The scenario in the rulebook requires a 7 x 6ft table and as I only have a 6 x 4ft table I had to cut the map down a bit and focus on the initial action.
For the Union Buford's cavalry are deployed on MacPherson Ridge while on Seminary Ridge elements of the Union 1st Corps moving up in support. The Rebels start with Heth's Division of the 3rd Corps:
The battle starts with the Rebel 11am turn and they wasted no time in getting into contact, charging Buford's dismounted cavalry and moving their second line out to support the flanks:
The attack went badly for the Rebels with Devin's cavalry throwing back Davis' much larger Rebel brigade and Archer only pushing back Gamble's cavalry brigade. To make matters worse Pettigrew's brigade was disordered by fire from Meredith's Union brigade.
In the Union turn Buford's cavalry fell back to Seminary Ridge to consolidate their line. On the union right Cutler's brigade moved up onto the ridge while on the Union left Meredith's 'Iron Brigade' charged into Pettigrew's disordered Rebel brigade:
The 'Iron Brigade' lived up to their name and routed Pettigrew's Rebels, capturing him in the process:
The first half hour has gone very badly for the Rebels with their assault defeated and the Union starting to build a strong position on Seminary Ridge:
The Rebel 10:30 turn finds Archer's brigade badly isolated as all the other Rebels have fallen back. Archer assesses the situation and decides that charging Gamble's dismounted cavalry again is the best option. The odds are against the Rebels now though:
Gamble's men easily repulse Archer's brigade, wiping it out:
The rest of the Rebels reform behind McPherson Ridge, with the losses they have taken it looks like they will have to go on the defensive until reinforcements arrive. In the Union turn they consolidate their position on Seminary Ridge as more brigades from the 1st Corps move up:
By 11:00 the rest of the Union 1st Corps arrives and starts to move up to Gettysburg. The first elements of the XI Corps also arrive on table:
With the arrival of AP Hill and Pender's Division the Rebels feel strong enough to advance again. Heth advances slightly while Pender rushes his Division off to the Confederate left where the Union right flank is looking vulnerable:
Robinson's Union Division heads through Gettysburg towards the weak Union right flank. More elements of the IX Corps arrive behind them together with the Corps commander, General Howard:
It is now noon and the battle rages on. Pender's Division prepares to assault the Union right and Heth advances again in support:
Long blue-coated columns advance down the dusty roads as the Union army rushes more men into the fight. The Rebel right flank is looking weak against the increasing numbers of Union troops advancing on them:
Pender sends his men forward to engage the Union right. Union reserves are arriving but will they be in time?:
The Union forces on Seminary Ridge start to take losses but have fresh brigades coming up behind. On the Union left they advance against Pettigrew's brigade which was weakened in the initial Rebel attack:
Pender's Division storm forwards into the Union defenders on Seminary Ridge:
The Union brigade is forced back but puts up a tough fight only giving a little ground. Weight of numbers is beginning to tell for the Rebel left flank and the Union centre on Seminary Ridge is looking weak now:
It's around 1 in the afternoon when things get worse for the Union army as Ewell advances the first brigades of his II Corps onto the lightly defended Union right flank. His initial progress is slow though:
All the Union can do now is try to form a defensive line against Ewell and shore up their position on Seminary Ridge. The Union left outnumbers the Rebels so there may be an opportunity to make an attack there soon:
Pender's Division crashes into the Union centre on Seminary Ridge and drives it back. Heth's Division is still holding the Rebel left flank:
Ewell's II Corps floods forwards to attack the outnumbered Yankee's:
Union forces sweep the Rebels from much of MacPherson's Ridge, the Union left flank is making good progress. Elsewhere the Union try to stabilise their line:
The Rebel right flank is almost gone with just one brigade holding out in the woods and a spent brigade defending the road:
The Rebel centre and left however have driven further forwards and some Rebel brigades are approaching the outskirts of Gettysburg itself. The remaining Union forces defending Gettysburg have been hit hard and won't be able to hold out much longer:
It's now around 2:30 and the battle has split into three phases. On the Union left the Rebels have almost been driven from the field and there are relatively strong Union forces remaining:
The Union centre has largely collapsed though and it won't be long before the Rebels will be attacking Gettysburg itself. There is still some Union resistance though:
The Union right has largely collapsed under attack from Ewell's corps and Pender's Division. There is little fight left in the Union troops here:
At this point I decided to call it a day. The Union lost 28 stands and scored 10VP (or 22 if it is assumed the Rebels won't take the hills) while the Rebels lost 23 stands and scored 12VP.
As historically there is no clear outcome, the Union had the best of the day early on but then Rebel numbers allowed them to attack aggressively and force the Union back. As the Union commander I committed several brigades to the Union left flank where, while they made a breakthrough, they might have been more use in the centre and right to fend off Ewell's corps.
Sadly I don't think I will be playing this scenario at the club though, it took a long time to play (spread over three days!) due to the sheer numbers and even with an early start on a bank holiday I'm not sure that would be long enough.
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