Hammerin' Sickles

or Hood's attack at Gettysburg.

Moving on from the long run of battles at First Manassas, focus turns toward the Gettysburg battle.  Like the Manassas battlefields, I visited Gettysburg in May spending three days wandering around the battlefield.  I came away from Gettysburg with a better understanding of the topography and its role in the direction of the battle.

I expect to examine several of the various actions within the three-day battle.  Hood's attack on the Round Tops, Rose's Woods, Devil's Den, and Houck's Ridge will be the first.

Many wargamers, with an interest in the ACW battles, know the details of this part of the battle well.  From the fight for the Wheatfield to Devil's Den to the 20th Maine's stand on Little Round Top, many of these landmarks are well-known and well documented.     

Battlefield and army dispositions.

For this game, many of the fine campaigners from earlier battles returned to the table.  The players were:

USA:

Tony (Prometheus in Aspic)

Mark (Mud Blood and Steel).  

CSA:

Chris (Horse and Musket Gaming).

David (St Cyr on Wheels).

Each team received a Battle Briefing before the game with which to plan their opening strategy.  Did these plans survive contact?  Let's see.

When battle opens, Hood's Division is already on the move.  Finding Big Round Top occupied only by skirmishers, Law's Brigade along with elements of Robertson's brigade clear the heights and swing around to the north to take Little Round Top.  As these brigades advance upon Little Round Top, the Confederates are surprised to see that it was now occupied by Vincent's Brigade.  In the valley below, Benning and Anderson's Brigades cross Rose's Run and enter the woods.  It is not long before they run into elements of Birney's Division positioned along Houck's Ridge in a line stretching to Stony Hill.

The Confederates discover Little Round Top
 occupied by enemy troops.

De Trobriand anchors the right at Stony Hill (foreground)
and Ward occupies Houck's Ridge (background).

Robertson begins the attack against Little Round Top with the 4th and 5th Texas regiments advancing on the Federal positions.  Rebel fire drives back the 83PA with heavy casualties.  As Vincent forms up his line, the 4TX suffers two volleys.  The 4th is crippled before it can clamber up the heights.  In the Valley of Death below, Law's attacks are met with fierce resistance.  The 44AL is repulsed from its attack upon the sharpshooters stationed in Devil's Den.  No progress is made against the 4ME straddling Plum Run linking Houck's Ridge to Little Round Top.  

Robertson attacks Vincent on Little Round Top.

Federal lines stand firm.

Having withstood the first Confederate attack against Devil's Den, the US Sharpshooters fall back into the cover of the woods.  124NY comes down from Houck's Ridge to occupy Devil's Den.  In fact, Birney has both Ward and de Trobriand on the move.  Ward descends Houck's Ridge to contest the Rebel advance into the woods while de Trobriand forms a line between Stony Hill and Houck's Ridge running through the Wheatfield.

Rebels are repulsed at Devil's Den as
 Ward stiffens the Federal defense.

Heavy fighting around Devil's Den.

Fighting is hard along Rose's Run as the two battle lines form up and square off.  Federal artillery on Stony Hill plasters the 9GA.  Hood counters by bringing up Rebel guns.  The Georgians fall back into Rose Farm to escape the heat.  Casualties rise quickly as the two lines battle toe-to-toe in the woods and at Devil's Den.  The Confederates stack up as they struggle to get across the wooded and marshy stream.  Benning brings up more of his Georgians to contest Devil's Den.  The Confederates storm Devil's Den and eject the Federals out of their defenses.  The New Yorkers are destroyed where they stand.  De Trobriand's line thins as the more numerous Rebel muskets begin to tell.

Confederate battle line stretches from
Rose Farm to Big Round Top (in the distance).

Rebels are stacking up as progress slows.

Artillery at work.

Benning prepares to attack!

Devil's Den captured!

Slow going through the woods
but a split is forming between Ward and de Trobriand.

Returning to the fighting at Little Round Top, Robertson attacks with his Texans but is driven back with murderous casualties at the hands of the 20ME and the 44NY.  Robertson goes down!  The 20ME continues pouring a deadly fire into the 4AL.  The Mainers remain unflinching as volleys are traded.  The Alabamans waver. 

Robertson falls!

Fixing bayonets, the 20ME charges down the hill and into the Alabamans. The 4AL breaks and runs!  General Law falls!  Thus far, the Rebel attack on Little Round Top has cost two generals down on the field.  Casualties are high and the Rebel attack is unraveling.  Receiving word of the setbacks, Hood leads Robertson's two remaining regiments toward the heights. 

The 20 Maine charges into the 4 Alabama!

The Rebel attack unravels on Little Round Top.

Hood brings up reinforcements.

While Vincent and the 20ME successfully hold off the attacks on Little Round Top, in the valley below, the tables are turning against Birney and his Federal troops.  Vincent is not out of harms' way, either.  His brigade is slowly being overwhelmed as Rebels advance up Plum Run threatening his position.

Having pulled regiments off of Houck's Ridge to reinforce de Trobriand, Ward finds his brigade being cut to pieces by the overwhelming numbers of Confederates.  In what seems like only minutes, Ward's Brigade is broken, Houck's Ridge is devoid of Federal troops, and the Rebels press on.  De Trobriand's Brigade disintegrates soon thereafter.  The Federal right has been shattered.  In the distance brightly colored reinforcements are seen along the Millerstown Road.  Weed's Brigade has arrived! 

The Federal right is breaking!

Only Federal guns remain on Stony Hill.

Vincent's position is turned but help is on the way!

Weed's Zouave Brigade arrives!

After holding out on Little Round Top for a couple of hours, Vincent and the last vestige of his brigade (20ME) collapse.  The barren ground of Little Round Top is open to the enemy.

As the Rebels encircle Little Round Top, Weed brings his brigade up for the fight.  Benning leads his Georgians up to the top.  Little Round Top is in the hands of the Rebels!  Not for long, though.  Weed counterattacks and sends Benning and his boys tumbling down.  Benning is killed.  

Rebels find the heights unoccupied.

Benning claims Little Round Top.

Weed retakes the heights and challenges all comers.

With attack after attack going in against the Federals on the heights, Weed and his Zouaves cannot be dislodged.  The fighting ends with the Federals still controlling the heights. 

Repeated attacks cannot throw off the Zouaves.

WHAT A GAME!  What a start to the series!

Mark and Tony scored a Federal victory on the very last turn of the game.  This action was closely fought with heavy casualties to both combatants.  Sickles really was hammered and hammered hard.  The outcome really did go down to the wire and hinged (literally) upon the last die rolls.

Congratulations to the Federal commanders.  My condolences to the Rebels generals.

The battle showed much ebb and flow as I suspect generals thought they were winning one minute and losing the next.

What could be better than seeing both history and the cinema come alive on the gaming table with the 20th Maine's determined stand and counterattack against the Alabamans on Little Round Top?

Great fun and thanks to Mark, Tony, Chris, and David for indulging me once again at the gaming table.  You make it great fun as I watch the battle unfold.

Until next time!

Two More Hanoverian Infantry Rgts

A second pair of Hanoverian infantry regiments debouches from the confines of the painting desk.  Like their comrades before, these 46 figures are Blue Moon infantry led by Eureka mounted colonels.  Regiments are Alt Zastrow (yellow trim) and Knesebeck (white trim).

Work continues slowly on producing more Hanoverians.  Next out of the gates will likely be a half-dozen guns and crew.

Before more figures march out from the painting desk, I have been distracted again.  This time, the distraction consisted of a small terrain building diversion.

Following the long run of First Manassas games, I wanted to maintain the momentum of both rules and period development by bringing another battle or two to the table.  

Having recently included three days at Gettysburg in my May ACW battlefield tours, restaging some of the Gettysburg action seemed reasonable if not warranted.  First sector of the battle to investigate is Hood's attack on the Round Tops on July 2nd.  As I began laying out the hex tiles, I soon discovered that the table required a handful more hill hexes.  While I was at it, I could use some brown tiles as well.  Having gone this far, I may as well finish off the remainder of the four-inch hexes from my Wood Pile.

That I did.

This week, work concentrates on putting together a scenario to refight a part of Longstreet’s Gettysburg action.  Table is set and details are being tuned.  The first game is scheduled for Thursday with the group fresh off victory (or defeat) in some of the recent, remote First Manassas battles.

Battle briefings likely to go out later today.

As a non sequitur, I rediscovered the game photo below from a past gaming high point.  The photo shows my American pilot taking out a pair of StuGs in 1944 Germany.  Great fun!  I wonder if I have any more photos from that game?  I never made it to the point of writing up a battle report.  Well, at least one photo was not lost.

Kiss Me, Hardy

Following the series of games refighting the Battle of First Manassas, the gaming table fell silent while travel and other duties intervened.  Returning, work begins on creating the next ACW battle to bring to the table.  In the meantime, I was lucky enough to experience a new wargaming adventure.

What was this adventure?

Sailing ship action on the High Seas!

After discovering that Vol lives within about an hour's drive (see A Miniatures Hobby Room), we scheduled a game to bring his lovely models to a gaming table near me.  With my gaming table clear, Vol brought along all of the necessary ingredients for a squadron-sized action.  Each of his ships is a masterpiece in craftsmanship.  While they look fragile, Vol assured me that they were quite study.  After seeing one or two vessels knocked over without ill effect, my confidence grew that they could sustain the rigors of wargaming.

The setting was the War of 1812 pitting the English against the Americans.  Each squadron mustered three frigates and a sloop.  We rolled for sides and Vol took command of the American squadron.  The rules in play were Kiss Me, Hardy by Too Fat Lardies.  New rules to me but armed with a rulebook, templates, and several QRS, we dove in.

Let's see how my maiden voyage unfolded.

An island was plopped down on the middle of the table and the two squadrons were laid out.  Wind direction was unknown at this point so we held our breath as the wind was rolled up.  The British had the wind while the Americans found themselves dead into the wind! 

British squadron in foreground.

Fate dealt the Americans a cruel hand from the start.

Attempting to turn out of the wind, the American flagship, Constitution, sustains damage while losing its foremast.  An auspicious start to the battle!  The remainder of the American squadron suffers no damage as it turns out of the wind to engage the British.  The British squadron turns to meet the enemy.

The two squadrons turn to engage.

While three of the four British ships turn to cross the American formation, the Amphitrite sails on.  I am still working out how to maneuver these beauties but I will catch on quickly.  The Shannon and Indefatigable unleash their initial port broadsides into the American ships.  The action is on!  

The British turn to engage

while the Amphitrite sails on. 

Initial broadsides unleashed!

Whoops!
I placed the firing markers incorrectly the first time.
Corrections made on the second broadsides.

The Amphitrite, isolated, receives a broadside from the Constellation.  That hurts!  Luckily, the Chesapeake swings in behind the Constellation and her guns are masked.

Broadside from the Constellation.

Chesapeake's guns are masked by the Constellation.

Having received a weak broadside from the Constellation, Amphitrite turns to evade.  The captain of the Amphitrite is skilled. He maneuvers to cross the bow of both British ships.  With one devastating bow rake, Constellation suffers mightily.  The remainder of the British squadron turns to get back into action.  

Crossing the 'T'!

14 hits out of 18 on the Constellation!

The Americans are getting hit from both fore and aft.  The Shannon gives Chesapeake a stern rake.  Having received a near-crippling salvo from Amphitrite, Constellation circles about and delivers a broadside into Amphitrite.  The American gunnery is not as effective as British fire on this day.   

Shannon rakes the Chesapeake!

Constellation blasts Amphitrite.

As the two squadrons jockey for position, Amphitrite comes about and delivers another broadside into Constellation.  At close range the Amphitrite is fearsome.  Constellation is rocked again!  In the separate action farther north, the American sloop is pounded by the British ships.  She strikes her colors!

Amphitrite comes about.

Constellation is raked again!

To compound matters, Chesapeake swings around to sandwich Amphitrite between herself and Constellation.  Unfortunately for the Americans, the British fire first!  Broadsides from Amphitrite rip into both Chesapeake and Constellation. 

Both broadsides rip into the Americans!

With the American sloop out of action, the British focus on the hobbled Constitution.  Encircling the vessel, Shannon and Indefatigable give her some lead.  With her speed slowed, Constitution is in serious trouble.  

The Royal Navy closes in on Constitution fore and aft

giving her a pounding!

With the crippling damage sustained, the Americans bring few guns to bear against their adversary. The Amphitrite slips through the closing noose.  With one more broadside into the American squadron, a series of failures sees the Americans strike their colors one after the other.  The action is over.  

With no arc of fire and few guns,
Amphitrite slips through the American trap. 

One more broadside to finish off the American will to fight.

The British see victory in their first engagement.  Hooray!

The action Vol presented was interesting and engaging.  I picked up the essence of the rules relatively quickly and soon figured out how to best maneuver my squadron.  The key to the British victory may have been cast at the outset when the American squadron, through a cruel act of fate, found themselves dead into the wind.  The British seized upon this bit of misfortune and penalized the Americans severely.  Great fun!

Did Vol take it easy on me in my first game? 

Thank you, Vol!