Gettysburg: Turns 7 - 12

 The Round Tops

The final collapse of the Union defence of the Peach Orchard arrives when the pursuing Wofford's Brigade utterly mauls the retreating Burling's Union Brigade causing them to rout with heavy loss.

Humphrey's Brigade continues to survive, but only just, to the north of the Trostle farmhouse. The routing Burling's Brigade unsettles Carr's Brigade (nearest the camera) who fail their rally test and rout. Humphrey himself rallies Brewster's Brigade to the rear and again passes a Divisional morale test.

Continued -

Over on Little Round Top, Birney begins to reform his troops. Ward's Brigade is first to arrive and lines up across the summit and towards Big Round Top.

The 2nd of Birney's surviving brigades, that of Graham, creates something of a congestion to the south of the Trostle farmhouse. As they move towards Little Round Top they are met by brigades of the 5th Corps attempting to deploy in a defensive line.

Hood's Division fire volleys from the treeline to the west of Plum Run and across Devil's Den. Robertson's Brigade on the ridge, roll a double '6' inflicting heavy casualties on Barnes' Division causing 2 brigades to falter. With the Confederates having the initiative they would not be able to return fire this turn. Their artillery batteries though do inflict a number of casualties.

Brigades from Anderson's Division find themselves a little exposed around Codori farm from artillery fire sited on Cemetery Ridge.

Turn 8 - In the middle of the photo, Wofford continues to pursue the routing Burling's Brigade butchering them in the process. 

The loss of Burling's Brigade nearby spells trouble for the rest of its division. Humphrey fails to rally the routing Carr's Brigade just leaving Brewster (in middle of photo) in reasonably good order. The division fails its morale test though and breaks.

To continue would be suicidal for Wofford and he halts his exhausted troops to reform.

Looking towards Little Round Top, Graham's Brigade continues to wind its way towards Birney.

While Barnes' Division with its supporting artillery continue to engage Hood's Division in and around Devil's Den, an unwelcome sight greets them. Kershaw's Brigade of McLaws Division emerges from the treeline behind Plum Run. They open fire destroying a Union artillery battery and inflicting heavy casualties on others.

Confederate artillery begins to reposition along the Emmitsburg Road to give them a clearer field of fire.

At the Codori Farmhouse, Anderson orders his brigades to redeploy further south and away from the attention of Union artillery firing to great effect from Cemetery Ridge.

Turn 9 - As the firefight continues at Devil's Den, Benning's Brigade gains the summit of Big Round Top in the hope of flanking the Union troops.

Anderson orders his division to redeploy to the south away from the murderous cannonade from Cemetery Ridge. His division will be used to reinforce Longstreet's attack on the Round Tops. Two 'down packs' tokens were used allowing two units an extra move saving them more casualties.

Turn 10 and the firefight around Devils Den continues with the Confederates gradually gaining the upper hand. 

An overview towards the Round Tops at the end of turn 10.

Turn 11 proved to be pretty dreadful for the Union. Barnes' Division of the 5th Corps that had been reasonably holding their own exchanging volleys with the Confederates along the treeline leading to Devils Den suffered severe losses this turn. Reinforced by two batteries of artillery firing canister lead to the loss of 12 figures from Vincent's Brigade (left of photo) taking them to over 50% casualties. 

Highly effective fire from the ridgeline also knocked out a battery of Union artillery and badly damaged Tilton's Brigade on the right. A double '6' rolled by the rebels wounded Barnes who would now be out of action for a turn.

The only saving grace for the Union was high dice rolls on their morale checks maintaining a highly heroic stand by the division.

Turn 12 proved devastating for Barnes' Division. Both Vincent's and Sweitzer's Brigades were utterly destroyed by concentrated fire from the Confederates. With just the small brigade of Tilton remaining in the division a subsequent morale check resulted in a 'broken' result. The way is now clear to the Little Round Top. 

The view from Culps Hill towards Devils Den at the end of turn 12.

Cemetery Hill & Gettysburg

Turn 8 - An increasingly battered looking Union force continue to return fire from Cemetery Hill. To the west of Gettysburg, Rodes' Division deploys along the fenceline.

Heth's Division moves up to support Rodes.

Turn 9 - The Union troops on Cemetery Hill become increasingly nervous due the steady drip of casualties. Smith's Brigade (middle of photo) has sustained over 70% casualties and will retreat the next move. Hay moves his division from Cemetery Ridge onto the hill providing reinforcements.

Pickett's Division are ordered to a central position behind Seminary Ridge.

Turn 10 on Cemetery Hill. Smith's Brigade had suffered enough failing to rally. Hay's Division (left of photo) hurries to occupy the position vacated by Smith and to bolster the defences. It's lead brigade, that of Carroll, comes under murderous fire losing heavy casualties before it could deploy behind the earthworks. Hay is killed generating a divisional morale check which is passed.

Turn 11 and Union troops on Cemetery Hill received punishing fire from Confederate artillery and infantry. Hay's Division manages to deploy along the earthworks under intense fire.

An overview of Cemetery Hill at the end of turn 12. The green troops of von Gilsa's Brigade that had been lining the stone wall in the middle of the photo suffer heavy casualties leading them to disperse from the field. A worry for Meade is the increasingly threadbare appearance of Cemetery Hill defenders after receiving sustained artillery and infantry fire from concentrated Confederate forces. 

Culps Hill

Having thrown Candy's Brigade back from the earthworks on Culps Hill, the victorious Rebels of J. Jones' Brigade surge up the slope to towards two artillery batteries. Candy's Brigade had surged past those batteries in their panicked retreat leaving them unformed and not time to react before the Confederates were amongst them. A slaughter followed with both batteries destroyed.

The aftermath with a splurge of grey appearing on Culps Hill. The destruction of the artillery finished off Candy's Brigade whose morale collapsed completely and they fled the field. Geary's Division subsequently failed their morale check with a broken result. Their two surviving brigades, to the right of the Confederates, will fall back in the next turn.

Turn 8 - Steuart's Brigade takes over from Jones and charges the flank of Cutler's Union Brigade. The latter, already faltering, recoil in disorder but it does not save them as the Rebels plough into them. Wadsworth joins Cutler hoping to stiffen their resolve to no avail. They are comprehensively destroyed signalling the end of Wadsworth's Division.

The view from Culps Hill looking south west at the end of turn 8.

For the first time a Confederate Brigade did not conduct an uncontrolled pursuit. Steuart's Brigade halts to reform. Numerous morale checks among the Union troops were generated as a result of this turn of events and they got off remarkably lightly. In the middle of the photo, Robinson's Division forms a defensive line behind which, Geary's Division begins to reform.

Turn 9 - Robinson orders the two brigades of his division to retake Culps Hill. The charge up the slope hitting the unformed brigade of Steuart. The Confederates held them to a draw and the melee will continue the next turn.

To the right, on Culps Hill, the reformed brigade of J. Jones charges McDougall's Brigade but fails to gain contact stopping halfway and delivering a volley.

To the left of McDougall, Walker's Brigade turns to mee the Union onslaught threatening to outflank the Confederates on Culps Hill. They are hopelessly outnumbered but so far hold their own.

Top left sees the arrival of the Union 6th Corps along the Baltimore Pike.

Turn 10. Robinson's Division of Baxter and Paul's Brigades succeed in pushing Steuart's Brigade off the top of Culps Hill inflicting a light wound on Johnson. 

To the left, Jones' Brigade again attempts to charge McDougall's Brigade but the increasingly worn Confederates fail to charge home exchanging fire instead. 

The initial success of the Confederates surging onto Culps Hill has been checked, at least for now.

A threat to the Union troops on Culps Hill could yet arrive in the form of Early's Division advancing on their flank.

The heavily outnumbered Confederates of Walker's Brigade succeed in delaying a flanking attack by William's Division buying the rest of the brigade valuable time on Culps Hill.

The newly arrived 6th Corps continues towards Cemetery Hill.

Turn 11 lead to dramatic events on Culps Hill. Robinson's Division having pushed Steuart's Brigade off the summit of Culps Hill, followed them fighting ferociously. Their flank was threatened by Gordon's Brigade (to the right in the photo) who launched a charge hoping to relieve Steuart. They were fired on by no less than 3 Union artillery batteries and were lucky to only lose 3 casualties. Already battered though combined with a fairly low dice roll prevented them from charging home with a "gone to ground" result.

This was bad news for Steuart whose brigade lost the ongoing melee badly leading them to rout with heavy loss. 

The events to the east of Culps Hill compounded Johnson's problems. Walker's Brigade was charged by Williams' Division and although the Confederates fired off a decent volley causing 3 casualties it did not stop the Union troops. It all proved too much for the rebels and they were thrown into a retreat.  

The view of Culps Hill from Cemetery Hill. Jones' Brigade on the right passed their morale check and prepared to meet McDougall's Union Brigade in what looks increasingly like a last-stand. 

Johnson joins his brigade commanders in the woods at the bottom of the photo attempting to rally his troops. He succeeds with Walker's Brigade but that of Steuart continues to rout due to the close proximity of Union troops. At the bottom right corner of the photo, Ewell rushes over to assist in rallying Johnson's Division.

Middle left of the photo, and still on Culps Hill, Jones' faltering Brigade is increasingly isolated and in danger of being completely surrounded.

Overview End Turn 12

To minimise the amount of text I have only included Confederate Divisional commanders and the numbers of each Union Corps. Of the 6th Corps, one division is on the table and two with the division artillery will shortly be arriving.

During the first few turns, the chances of the Confederates changing the course of history appeared to be virtually non-existent. They suffered far heavier casualties, casualties they could ill-afford to lose given the Union advantage in numbers. At the end of turn 12 though it has become a real possibility. 

Hood and McLaws assault on Devils Den and the Round Tops is bearing fruit. When reinforced by Anderson they have a real possibility of turning the Union flank.

Pickett's Division has been ordered to a central holding position and await further orders. 

Near Gettysburg, Rodes' and Heth's Divisions along with Pender in a supporting role are poised to launch an assault on Cemetery Hill. If the assault proves successful, Meade may be forced to use his reserves, and possibly some of his units on Cemetery Ridge, to stabilise both flanks. If weakened sufficiently it could prove to be Pickett's chance of replicating his historic charge but under more favourable conditions.

The one caveat to all this being the events on Culps Hill. Johnson's initially successful assault has broken down due to a lack of resources to capitalise on his advance. He is now in danger of being badly damaged and thus removing the threat on that position. Without that distraction the Union should be able to reallocate forces to counter the Confederate flank assaults.