History - Ashby, Jackson and Lander on January 5th 1862

In the B & O WINTER command simulation, elements of the opposing armies clashed briefly just north of Unger's Store. Historically on January 5th, Major General Thomas J. Jackson was across the Potomac from Brigadier General Frederick W. Lander and his small garrison of men at Hancock.

Hancock, Maryland

Jackson sent Lieutenant Colonel Ashby across the river under flag of truce to deliver terms to Lander. Ashby was taken, blindfolded, to Lander's Headquarters. The blindfold was removed and Ashby delivered the terms: Surrender Hancock, or Jackson would come over and take it. He gave Lander two hours to evacuate civilians before he would begin shelling the town. Lander wasn't amused, nor was he easily intimidated (although he had a much smaller force).  Here is an account from Cozen, Peter (2008) Shenandoah 1862:Stonewall Jackson's Valley Campaign, Chapel Hill: University of NC. , pp. 80-81:

"'Colonel Ashby,' interjected Lander, 'give my regards to General Jackson and tell him to bombard and be damned! If he opens his batteries on this town, he will injure more of his friends than he will of the enemy, for this is a damned secesh place anyhow!'  Colonel Murray of the 84th Pennsylvania added a more balanced postscript, 'As for destroying property,' he told Ashby, 'you will have to be responsible for that; and if you cross the river you will have to run your own risk. I have some men here who are determined to fight until the last man falls.'"

"Ashby rose to leave, 'Hold on! Take a seat Colonel Ashby,' Lander said. 'General Jackson has addressed me in a polite and soldierly manner and it demands a like reply.' Wrote Lander: I decline to accede to your request. If you feel justified in destroying the property and lives of peaceable citizens under the plea of crossing the Potomac at a particular point... which I dispute, you must do so on your own responsibility.' As he handed Ashby the note, Lander remarked: 'General Jackson and yourself, Colonel Ashby, are gentlemen and brave men, without question, but you have started out in a God Damn bad cause!'"

Jackson shelled the town ineffectively before giving up on Hancock and moving on Romney. 

A private from Colonel Murray's 84th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry,
which (historically) was in Hancock on January 5th 1862.

In the alternative history of the B & O WINTER simulation, Colonel Murray and his men didn't fair so well on January 5th as he had inferred in his historic address to Ashby on the same day!