May 10 Highlights of 15mm ACW battle of Mechanicsville

Here are the photos, minus commentary by photographer Yours-Truly who usually slept through history class. As usual Spike did an excellent job of taking pics of the battle. Intial deployments saw AP Hill attempt to attack on the left and center, the only real success was in the center and right flanks where Union gunners were eventually driven off their guns by a determined Confederate Brigade. The Confederat artillery in the center hunkered down in the shadow of the bridge and finally suceeded /after being augment by a 12 pd napoleon section in causing some damage to the Union batteries deployed next to the zouave battale in the first pic. The attack on the left faltered and eventually a general withdrawal was ordered. Without out proper scouting prior to the battle it was assumed the river was swollen from recent rains and therefore was unfordable. this proved not to be the case. As the brigadier on the left finally sent word to AP Hill but the decision to withdraw had already been made and orders dispatched.


Others may feel free to fill in the details of what happened. AS can be seen in the last photo the Confederate left is in full retreat while the center brigade has been decimated and had few effectives left to support the artillerys withdrawal. The Confederates lost 8 guns and 3 caissons, and suffered 2500 casualties, while the Union division suffered a similar level of infantry casualties, but they lost only 2 guns and no caissons. Battery A died to the last man defending the Confederate left as the Army retreated. Although the Battery at the left of the Zouave regiment did suffer a morale failure at the end of the battle. Too little too late.