Last weekend a group of us gathered to mark the 160th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. Our aim was not to just play a portion of the battle, historically fought over three days, but rather start at 9am on the 1st of July and play through the entire battle ending with its natural conclusion of our refight. As always we would be using the rules “Volley & Bayonet – Road to Glory” along with 6mm miniatures. The scenario was that outlined in "Battles of the American Civil War" a scenario book for Volley & Bayonet by Greg Novak and Frank Chadwick.
Prior to the weekend considerable time was spent constructing the terrain that represented the battlefield. Not least of which was the various hills and ridges that make up the battlefield. When completed our miniature battlefield stretched from north to south a distance of something over six miles, encompassing the area north of Gettysburg to that south of the Round Tops. West to east it covered around four miles, from Herr Ridge in the west to Wolf Hill in the east. As with all such things some approximations were required. However I attempted to retain a degree of accuracy with the main features being generally accurate.
The miniatures are all from my own collection and are 6mm miniatures from Heroics & Ros. While Gettysburg was very much a meeting engagement over the course of two days the number of troops would rise. Eventually some 80 infantry brigades, four cavalry brigades and no less than 42 artillery battalions would potentially be on the field, less casualties. This translates to some 2,400 6mm miniatures. For those not familiar with Volley & Bayonet each infantry stand in the following report represents a brigade with a frontage of some 300 yards.
With the scope of Gettysburg being so grand only the simplest of descriptions can be provided. However, I trust that what follows captures some of the sweeping scenes that defined our refight of Gettysburg.
The Battle Begins - 1st July:
Battle opened with a vengeance around 9am when General Heth pressed with much enthusiasm down the Chambersburg Pike. Ahead lay the two brigades of John Buford’s Cavalry Division. Some 2,500 dismounted cavalry supported by a handful of rifled guns. Below, around 9.30am with Archer's and Davis' Confederate brigades, supported by 12 guns of Pegram's Artillery, engage one of Buford's two brigades.
Heth’s attack was stunningly successful and by 10.30am Buford’s dismounted cavalry was falling back at an alarming rate. Below, McPherson Ridge is in the centre while Seminary Ridge is behind. Fortunately John Reynolds has arrived on the scene, as has Wadsworth's 1st Division of the Union I Corps, part of which is just visible behind Seminary Ridge.
By 11.30am elements of the Union I Corps have formed behind Seminary Ridge and west of Gettysburg. Below, the remnants of Buford’s now shattered cavalry can be seen on the right.
Not withstanding Heth’s success the situation was about to get worse for the Union. From the north Ewell's Confederate II Corps pressed against the weak Union right. Ewell's II Corps comprising three divisions, those of Early, Rodes and Johnson. Rodes was first to arrive around noon and west of Oak Hill, while Early would soon support him from 2pm arriving via the Harrisburg Pike. Below, Rodes' Division advances from the north.
Reynolds ordered the Union forces, now heavily outnumbered, to form a new line. By 1.30pm the Union defence centred on Gettysburg and extending to the south-west. Fortunately, Union reinforcements were also arriving. Reynolds however determined not to reinforce his engaged line but rather deploy the arriving troops in a second line formed on Cemetery Hill and Cemetery Ridge. He was clearly concerned the position was at risk of collapse.
Above, Union reinforcements strung out in march column, on the Taneytown Road. A portion of the Round Tops are visible in the left foreground. Below, the situation around 1.30pm viewed from the east with Union forces in Gettysburg, to the south-west and south around Cemetery Hill. Part of Gettysburg was held by the Iron Brigade the other by the remnants of Buford's dismounted cavalry.
Below, another view of the area around Gettysburg as Rodes' Division prepares to assault Gettysburg. Rodes had clear orders to capture the town and thereby enable troops to move quickly through Gettysburg, potentially in road column, towards Culp's Hill.
Below, chaos on the Chambersburg Pike as A.P Hill pushes reinforcements down the pike. In the foregound is Pender's Division, in particular three of his four brigades being those of Scales', Thomas' and Lane's brigades. General Lee and his staff are to the left and provide encouragement.
Below, a more general view. A portion of Heth's Division are now starting to move to the right and can be seen moving along McPherson Ridge.
Soon after 2.30pm Gettysburg had been lost to the Union, in part from assault and part by the position being deemed untenable by Reynolds. The Union defenders had however slowed the Rebel advance and enabled further reinforcements to deploy on to Cemetery Ridge, Cemetery Hill and Culp's Hill. Below, the general situation. Culp's Hill is in the left foreground and is heavily wooded.
Reynold's decision to form a strong defensive position and fall back seemed to hold a number of sensible advantages. However, it also meant that Lee, now free of Union forces directly to his front issued orders to both Hill and Ewell to move against the Union flanks.
By 7.30pm, last light on the 1st of July, Hill's movement to the right is gaining critical ground. Below, the situation on the Confederate right flank. Heth's Division moves through the Devel's Den and against the Round Tops while Pender's Division, some four brigades, deploy to the north of Rose Woods opposite Seminary Ridge.
Meanwhile. in the centre a prolonged Confederate bombardment of Union positions around Cemetery Hill was producing results. The already understrength Union divisions, often of just two brigades, are unable to sustain heavy losses by Rebel cannon.
Above, Rebel artillery deployed north-west of Cemetery Hill engage the Union lines. Below, around 7.30pm a limited Confederate attack is launched against Union artillery near Cemetery Hill, before being thrown back.
On the Confederate left Ewell, with less distance to cover than A.P. Hill's III Corps was pressing the Union right from 5pm. This was to continue until 7.30pm. Below, Culp’s Hill in the centre and Wolf Hill on the left. Elements of Ewell’s II Corps now press the Union positions here. Culp’s Hill is covered by relatively thick woods which would play a significant part in the fighting. On the lower slopes of Culp's Hill are brigades from Rodes' Division while in the left foreground are Smith's and Gordon's Brigades from Early's Division.
By the end of the day casualties were relatively high on the three divisions of Doubleday's Union I Corps, though none of the divisions were exhausted. Howard's XI Corps had been badly handled with Schutz Division having collapsed. Of course Buford's Cavalry was all but eliminated and while some troopers reformed overnight the division was all but lost as a fighting force. In the Confederate camp the divisions of Heth, Early and Rodes had suffered heavy casualties, but all would be ready for action by morning, despite their ranks being reduced.
Crisis along the Ridge - 2nd July:
Overnight, and in the early morning, two much needed divisions of Longstreet's I Corps would move down the Chambersburg Pike and begin to deploy, a welcome addition when added to the arrival of Johnson's Division that bolstered Ewell's II Corps just prior to dusk on the 1st of July. Lee now had the bulk of his army on the field, excluding Pickett's Division which would not arrive until the after dusk on the 2nd.
Union reinforcements also poured on to the field. Late on the 1st of July Slocum's XII Corps marched down the Baltimore Pike. These were to be followed by the Army Artillery Reserve and then by Sykes V Corps at first light. Simultaneously, Hancock's II Corps would be arriving on the Taneytown Road. Yet all these troops would take time to arrive and shakeout, worse they created congestion on the roads and instead of troops arriving well ordered chaos ensued.
For those troops already on the field darkness provided an opportunity to throwing up defences. Axes swung on the Round Tops and Culp's Hill where both Union and Rebel created makeshift defences. Even along Cemetery Ridge fences provided much needed timber with which hasty defences could be created. Below, Union dispositions on Cemetery Ridge complete with hasty works.
Despite the overnight activity it was not until 9am that the battle began with earnest.
Around Culp's Hill Rebel advances were quickly achieved. General Ewell ordered Early's Division to press the Union lines on the lower slopes of Culp's Hill while Rodes' Division was to advance over Wolf Hill. Moving through the more open woods here Ewell hoped to cut the Baltimore Pike thus delaying the Union reinforcements advancing down the pike. It had the desired result.
By noon the Rebel attacks in this sector slackened finally allowing Union troops to secure the Baltimore Pike and begin the transfer of cannon Cemetery Ridge.
The need for addition Union cannon along Cemetery Ridge was driven by Confederate artillery concentrations. Lee had build up a considerable artillery concentration opposite Cemetery Hill. By late morning some 100 guns were causing havoc to the Union positions causing crippling casualties. The Union cannons in support countered as best they could of course, but it was only when the artillery reserve could be freed from the action along the Baltimore Pike that the position would improve for Union troops.
However, dramatic events had been unfolding around the Round Tops and the southern portions of Cemetery Ridge. A.P. Hill had indeed been busy. At 9am Heth was ordered to regain the initiative. Archer's and Davis' Brigades surged forward. quickly seizing Big Round Top. They were alas thrown back by 2nd and 3rd Brigade of Humphrey's 2nd Division from Sickles III Corps. Shattered by this sudden reverse Heth's Division collapsed soon after 10.30am. Below, the situation on the Round Tops, the Round Tops being the large hill on the right. Big Round Top on the extreme right and Little Round Top is to the left. The southern part of Cemetery Ridge is ion the left with Rose Wood and its associated hight ground is in the left foreground.
Simultaneously north of the Round Tops Pender's and Anderson's Divisions, which like Heth's Division were from A.P. Hill's Corps, prepared to sweep north-east up Cemetery Ridge. Some eight Confederate brigades under the watchful eye of General Lee advanced in echelon. Of these Thomas' Brigade gained the ridge and began to press the Union line. Below, the divisions of Pender and Anderson begin their advance. Thomas' Brigade is just visible on Cemetery Ridge, partly obscured here by trees.
Union collapse here was likely except for the prompt action of Brigadier General Lysander Cutler, commander of 1st Division's 2nd Brigade. 1st Division, having taken casualties during the first day had been moved south along the ridge during the 1st of July. Along with Cutler's 2nd Brigade was Solomon Meredith's 1st Brigade ften known as the "Iron Brigade". The division formed what Meade believed would be a critical reserve. Cutler's Brigade now surged forward, supported by artillery and dislodged the Rebel attack. Soon after the Iron Brigade advanced now well supported by artillery and by other brigades of reinforcing divsions. By 11am Pender's Division collapsed and then at 11.30am it collapsed again! In just over an hour two Confederate Divisions had suffered complete devastation. The grey and butternut ranks that advanced with such determination hours earlier now streamed from the Union lines. Behind then an increasing number of Union brigades determined to see them on their way.
Several attempts were made by Lee to reform a line, initially by Anderson's Division, the last fresh division of A.P. Hill's III Corps. Below, Anderson makes a stand along Seminary Ridge near the Emmitsburg Road around 2.30pm.
Despite initial resistance Anderson's Division was soon driven in as General Caldwell's 1st Division, itself part of Hancock's II Corps, pressed its flank supported by Union cannon fire. Union divisions pressed forward again.
A great report Keith. The game was certainly in the balance with significant casualties suffered by both sides. Thanks for posting and congratulations on a fantastic looking game.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the feedback Greg.
DeleteAs to casualties they were somewhat heavier for the Confederates but their larger divisions meant they could absorb greater casualties before a division went in to exhaustion or collapse. Union divisions were more fragile and feeding in replacements divisions or brigades was important. A significant consideration in Volley & Bayonet games fought over multiple days is overnight casualty recovery. All divisions recover a portion of their casualties. However, a division that ends the day exhausted starts the next day fresh. In contrast a division that suffers a morale collapse, triggered by heavy casualties in a short time, starts the next day exhausted. Morale collapse needs to be avoided!