HCR#1: September 4th-8th
DH Hill opens the campaign by crossing the Potomac at Point of Rocks, further upstream than his with the historical counterpart, ending his move in HCR W3421.
DH Hill ends the first turn 9 hexes from Harper's Ferry so that the HF garrison can't move if the Union wins the first initiative on turn 2.
On September 5th, Jackson and two divisions (Jones and Lawton) cross the Shenandoah River at the ford in hex 2233 (south of Harper's Ferry). AP Hill meanwhile crosses the Potomac at Berlin Ferry. The Union is able to evacuate Harper's Ferry (leaving behind Ward's brigade) and makes a stand in the Naval battery. Jackson presses his divisions and they are able to seal the western approaches to Harper's Ferry. DH Hill moves up to the Naval Battery and Jackson activates him for a march, transfers to Hill and attacks the Battery at +2 (+4 2DR/fa result). Stuart's cavalry ends the turn in Frederick giving the Confederates control of Frederick-West (AP Hill's division ends the turn just inside the F-W border near Harper's Ferry.
Lee's first objective is to secure the Confederate rear which means capturing Harper's Ferry. When Harper's Ferry is Confederate controlled, the Rebels can forage more effectively in Maryland. Jackson's corps is divided in order to surround HF with two divisions approaching from the west and two from the east. Jackson's +3 MP bonus allows his divisions to move all the way from Leesburg, across the Shenandoah to Harper's Ferry (a move of 21 miles). Note that because of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers, Jackson is able to activate DH Hill (in Sandy Hook) from Chambers Farm. The Union could sit tight in Harper's Ferry and hope the garrison holds out as the only viable Confederate option against HF is to force a surrender. (The Standard Series rule changes make a direct assault on HF suicide in most cases.) Because the Confederates are threatening HF so early in the game, it is unlikely that a relief force can make it to save the garrison. Thus, withdrawal and the possible preservation of some of the garrison seems like a good move. The Union fails to destroy the HF bridge on their way out which was a mistake.
September 6th and 7th see rain which slows much of the action. Jackson's forces siege the Harper's Ferry garrison (with a +4 drm--artillery on Bolivar Heights and the Naval Battery) but fail to force a surrender both turns. On the seventh, Jackson and Jones move on the Martinsburg depot while AP Hill moves north towards Sharpsburg to pursue what is left of the Naval Battery garrison which is now moving towards Hagerstown. The AoP begins to slog forward in the mud and Longstreet's corps moves north to the banks of the unfordable Potomac.
With a clear day on the 6th and a good HF surrender die roll, the Confederates would have had a dream opening and probably would have gone for Baltimore. But alas, Ward's men hang tough at HF and the rain has pinned Longstreet's wing south of the Potomac.
On September 8th, the AoP continues its crawl into Montgomery county (the random event is command paralysis). Jackson and Jones attack the Martinsburg garrison at +4 but are repulsed (+1 D/1D result). DH Hill and Lawton continue the HF siege (failing the surrender roll again). A sub detaches from DH Hill and joins AP Hill in the pursuit of Ford and D'Utassy's brigades towards Hagerstown. Finally, Stuart splits his command, sending F Lee to Hagerstown and Hampton to destroy the Mt. Airy and New Windsor depots. All units end the turn in supply except DH Hill, JR Jones and DH Hill's sub which failed their forage rolls.
My variant Jackson rule comes into play again. With his usual tactical of 5, he would have won the Martinsburg battle. But the Confederates can hardly complain since he has covered a lot of ground so far in the campaign.
September 9th dawns brightly for the boys in blue. The random event is Union commitment (giving the Yanks their first clear day of unimpeded marching), the HF surrender die roll fails for the fourth turn in a row, and the Union win the first seven initiatives, enabling Ford's force to drive F Lee from Hagerstown (cavalry retreat). The AoP surges into Montgomery County. Hooker's I Corps is sent to Howard county to ensure that Lee is not able to steal a march on Baltimore. White (the Martinsburg garrison) withdraws before Jackson can attack again. Longstreet crosses the Potomac at several fords and the day ends with Walker unsuccessfully trying to blow up the Aqueduct.
Finally a good day for the Federals. Jackson's repulse the day before and the resilience of the HF garrison has slowed what was a strong Confederate opening. And the Rebel pursuit of Ford's force is beginning to be some what of wild goose chase that is taking AP Hill further from where the main action will be around Frederick.
