Gettysburg Solo Turns 8-17

I've played the game through to the end of Day 1 which is 7.00pm, nightfall. There was a lot of action, too much to cover in detail here (mostly because I've already forgotten a lot of it!) but here are the main points.

Rodes men continue to push in against the Union right flank forcing Reynolds and Howard to make an ad-hoc defence line. Casualties are steadily mounting on both sides.

The arrival of A P Hill allows the Confederates to finally issue an 'Assault' order at the Seminary. The assault order allows units to charge the enemy which is a quick and brutal way to decide things. I'm only allowing assault orders to be issued if the corps commander (Confederate) or army commander (Union) are adjacent to the command being ordered. Here you can see that Perrin (Pender) has just charged and broken Stannard (Reynolds) - the Seminary is finally in Confederate hands.

To make things worse for the Federals, Early's division have just arrived on table and are pushing into Gettysburg threatening the Union rear.

Bufords exausted troopers have rallied on Cemetery Hill. When a unit gets down to 3 or fewer SPs it has very little combat effectiveness however, the Union cavalry are the only troops in place to try and stop Early from advancing and taking Culp's Hill.

The Rebels continue their headlong charge into the Union flank along the Chambersburg Pike. Once issued with an assault order the units must continue to charge unless they are eliminated or called off. In this case Pender took two turns to get his men back under control.

The Union line has now fallen back behind the Turnpike still trying to halt the Confederate onslaught. The artillery ammo for both sides is getting low and some batteries are out of action awaiting the arrival of the wagons.

Early advances with his eyes on the prize of Culp's Hill and the enemy rear.

The defensive line drawn up by Reynold's and Howard is still holding but casualties are mounting as the Confederates come forward one more time.

Disaster - every single Union brigade along the turnpike is broken and running. Fortunately the Rebel troops are not in good enough shape to pursue.

After one failed initiative test the Union cavalry deploy a 'thin blue line' to defend Culp's Hill and the exposed end of Cemetery Hill.

If they can just hold on for a couple of turns Slocum's XII corps may just be able to provide support as they emerge along the Baltimore Turnpike. The time is 5.00pm.

Rodes men catch their breath and reorganise whilst the Federals attempt to rally what they can along the line of the Emmitsburg Road.

The Confederates need reinforcements in order to continue the attack and these are arriving in the shape of Anderson's fresh division moving towards the Seminary along the Chambersburg Turnpike.

Slocum is pressing on while the remnants of the Union cavalry somehow manage to keep Early's men at bay!

These are the only two Union brigades defending the Emmitsburg Road position. ALL the brigades of Howards XI corps have been completely broken and removed from play.

Anderson's division is now deployed and ready to continue the Confederate attack but it's getting dark and there will be no further fighting until the morning.

Both of the Union cavalry brigades are gone now (units are removed when they get to -2 SPs) but Slocum's infantry are on Culp's Hill. At the end of Turn 17 Avery's Confederate brigade fails its morale test and becomes shaken, this means that they will have to concede ground during the night move - the Federal rear is safe for now!

The positions of the remaining commands at the end of turn 17.

It was a humdinger of a fight but somehow, by the skin of their teeth, the Union prevented a complete disaster and have held Culp's Hill. However, the losses have been huge with six brigades of infantry (including the whole of XI corps) and two of cavalry destroyed without the loss of a single Confederate brigade. I think I would have to say that Day 1 goes to the Rebels!

Gettysburg Solo Turns 3-7

 

Pender's men are arriving in force now and moving to deploy in support of Heth's increasingly shakey line.

But Buford's line is shakey too and finally it's all too much for Devin's troopers who break and run for their horses.

In the nick of time Reynolds arrives to take personal charge of the forces at the Seminary.

Despite losing Devin the Union line is still holding as the remainder of I corps arrive to shore up the cracks.

And Howard's XI corps are powering up the Turnpike in support.

But then a double blow to the Confederates, both Archer and Pettigrew have broken and the men are streaming back through the ranks of Pender's division.

However, at the same moment Rodes division arrives in a position to threaten the Union right flank.

Reynold's men are now assailed from both front and flank. Reynold's will need to think fast how best to save his position.

As Archers broken brigade fall back through Perrin's fresh brigade a 'passage of lines' morale test has to be taken and in this case Perrin's men are shaken by the experience. This is another neat mechanism in the rules that helps to prevent unrealistic manoeuvering.

The view from behind Rodes' flanking line as it advances towards Howard's corps deploying off the turnpike.

Heth's men have now completed their withdrawal behind Pender's division and are gradually rallying. However, all the brigades have taken considerable losses and may not be of much further use today.

After a fierce exhange of musketry lasting two hours the Iron brigade have broken! Fortunatley reinforcements have taken their place in the Union line.

Reynolds flank at the Seminary is now well and truly under threat.

This is the view from behind Howard's lines at the end of turn 7. Buford's cavaly have rallied and are withdrawing across the Chambersburg Turnpike. Rodes is pressing Howard whilst the fight at the Seminary continues.

An action packed few turns which takes us to 2.00pm. There are ten more turns until nightfall so potentially plenty more twists and turns to come and the Union problems will shortly be compounded by the arrival of Early's division next turn!

Gettysburg Solo Turns 1-2

I managed to play the first couple of game turns last night. It was slow progress as I had to set out the figures and add unit labels and also read and get to grips with the rules(!). The action of course starts with the Confederate advance against Buford's cavalry at the Seminary.

Heth's division ready to attack Buford's dismounted troopers defending the Seminary. The Iron brigade is supporting Buford's left flank, these are the first men to arrive from Reynolds I corps who are coming on the scene piecemeal along the turnpike from Gettysburg. The time is 11.00am July 1st.

Devin's brigade is on the left with Gamble on the opposite side of the horse artillery battery. These cavalry brigades have the same fire-power as infantry but are weaker in strength and cannot hope to hold unsupported for long.

At the end of turn 1 Heth has pushed his men forward to engage the Union line in a firefight. At this stage his orders do not allow an assault and he'll need to pass an initiative test to attempt this next turn. 

Archers brigade have become shaken (yellow counter) and Heth rides forward to steady the line. I'd forgotten just how quick and brutal these rules are - fun to play though!

The die by the horse artillery battery shows its current available ammunition. When the ammo runs out the battery must withdraw to the nearest supply wagon to replenish.

Turn 2 and this is no picnic for Heth but at least Pender's division (bottom right) is starting to arrive in support.

Buford rides forward to steady Gamble who would have become shaken without his presence. Unfortunately a stray minnie ball has found its mark and Buford tumbles from his saddle (red marker denotes leader KIA).

At the same moment Heth is trying to steady Davis and receives a wound (denoted by the yellow marker) that will remove him from the battle. Commanders are graded A, B and C and when removed the command base can still function but only at C grade. I'll have to be a bit more careful with the commanders as the game progresses!

The end of the 11.30am turn and Union reinforcements are converging on Gettysburg. XI corps are on the Tanneytown road with the head of the column just entering the town. The remainder of Reynolds I corps are nearing the Seminary.

So it's off to a good start and already becoming gripping from my point of view. I'm having to use more counters and unit labels than normal as it is the only way to keep on top of things without resorting to paperwork which would be tedious with over 50 units to control. With luck I could manage 4-5 turns per session but we'll see how things progress.

Gettysburg - Scenario

I have cobbled together a scenario but I won't post it in detail here as the OOBs etc are quite long and readers will already be familiar with them. I intend to keep the rules fairly fluid which helps when playing solo.

The plan is for the game to run for 51 turns which I know is quite ambitious but as I have the luxury of a permanent table it doesn't really matter how long it takes to play. Day one will be 17 turns, day two 19 turns and day three 13 turns, there are 2 night turns.

Initial deployments each day will be made along historical lines but with casualties carried forward and troop positions altered slightly depending on the outcome of the previous day of fighting (this is where the rules will need to be fluid). Reinforcements will arrive at historical times and locations.

Each Confederate division will be represented by 3 units (brigades in the rules) with the exception of Johnson's division which is 2 units - army total it 26 brigades (I found another two hiding in a box!). I don't have sufficient units to have a divisional structure for the Union army however each corps will be represented by 4-5 units - army total is 30 brigades of infantry and 2 of cavalry.

Here is a over-head plan of the table - click to expand.

Command decisions will be decided by a die roll where necessary although I may well throw out some decisions to the blog followers to keep you on your toes!

I probably won't get started for a couple of weeks so stay tuned...

Layout for Gettysburg

Having taken just a bit longer than I thought to get around to it, I have finally laid out the table for my refight of the Battle of Gettysburg.

Big Round Top in the foreground with Little Round Top beyond. The Tanneytown Road is visible behind the Round Tops running towards Gettysburg. Plum Run and the edge of Devil's Den are on the left.

The Codori House on the Emmitsburg Road with Cemetery Ridge behind.

The Rose Farmhouse with Devil's Den and The Wheat Field beyond. The Round Tops are in the distance.

The Wheat Field, Trostle Farmhouse and Codori Farmhouse, as viewed from Little Round Top.

The Leister House behind Cemetery Ridge.

The Seminary and Hagerstown Road looking towards Gettysburg.

Evergreen Cemetery behind Cemetery Hill.

Gettysburg.

View across the table from Culp's Hill (right foreground) across Cemetery Hill towards Seminary Ridge.

Next I need to work out some slightly slimmed down OOBs to fit to my available forces of 30 Union and 24 Confederate brigades then I'll be good to go.