GETTYSBURG 3rd July (Part II)… and an end to the series… (63 real days on and off). 6MM

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It is over… the Gettysburg reenacment (solo wargaming to a point) took me 63 “days” in real time… not continuosly OF COURSE!… there were real life intrusions on the project (trips, business, contracts… you name it!)… but the obvious bonus fact of having a permanent big table (green top if you like)… payed off. It has been a long life project… I wanted to do Gettysburg for years (even when I was napoleonic wargaming in 25MM).

Well, as the expected anticlimax I give you 3rd day PartII. I was satisfied with the result (you can not have it at regimental level… but you can wargame at regimental level parts of it).

Pics will show you “Pickett’s charge” (because Heth was inconscious) it has gone down in History with that name… but was a pell-mell of scraped brigades from Ist Corps and III Corps… and Pickett’s were the only “fresh” troops of the lot.

Lee gambled hard and lost… the conflict would last for nearly two years more but the men the South lost as casualties were not there anymore. Stonewall Jackson had already said that the South lacked the manpower to explote a victory…

A sad affair (as war always is)… you are deeply affected even wargaming it!

The advancing Confederate Brigades as on parade!
Union artillery fire starts disrutping the charge…
Union musketry becomes to play on too…
The clash!
The High Water Mark…
General Lee receives his men with the heartfelt apology “It was my fault… not yours”… with hindsight they would have had to search for peace there and then… but History is different!

GETTYSBURG 3rd July ( Part I ) 6MM

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The third day of the battle General Lee after having attacked both flanks on previous days… designs a grand attack by 13 brigades (as much as a Corps but amalgamated from Ist and IInd)… Picket’s Division been the only fresh troops for the attack.

It would be preceded by an Artillery action of a massed guns battery. It would be effective to a less degree than hoped, much overshooting the target… (and quite defective ammo sometimes).

The Confederate Cavalry tries to join the main battlefield on the rear of the Union… but would be stopped in a draw fight (inconclusive)… and prevented by the Union Cavalry to complete that objective.

The battle is ready for the grand final…

Enjoy!

The Confederate Grand battery…
The shot and shell mainly affects the rear area of the Union position…
The Union cavalry stops Jeb Stuart tired troopers…
Custer wons his reputation that day (among others)…
End of the Bombardment…

HRH King Charles III

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Finally decided to change the command figure of my Trooping the Colour display.

It took me almost two years to decide.

HRH the late Queen Elizabeth II has been moved to another shelve. She is still on display, but certainly not on a central role.

Time moves on.

The new figure (a REPLICA cast) painted by me.
The new King on Parade.

GETTYSBURG 2 July mid afternoon/evening/dusk 6MM

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The second day at Gettysburg saw hard fighting, it has been said that General Lee intended an envelopping attack clockwise: first Longstreet, then Hill (Anderson Division) and then Ewell.

It went like that more or less in my tabletop.

The Peach Orchard, the Whratfield and the Valley of Death were a place of hard fighting… IIIrd Corps (Union) made a gallant defense but was spent and had to retreat. Luckily for General Meade reinforcements come on in the nick of time.

Little Round Top (truly enough) went like an History book… Vincent had very good dice throws.

Anderson also did a half hearted attack (not for the real men involved I guess).

And Ewell was not at his best but nearly one Brigade went through the Union defenses… but there no fresh troops available and the Union quickly plugged the gap.

It was hard work wargaming it (so to say) SOLO… but now Dusk has fallen and the Confederate Army has not broken the Union line.

Hope you enjoy!

IIIrd Corps fight!
Anderson’s Division advance
The Center of the Union Line.
Ewell troops advance upon Culp’s Hill
The Valley of Death
Hard fighting
Little Round Top
A near breakthrough!
Dusk puts an end to hostilities…

GETTYSBURG 2 July 1863 afternoon. 6MM

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At last Longstreet attacks with his two divisions. Ewell would delay his for two more hours.

As a reenactment, it proved quiet right about Hood he was wounded early in the fight… curiously the dice favoured Union III Corps and they offered an spirited fight.

The morning in Culp’s hill has been well employed entrenching the position.

The start of the fight on the souther part of the field.
Union II Corps is retreating but fighting.
On the other flank entrecnhments are done.
The Confederates are up Big Round Top.
Another view of Culp’s Hill (a very hard nut to crack).
Aerial view at mid afternoon 2 of July.

GETTYSBURG 2 July morning/early afternoon before the action… 6MM

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Sickles III Corps is out “in the air” on the Union left flank… on the right flank “the fish hook” is in position because Slocum ha reinforced the position with the XII Corps.

Longstreet’s two divisions in the field (Hood and McLaws) are ending his roundabout and complicated march (because of delays and changes of direction to avoid visual detection).

All is ready fo the afternoon clash!

Enjoy!

XII Corps has formed on the right flank.
Sickles III Corps has moved too far forward contrary to Meade’s orders.
Longstreet’s two divisions are getting in position on the extreme Confederate right (Union left)
Longstreet in detail.
general view
Meade directs Sykes V Corps to the left flank! that will frustrate the outflanking move by the Rebs but just barely!