Confederates Re-Take Centerville! - August 19 - 1861

After an extended fight between two regiments of Cleburne's Brigade (1st and 2nd Alabama) and the 1st Illinois Infantry, the Federals were finally driven out of Centerville and forced back north to Caesar Ford on the Bull Head River. The 1st Alabama broke and fled east to East Troy. Centerville is held by the 2nd Alabama.

The 1st Illinois' last position. 

As the 1st Illinois fell back slightly, the 2nd Alabama moved through an orchard from its west to east end and opened fire again.

The final retreat of the day: To Caesar Ford. 

Stunning Development at Centerville (engagement still in progress)

The 1st Illinois advanced west on Munson Hill Road towards Centerville town. As soon as it was visible to Cleburne's Brigade, the Alabamans advanced out to engage them. The 1st halted and deployed at a house on the northeast corner of the town, where it is entered by Munson Hill Road. The 1st Alabama stopped and engaged from a wheat field to the southeast of the 1st Illinois, as the 2nd Alabama moved through some woods to the rear of the 1st on its way to take position on the right of Cleburne's line.

The 2nd took a long time coming into line. As the 1st Alabama continued to take fire, it suddenly broke and fled to the east and left the field. The 2nd Alabama came into position in an orchard just east of the 1st Illinois to find it is the sole Confederate regiment left on the field. (The 1st will reform at East Troy on the 20th.)

The fight continues. Neither side has hit its breaking point, but the action is not a very close contest.

Centerville Still Being Contested - August 19th

The action at Centerville is still contested after 1 hour in-game (all under AI).

The belligerents:

US:

• 1st Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Occupying Centerville since August 9th, after a failed attack on August 8th. The regimental commander, Colonel Robert C. Schultz, is technically in command of the 3rd Brigade, leaving the regiment under Lieutenant Colonel George W. Becker. Both are on the field.

CS: Cleburne's Brigade (Brigadier General Patrick Cleburne is on the field)

• 1st Alabama (Colonel Marcellus Douglas) is advancing from Nicholas, having been driven out of Centerville by the 1st Illinois and a battalion of cavalry on August 9th. 
• 2nd Alabama Infantry (Colonel Dixon Barnes) is arriving from LeMasters. The 2nd Alabama's main action in the campaign has been defending against cavalry probes in Arlington. 

Summary of Part I of Centerville - August 19

The 2nd Alabama opens up the engagement on the Kingston Road. 

The 1st Alabama arrives on the Centerville Pike. 

Initial fighting in town. 

1st Alabama fires into the 1st Illinois' left flank. 

The 1st Illinois starts to waver just before retreating to a new position. 

The 1st Illinois starts to reform in a small patch of woods northwest of town. 

The 1st Alabama attacks the 1st Illinois in its position in the woods before the 2nd Alabama comes up into line. 

The 1st Illinois fires across the Munson Hill Road at the 2nd Alabama from its second fallback position west of the Methodist Church. The 1st Alabama is advancing through the woods on the 2nd Alabama's left. 

The 1st Illinois retreats in good order from its position near Munson Hill Road. 

The Federals reforming in a field east of Becker and Crew.

The 1st and 2nd Alabama form in the field, advance together and attack the 1st Illinois, which wavers and then falls back deep into a large patch of woods NE of Crew. 

Having lost contact with the enemy, Cleburne directs his men back to the south. 

The 1st Illinois starts to rally in the woods well to the north of the Confederates. 

Cleburne and his men return to the center of town. 

Once morale was significantly restored, the 1st Illinois advanced south across the field to its previous fallback position in a small patch of woods on the north side of Munson Hill Road. 

Resting in the woods, the 1st Illinois is almost ready to continue contesting Centerville. 

Neither side has routed or reached its casualty threshold. The total casualties are about equal. At the 1 hour mark, the 1st Illinois is rested and its morale is back to "good." I will wait to see if it returns to Centerville when morale reaches "excellent." If not, I will put them marching back to Centerville and turn it back over to AI for another round. So far, the only scripting was the 1st Illinois on hold in their original position in town and the 1st and 2nd AL marching into town with the brigade set on attack. Everything else has been under AI so far. Let's see what happens from here....

Renewed Fighting South of the Bull Head: August 9th 1861

Union forces left their positions at the fords on the Bull Head River and advanced on the towns immediately to their south. Cavalry probes at Arlington and Rowland Mills confirmed the presence of the enemy and withdrew back to the fords. At Centerville, the 1st Illinois Infantry and a battalion of Union cavalry attacked the 1st Alabama for a second day in a row. This time, they were successful and the 1st Alabama was forced to withdraw southward to Nicholas, leaving the Federals in control of Centerville.

Union Infantry South of the Bull Head - August 8, 1861

So far during the Grand Campaign, the action in the eastern sector, in the vicinity of the Bull Head River, has consisted primarily of Union cavalry probing from the fords (Tomlin's, Caesar, and Atkins) to the towns immediately south of the river (Arlington, Centerville, Rowland Mills). Confederate infantry has been at the area since mid-July and has easily repulsed these probes. On August 8th, however, the first Union infantry appeared south of the Bull Head River, making an attack on Centerville.

A large Union infantry regiment advances on Centerville on the Centerville Pike. A battalion of cavalry accompanies it, moving through the fields to the infantry's left. 

The 1st Alabama Infantry holds Centerville and opens fire on the Union infantry. 

The Union infantry, identified as the 1st Illinois Infantry, returns fire in the streets of Centerville. 

Union cavalry in the fields northwest of town open fire on the 1st Alabama's left flank. 

Despite fire on its front and left, the 1st Alabama holds firm as casualties rise. 

The Federals eventually break off the engagement and then withdraw back to Caesar Ford, north of Centerville. 

Returning to Centerville (July 25)

On July 25th, the 1st Battalion, 3rd Kentucky Cavalry left Caesar Ford for Centerville. The battalion had already skirmished twice at Centerville (July 5th and July 10th). Once again, it met the enemy (a regiment of infantry) at the north side of town. After a brief skirmish, the Union horsemen returned northward to Caesar Ford.

Re-engaging at Centerville - July 10th

The same units that fought at Nicholas on the 9th are engaging again at Centerville on July 10th, only this time the Federal cavalry is defending against a Confederate advance northward up the Centerville Pike. Deployed in an orchard on the south side of town, the Union cavalrymen had the element of surprise and were able to open fire with the shorter-ranged weapons while the Confederates were still moving on the pike in column formation.  The Confederates recovered quickly, deployed, opened fire and drove the Federals back into the town.

The fighting has now moved to the center of town, around the Centerville Court House. The Confederates have advanced one battalion of infantry up the main street, while another battalion and cavalry contingent moved through the fields west of town. The engagement re-opened with the Union cavalry north of the court house and Confederate infantry (later joined by cavalry) on the cross street immediately south of the building.  The Union cavalry is in a stand of pine trees and holding well, but the Confederates have moved a battalion of infantry around the Federal right flank and opened fire.

Closely Fought Affair at Centerville - Early Morning of July 5th

Opposing cavalry skirmishes among the orchards and buildings of Centerville on the morning of July 5th.