Today our little gaming group met at Jon's house for a refight of Gettysburg. Jon provided the table and the armies, and he acted as referee for the game. The figures are all Old Glory 10mm on 2.5" by 1.5" bases. The rules are Jon's homebrew Civil War rules, based on Republique. I commanded the Army of Northern Viriginia and Austin commanded the Army of the Potomac.
Sickles' position at the Peach Orchard
Longstreet's guns prepare to fire on Sickles
We began the action at 4:00PM on July 2nd. Sickles' III Corps was in an exposed position, and I prepared to attack him.
The battlefield looking north
I swung Hood's division to the right, moving straight toward Little Round Top. McLaws began to attack Sickles' line. At the top of this photo you can see Ewell's II Corps moving to attack Cemetery Hill and Culp's Hill.
McLaws bogs down
Right from the start, my attack ran into trouble. Cotton balls indicate morale hits, and McLaws' division was hurting.
Union reserves occupy Little Round Top
Austin got the V Corps moving very quickly, and they won the race for Little Round Top. Hood's division took heavy losses without gaining any ground.
McLaws' division begins to run
While Hood ground to a halt, McLaws' men began to run from the fight. They inflicted only two hits on Sickles' corps and failed to take any of Sickles' positions.
II Corps runs into trouble
Meanwhile Ewell's corps failed to move the federals from the two hills on the Union right. Rhodes' division (top) took heavy losses from US artillery. Early's division (bottom) suffered more casualties than any other division in the army. Two whole brigades were destroyed, and the other brigades mostly ran for Gettysburg town in a rout.
Early's division out of the fight
Here's Early's division, torn to pieces by federal guns. Johnson's division of Ewell's corps did manage to carry Culp's Hill with no losses at all, but the rest of the Army of Northern Virigina was a mess. In desperation, I threw A.P. Hill's corps right at Cemetery ridge, but they too were repulsed.
Austin victorious
Austin looks happy because this battle was never really in doubt.
MacPhee defeated
And here I am, contemplating the folly of secession.
It was a rough day for the Confederates. Maybe I'll have more luck next time. Jon did make us a tasty Massaman curry, which softened the sting of defeat.
I wish I could take more credit for brilliant generalship (beyond my normal high standard), but hopefully you learned a lesson I learned long ago, with Jon's rules - Never charge the guns!
ReplyDeleteBut, overall, a satisfying day on the field crushing the rebellion. How does President Meade sound?
Maj Gen Austin
I'm not sure I'd say never charge guns but charging guns that are on high ground, in good order, and undamaged is quite risky.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen so many casualties inflicted on so many by so few. Austin, your artillery found its mark Early (sic) and often with devastating effect.
Gen. Lee must have abandoned the field before the troop returns were available. Birney's Union division suffered much more than Lee realized and several Union batteries were damaged.
Jon
From the pics, it looks like Austin can barely contain his overwhelming eutheuseasim in crushing the MIGHTY MACPHEE !
ReplyDeleteMr. Mac's pic is more like ..."oh well, I can still paint miniatures better than either you guys...so suck it !"
Remember Scott , a bad day wargaming is still better than a good day working and there is always next time !
And Austin......nobody likes a poor winner !
Congratulations to the Victorious Austin! His secret? "Mah boys...they got their dander up!" A very nice photo.
ReplyDeleteIt is in marked contrast to the Battle of Maida pic in the blog of Aug 23.
It would appear that even in defeat, Mr Mac can manage to hit the rolling box with his dice, and there is not a hint of reset on his lips!!