Five of us had a great time today refighting a portion of the first day at Gettysburg. In this scenario, Henry Heth is renewing his attack on McPherson's Ridge. Two players commanded the four Union brigades posted on the ridge, and two players took charge of the three Confederate brigades given the task of taking the ridge.
The Confederates, being the attackers, got to move first. It became apparent that they were intent on driving in Meredith's Iron Brigade sheltering in the woods. Daniels' men held back, hoping the three batteries on their flank would be able to silence the Union battery in front of them. This delay would prove costly.
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| Pettigrew's men begin their advance against the Union left and center. |
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| Surprisingly, Biddle's brigade advances off the ridge to attack. |
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| Pettigrew's left attacking Meredith's brigade in the woods. |
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| Brockenbrough's veteran brigade goes in on Pettigrew's left |
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| Brockenbrough's ranks are thinned without much to show for it. |
Meredith's Black Hats fended off at least five different charges, while Dana's men fought stoutly in the orchard and cornfield. Brockenbrough's Virginians could not make any headway. On the Union left, Biddle boldly tried to seize the initiative by marching against Pettigrew's two regiments on the right.
The two rebel batteries on this flank limbered up to try to get better fields of fire atop a hill to their right.
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| The rebel batteries moving toward the hill |
A lone regiment from Biddle's command formed into a marching column and attempted to swiftly gain a flanking position on the Confederate right. The move proved to be a foolish one in the short run as the rebel guns got into position first and were able to pour cannister into the hapless column.
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| Before the carnage. |
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| After the smoke cleared |
In the long run, however, this proved to take the Confederate guns away from where they were needed most with serious consequences. The Union battery on this flank harassed Pettigrew's inexperienced regiments, keeping them in a state of disorder.
On the opposite flank, the Confederate guns outmatched their Union counterparts ("1" kept coming up on the die for them!) and Daniels' brigade began its advance.
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| Daniels' men take position along a fence line at the base of the ridge. |
For the rest of the battle, Baxter's Yanks and Daniels' Rebs would shoot it out with one another and casualties mounted. Dana sent one of his regiments from the farm to bolster the defense which proved to be timely. As the game ended, Baxter's men had been driven back on the right but had advanced on the left creating a stalemate on this flank.
The Confederate attacks on the Union center came to naught. At this point we ended the game, and all agreed that the Union's bold tactics had won the day.
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| At the end of the game, Pettigrew's right flank has been turned |
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| Brockenbrough's veteran brigade has been shattered |
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| Colonel Dana's untested troops really rose to the occasion and held the center |
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| Meredith's men showed why they are called the Iron Brigade. |
We all had a blast and look forward to getting together when the lads come home for their Christmas break.
