Kernstown I

Frederick County and City of Winchester, Virginia

March 23, 1862

 This battle is considered by many historians as the opening conflict of the famous Valley Campaign of 1862. It was the only battle recorded as ``lost'' by Stonewall Jackson, but in many ways he gained as much by losing as by winning. After the battle, President Lincoln was disturbed by Jackson's potential threat to Washington and redirected more than 35,000 men to defend approaches from the Valley before the campaign was finished. Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan's army was deprived of these reinforcements, which he claimed would have enabled him to take Richmond during his Peninsular campaign. Because of this redeployment of Federal troops, First Kernstown is considered one of the decisive engagements of 1862.

Result(s): Confederate victory

Location: Frederick County and City of Winchester, Virginia

Campaign: Jackson's Valley Campaign  (March-June 1862)

Date(s): March 23, 1862

Principal Commanders: Col. Nathan Kimball [US]; Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson [CS]

Forces Engaged: Shields’ Command [US 7.500/9000];

 Army of the Valley [CS 3,500/3800] .

Estimated Casualties: 1,800 total (US 590; CS 718)

Designer: Luciano Bassotti  lucianobassottiarch@virgilio.it

This game is designed for BGBR engine (Talonsoft Battleground Bull Run); this package simply adds a new module, and not affect the scenarios provided with the original game. 

The BGBRUnits file is compatible with the original and other BGBR mods.

SET UP

- Copy Units.bitmap file into BGBR main directory;

- Create a new folder into BGBR main directory and name it Kernstown I;

- Copy all others files (except Units.bitmap file) into the Kernstown I folder.

See Scenario notes below.

  Note:  Last updated November 2,  2004
  KT1Main0.zip (319 Kb)
  KT1Main1.zip (567 Kb)
  KT1Main2.zip (4,687 Kb)
  KT1Main3.zip (1,627 Kb)

 Other files
  KT1Others.zip (606 Kb)

Scenario Files
 KT1Scen.zip (11 Kb)   

Unit File (update April 15, 2004)
 BGBRUnits.zip (1,211 Kb)

Follow the instructions posted there for installation and play.

Scenario Information:

Acting on faulty intelligence that suggested that his small army outnumbered the Federal forces at Winchester, Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson moved to strike his opponents and prevent US reinforcements from leaving the Valley to aid McClellan's army on the Peninsula. The division of Brig. Gen. James Shields in fact outnumbered Jackson more than two-to-one. On the afternoon of 22 March, Ashby's cavalry and horse artillery skirmished with US forces near Kernstown. General Shields was wounded in this affair, his arm broken by a shell fragment, and divisional command devolved to Col. Nathan Kimball.

 01. 1st Kernstown Historical - PBM

March 23, 1862 15 Turns [Historical]

By 15.00 hours, Jackson directed Fulkerson's and Garnett's brigades to the Sandy Ridge, leaving Burks to support Ashby. Confederate artillery (3 batteries) were positioned on the eastern face of the ridge and engaged US batteries on Pritchard's Hill. Fulkerson advanced on the left, seizing an east-west stone fence on the Glass farm under fire. Garnett came up on Fulkerson's right, extending the CS battle line from Opequon Creek east across the front of the ridge, then bending back south to cover the artillery. A regiment was deployed across the Middle Road to maintain a connection between the CS flanks. Recognizing the threat to his right, Kimball moved Tyler's brigade forward from its reserve position near the toll gate at the intersection of the Valley Pike and Cedar Creek Grade to confront Fulkerson and Garnett. As the artillery duel continued, skirmishers closed and the fighting began to heat up.

 02. 1st Kernstown Balanced - PBM

March 23, 1862 15 Turns [Hypothetical]

The background and the initial situation is similar to the historical scenario. Addition of C.S. Johnson's command and some of Jeckson's units actually left behind to produce a more balanced fight. General Shields, recovering quickly from his wound received the day before, commands the federal forces.