Right Back Where We Started- Rowland Mills: August 16, 1861

A Union cavalry probe at Rowland Mills was turned back with only minor loss to both sides on August 16th.

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. 

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.

Probes over the Bull Head - August 4, 1861

Once again cavalry battalions at Tomlin's Ford and Atkins' Ford crossed the Bull Head River and move south, probing around Arlington and Rowland Mills respectively. The outcome was a repeat of the situation on August 1st. Both battalions were repulsed by infantry and returned to the fords.

Arlington - August 4, 1861

Rowland Mills - August 4, 1861

Probing Rowland Mills - August 1st

A small battalion of Union cavalry left Atkins Ford and conducted a probe around Rowland Mills. It met a regiment of Alabama infantry and withdrew back to the ford light losses.

They Meet Again At Rowland Mills (July 23)

A Union cavalry battalion advanced southward from Atkin's Ford for a second day to probe Rowland Mills. It lightly engaged a regiment of Confederate infantry there before falling back to the ford.

Short Skirmish at Rowland Mills (July 22nd)

A Union cavalry battalion was moving south down the Germantown Pike on July 22nd and approached Rowland Mills, occupied by a regiment of Confederate infantry. The infantry moved forward to engage. The cavalry dismounted and fired briefly, but then broke and retreated north back up the pike. Casualties were light and Confederates were left in possession of Rowland Mills.

Confederate starting position in the village of Rowland Mills at the intersection of the East Troy Road and Germantown Pike. The mill and mill pond are visible on the upper right section of the screenshot. 

Federal cavalry advances toward Rowland Mills on Germantown Pike, moving south. 

Looking east towards the northern end of the village as Confederates advance and engage the Union cavalry. The mill is seen in the foreground. 

Confederate infantry firing on the cavalry. 

The cavalry breaks and heads back north.