Gettysburg at War

Finally got around to posting some pictures of the game at Warfare in November 2017.  It was a good fun game played over the two days with a group of novices and a number of drop in observers, all of whom enjoyed the experience.

Result was a Confederate win after Meade forgot to put any troops in the vicinity of the Round Tops becoming fixated on holding and then retaking Gettysburg, the result being that Lee managed to secure both ends of the Union line and was folding this back on itself when the battle came to a close.

As ever, all players ended up trying to work out what they will do next time, which is the mark of an enjoyable experience if ever there was one.

The Confederate view at the start of day one across Gettysburg towards the pensive Meade carefully examining his battle plan.

The battle opens with Buford trying to hold back the grey tide while behind him the first assault on Gettysburg gets underway. 

The rebel columns advance towards their goal while up on Cemetery Ridge the Union reinforcements start to show themselves.

Buford having been forced to retire the grey noose tightens.

Union forces prepare for the Confederate onslaught.

Having failed to take Gettysburg on day one the forces realign themselves overnight.

The view from behind Seminary Ridge up towards the Cemetery Gatehouse.

Fearing for the town, now positively identified as a Rebel objective the Union players decide to push their reinforcements that way, curiously ignoring the Round Tops in the distance. 

As Confederate infantry climbs Little Round Top unopposed the Union wakes up to the threat and diverts several formations to attempt to retake their left front anchor.

The Union desperately swing forces out of line and across the Wheat Field in order to cut the forces on Little Round Top off from support.

Sensing a gap in the Union line the rebels surge up Cemetery Ridge to put further pressure on the fractured defence.

And then launch a second assault on the town itself. 

Back at the other end of the line the Confederates have pushed forces over the Round Tops and in to the rear of the Union line; things are starting to look bleak for Meade.

The Round Tops are now well out of the grasp of a counter attack, and the Union forces pull back to form a line to prevent Cemetery Ridge being assaulted from front and back. 

Desperately clinging to the Ridge Meade pulls his force back from trying to retake Little Round Top to take the assaulting rebels in the flank and keep his lines of retreat open. 

Day three sees the rebels consolidating their gains on the right and massing once again for an assault on Gettysburg on their left.

The Union, however, know that they need to not only hold Gettysburg but retake Little Round Top and set of smartly to the tune of Yankee Doodle.

Unfortunately the not only failed to retake the hill but a series of well co-ordinated attacks from multiple directions saw the town fall heralding in a decisive victory for Lee as the Union only hope to save Washington is that the roads are so choked with fleeing blue coated soldiers that the Confederate progress is so hampered that a hasty defence of the capital can be mounted.