More Cavalry Probes on August 11th, 1861

One of the challenges in this stage of the Grand Campaign is that players have a large area to cover with a very limited number of units. Fords and towns are guarded by single regiments of infantry or depleted cavalry battalions. Neither side has sufficient resources to launch a sustained campaign far from the rail lines, because it is difficult to secure the supply lines over that distances with such small forces. But there is still the threat of raids and forays, and the exact position of the enemy's forces is often uncertain.

Guarding strategic points serves as an alert to the enemy's intentions should he start an advance. Probes often don't take much ground, but they establish with they enemy is still present, whether the composition of his force has changes, and keep the enemy's resources tied up along an extended line.

On August 11th, the Union Kentucky cavalry battalions at Atkins Ford and Tomlins Ford moved south again to make contact with the Alabama Infantry at Rowland Mills and Arlington with almost the usual results. At Arlington, the Federals took position in and around the church north of town and were harder to push back to the ford than in previous occasions. With good cover and rifled weapons against their enemy armed with French Liege Muskets, they made a good showing for a brief probe. In the end though, their primary task was to see if the enemy was still there. He was.

Minor action at Arlington on August 11th.