Alejo Dorca – Page 2 – My Toy Soldiers & Me

GETTYSBURG 2 July 1863 early morning. 6MM

It took me a long time to retake the “game”… a trip and real life interfering…

All troops are on the table (even the one’s that will arrive on the third of July as there was place to put them on).

If General Lee has had the aerial perspective I got he would have been shocked by the strenght of the Union position and the numbers of the Army of the Potomac.

In the pics you have General Meade original dispositions… some will move along as per III Corps (forward) and the reinforcement of Culp’s Hill.

Seriously, once i started putting the brigades into place I realized the hopeless situation of the Confederates attacking an entrenched superior Army uphill.

Well, I love recreating those battles on the tabletop but I am getting too old and prone to anguish when I imagine the real life casualties… if you know what I mean!

Enjoy!

GETTYSBURG Dusk (01-07-1863) 6MM

All the scenery has been “slided” up North to have more room for the second day.

Still under construction (thought it would be quicker!)…

Union troops concentrate in Cemetery Ridge…

Longstreet has not arrived yet… no news of Stuart.

Union troops will arrive and deploy during the night (and entrench!)

Enjoy.

GETTYSBURG 1st July evening. 6MM

It has been a victory for the Confederacy… but a confused one because at brigade level there was much mismanagement and uncoordination… also at divisional level if you ask me…

Lee arrives in the field… confers with Ewell and A.P.Hill but decides to wait for Longstreet…

On the Union side, the most difficult of manoeuvres is succesful… retreat under pressure of a bigger Army… and reorganization on the high ground.

JEB Stuart still away and Lee in the dark.

Barlow’s Division gives way and retreats…

As a result all the Union line goes backwards…

The Confederates are masters of Gettysburg… but way confused after a march and a battle… they are victorious but disorganized.

The Union Ist and XI Corps retire to Cemetery Hill and Culp’s Hill (The remains of the Iron Brigade… depleted but full of fight.

General Lee (with foreign observers on his wake) arriving to Gettysburg without much knowledge about what’s in front of him.

GETTYSBURG 1st July Afternoon. 6MM

The solo wargame (or reenacment as I prefer to call them) is going on quite historically.

Summing up, Lee does not want a general engagement without Longstreet which is the farthest of the action.

Barlow’s Division has got a piece of high ground on the extreme Union right flank but his position is “in the air”… with lots of space empty behind him… and he is under heavy pressure.

The Union center is holding up before uncoordinated attacks.

Enjoy!

GETTYSBURG 1st July Midday. 6MM

Buford is fighting a delaying action under heavy pressure… Reynolds has been shot by a Reb sharpshooter (leading from the front).

XI Corps is going through Gettysburg.

Ist Union Corps is going to relieve Buford’s Cavalry.

Rodes (from Ewells Corps has arrived to the North of town)

Penders is in a traffic jam behind Heth.

The Union secures the high ground on Cemetery Hill. The Second brigade from XI Corps is posted there.

Quite panoramic perspective.

Enjoy!

XIth Corps second brigade holds Cemetery Ridge.

Ewell’s Rodes Divison arrives on the North of Gettysburg.

GETTYSBURG 1st July (Morning). 6MM

Here we go!

I know it is not very quick wargaming at all. BUT I like them quite historical (times of arrival etc).

It is impossible to detail ALL te dice throws and you will excuse me for not detailing them!

Enjoy!

Buford cavalrymen (dismounted) fights Heths’ advancing Division.

Union Ist Corps (Reynold’s) arrives with the first Division to relieve Buford.

GETTYSBURG 1st July (morning). The game moves steadily forward. 6MM

Battle is about to start.

I am going to take my time with that one.

I enjoy the step by step approach following the books you all have…

Enjoy!

Overall view of my ex-office with the 10 Corps involved deployed (3 Rebs and 7 Yankees)

General Lee HQ’s + foreign observers + Reserve Artillery

GETTYSBURG 1st July Early Morning (Gettysburg 6MM).

On of the advantages of a permanent table and wargaming solo (sometimes I call it reenacment) is the use of TIME!

Some people like my layout some don’t.

No matter what it is really functional.

Enjoy!

McPherson’s Ridge and the unfinished railroad cut.

Ist and XIth Corps UNION still out of the table…

GETTYSBURG layout 6MM.

Finally there!

Today I build up the scenario for the first day of Gettysburg (1st July).

No troops in it yet.

Hope you like it. Troops from both sides are converging on it!

Enjoy!

Aerial view of a quiet little town in Pennsylvania 30th June 1863.

Unorthodox basing of 6mm minis in 60x30mm stands. Baccus Army of Northern Virginia.

Made some pics today showing variants or different ways to base minis in a standard 60x30mm stand.

All minis are 6mm Baccus and the buildings are all Leven.

After building a collection of brigades in an orthodox way (meaning two lines of 12 minis and 4 skirmishers forward… as recommended on the most popular rules). I started to think that what really mattered was the Brigade stand per se. So it existed leeway to the way you could glue or organize the minis on the stand to add aesthetic effects and variety.

Here is some of the results. I used the Army of Northern Virginia for the pics but the Army of the Potomac has the same treatment in my collection.

Hope you enjoy.