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The Second Day of Gettysburg, 2 July 1863

A 15mm American Civil War game fought on Saturday, October 11, 2008

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This game was played by the Gourmet Wargaming Club at "Game Central" in El Cerrito, California, with 15mm miniatures using the Fire and Fury rule set.

We chose to model the early fighting, and thus did not include units on the eastern side of the Union position in order to scale the battle down a bit. Follow the action in photos, below.

 

 




The battlefield, in a moment of dramatic lighting. Confederate positions are along the right side.


A view from the Confederate left flank. A.P. Hill's corps (bottom) faces both Newton's and Hancock's corps on Cemetery Hill. We did not fight Ewell's attack, which would have occurred at a position just beyond the Union board edge (top).


Longstreet's corps (bottom) prepares to assault Sickles on portions of Seminary Ridge and in the Devil's Den (brown patch at right).


"Hey soldier, what's cookin'?"


Longstreet advances with a fair amout of artillery support.


It's a long walk across open ground to the the Devil's Den.


Sykes's corps waits in reserve for the Union; the brigades begin to come to life, making the first moves to occupy Round Top and Little Round Top on the Union left.


The brigades of Newton and Hancock wait their turn for Secessionist attention. A.P. Hill's corps was not to attack till later.


A close-up of Federal troops occupying the Devil's Den.


Longstreet's advance, up close and personal.


Sykes's men make the slopes of the Round Top.


Sickles gladly meets the Rebels near Seminary Ridge.


The first attack on Seminary Ridge thrusts the Yankees right off. Alas, a vigorous counter-attack was coming.


Longstreet's attack in full bore against troops at the Devil's Den.


The Federal counter-attack on Seminary Ridge.


A.P. Hill's corps springs to life.


Confederates surge against Sickles.


Seminary Ridge is almost retaken by the Rebels.


Slowly Longstreet's men tramp forward.


Little Round Top is quickly invested by Sykes's leading brigades.


More of Syke's corps on the march to the sound of the guns.


A Union counter-attack on Seminary Ridge is meet with massed infantry and cannon. But the Confederate gunners were somewhat inefficient at this particular spot.


Confederates storm the Devil's Den.


A.P. Hill's corps trades long-range artillery fire with Newton on Cemetery Hill.


Another view of the fighting at the Devil's Den. Sickles is holding fast, but not for long.


Rebuffed! One of Longstreet's brigades is pushed back through the Wheat Field.


Plucky Rebel artillery are wheeled up to try to flank Seminary Ridge.


Across! Secesh troops are through the Devil's Den, falling upon a brigade behind it.


The fortifying of Little Round Top continues. It's a fight against the clock for the Confederates, and time is winning.


A.P. Hill's men mass for his attack against Cemetery Hill.


Even a drummer boy finds comfort in a bottle when the bullets start buzzing.


Tired Confederates finally claw their way up Little Round Top in the very mouths of enemy artillery. Not good. But orders are orders.


The Confederate left smacks into the blue line on Cemetary Hill and breaks through.


Confederate infantry regroup for their final assault on the gap between Cemetary Ridge and Little Round Top. "Final" as in final resting place. Orders are orders.


Suddenly one of Sickles's brigades hits them in the rear from out of nowhere. Apparently Seminary Ridge has not fallen, and Sickles has his blood up.


A.P. Hill's attack can be seen at top left. Unfortunately for him Newton orders an advance (bottom right) off Cemetary Ridge to take advantage of Hill's open right flank.


Heavy fighting at Cemetary Hill. Newton's men are counter-attacking the Rebels.


The men in grey surge up Little Round Top, but the defense is just too strong.


The gap just north of Little Round Top is assaulted, but too many of Sickles's and Sykes's men are there to plug the hole.


Sickles still holds Seminary Ridge, and is determined to drive the Rebel remnants well away from it.


Confederate infantry limp back from Little Round Top. Longstreet's assault is finished.


Hancock's men surge towards A.P. Hill's starting positions. The Confederate left is undone. The battle is over.


The colossal clean-up crew sweep the battlefield of the dead and dying; uproot the tiny trees; scrape off the roads and hills. It's not bad work--try it sometime.