Monday, August 06, 2018

An American Civil War game, Gettysburg Day 2

Nate of the Nanaimo Historical Wargamers group (name of Facebook) organized a Fire & Fury Gettysburg Day 2 battle.

Our venue was a Royal Canadian Legion hall, so there were some wonderful art pieces on the walls for inspiration of a military sort as we gamed out the historical action of July 2, 1863.

a shot just as the 'action' started, seen here are the Confederate commanders
The Confederate right flank, Hood's command.  Longstreet was restricted in not crossing a road on the west side of the battlefield ... thus limiting the options of the attackers after they had marched outside of his command radius.
the depiction of "the Devil's Den"
Union side, less the author, with a flanking Confederate seated on the right.  The fighter plane was the closest art piece to our game space and there were many others in the room.
The Confederate line from left flank, the troops had now crossed the road ... their commander would not.
Union forces stubbornly hold the high ground in the center, they would keep a presence on the west side of the river all day, making a victory point.
Union forces enter the Devils Den for the first time that afternoon.
Confederates close in on the forests just outside of the Round Tops (big and little) ready to press on to the top of the high ground on the Union left.
Meanwhile in the center Union troops still refused to back away from advancing Confederates, here in the wheatfield.
Leading to multiple melee clashes of close quarter combat
Later in the Devils Den a third Union force was still holding out against nearly 4 times as many Confederates the casualties were horrendous on both sides!
Bloodied and battered the Confederates still press on up the slopes of Big Round top to get at the little round top (bottom right of picture) which had another Union force just behind the summit waiting to engage the attackers.
Came down to the last 4 rolls on Little Round Top. Union was still 'contesting' for the top of the hill at nightfall ... so the Confederates did not obtain their victory condition.

On the rest of the field, Union amazing successes, troops remained to the west of the river ALL DAY and Union forces temporarily controlled Seminary Ridge ... yes I have that name correct Union forces were in control of Seminary ridge shortly before nightfall, and more Union troops were moving west before nightfall, with the ability of occupying the side of the ridge before night.

Strange ending to the battle, as the Union left 'refused' and just held on while the Union right moved deep into the Confederate deployment areas.

At this rate, Pickett would have nowhere to 'start' his charge from.


Great day and kudos to Nate for his hosting with the troops and table dressing along with scouting out the Legion as a suitable game location.

1 comment:

Codsticker said...

Yes, a great day. The legion was the perfect setting; the bartender even offered us beer!