposed to march until they were within 400yds, then fire, then march another 100, fire, move another hundred, fire, and then charge in with bayonets. This was going to be bloody.

[Revlona]

Lieutenant General Alexander Robert Henderson III
On the hill just outside of Garrisonville Virginia
Army of Northern Virginia
Early Morning, May 2nd, 1861

"This doesn't feel quite correct, where is the rest of the infantry?" Lieutenant General Alexander Robert Henderson III muttered to himself as he peered through the binoculars in his hand, "Colonel Ferry, what would you mark the advancing infantry? Two thousand?" He said, turning to a staff officer that sat upon his horse to the left of Alexnder. The Colonel lifted his own binoculars and peered at the approaching federal infantry. "Yes sir, just about Two Thousand, with another...I'd say 1200 in reserve," he said

"Then where is the rest of his infantry?" General Henderson muttered to himself, flinching slightly as all 24 guns opened up, targeting the approaching infantry as they crossed the creek. He raised the binoculars just as the shells landed, watching as great plums of dirt shot up in front and behind the approaching line, very few directly impacted and he couldn't see how many of the boys in blue were going down but he hoped it to be a reasonable number.

He motioned towards a Lieutenant on horseback to his right, "Inform Captain Hubert that we are missing near a corps of enemy infantry, he is to detach a unit of Cavalry to scout west of out position, they are to leave men behind and have them hightail it back if the enemy is spotted," He said, knowing that his left was the most likely target for a flanking maneuver, however he knew he could not disregard the right and so ordered another officer to take the same order to Captain Smiths regiment.

Marscoths Brigade
22nd Georgia Volunteers

"Sir! Sir! They're stopping!" A Sergeant called to the Colonel in charge of the 22nd, the Colonel whipped his head around and saw that indeed, the approaching Yankees had halted about four hundred yards away. He squinted his eyes and saw immediately what they were up to, "Brace yourselves men!" he called out as a wall of white smoke erupted from the approaching enemy and a thunderclap of sound rolled over them with the screams of the wounded. Dozens fell across the line, some falling without sound with others screaming their heads off. It was a very long shot at four hundred yards so many bullets went high and low.

"Ready boys!" the colonel yelled out as the other regiments in the brigade made ready to respond, "Aim!...FIRE!!" he called as near two thousand rifles spat death at the approaching yankees, a further thousand rifles barking off to their right as the smaller brigade of men added their own sounds of war.

The colonel saw that volleyfire was probably going to take to much time and so said, "Load and fire at will boys! Give those Yankee bastards your lead!", several men began crying out, not in pain but instead in challenge and anger. These screeches sounding like the cry of the damned, these crys being terrifying to the enemy, these cries being the rebel yell.

[Bolslania]

Massachusetts Brigade

"Come on boys! Load and advance!" Lieutenant Jameson shouted after their first volley.

"Everybody brace!" Came a shout as the confederates returned with their own volley. Wallace ducked as the shots zipped over his head, the man in front of him stiffened, made a horrid choking sound, and fell like a log to the ground, Wallace saw Jameson lying in the dirt. He loaded his musket with shaking hands, before the regiment set of again at the double quick.

Then the artillery came. A round landed in front of Wallace, showering him in dirt, the man next to him was hit by some shrapnel and went down screaming.


The next hundred yards went by in a haze of dirt, blood, and screams. Somehow Wallace survived to get to the next firing point, where the 1st brigade as a whole laid into the larger of the confederate units. He reloaded like a machine, not really thinking, just doing what he'd been trained to do.

Maj. Gen Westmann
Army of the potomac
May 2 1861

He winced as the Confederates returned fire with cannons and muskets. He went to give the artillery specific instructions.


"14th Irish! Target enemy infantry positions! 57th Brooklyn! Target enemy artillery positions!" The two colonels nodded and began shouting instructions to their men.

12 cannon shots rang out from the artillery positions, clods of dirt exploding around the confederate infantry and artillery positions. The cannons were instructed to fire at will.

"Sir! Enemy cavalry moving to our left and right!" A staff officer came up, pointing, Westmann turned and saw the reb cavalry moving. The 2nd Cavalry ran to defensive positions, taking aim with their carbines.

"Hold gentlemen! They're just scouting!" Westmann shouted, the enemy officer must have seen that Westmann wasn't leaning in with full strength.

"Send in the 3rd brigade." He said shortly, he would need to make such a racket on this side of the lake that the enemy officer would not want to take forces to protect against 2nd Corps.

A few minutes later, the Irish Brigade moved forward at the double quick, 1st and 2nd brigades hadn't taken a beating, but Westmann needed to make some noise.

Each brigade had about 75 yards spacing, so the 1st Brigade was the one getting hit right now.

[Revlona]

[align=Lieutenant General Alexander Robert Henderson III
On the hill just outside of Garrisonville Virginia
Army of Northern Virginia
Early Morning, May 2nd, 1861][/align]

"Sir they are starting to target out Artillery," A colonel to Hendersons left said, pointing to the enemy cannons. They indeed had begun to target his own Artillery with a portion of theirs. The other portion was targeted upon his infantry. "Shift a portion of our own artillery upon their own guns, keep the rest on their approaching infantry." Henderson said, a Captain upon his horse shooting of towards the hill hosting the artillery after he had finished speaking.

"They match us in terms of infantry now, about three thousand each yet we still have our reserves," He muttered to himself, glancing to the east and west self consciously as if he was expecting union forces to wrap their flank any second now. In all honesty he was in a very good position, his infantry was on the defensive and as such his boys got off three or four shots for every federal shot because they were marching towards them and stopping every once and a while to reload and fire. At this rate both sides would take casualties but with the Yankees taking more and more than likely losing the battle.

Marscoths Brigade
22nd Georgia Volunteers

"Keep your fire up boys! Keep it up!" The Colonel shouted out, coughing a couple times as the gunsmoke around him made it look like the confederate line was on fire. "Jesus christ all mighty they won't stop marching," The Colonel muttered as another volley of confederate lead went into the Union boys at the same time that a shell slammed directly into the Yankee line, he didn't see the damage from the shell because of the gunsmoke of his line and the dirt shot up from the cannon shell.

To his right he saw Marshals brigade let loose another organized volley, near a thousand rifles barking at once as even more smoke was shoved into the air. "Christ allmighty," he said as the Yankees stopped again and let another volley go, man man beside him crying out as he clutched at his chest and stumbled backwards into the arms of his comrades.

[Bolslania]

Maj. Gen William Westmann
Outside of Garrisonville
May 2, 1861

The incoming artillery rounds skipped around on the hill, blowing up clods of dirt. His artillery had managed to distract some of the confederate artillery.

He rode over to the 14th Irish. Finding it's colonel he pointed towards the smaller of the two confederate lines, the colonel nodded. Speaking in a thick irish accent, he shouted.

"14th! Hold fire!" He shouted. The artillerymen finished loading their cannons and held fire.

"Adjust to that unit!" He shouted, identifying the target with his sword, the artillerymen began buzzing around their cannons like ants. When they were ready, they stood by their cannons, waiting to fire.

"Fire!" Shouted the Irish colonel. A deafening cacophony rang out, 6 cannon rounds slinging towards the confederate line, plums of smoke, dirt, and limbs exploded in and around the confederate line. Westmann ordered the artillery commander to do one more salvo and then switch to independent fire.

His current plan was to have the 1st brigade close with the confederate line, to distract them and make them stop shooting so that the fresh 2nd and 3rd brigade could slam into the confederate force.

Private James Wallace
Manhattan Brigade

They were taking heavy losses, somehow, Wallace wasn't one of those casualties. He stopped on command, raised his rifle, and fired.

"Regiment will fix bayonets!" Came the cry from the colonel. Wallace shuddered. He'd never stabbed a man before, and there was still 200 yards between them and the rebs. After he attached his bayonet, the brigade loaded another shot.

"Regiment ready bayonets!" He tilted his bayonet forward, the glimmering of the steel diminished by the smoke.

"Regiment! Kneel!" The regiment quickly dropped to its knees and the combined fire of 1000 muskets of the 2nd brigade fired a volley. As the 2nd brigade started to reload, the 1st brigade got back to its feet and readied to charge.

"At the triple quick! Forward!" The colonel yelled. The regiment charged forward, the Lewis' Brigade next to them. Men continued to stumble and fall under the fire of the confederates, but in the adrenaline rushed, the ones who hadn't been hit didn't care. The rebels got ever closer as the 1st brigade charged in. Bayonets pointed.

[Revlona]

Lieutenant General Alexander Robert Henderson III
On the hill just outside of Garrisonville Virginia
Army of Northern Virginia
Early Morning, May 2nd, 1861

"A Bayonet charge? With such depleted numbers against a superior foe? Who in gods name is stupid enough to order such a thing, he is simply throwing his men away," Henderson said. He then looked forward to another junior staff officer and waved him over, "Run yourself down to our reserves and inform them that they are to make ready to fill any possible gap in the line," he said, the officer galloping off to accomplish these orders. "You, inform our Cavalry regiment on the right that they are to move forward and make ready to pursue any retreating foe, but to wait for the bugle call," he said

Marscoths Brigade

Brigadier General Marscoth saw the charging union soldiers, still some distance away and began to cry out, his voice reaching many who then echoed the call. "Cease firing and fix bayonets! Cease firing and fix bayonets!", The buglers across the brigade wet their lips for nearly the hundredth time that day and called the "fix bayonet". Men across the line halted what they were doing, be it aiming down the sights or reloading their weapons to hurriedly fix their bayonets.

"Volley fire! Volley Fire! Make ready! Aim!" The call went out as the men finished their bayonets and finished reloading, some sixteen hundred unwounded men aiming at the charging men, barely 50 yards away now, when the call of "Fire" went up and down the line. The resulting roar of rifles sounding as the men let loose into the charging men, many boys in blue going down as the large caliber bullets found their mark at such close range.

"CHARGE!!!" Came the call from the Brigadier Generals lips, it was echoed by hundreds of men as the line moved forward at once in a sprint towards the running yankees. The two lines of Grey and Blue crashed together, both sides screaming their battle cry as they came at each other with lead and steel.

To their right the thousand man Battalion of Brigadier General Marshal switched their fire to the men more in front of them, the reserves marching to their right and letting loose their first volley towards the mostly unbloodied 2nd and 3rd brigade. The cannons also switched targets to those unmarked brigades, attempting to minimize the friendly fire in what was now a mass melee on the left flank.

[Bolslania]

Maj. Gen William Westmann
Outside of Garrisonville
May 2nd, 1861

The 1st brigade had done it's job. They were distracting the larger of the confederate lines. Now they 2nd and 3rd brigade needed to get there before the rebel cannons and Marshal's Brigade could get the ranging right. He signaled to his brigadiers, who signaled acknowledgement. The 2nd and 3rd brigades fixed bayonets and moved forward at the double quick. A "Huzzah" rising up from their relatively untouched ranks.

The 57th Brooklyn battery and 14th Irish battery now were entirely focusing on Marshal's brigade, shot after shot slamming in and around the confederates.

Private James Wallace
Manhattan Brigade, 1st Corps

As they were about to reach the rebel line, the rebs let loose a brutal volley and charged towards them, the two forces met and the melee began.

the 1st brigade came to a stop, raised their rifles, and fired a last volley before the rebs reached them, many of the rebs falling at the point black volley. Wallace was met by a confederate, both had their bayonets raised. The reb stabbed first, but Wallace counted the stab, returning with his own, he felt the man stiffen, and then collapse as Wallace retracted the now crimson blade. He heard the boys of the 2nd and 3rd brigades coming in behind him, and hoped to survive long enough for them to get here. The melee turned into a haze of bodies and screams, he heard revolvers blasting and bayonets clattering together in the desperate melee. But the 1st was outnumbered, the number of blue uniforms being diminished. The second brigade slammed into the confederate line, the fresh 1000 men giving a bolster to the union as the 2nd opened up with point blank rifle fire. The lines soon became muddled, with confederates and federals mixed in like soup.

[Revlona]

Lieutenant General Alexander Robert Henderson III
On the hill just outside of Garrisonville Virginia
Army of Northern Virginia
Morning, May 2nd, 1861

"Damnit, we're going to have to use sheer numbers to carry the day now, signal all forward, infantry and cavalry to advance at once upon the enemy!" General Henderson cried out, messengers racing away at breakneck speed towards the infantry and cavalry. Buglers already calling out the general advance and Cavalry charge sounds.

Marshals Brigade

"You heard him boys, fix bayonets!!" Brigadier General Marshal called out, the cry going up and down the line as both his Brigade and Areolas Brigade beside his fixed bayonets. "Aim and Fire! Aim and Fire!" The cry was called and an uncoordinated, yet still devastating volley of fire went into the yankee soldiers as they charged.

"At the run, CHARGE!!!" The General cried as he men sprinted forward and locked into melee with the remaining Union infantry and gave their weight to Marscoths brigade on their left. Now it was a contest of weight of numbers, a bloody war of who had the bigger stick, and the confederates currently held that stick. As quickly prepared shots rang out throughout the line, men of both colors cried out and fell as holes were opened in their bodies, either from gunshot, bayonet thrust, or sword cut.

To the right of the line Marshal could hear the bugle call for Cavalry charge and he guessed the Cavalry was going forward to harass the Federal right and to keep at bay any Union Cavalry or Infantry attempt to pour into the flank of the Melee.

The Melee would not last very long, but it would be bloody as near seven thousand men, the slight majority being southern born, hacked and slashed at one another over a wet patch of earth just north of a little Virginia town near nobody had heard of until then. However, by the end of the month near everyone worldwide would know of Garrisonville.

[Wasi State]

Lieutenant General Charles Shepard Graham
On the Road Leading Out of Ladysmith, Virginia
3rd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
Morning, May 2nd, 1861

Graham orders from Richmond at the onset of the War had been quite clear as his Corps as of the day prior had been ordered to start moving towards Fredericksburg to await further orders up the chain for any upcoming campaigns. However as they started to march out of Ladysmith, they had received a telegrammed message that originated from Garrisonville that fighting was (at the time the message was originally sent) likely underway. Sensing the urgency that the Yanks would be so bold as to start marching troops already passed the Maryland-Virginian border, Graham knew he had to push his forces with due haste to march well into the current day and the next to make up for any lost time. While they'll likely miss the battle that more than likely was currently underway, with his rudimentary calculations, the General had presumed that his forces would likely at least reach there in time to reinforce the CSA's current frontline before the Federals could attempt anymore unwanted breeches into the border.

Of course making soldiers of his Corps march at a more prolonged pace well into the day surely wasn't the most thrilling experience, the General was no stranger to keep his brigades at a steady pace in times of great need. Ordering his cavalry company to go ahead of his slower infantry divisions, he had ordered the cavalry to clear the roads ahead of his Corps' advance of any civilian traffic that could cause any further delays. Exercising his still rather loosely defined extrajudicial command granted to him by their separatist state, he had additionally ordered the requisitioning of deemed 'surplus' horses and mules caught along the way from their owners to lighten the load of equipment carried overall by his Divisions.

Naturally this had mixed results at best with the owners of said livestock, who were rather helpless to stopped the rebels from helping themselves to loading their items onto the questionably acquired beasts of burden. When the complaints had reached him, Graham had only this to say.

"The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh. I can promise you that when this war is won, you'll each receive work horses tenfold with bourbon on top for your generous donation to helping of cause of fighting for state's rights, of course we be willing to personally compensate each of you now finically speaking. The South will prevail through only our combined efforts alone in this Brother's War." He spoke to them to calm their nerves, which convinced some by not all of them naturally. Of course Graham had more pressing matters to attend to, mainly to get his troops to the front as quickly as reasonably possible.

[Bolslania]

Maj. Gen William Westmann
Outside of Garrisonville
May 2, 1861

Westmann sighed, they'd done what they'd come here to do, but it would cost many lives. Unfortunately, the 2nd Corps had been unable to get around the flank in time, and the 2nd Cavalry had gone to fetch them to tell them of the organized retreat.

Meanwhile, he told his bugler to give the retreat call, his infantry pulling out of the melee and forming into lines, seeing as how the North and South used the same bugle calls, the southerners were able to determine the intentions of the Union soldiers. Westmann scanned the hilltops with his binoculars, finally spotting his opponent. He tipped his hat to his opponent before riding off the hill to meet with his brigadiers.

"Gentlemen, we've done what we came here to do. The rebels will not be able to make an offensive for a while now, and we have gained the most valuable thing in war, we have gained time."

The Union forces turned on command and began marching away from the battle, the dirty and bloody soldiers not looking as cheerful and excited as they had before the battle. To them it appeared a loss, but from a strategic point of view it was, for the time being, a victory.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

UNION CASUALTIES:

1st Brigade, 1st Corps- 35% casualties
2nd Brigade, 1st Corps- 19% casualties
3rd brigade, 1st Corps- 9% casualties


CSA CASUALTIES-

Marshal's brigade- 19% Casualties
Marscoth's Brigade-13% Casualties

[Langenia]

Major General Juan Martinez
Fort Herkimer
Union 1st Division
Southern Indiana

Major General Juan Martinez looked over the fortifications of his 1st Division's Fort Herkimer. His troops came from all over the country, or, at least, what was still loyal to the Union. There were men from Massachusetts, New York, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and West Virginia. When the war had broken out, he had only been a brigadier general in the west of the country, fighting against the Indians. Suddenly, he had been recalled to Washington and told he had been promoted to major general. His orders were to raise a division for the Union at Fort Herkimer (named after Revolutionary War leader Nicholas Herkimer), in southern Indiana. He had traveled there immediately with his new staff officers. There, he met the troops he was to train, men that had been taken from their civilian lives and told to fight in the name of preserving the Union. Immediately, he began his job. He drilled his troops, taught them how to fire and reload muskets, set them against one another, and prepared them for combat as best as he could. He taught them how to build fortifications by improving the defenses of Fort Herkimer. Martinez knew that one day the troops would have to fight against the enemy for real, not just in their imaginations, and he began planning what they would do.

"What will do, sir?" asked one of the 1st Division's staff officers.
"We will march here, through the central-south of Illinois, and arrive in the far north of Missouri. There, we'll stop, and we'll send a messenger to Brigadier General Max Hernandez with the 1st Southern Volunteer Brigade, here, in Kansas. We're going to get him to march east and link up with us. Expect some skirmishes in the north of Missouri with the Confederates. There's a sizeable Confederate army in Jefferson City in the center of the state, we'll be careful to avoid that unless we one day get the manpower from other units to fight it. Then we'll see what Hernandez wants to do next, if its within our ability," said Martinez, with determination in his eyes.

[Wasi State]

Lieutenant General Charles Shepard Graham
Garrisonville, Virginia
3rd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
Late Morning, May 4th, 1861

After leaving from their temporary encampment earlier that morning from Falmouth, Graham's 3rd Corps had finally arrived at Garrisonville without another moment's delay. His forces meeting with General Henderson III's own with much needed fresh troops and equipment. From his time spent mustering prior to his Corps arrival, Graham's forces were only roughly just under half of his Corps full strength (40-45%), but still with that they had enough men brought with them to give the Union forces posted outside the town quite a bit of trouble going forward as thousands of fresh men were now just added to the equation.

Already upon their arrival, Graham had ordered a smaller force consisting of some of his Cavalry and his light skirmishers to scout around the vicinity of the town with the intent to bolster their flanks and secure the perimeter in the event of disrupting any possible subversive Yankee movements that might've been underway against them.

Dismounting from his horse and heading inside to meet his commanding officer of the whole Army inside his command tent. Graham went ahead to make his acquaintance with the man, and got down to business. "Morning, General. It's unfortunate I couldn't had arrived any sooner to help with snuffing out these boys in blue outside of town, but now I've arrived to help rectified that lil misfortune of ours. The Lord be willing." He said to the General, saluting him upon entering the tent.

[Bolslania]

Major General Juan Martinez
Fort Herkimer
Union 1st Division
Southern Indiana

Major General Juan Martinez looked over the fortifications of his 1st Division's Fort Herkimer. His troops came from all over the country, or, at least, what was still loyal to the Union. There were men from Massachusetts, New York, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and West Virginia. When the war had broken out, he had only been a brigadier general in the west of the country, fighting against the Indians. Suddenly, he had been recalled to Washington and told he had been promoted to major general. His orders were to raise a division for the Union at Fort Herkimer (named after Revolutionary War leader Nicholas Herkimer), in southern Indiana. He had traveled there immediately with his new staff officers. There, he met the troops he was to train, men that had been taken from their civilian lives and told to fight in the name of preserving the Union. Immediately, he began his job. He drilled his troops, taught them how to fire and reload muskets, set them against one another, and prepared them for combat as best as he could. He taught them how to build fortifications by improving the defenses of Fort Herkimer. Martinez knew that one day the troops would have to fight against the enemy for real, not just in their imaginations, and he began planning what they would do.

"What will do, sir?" asked one of the 1st Division's staff officers.
"We will march here, through the central-south of Illinois, and arrive in the far north of Missouri. There, we'll stop, and we'll send a messenger to Brigadier General Max Hernandez with the 1st Southern Volunteer Brigade, here, in Kansas. We're going to get him to march east and link up with us. Expect some skirmishes in the north of Missouri with the Confederates. There's a sizeable Confederate army in Jefferson City in the center of the state, we'll be careful to avoid that unless we one day get the manpower from other units to fight it. Then we'll see what Hernandez wants to do next, if its within our ability," said Martinez, with determination in his eyes.

Colonel Joseph Smith, from Washington itself, rode into camp while the 1st Division was reinforcing Fort Herkimer. He looked around, watching the discipline of the men. They seemed to listen well to their NCOs and officers, and there didn't appear to be any lapses in discipline. It had been a week's ride from Washington to Herkimer, in Illinois, and the Colonel came bearing a message.

He dismounted his horse outside of where he'd been told Maj. Gen Martinez was headquartered, straightening his uniform before entering the building.

He walked into the room where Martinez and his staff officers were meeting, coming to a salute.

"Major General Martinez, I am Colonel Smith, I bear a message from Washington sir."

[Langenia]

Major General Juan Martinez
Fort Herkimer
Union 1st Division
Southern Indiana

Major General Juan Martinez looked over the fortifications of his 1st Division's Fort Herkimer. His troops came from all over the country, or, at least, what was still loyal to the Union. There were men from Massachusetts, New York, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and West Virginia. When the war had broken out, he had only been a brigadier general in the west of the country, fighting against the Indians. Suddenly, he had been recalled to Washington and told he had been promoted to major general. His orders were to raise a division for the Union at Fort Herkimer (named after Revolutionary War leader Nicholas Herkimer), in southern Indiana. He had traveled there immediately with his new staff officers. There, he met the troops he was to train, men that had been taken from their civilian lives and told to fight in the name of preserving the Union. Immediately, he began his job. He drilled his troops, taught them how to fire and reload muskets, set them against one another, and prepared them for combat as best as he could. He taught them how to build fortifications by improving the defenses of Fort Herkimer. Martinez knew that one day the troops would have to fight against the enemy for real, not just in their imaginations, and he began planning what they would do.

"What will do, sir?" asked one of the 1st Division's staff officers.
"We will march here, through the central-south of Illinois, and arrive in the far north of Missouri. There, we'll stop, and we'll send a messenger to Brigadier General Max Hernandez with the 1st Southern Volunteer Brigade, here, in Kansas. We're going to get him to march east and link up with us. Expect some skirmishes in the north of Missouri with the Confederates. There's a sizeable Confederate army in Jefferson City in the center of the state, we'll be careful to avoid that unless we one day get the manpower from other units to fight it. Then we'll see what Hernandez wants to do next, if its within our ability," said Martinez, with determination in his eyes.

Colonel Joseph Smith, from Washington itself, rode into camp while the 1st Division was reinforcing Fort Herkimer. He looked around, watching the discipline of the men. They seemed to listen well to their NCOs and officers, and there didn't appear to be any lapses in discipline. It had been a week's ride from Washington to Herkimer, in Illinois, and the Colonel came bearing a message.

He dismounted his horse outside of where he'd been told Maj. Gen Martinez was headquartered, straightening his uniform before entering the building.

He walked into the room where Martinez and his staff officers were meeting, coming to a salute.

"Major General Martinez, I am Colonel Smith, I bear a message from Washington sir."

Martinez was in the middle of a training session with his troops. He was watching them practice using muskets. He watched as an officer gave an order. "Fix bayonets!" The troops prepared for a mock bayonet charge. "Charge!" yelled the officer. The soldiers charged across the field against an opposite force, doing the same thing. Mock combat ensued. Elsewhere, the engineers a set of earthworks at the outer edges of the fort. He rode over there to inspect them. It seemed as if he was making progress with the troops. They would be ready for combat soon. He went over to the headquarters to check for news with his staff. As he looked, a colonel came in and announced his arrival. "Welcome to Fort Herkimer, Colonel Smith," said Martinez, saluting back. "What's the message?"

[Revlona]

General Alexander Robert Henderson III
Garrisonville
Army of Northern Virginia
Late Morning, May 4th, 1861

General Alexander Robert Henderson III had won the first real battle of the American Civil War, this was a fact that would go down in history. Another fact that would go down in history would be that the General did not rest on his laurels after his victory. Even after hearing word from Richmond that he had been elevated to the post of Full General and had been placed in control of the fledgling Army of Northern Virginia. A true army in the making now that first and third corps had joined him there and had elevated his number of troops to roughly twenty two thousand.

His own former corps, now commanded by Lieutenant General Isaac Marshal, the former commander of a Brigade in the battle two days past, had increased to around six thousand in strength owing to his victory drawing in hordes of recruits as well as the promised reinforcements arriving after the battle had concluded.

These updated meant that even with his casualties in the recent battle, he outnumbered the federal forces nearby almost 3-1, allowing him to make bold movements if he so wished it. He wished it. In a large tent surrounded by well dressed men with the brevets of Major General and up was a map of the central eastern coast, showing Virginia, the Carolinas, Maryland, and Pennsylvania as well as some of the southern new england states. On this map were several bold pen strokes which showed potential movements of the army.

As Lieutenant General Graham entered the tent the map was quickly covered by one of the Major Generals before they recognized the man, uncovering it and sheepishly grinning at him. "It was an understandable delay Graham, without which we would not have all ten thousand of your fine corps," General Henderson said as he listened to the Lieutenant Generals words and responded.

Total Strength: 21,688

1st Corps:
Current Strength: 5,496
Erics Division:
- Michaels Brigade - Infantry - 1,800
- Arwins Brigade - Infantry - 2,000
- Lancasters Brigade - Infantry - 1,600
- Ivors Battery - 8 Guns - 96 men

2nd Corps:
Laurels Division:
Current Strength: 6,192
- Bradens Brigade - Infantry - Strength 1800
- Hoppes Brigade - Infantry - Strength 1800
- Burridges Brigade - Infantry - Strength 1900
- Arthurs Cavalry - Mounted Infantry - Strength 500
- Mittfords Battery - 16 Guns - 192 men

3rd Corps:
Strength: About 10,000
See Wasi State for Details

[Wasi State]

As Lieutenant General Graham entered the tent the map was quickly covered by one of the Major Generals before they recognized the man, uncovering it and sheepishly grinning at him. "It was an understandable delay Graham, without which we would not have all ten thousand of your fine corps," General Henderson said as he listened to the Lieutenant Generals words and responded.

Graham simply nodded, having smirked under his beard after having been amused at the sight of the one jumpy Major General in his futile attempt to conceal the map that they had lay out as he had walked in, before having to unfurl it anyway for the Lieutenant General to see as well.

Walking over to the table with the map whilst taking out a corn cob pipe and putting some fresh tobacco into it. Graham had mused himself in strategic thought on how their combined forces were going to go about with his necessary campagin they must undergo against the North. Using a lit match to light his pipe, and giving it a few puffs to give the embers life as smoke started to come out. Graham drew a finger towards where he had recalled had been key railway centers in Pennsylvania and Maryland.

"If we are to be forward thinking with this Brothers War, we must put our Brother into the dirt and mud the same way he had treated us already. These railway lines must be disrupted, the towns supporting the growth of this hydra set aflame at the roots at all costs. As we speak they're sending men and equipment towards this frontline on the Mason-Dixon at the faster rate than we can possibly match. The earlier we take those out of commission, the better." Graham then explained to the officers and General.

He then pointed back at where they were now in Garrisonville on the map. "Though that'll be some ways away unless we start pushing out the Yanks already here and in good order. We must decisively destroy and route them here, leaving a foul taste of dread in the snake tongued bureaucrats in Washington. The sooner they panic at our success, the better, they'll rush to defend D.C, leaving us more ample time to unleash hell on their backlines on the front as they end up making hasty decisions they'll come to regret." Graham then suggested, taking another long puff from his pipe.

[Revlona]

General Alexander Robert Henderson III
Garrisonville
Army of Northern Virginia
Late Morning, May 4th, 1861

"That is indeed my proposal General Graham, like a fishing hook caught in a young boys hand we shall strike into Pennsylvania and Maryland, cutting off and destroying their infrastructure to our line. We will then swoop around and march to the see north of Washington, putting both the District of Columbia and Baltimore under threat." Henderson said, drawing a line with his finger on the map, showing a path that looked much like a fishhook. It cut through western maryland and southern Pennsylvania before swooping north of DC between it and Baltimore.

"General Graham, as your troops are the most rested I have your orders. You shall, upon day break tomorrow, begin your march north. You are to seek out and if practical to entire armies disposition and numbers, engage the force of federals we defeated here two days past. If this force has made itself scarce you are then to march north west to the city of winchester and ensure it is secure for our cause. From there the rest of the army shall join you and begin to implement this plan, hopefully with greater forces than currently assembles, including the promised brigades to first and second corps." He said, highlighting the general area on the map he wanted the 3rd corps to travel, yet leaving it vague enough to allow Graham flexibility in how he carried out the orders.

"If you become engaged to a force equal or superior to your own you are to find the best defensible position you can and allow the enemy to come to you, aggression is a fine attribute but I would rather be delayed in our campaign than lose a sizeable portion of our force to misplaced aggression, especially so close to enemy territory not knowing the full disposition of northern forces, is this all understood General Graham?" Henderson said, finishing his small speech.