Sickles Rejects Hood!

After fighting Hood's attack at Gettysburg a week ago (see Hammerin' Sickles, Again), Reject Central expressed an interest in a rematch.  The Confederates wanted to reinforce their winning streak.  The Federals wanted to upend the Confederate juggernaut's plan.  Monday saw a return to Hood's attack at Gettysburg.  Wanting a true rematch, players remain with the same commands as in the previous edition.  That is,

USA

• Richard (My Wargaming Habit)
• Ray (Don't Throw a One!)

CSA

• Surjit -- no blog...
• Lee (Big Lee's Miniature Adventures)

Would the Confederates see a continuation of their success in a rematch or would the Federals turn the tables on the Rebels and sneak out a victory?  From post-game discussions and email exchanges, I sensed Federal confidence was not high in overturning last week's results.  However, there was hope and a plan was percolating.  Throughout the week leading up to Monday's game, I received emails from the Federal players asking about how to put the notion of using Reserves into practice.  In previous games, I suggested that using Reserves may be a useful tactic to interrupt the opponent's decision cycle.  I could see the wheels of evolution turning as our discussions continued.  For Richard's riveting battle account, please visit, Hammering Reserved.  Really, don't bypass Richard's retelling of the battle from the Federal perspective.  Great stuff.

As a reminder of the overall situation, 

Battlefield geography and place names

Initial army concentrations

Army deployments

When the curtain lifts on the battle, the Confederates are greeted by a different sight.  Almost the entire Federal Army has been placed upon Reserve (small red discs).  What this means is that a Federal unit has a chance to activate and respond during its opponent's activation.  Will this small tactical change affect the battle's outcome?

Federal Army in waiting.

Battlefield viewed from southwest.

Battlefield viewed from east.

On to battle!

The battle opens with the Confederates activating General Law's brigade positioned on Big Round Top and opposite Devil's Den.  Law leads two regiments in against the US Sharpshooters hiding out among the rocks in Devil's Den.  Before the Rebels can close, General Ward reinforces the sharpshooters with the 124NY moving down from Houck's Ridge.  The presence of the New Yorkers makes no difference.  The defenders of Devil's Den scatter as they are overrun.  The sharpshooters retire in good order back up the ridge.  The New Yorkers are not seen again!  Not the start Sickles expected.

Hood then sends General Robinson and his Texans into action against Little Round Top.  Again, General Vincent slips in a supporting regiment to bolster the 83PA before the Texans strike home.  In fierce fighting, the Texans are repulsed with heavy casualties.  Vincent is relieved to see the Rebels driven off.  Somehow, Robinson's Brigade became separated during the approach march.  While two regiments were present in the attack on Little Round Top, the 3AR and 1TX find themselves deep in Rose's Woods to the west.  These two regiments splash across Rose's Run only to be greeted by a hail of bullets from de Trobriand lined up in the woods.

General Law attacks Devil's Den.

Robinson is repulsed at Little Round Top.

Elements of Robinson's Brigade cross Rose's Run

only to immediately come under fire.

To thwart the Rebel advance, General Birney personally leads a regiment to a position below and south of Houck's Ridge.  Ward sends reinforcements into the Valley of Death along Plum Run between Houck's Ridge and Little Round Top.  Casualties rise as the two armies exchange volleys at close range.  Facing canister from the ridge above and fire from Plum Run, the Rebels in Devil's Den begin to waver but hold on.  To relieve pressure from the fire coming from Plum Run, Law brings the 47AL forward.  

The Rebel advance is blocked.

Heavy fighting along Plum Run.

View looking from south.

Sensing that his attack against Little Round Top has stalled, Hood sends Benning into action to clear Rose's Woods and press on toward the Wheatfield.  Benning takes his charge with gusto.  His entire brigade of four regiments attacks.  Taking heavy casualties from de Trobriand from the front and Smith's guns from above, Benning stands firm.  His attack pins de Trobriand in place while Robinson charges Winslow's guns on Stony Hill.  The guns are overrun by the 3AR.  The 1TX pushes de Trobriand back from the Wheatfield.  The Federal right is getting perilously stretched.

Benning prepares his attack

as Robinson prepares his.

Winslow's guns are lost as Rebels
reach Stony Hill and the Wheatfield. 

While Benning's pinning action allows progress against the Federal right, it comes at a high cost.  His regiments are beginning to melt away from the heat of combat.  In an attempt to reduce pressure on his brigade, he leads an attack up Houck's Ridge to dislodge enemy guns and skirmishers.  While his attack succeeds in overrunning the guns and scattering the skirmishers, Benning falls and his brigade is broken.  Confronted by enemy to its front, much of Benning's Brigade falls back, spent.  Anderson comes up in support of the Rebel attacks against the Federal right. 

Heavy fighting at the southern end of Houck's Ridge.

Benning attacks up Houck's Ridge to take the guns.

While successful, Benning dies and his brigade broken.

With the Federal right stretched, the elastic finally snaps and de Trobriand collapses.  One regiment scatters while a second falls back to Houck's Ridge to regroup.  Unfortunately for de Trobriand, he goes down and his brigade is broken.  The 3AR presses on to the foot of Houck's Ridge.  Not only is the south end of this vital ridge in Rebel hands but the north end is under heavy pressure.

To alleviate this pressure on Houck's Ridge and hopefully stabilize the situation, Birney grabs the nearest regiment and counterattacks.  Catching the Rebels by surprise and in flank, the Rebels recoil.  Robinson's Brigade breaks. Hoorah!  This success is short-lived.  Anderson gathers his brigade and storms the heights of Houck's Ridge.  The Federals are driven back.  Ward's Brigade breaks.  

The Federal right is driven in.

Rebels reach Houck's Ridge

before a surprise counterattack drives them off.

Anderson presses onto Houck's Ridge.

Federal hold on Houck's Ridge hangs by a thread.

Back in the Valley of Death along Plum Run, the Rebel attack stalls although Confederate troops are seen on Houck's Ridge and Little Round Top. With Weed's Brigade of blue-coated infantry finally arriving on Millerstown Road to shore-up the collapsing Federal right, Vincent strikes!

Leading the 20ME and 83PA in an attack, he sweeps down from Little Round Top scattering the wavering Rebels in his path.  Reaching Plum Run, he finds Law and his Rebels in disarray. 

Heavy fighting along Plum Run.

Vincent prepares to clear Little Round Top
of the weakened enemy.

Remnants of Law's Brigade scatters as Vincent storms on.

Robinson and Benning's Brigades are broken and Law's Brigade teeters on the edge.  Taking Little Round Top is beyond Hood's grasp.  With the Federals having two unspoiled brigades ready for action, Hood calls off the attack.

This fight is over.

Congratulations to all for a very well-played and exciting battle.  The Federals came out on top in this rematch but like the previous contest, the fighting was fierce and casualties high.

To Richard and Ray, as Federal commanders, your change in tactics and strategy carried the day.  Grasping how to use reserves, I reckon, helped towards seeing victory this day.  To the Rebels under Lee and Surjit, you played a solid game and you nearly saw victory once again.  I wager we do not see a return to the Old Tactical Ways again.  

Great game!  Thank you all!

For those keeping score at home, current tally for this scenario shows each army has two victories.  We stand at 2-2.  Another game on Wednesday.