Chapter 4 – Nearing Dawn
August 10th, 1861 – 0400 (1 Hour until Dawn)
The trenches and barricades are now completed. They cover the front of the trenches fairly completed. All of the Brigades have now had 4 hours worth of sleep, except for Deizler’s Fourth Brigade, which finished the trenches at about 0200. They are also providing most of the pickets at the point, due to them being able to sleep during the day.
The moon has set, so your scouts are reporting less and less, most of them having turned in for the night, however all seems quiet in General Rain’s camp. There have been very few reports of scouts. It would seem that they have not yet been sent out since the poor weather.
The Hospital and the command centre were set up behind the Farmhouse. You have a fairly good level of visibility from where you currently are. Both your position and that of the Hospital have had several branches cut down and placed in front of them in order to disguise them and hide them from the enemy’s position.
There is one Hour until Dawn. You must decide what to do:
Decision 1 – When to Wake the Men?
It is now about one hour until dawn. The men have slept for the last four hours; however it is likely that they may need more after their exertions in the late afternoon.
Option A – Wake the men now, except the Fourth Brigade.
Option B – Leave the men to sleep until Dawn, except the Fourth Brigade.
Option C – Wake two of the Brigades (Specify which)
Option C – Select another time.
Decision 2 – An Early Strike?
General Rain’s pickets and scouts appear to have turned in for the night. This would be a good opportunity to launch an early strike to try to get control of the high ground.
Option A – Attack with all the men who are awake
Option B – Attack with half of the men who are woken.
Option C – Leave him alone
Option D – Other
Decision 3 – Scouts
Now that dawn is approaching, you should decide where you want the majority of the scouting centred around. This will be crucial for the information you receive during the battle.
Option A – Gibson’s Mill
Option B – Bloody Hill
Option C – Edward’s Farmhouse
Option D – Sharp’s Farmhouse
Option E – Other
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