Fall, 1862. General Robert E. Lee and the Confederate army, encouraged by their victory at the Battle of Second Manassas, prepare to invade the North. Opposing Lee will be Union General George B. McClellan. The Battle of Antietam would be fought on September 17th, and would become the bloodiest single-day battle in American history.
Before this encounter, however, another battle brews in eastern Virginia. A Confederate officer leads a force of 1,500 rebels into Harrison's Valley, hoping to secure much-needed resources for the upcoming campaign, and to assist in Lee's advance. Opposing him is a Union officer, fielding 2,000 Federal soldiers, who has been tasked with holding the valley. Blood will be shed, countrymen will become enemies, but at the end of the day heroes will be born. This is the Blue and the Gray.
Harrison's Valley
The Union camp is located to the northwest, straddling the northwestern bank of Cull's Creek. The area is highly defensible. The Confederate camp is located to the southwest, situated atop a hill just north of Clearwater Lake.
Between both camps is a vast, heavily forested and hilly region which presents no proper battleground. A single road winds through the forest, essentially connecting both camps via road.
Cullen's River runs from northeast to the southern portion. The central region is mostly flat, with a few hills and farmhouses. To the north and also to the east are train stations, and a track connects both. The eastern station sits in the middle of Harrisburg.
Unit Reference
Infantry
The backbone of any army, infantry can hold their own against other infantry and can withstand direct cavalry charges. Infantry-on-infantry conflict usually boils down to troop quantity and terrain. If targeted by artillery they must give ground or risk high casualties. Successful flanking maneuvers can also break infantry formations.
Specialized types of infantry, like skirmishers and heavy infantry, may have separate functions.
Cavalry
Mounted troops usually used for reconnaissance or flanking maneuvers. Cavalry should avoid direct charges into enemy formations, and should approach artillery positions with care. Cavalry fight best when engaging other cavalry or attacking the enemy's flanks.
Some cavalry may be lighter equipped to move faster, or act as mounted rifles, etc.
Artillery
Artillery supports the infantry and cavalry. Although usually inaccurate, sustained artillery fire can force enemy infantry to abandon their positions.
