Gettysburg – My Toy Soldiers & Me

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

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…

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

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 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)…

GETTYSBURG 2 July mid afternoon/evening/dusk 6MM

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!

GETTYSBURG 2 July 1863 afternoon. 6MM

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.

Another view of Culp’s Hill (a very hard nut to crack).

The books about Gettysburg you need to reenact the battle on the tabletop.

So much detail… perfect if you would like to play a particular fase of the big battle at regimental level.

Very helpful to paint your minis even in 6MM

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

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)

Meade directs Sykes V Corps to the left flank! that will frustrate the outflanking move by the Rebs but just barely!

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!