Shenadoah Valley, Spring 1862 (2 Viewers)

[Lewey Gun Vick]

Mike, keep them coming! The figure with the flag is excellent, just some how inspires me the feeling to start singing the Bonnie Blue Flag......

We are a band of brothers and native to the soil
Fighting for our Liberty, With treasure, blood and toil
And when our rights were threatened, the cry rose near and far
Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star! Hurrah!
Hurrah!
For Southern rights, hurrah!
Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star.
As long as the Union was faithful to her trust
Like friends and brethren, kind were we, and just
But now, when Northern treachery attempts our rights to mar
We hoist on high the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star....And we all know the rest!

Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag!

Vick

 

[Jagdpanther]

Awesome Mike!

I see you got some of the fallen tree's and stumps aren't they really nice? I have 4 sets of them myself.

 

[The Lt.]

Thank you:
Titus - I will be working on my overall dio this weekend - painting in some detail.

Scott (Scott) - Can't play and rearrange if things are glued down - I like staging the pictures the most.

Vick - The Yankees are surely on the run.

Scott (thebritfarmer) - I have all morning to have fun.

Here's another picture I just took. I call this one "Jackson's Foot Cavalry in pursuit of Yankees"
Mike

Now there's is absolutely no doubt Mike that you've made UKReb's day another very nicely taken photo

 

[mestell]

Thanks again fellas:
Vick - The blue flag in my pictures is the Virginia state flag, and it truly is "bonnie".

Titus - I only have one set of the fallen trees and stumps. That's beginning to be a hard item to find in stock. It is a great scenic set.

Joe - With a nickname like UKReb I am sure Bob will approve

I'll be off-line for awhile - my wife wants me to take her out for lunch and to run some errands.

Mike

 

[mestell]

Its late morning, March 19th, 1862. Company B of the 7th Ohio Volunteer Infantry is moving west down a rural road that leads to Strasburg. For late March, the Virginia climate seems unseasonably warm, not like Cleveland, Ohio where most of the boys in blue are from. Just east of Strasburg, the Federal captain decides to halt at a small farm to let his troops rest. He is not surprised that he and his men are unwelcomed by the family - he has become used to the inhospitality of these "Valley People". An orderly is dispatched to tell the approaching column to fall out at the farm for a rest.

Thinking of a chance for some hardtack and bacon, Company B starts to file past and into the farmyard.

Suddenly, a volley of musket fire rips into a small group of the Yankees. Caught totally by surprise, the still unseasoned troops panic. With high fences on either side of them, and Rebels in front, the open road offers scant protection from the "lead hornets" that were assaulting their ranks. For many, the survival instinct takes over and they start to run in the direction from which they came.

After unleashing their deadly volley into the Yankee formation, a group of grey and butternut clad soldiers raise their voices and scream out the "Rebel Yell" as they charge towards their disrupted blue foes.

 

[mestell]

Hearing gunfire from the north side of the farm, the Union commander is briefly taken aback. All known Confederate troops were reported to be miles from here. He quickly tries to organize his troops that are already in the farm yard.

A corporal rushes up to the command group and tells the Yankee captain that they are under attack by a regimental size rebel force, possibly the 5th Virginia Infantry - part of the Stonewall Brigade!!!. That's impossible yells the blue-coated captain. Jackson is not supposed to be even close to here! As his words are uttered, musket fire is heard from west of the farm. Turning in that direction, the young captain sees his men hastily forming firing lines behind a wooden plank fence.

Directly across from the Yankees, Confederate troops were firing into their enemy with little opposition. They were forming behind a stonewall, with many more coming up for support. Soon, they greatly out numbered their Union foe.

 

[Scott]

Suggestions

Switch the colorbearers around.

These guys are doing it according to the book...

A few more members of the color guard would add to it. Those men were official assigned to the duty.

 

[mestell]

Hearing the exchange of muskets, a Yankee foraging party south of the farm is quickly formed up by their Corporal and at the "double quick" he leads them toward the sound of the fight.

From a distance north west of the farm a pair of mounted Confederate officers watch the desperate plight of the Yankees as they are over whelmed by the rebel troops. One officer points towards the south at the small party of Federal reinforcements that were approaching down a narrow farm lane. The senior officer turns and looks in that direction knowing that these Federal troops were too little too late. He turns to the younger officer and orders "Give them the bayonet".

The story ends with another victory for Stonewall Jackson and his "Foot Cavalry" - On to Winchester!

Mike

 

[mestell]

Re: Suggestions

Switch the colorbearers around.

These guys are doing it according to the book...

A few more members of the color guard would add to it. Those men were official assigned to the duty.

Well Scott I can't argue with that. And like you said once before in one of your posts "You use what you have". I can tell you this, I am having more fun playing this morning than you are at critiquing - however I must say you are good at it .

 

[mikemiller1955]

Re: Suggestions

Well Scott I can't argue with that. And like you said once before in one of your posts "You use what you have". I can tell you this, I am having more fun playing this morning than you are at critiquing - however I must say you are good at it .

Touche Mike, good response!

 

[Lewey Gun Vick]

Mike, just excellent! I think we have a upcoming diodrama?!!?

 

[REVWARBUFF]

You're doing a fine job Mike, keep it up!

Mark

 

[Scott]

Re: Suggestions

Well Scott I can't argue with that. And like you said once before in one of your posts "You use what you have". I can tell you this, I am having more fun playing this morning than you are at critiquing - however I must say you are good at it .

Are you posting your pictures for the "atta boys" or for comments from folks that know something about the period and the area, with period sources.
BTW, I'm between coats of Elmer's Glue and paint on my "toy" Alamo and getting ready for a job interview.

 

[UKReb]

Bravo Mike!

You have no idea how pleasing it is to log on and find another member "playing civil war" thoroughly enjoying himself and sharing that joy with like-minded collectors and other members-Superb stuff.

I particularly like the picture above almost an alternative version to Antietam's Sunken Road:Bloody Lane-and before our resident ACW adjudicator jumps all over me (as he invariably does)
YES I AM FULLY AWARE there were no stone walls or planked fences either side of the Sunken Road.

Mike sterling work and I doff my bullet riddled gray kepi to you-Encore please!

Reb

 

[thebritfarmer]

Very nice Michael, I have certainly enjoyed your dio drama whilst having my lunch. Looks like you have had a funfilled morning.

 

[mestell]

Thank you gentlemen:
Michael - The devil made me do it

Vick - No dio drama here. This was it for right now - just playing around on a rainy day.

Mark - I am glad you enjoyed the results of my fun.

Bob - Jus' gotta luv it, don't cha!

Scott (thebritfarmer) - I am glad I offered you up some entertainment during your repast.

 

[Jagdpanther]

Mike more excellent pictures! I almost missed them on the last page.

 

[aujj65]

Re: Suggestions

Switch the colorbearers around.

These guys are doing it according to the book...

Well Scott I can't argue with that. And like you said once before in one of your posts "You use what you have". I can tell you this, I am having more fun playing this morning than you are at critiquing - however I must say you are good at it .

Just the opinion of a non-ACW collector - but perhaps in the heat of the battle and surrounded by lead flying in all directions - standing in the correct position may not be the first priority?

Personally I think Mike is doing rather well at this, especially the colour of the base board!

Jeff

 

[mestell]

Re: Suggestions

Just the opinion of a non-ACW collector - but perhaps in the heat of the battle and surrounded by lead flying in all directions - standing in the correct position may not be the first priority?

Personally I think Mike is doing rather well at this, especially the colour of the base board!

Jeff

Thank you very much Jeff for your comment and astute observation. You echo my thought on the matter exactly.
Mike

 

[Lewey Gun Vick]

Re: Suggestions

Mike, looking forward to more of your wonderful ACW collection! Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag!

Vick