Dranesville, Virginia
December 20, 1861
Historical Overview
Both armies went into winter quarters following the Battle of Ball's Bluff. On December 20, Gen. J. E. B. Stuart, with a mixed brigade, set out north from his position near Centerville to escort the army's wagon trains on a foraging expedition. At about the same time, Gen. Ord was leading a brigade of Pennsylvania Reserves to clear the south bank of the Potomac River of Confederate pickets and partisans.
At about noon, Ord arrived at the intersection of the Georgetown Pike and Leesburg Pike in the village of Dranesville, where he encountered Stuart's advance cavalry pickets, which were driven off. Stuart reached the village shortly after and found Ord's line deployed along the Leesburg Pike. Stuart deployed his infantry in the dense pine forest on the south side of the pike. The artillery then began to duel, but owing to the strength of the Union position, the Confederate guns were knocked back. The Confederates then pushed forward on the Union right and the 9th Pennsylvania moved forward to stop the Confederate advance, but then in turn was forced back. The two sides then squared off for nearly 2 hours. Around 3 p.m., Stuart received word that his wagons were safely away and secure from capture and he ordered a withdrawal.
The stage is set, the battle lines are drawn, and you are in command. The rest is history.
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Set-Up Order
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Union Army
Edward O. C. Ord
Take 5 Command Cards
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| 8 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Confederate Army
J. E. B. Stuart
Take 5 Command Cards
You move first
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| 8 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Victory
6 Flags
Special Rules
• The Union Bucktails infantry unit will score a hit for each saber it rolls, as normal, but in addition, it will reroll each saber once for additional hits or flag results. Place a flag token on this infantry unit, as indicated on the map, to distinguish it from other infantry units.
Related FAQs
In the special rules, the Union has a Bucktail infantry unit deployed on a hill with a leader. The setup shows the leader as not named, per se, but with the label "Bucktails." The CSA was able to eliminate all of the "Bucktail" infantry (on one attack!)...however, the leader remained. On the next turn, the Union played the Rally card. Due to a good roll, all the Bucktail infantry were recovered! Does this sound correct?
No. Figures can only be brought back to understrength units, not to lone generals. Eliminated units cannot be rallied. "Roll 1 die for each card you have including this one. For each unit symbol rolled, return 1 eliminated figure of that type to an understrength unit of your choice in any section, up to that unit's initial number of figures. Each unit that gains at least one figure this way may battle but not move this turn."
