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For weeks the army of Mary's Town had been swelling with reinforcements being sent from all districts following two decisive defeats trying to cross Mary's Town Crossing. 

The Union forces under General John with expert advice form General Dave had spent the better part of the last week delaying a considerable Confederate force while the reinforcements arrived. With the arrival of General Stu and his calvary, the rebs pushed towards Mary's Town. 

In the cool early morning hours of January 15 the Union forces mustered between two flanking hills and deployed their lines between them. The Confederate forces smartly advanced but seemed hesitant. It was later reported that General Stu desired to withdraw due to the seemingly untenable position his forces were in having to advance with little cover. A captured aid of General Joe, a distant relative of our own esteemed General Dave, told yours truly, that General Joe, overruled General Stu as he planned to take Mary's Town before further Union troops could arrive and further to support the small attack force which had recently forced the Unions troops guarding the crossing to retreat.

The Confederate high command is admitting to having suffered a reverse at Marystown. After resolving a dispute over assaulting the Union army over such favorable defensive ground, The Confederate Forces under the command of General's Joe and Stu advanced on  Union positions near Marystown.  Despite occupying  extremely favourable ground the issue was in doubt for much of the day. 

The Union heavy cannons quickly opened up at the distant but thickly massed Confederates, causing some damage. Seeing the cannons would continue to slowing pound away the Confederates committed their calvary and a small detachment of infantry to a long sweep to the Union right, attempting to use the woods below the hill to mask them from fire. 

General Stu and his calvary smartly advanced and out maneuvered General Dave and sent his dashing calvary into a headlong charge. The screaming rebs unnerved the union line which quickly routed under the ferocious assault throwing the Union right flank into disarray, within minutes 4 entire units of Union infantry had been killed or were fleeing. 

General John, seeing the flank collapsing ordered his calvary, which had been advancing in a column of route, to charge. In a heroic feat the Union calvary galloped through one of their own lines of infantry, throwing it into disorder,  but then taking the Confederate calvary in the rear, routing them.

Both Confederate and Union forces fought bravely.  Extreme examples of heroism abounded as first Confederate Cavalry routed several  Union Regiments in the Federal centre before succumbing to a spirited Union counter charge.

Even with imminent collapse averted the Union forces were still in danger of total defeat as Confederate infantry on the right continued to advance. With the Union infantry on the right disorganized in the woods, General John ordered his second unit of calvary to attempt to out flank the Confederate left. 

As the momentarily victorious Union calvary attempted to retreat a volley from a closing line of reb skirmishers, following closely by a line of infantry, poured fire into their flank killing almost 500 men, routing the remainder. 

The heavy canon of the Union, with its front now cleared, fire multiple blasts into the rebs killing almost everyone in its path. 

A further unit of reb riflemen had entered the woods, on the right, and opened up the confused militia who didn't seem to know which end of their muskets to hold. Although they suffered some loss they remain steady and their Captain finally ordered them forward. Stopping a mere 30 yards away their musket barked forth leaden death, the damp woods and the water falling from the trees, from the rain the night before, must have soaked their powder, for there was many a misfire and hardly a reb fell. 

By this time the remaining Union Calvary had snaked its way through the woods and was approaching the left flank of the rifleman, although they saw the approaching danger, they could not turn and face them due to the militia fixing bayonets. As the riflemen hastily  reloaded, it was too late,  the Union calvary rushed forward over the protestation of General Dave "Don't do it" and routed the riflemen. 

The Union right flank was now secure, with only a few hundred rebel skirmishers milling about. 

The Union line showed considerably indecisiveness while the rebs moved into position. General Dave seeing that his flank was in trouble rallied the line and a horrendous din could then be heard for miles around. 

"mary's town...Mary's Town...Mary's TOwn....MARy's TOWn ...MARY'S TOWN....MARY'S TOWN...." 

As the Union  forces chanted.....the rebs appeared confused and their forward motion slowed. It was an awe inspiring sight to behold, as with mechanical precision the Union riflemen fired... reloaded... fired.... reloaded.... fired.... reloaded. Under the unremitting fire the rebs fell in hundreds....it would have been a total disaster for the rebs if General Stu, due to General Joe having taken a shrapnel wound to his leg from a bursting cannon ball, had not  ordered a full retreat. 

Although the Union casualties were not light, the heroic veterans of Mary's Town Crossing have saved their fair city. We thank you our brave and fearless men who will one day grind the rebs under the righteous heels of their northern boots. 

Abe Lincoln, Editor in Chief

Only the unbelievably effective cycle of fire and reloading saved the Union left from certain defeat.  On the Confederate side there are ample reasons for confidence in our ability to defeat the Union.  Our troops, despite the incessant enemy fire stayed within engagement range for over two hours until forced to withdraw by events elsewhere on the battlefield.  The issue was in doubt and indeed the situation looked grim for the Union forces despite defending a superb defensive position and  posessing superior artillery. 

Both armies fought well and the toll on both sides was high. But the Confederats army proved it's mettle and will continue its advance to final victory. 

General Stu  RHG