Gettysburg Solo Turns 19-29

Day 2 (July 2, 1863) begins with the 10.00am turn (Turn 19). Lee has ordered Ewell to renew the attack on Culp's Hill whilst he waits for Longstreet's Corps to get into position opposite the round tops. Ewell orders his only fresh division (Johnson) to make the attack supported by Early.

Johnson has 'assault' orders but with only two brigades and one supporting battery he is outnumbered by the Union XII corps defenders.

However, Walker's veterans do managed to break Greene's brigade who go running down the back of Culp's Hill.

But Slocum orders McDougall to fill the gap whilst the remnants of Reynolds corps stand ready behind them by the cemetery gates!.

Uncharacteristically, Early's men fail to advance in support of Johnson by failing three command die rolls in a row. They only manage to give support from a single battery deployed across the Tanneytown Road. 

Walker's brigade is broken and the Rebel attack fizzles out.

Slocum's men did get a bit shaky during the action and the general had to risk himself personally on two occasions to stop potential routs. Luckily he escaped without a scratch.

To add insult to injury (to the Confederates) Gordon's brigade was routed by Union artillery bombardment and went streaming back through Gettysburg.

Culp's Hill remains safely in Federal hands.

Ewell's corps is now a spent force and not capable of making a further attack without reinforcement.

The time is now 2.00pm (Turn 27) and Lee has ordered two batteries from the central artillery reserve to shift to the right in support of Longstreet's anticipated attack on the Union left.

Longstreet can try to activate his divisions from the start of this turn but rolls a 1 (anything but a 1 would have been fine!). His men wait patiently in their ranks.

Finally, with a Rebel Yell, his men surge forward and knock de Trobriand's brigade clean out of the Peach Orchard.

To the left, Law's brigade advance on the Union line near the Trostle House.

But frustratingly Hood's division fails to activate!

Better news for the Confederates - Pickett's division has arrived on the Chambersburg Turnpike. All the Rebel forces are now on the table.

Meanwhile following a successful activation test (allowed once Longstreet had attacked) Sykes (V corps) has despatched Vincent to occupy Little Round Top.

3.00pm and Hood has got his boys in motion by the Rose House.

Putting Sickles under pressure with three of his four brigades routing!

So the game is still shaping up broadly along historical lines with a failure by the Confederates to take Culp's Hill while Longstreet puts the Union left flank under heavy pressure...