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!