Sickles, Hammered!

The fight over the Hallowed Ground at Gettysburg continues.  Having fought Hood's Attack now at four games and counting, the tally shows two games apiece for the armies.

For Game #5, many of the fine campaigners from earlier remote battles return to the table.  The players are:

CSA:

Chris (Horse and Musket Gaming).

Mark (Mud Blood and Steel).  

USA:

David B (The Ragged Soldier)

David C (St Cyr on Wheels).

All but David B have fought this battle before (see Hammerin' Sickles).  In that contest, the Federal Army eked out a victory on the last die roll of the game.  Thrilling stuff.  Would this battle be as hotly contested as the first match-up?  Let's see.

As a reminder of the overall situation, 

Battlefield geography and place names

Initial army concentrations

Army deployments

Having read through accounts of the other battles, both armies had plans for how to fight.  The Federals would start with most of the units on Reserve while the Confederates were set on bringing the fight to the Bluecoats as quickly and with as much force as possible.

Federal Army in waiting.

Battlefield viewed from southwest.

Battlefield viewed from east.

On to battle!

With Hood under attack orders, the Rebels have initiative on the first turn.  Although the Devil's Den salient is within General Law's grasp, Hood uses his initiative to open the battle by activating Robinson and his Texans.  Robinson has two regiments of Texans on Big Round Top and two regiments along Rose's Run and out of command. 

Robinson leads his Texans in an attack against the 83PA positioned in the woods on a saddle of Little Round Top.  The Texans suffer heavy casualties but the Pennsylvanians are sent packing.  They are done for this battle.  Vincent, on Little Round Top, sends the 20ME down to sweep around the Texans' right.  The remainder of Vincent's Brigade remains calm and stationary atop the heights of Little Round Top.  

Panning back to Devil's Den, Law attacks the sharpshooters among the rocks with the 44AL.  The Alabamans are repulsed but casualties are light.  Attacking from Plum Run, the 48AL goes in against the sharpshooters.  Ward attempts to reinforce Devil's Den with the 124NY on Houck's Ridge but they refuse to respond.  The second attack carries Devil's Den.  The sharpshooters are scattered.     

US Sharpshooters hold Devil's Den.

Rebels attack Little Round Top and Devil's Den.

Devil's Den falls!

With the crucial ground at Devil's Den in Confederate hands, Benning's Brigade is brought up in support of Law.  Hood is not content to only consolidate his gains.  Benning is ordered to take the heights of Houck's Ridge.

Benning comes up to support Law behind Devil's Den.

Benning prepares his attack up Houck's Ridge.

Hearing reports that Devil's Den has fallen and Houck's Ridge is under attack, de Trobriand advances into Rose's Woods to threaten the enemy's left.  Feeling pressure from the left and not wanting to over-extend his position, Benning chooses to fire up onto Houck's Ridge from the valley below.  No assault up onto the heights, for now.  Benning's decision pays off. Federal infantry supporting the guns on Houck's Ridge are driven off in confusion from Rebel musketry.  

De Trobriand counters Benning's push to Houck's Ridge. 

Support for Smith's guns are driven off
while Winslow's guns give Benning a blast of canister.

Sensing a weakening of Ward's Houck's Ridge position, de Trobriand calls up Winslow's guns to stop the enemy.  Blasted by canister and musketry, Benning's Brigade takes heavy casualties but they stand firm.  With the other half of Robinson's Brigade positioned along Rose's Run, Hood orders them to advance against de Trobriand to ease pressure on Benning.  Anderson's Brigade comes into action against the Federal right and de Trobriand.  With many soldiers crammed into close quarters in the woods, casualties rise quickly.  In this sector, the battle ebbs and flows as first the Rebels are pushed back and then the Federals are pushed back.  Regiments on both sides are stretched to the breaking point.  In the confusion of the heavy fighting below Houck's Ridge, Ward manages to slip a regiment in to join Smith's guns.  Stalled under heavy fire, Benning begins to give way.  Part of his brigade is thrown back to Rose's Run.  Has the battle turned?

De Trobriand is hotly engaged in Rose's Woods.

The battle ebbs and flows in Rose's Woods.

Benning is thrown back from Houck's Ridge.

Not yet!

Benning redoubles his efforts throwing two more regiments against Houck's Ridge. This time, the Rebels prevail.  Federal infantry are scattered and Smith's guns are overrun.  The southern end of the ridge is in Rebel hands.  Following up on this success, the 1TX and 3AR from Robinson vigorously attack de Trobriand's 17ME and Winslow's guns in the woods on the western slope of Houcke's Ridge.  The two fresh Confederate brigades put the Yankees to flight.  General Birney, directing the defense, falls.  The Federal right is crumbling. 

Rebels take Houck's Ridge!

de Trobriand's Brigade crumbles
 as the Rebels clear Rose's Woods.

Over on Little Round Top, Law and Robinson continue pressing up the slopes.  Fighting is intense as units from both sides waver and then break.  Vincent sees Hazlett arrive with his guns and orders them up onto Little Round Top.  From the heights, Hazlett pours fire onto Houck's Ridge.  Perhaps in desperation, Vincent leads two regiments down from Little Round Top into the Texans below.  The Texans skedaddle but Little Round Top is now garrisoned only by Hazlett's guns.  Vincent's Brigade is broken in the effort.

Law pushes infantry onto the heights and attacks Hazlett's guns.  Hazlett is overrun and his guns lost.  In an attempt to throw the Rebels off from the heights, Ward crosses Plum Run at the head of one regiment and attacks the Rebels.  Ward's attack is in vain.  His regiment is lost; his brigade broken, and he is dead on the field.

Hard fighting on Little Round Top.

Vincent sees success

but is short-lived as Little Round Top is lost.

Hazlett's guns are overrun and Ward killed.

With Little Round Top securely in Rebel hands, the Confederates turn to throwing Vincent's remnants off of the heights.  Weakened from heavy fighting, Federal infantry offer not much resistance.  Here, it becomes a mopping up action.

Back along Houck's Ridge, the Rebels press on.  The remnants of de Trobriand's Brigade make a couple of spirited Last Stands but they soon fall under the weight of Rebel numbers.  With three Federal brigades broken and Weed's Brigade still to appear, the Union troops in this sector are compelled to retire.  For them, this battle is lost.

Mopping up on Little Round Top.

Houck's Ridge cleared of enemy troops.

Here the battle ends with a clear Confederate victory.  Congratulations to Mark and Chris as the Rebel commanders in a stunning success.  My condolences to the hard fighting Federals under the Two Daves' leadership.  In this fight, Sickles was truly hammered!

The Merry Band of Brothers.

With the battle still in vivid memory, having concluded less than twelve hours ago, it may be too soon to consider a retrospective of the action. 

This was another exciting battle in which momentum swung to and fro with each Brigade activation.  The result seemed up for grabs until the Federal position collapsed everywhere, at once.

Great game fought by a great group of players.

Thanks all! 

Playing time about three hours.