Gettysburg Solo Turns 30-38 (the fight for Little Round Top)

 

Sickles rout turns into a stampede with the whole corps skedaddling. Fortunately Vincent's brigade of V corps arrives at Little Round Top in the nick of time!

For the moment nothing will stop Sickles' boys but once they are out of Rebel artillery range they will start to rally. The rules allow for a unit out of an active enemy ZOC (zone of control) to automatically rally by one morale step each turn.

Following a successful activation die roll Sykes puts his V corps in motion towards the Round Tops.

And VI corps have now arrived to bolster the defences on Cemetery Hill. There are a lot of Union troops in a very small area and despite the collapse on the left Meade is growing more confident that he can hold.

A crucial moment - Laws brigade have swept Vincent from the crest of Little Round Top but in the foreground Anderson's Confederate brigade have been repelled by Ward's veterans. The Rebs rolled a one on the assault table which causes an attacking non-veteran brigade to rout.

Meanwhile across the valley Pickett's division is deploying behind the Chambersburg Pike.

Lee has ordered A P Hill to advance and demonstrate against Cemetery Hill but once again a string of failed activation die rolls means that only Anderson makes a belated move forward. In the end a frustrated Lee rescinds the order as the troops are coming under artillery fire to no purpose.

Sykes forms a solid defensive line as Longstreet pushes forward in the gap between Little Round Top and Cemetery Hill.

Although now at reduced strength, Ward's Union brigade clings stubbornly to the saddle of the Round Tops. Both attacking Confederate brigades are shaken and cannot launch an assault.

McLaws' men push forward towards the V corps line. Longstreet tries to call them off but once again their is a failed activation die roll that leaves the Confederates under a heavy fire - both lead brigades are now at reduced strength and near breaking point.

But at last Ward's men have finally broken leaving Little Round Top in Confederate hands!

Part of VI corps deploy on the end of Cemetery Hill in a position where they can direct flanking fire on McLaws.

It's too much for the Rebels to bear and both Semmes and Barksdale's brigades are broken and removed from play.

Longstreet is up with Hood trying now to organise a defence before the inevitable Union counter-attack.

And when it comes it's Vincent's brigade that drive the Rebels back - a variation on their role in the real battle but still playing an important part!

As the Confederate position starts to collapse Hood receives a mortal wound.

The men of V corps surge forward as far as the Trostle House.

While the Rebs retreat back across Plum Run. They have given everything they had but in the end just didn't have the numbers to succeed!

The situation at the Round Tops at the end of Day 2 - turn 37

Turn 38 was another night turn and the remaining brigades were redeployed ready for the morning as below.

The view across the table from the Round Tops towards the Seminary.

The view from Lee's HQ looking towards Cemetery Hill.

Once again I allowed for some limited strength point recovery and this time the Confederates did reasonably well, especially Heth's division.

Tomorrow is Pickett's charge!