"Federal Forces Rout Southern Army with Lightning-Quick Flanking Manuevers-Blue Blitzkrieg!" Story and Photos by Ruben Gusman     Confederate Skrimishers search out for the hidden Enemy. As the late afternoon sun yielded  to overcast and rainy thunderclouds, there was unfinished business on the already blood-soaked battlefield. The first battle ended as Confederate Forces were unable to successfully dislodge the Union Army from it's fortified position on the top of a rugged Arkansas Hill.(Read the Review of the 1st Battle of Bentonville 2003)   With still fifteen minutes left before the starting time for the second afternoon battle, Confederate Forces were already in position and ready for action. A light rain began to fall and it appeared that the battle would be fought in a steady rain..Suddenly shots rang out and the battle looked like it would begin early. We heard some yelling and much shuffling about before the troops were ordered to stand down as the curtains were not quite ready to be raised.   Finally the battle gets underway as the artillery units begin to soften their targets. With the Union infantry still out of view, the Confederates open fire into the woods to draw them out. Little did they know that they would be stirring up a hornets nest that was ready to deal its deadly and swift sting!   Union Infantry finally appears from the woods and descends from the hill.     The Boys in Blue form up prepare to Confront their Enemy.     Below:Confederate Infantry fire a volley into the uncoming Federal troops but are too far away for their guns to be effective.     At the Double-Quick, the Federals begin their rapid deployment and advance that would keep the Confederates on their heels the entire battle.     Looking like German Stormtroopers racing across Poland, Federal troops under the command of their "Field Marshal" Major Benefield, outflanked,out-ranned, and outmaneuvered a much larger Confederate Force. The lighting-quick flanking maneuvers surprised the Southerners and rendered their superior numbers useless.     It was great to see the rapid movements of troops and the great sense of danger and urgency performed by both armies. Many reenactment battles lack this high energy and dramatic confrontation. And although the battle lasted only 20 minutes, the level of intensity and excitement made it very entertaining!     CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW ALL 40 PHOTOS FROM THE SECOND BATTLE http://www.pbase.com/rubenkc/2nd_battle_of_bentonville&page=all (below are just some samples from the battle gallery)