Longstreet had been ordered by General Lee, CnC of the Army of Northern Virginia, to attack the Federal III Corps (General Sickles commanding) stationed on the Union Left Flank. The original orders were for his troops to advance up the Emmittsburg Road, however Sickles had (W/O General Meade's permission! [CnC of Federal Army of the Potomac]) moved his men forward to occupy the Peach Orchard and leave the Round Tops unguarded. Hood's Brigade started off around 4PM. They were met by skirmish fire from the 2 US Sharpshooters...
Robertson's Texas Brigade and part of Law's, advanced and poured a heavy volley into the skirmishers, dropping two (green caps, right of center)...
Additional 2USSS and Smith's NY Battery above Devil's Den, began pouring fire into the advancing Rebs. No casualties, but the Reb's lines are disordered crossing fences etc. The Left Wing of Robertson's Brigade (1 Tex and 3 Ark) are advancing (left center)..
The portion of the 2USSS withdrawing towards Big Round Top score a casualty on Law's men. BTW, since I'm trying out this scenario soltaire, all game decisions are being made historically, at least as well as we have records...
The Confederates used their actions to cross the fences and then reform, while Ward's Brigade (along with the Sharpshooters and Smith's 4 guns, inflict the first casualty on Robertson's 5 Texas. notice that the left wing of his Brigade (with 1 Tex and 3 Ark) have separated with part of Law's Brigade moving to fill the gap. This confusion with greatly affect Confederate coordination (or lack thereof) throughout the day...
A Robertson's left wing approaches, 1 Tex and 3 Ark further separate as the 3 Ark faces Union troops to the north while 1 Tex advanced on Houck's Ridge and Devil's Den. The Reb's volley is ineffective. The Yankee return volley along with canister fire, drop two and cause the Texans to become shaken (yellow cap)...
In this view from the North, with the Peach Orchard in center, Federal artillery fire on the Confederate flank has been ineffective so far. The struggle for Houck's Ridge is off left of photo..
More casualties are suffered by 3 Ark who fall back as well as the Shaken Texans. Robertson's right flank in moving into the 'Valley of Death' (Plum Run between Little Round Top and Houck's Ridge, while part of Law's Brigade is moving on Devil's Den. The Rebs pour volleys into Ward's men but very poor die rolls are again ineffective...
On Big Round Top, the 2 USSS withdraws before Law's advancing right wing...
With Robertson's right wing in the 'Valley of Death' on left, Law's right wing (at top) is pivoting towards Little Round Top (to the left)...
Law's men finally drive off Yankee regiment in Devil's Den and Benning's support Brigade is moving up. They take a casualty from Ward's Brigade...
Hood's fourth Brigade (Anderson) is advancing on Rose's Woods (left)...
The struggle for Little Round Top commences. Casualties are taken by both Yanks and Rebs as some of Law's troops are coming down the north slope of Big Round Top in background...
Back on Houck Ridge, both sides are blazing away at each other, but the Federals are getting outflanked...
Further west in Rose's Woods, troops of Anderson's Brigade are pushing towards the Federal position...
On Little Round Top, both sides lose an entire stand but neither side has blinked yet...
The Rebs overrun Smith's gun line above Devil's Den (top center), while more of their men fall to the west of the Ridge at the edge of the Triangular Field...
Robertson's men fall back slightly to recover and to await the reinforcements belonging to Law...
A charge is made by the Rebs on Houck's Ridge...and it is driven off as the men become Shaken! top center, you can see the yellow cap)...
And its actually worse in Rose's Woods! A major portion of Anderson's men are driven back, Shaken, as well...
The Right Wing of Law's Brigade has finally caught up after its Big Round Top detour. They are heading for the 20th Maine (upper left) and the Federal Left Flank...
The Confederates are able to successfully rally their Shaken units (top left and top center)...
More to follow...
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