Your Brigades that have been ordered to charge will perform a charge move, if their morale lets them. They will attempt to defeat the enemy in front of them by close combat (using rifle butt and bayonet rather than shooting them).

If they contact the enemy during their charge move, a close combat will be performed between the brigades. The results can vary from your brigade being repulsed with heavy casualties, staying in contact with the enemy, or being victorious and sending them packing. The results will show up on your screen.

A Confederate brigade assaults a Union brigade in close combat The crossed swords icons depict a close combat.

Be aware that if the enemy is in good order and has very few casualties, then your charging troops may take extremely high casualties, and their charge may fail. You may want to soften up the enemy with musketry and artillery fire before charging in.