Longstreet Strikes North, Part III

The fight in the Wheatfield is heating up (again!)  as both sides take casualties...

Some of Wofford's men reform after passing through the Rose Farm, while more Confederate troops are coming up...

Confederate artillery positions itself at the Emmittsburg/Wheatfield Road intersection. Barksdale's 21 Miss loses men and becomes Shaken (yellow cap)...

Wilcox's Brigade is extending the Rebel battleline to the north, as the Federals at the Klingle Farm, (top center)  attempt to halt the assault...

As Blue and Grey exchange fire near the Rodger's Farm, yet another Confederate Brigade (Wright) further extends their line...

The Federals of Carr's Brigade, win their fight with the Rebs at the northern edge of the Wheatfield (upper right). Further to the west, fire is exchanged with newly arrived Federals...

As the 21 Miss now is routing (red cap), new Federal troops exchange fire with the rest of Barksdale's men as losses mount for both...

The Union troops north of the Wentz Farm are holding...barely, as they are taking heavy casualties. he two Federal Batteries are beginning to worry as their infantry support seems to be melting away (their ineffective fire despite good ranges may explain some of that) ...

More to come...

Longstreet Strikes North, Part II

 The fighting at the Round Tops (left) and Houck's Ridge, has died down.  Law's men (bottom) rally but stay in position as they have lost 50%! The 4 and 5 Texas Regiments take position to hold Devil's Den (left center). A parting volley is made (and missed) by some Confederates at the retreating Federal section of artillery (top left center)...

Ward's Brigade (minus Ward) is retiring from the field (top left). Johnny Reb maintains his increasing success in Rose's Woods as their latest volley drop two out of Tilton's Brigade...

General Semmes moves part of his Brigade into Rose Farm. while the rest of his men swing into support...

Artillery from both the Yanks at the Peach Orchard (top left) and the Rebs along Warfield Ridge (bottom) pound away at each other inflicting casualties...

While Robertson and Benning regrouped their men, de Trobriand (left edge) is marching down the Wheatfield Road, and Weed's men (center) form on the north edge of Little Round Top, to match them...

de Trobriand's (top center) men regrouping near the Wheatfield while Ward's Brigade (right edge) leaves the fight...

In Rose's Woods, Tilton's men lose their exchange of fire, losing two more and becoming Disorganized...

Despite losing casualties to the Rebel artillery, Union guns pound the emerging Rebs at Rose Farm, dropping two and forcing the rest back Shaken! (right edge)

In the artillery exchange, the Reb's Ashland Battery (armed with 20lb Parrotts), is forced to retired Shaken. The Federals lose one battery that withdraws as it has lost 50 % of its men...

Answering the call for Federal assistance, General Hancock, II Corps, orders Caldwell's Division to move to the Wheatfield. (top center) Peach Orchard to upper right...

The Rebs of Benning, Robertson and Law regroup to await the seemingly upcoming attack from the Yanks of de Trobriand near the Wheatfield Road...

In Rose's Woods, the Rebs shoot up Switzer's men, making them Shaken as well. Thats two brigades these men are driven off! Unfortunately, as Semmes new line (bottom) comes out of the Rose Farm, they lose men to Union artillery in the Peach Orchard, and become Shaken themselves...

Wofford's Brigade now steps off towards Rose's Farm...

Lastly, Longstreet's final Brigade, Barksdale's Mississippians, step off towards their rendezvous with the Peach Orchard (top center)... 

No sooner does de Trobrian's d reformed Brigade start forward, when they suffer an effective Reaction volley from the Rebs, breaking them and leaving them Shaken. It appears, that they have had enough. Note that at top right corner you can just make out Caldwell's Division...

Just as Barksdale's assault begins, much of the Federal Artillery massed in the Peach Orchard have been chased away. Making matters worse is that both Tilton's and Switzer's Brigade are either Disorganized or Shaken!

Wofford's Brigade (bottom left edge) and Barksdale's, ( top left edge) continue their advance...

The pressing need for Caldwell's Division is now clearly seen by the Yanks as they approach the Trostle Lane (top right)...

Benning and Law pull some of their men back into cover as they have come under artillery fire from Little Round Top...

Anderson's Brigade is smashing what's left of Tilton and Seitzer's Brigades (center and left of center)...

South of the Rose Farm, Kershaw has recovered his Shaken Brigade, but Semmes' men continue their retreat...

Barksdale's Confederates, fire a devastating volley into the Yanks attempting to hold the Emmittisburg/Wheatfield Crossroads, dropping three at the Sherfy Farm! (left of center)

With Federal Batteries in retreat, Caldwell's Division continues it's advance towards the fighting to the south (right)...

Even as they put themselves into cover, they still suffer another casualty...(left of center)

Anderson's men charge and capture a Federal Battery left unsupported by de Trobriand's retreating Brigade. They did limber the guns but could not get away!

Moving through the woods of Stoney Hill, Anderson's men causing havoc in the retreating Federal's ranks...

Meanwhile Kershaw moves his men forward once again, as Semmes continues to retire...

Barksdale's Brigade successfully charges the Yanks at the Sherfy Farm. They do lose a casualty to Reaction Fire from their left flank...

Finally, Wilcox's Brigade of Anderson's Division from A.P.Hill's III Corp, step off following Barksdale (out of photo to right)...

For the Federals, the Wheatfield, and Stoney Hill have been lost (right edge) as reserves (Caldwell's Division, Carr's Brigade-on road and top center and left center)) move up. Note the mass of retreating Yanks which illustrates quite well, the confusion that must have reigned at this point during the actual battle...

Barksdale's Brigade takes two additional casualties as they drive off Federals belonging to Graham from the Wentz Farm (center right)...

As Carr's Brigade forms up on the Wheatfield Road, The Rebs miss an opportunity when their Reaction volley is ineffective (center). Reba from Anderson's Brigade push to the northern edge of the Stoney Hill (lower center) The Remainder of Caldwell's Division is also moving up (left)...

Confederates from both Semmes and Wofford's Brigade are moving through the Rose Farm...

While the 21 Miss of Barkdale's Brigade moves through the Wentz Farm, and the left-hand regiments reform on the left, Yankee Regiments (left center) swing their left back to meet the rising danger...

As the grey line of Wilcox's Brigade takes ineffective artillery fire, the small Florida Brigade of Perry (left center), joins the attack...

to be continued...

 

July 2, 1863, Longstreet Turns North

 Fighting continued on Little Round Top, but the Federals definitely gained the advantage. Law's men were now truly routing (bottom center with red cap) trying to reform, while Robertson returned to move what was left of the 4 and 5 Texas back to reform (lower left)...

The Federals on Houck's Ridge however were being steadily driven back, as the Confederates brought forward fresh troops as some fell back to reform (yellow cap)...

In Rose's Woods, de Trobriand's Brigade fell back (first line from left) including the 17 Maine in the Wheatfield, as Tilton's Brigade of Sykes V Corps (second line from left) began moving forward to assist...

Massed Confederate Batteries along Seminary/Warfield Ridge begin pounding the Union forces at the Peach Orchard (Top Left). Semmes Brigade approaching Emmittisburg Road in support of Kershaw (at Rose Farm, Center)..

Union Batteries moved from Reserve to help Sickles in his exposed position pound away at the advancing Kershaw Brigade. Federal and Reb volleys add to the turmoil...

General Robertson is attempting to rally Law's men coming down from Big Round Top, while the 4 and 5 Texas have already begun to regroup...

On Houck"s Ridge, some of Benning's regiments charged the Federal line and both sides inflicted terrible casualties (a combined 2 1/2 stands being eliminated! The Federal commander here, General Ward was also shot down! The few remaining men are reforming at the north end of the ridge...

In Rose's Woods, both sides passed a line of troops (Tilton's Brigade for the Federal's and Anderson for the Confederates) through a front line (successfully passing a Tactical Check to do so) and blazed away, inflicting two casualties on the Unionists, while the Rebs suffered one...

Meanwhile just to the south of the Peach Orchard (to the left edge, General Kershaw's men are pushing through the Rose Farm and taking ineffective fire so far from the defending Yanks...

The massed Confederate Artillery finally begins to have an impact. Casualties are inflicted on Union troops below the Peach Orchard and on a Federal artillery battery above! (top left)

Atop Little Round Top, Federal reinforcements are arriving. A NY regiment belonging to Weed's Brigade attaches itself to Strong's Brigade (center) while two sections (4 guns) of Hazlett's Battery are coming up as well (as seen through the trees, top center)...

Stunned by their losses (and their General to boot!) the remainder of Ward's Brigade have reformed, while the last two guns of the battery lost at the southern tip of Houck's Ridge, miss their target. Confederate reaction fire misses as well...

Back in Rose's Woods, Tilton's men fire an ineffective volley, but Anderson's reaction volley takes down two of the Federals. One of Tilton's regiment (center) is changing its facing so as to rake the flank of Kershaw's Brigade (bottom edge) advancing through the Rose Farm. de Trobriand's battered Brigade reaches the Wheatfield Road (left edge) to regather itself. Only the separated boys from Maine still hold a line in the Wheatfield along with the supporting Battery. (left center)..

Rifle volleys at the Rose Farm are ineffective. But Federal Artillery located along the Wheatfield road at left edge, rake a portion of Kershaw's men, dropping a total of four (a whole stand), causing the men to rout! (right edge)

Confederate Artillery Reaction Fire is even more devastating! Two hits are made on the unfortunate  Pennsylvania Independent Battery, 75% of the men are down, basically crippling that battery. (left center) The guns also smash an entire stand (four men) on the Maine boys holding the right of the Federal troops to the south of the Peach Orchard! (right)...

Hazlett's Battery has gone into line on Little Round Top, followed by the rest of Weed's Brigade. Looks like the hill is secured, at least for now...

On Houck's Ridge, the Rebs reorganize prior to continue their attack. The Yanks are forced to swing their right frank to face more Rebs in the direction of the Wheatfield...

In Rose's Woods a bloody exchange occurs. While Anderson's men drop two Yankees, they maintain their morale while their Reaction volley, causes casualties, but worse, the Confederates fail their morale check and are Shaken!

On the Rose Farm, both sides suffer. Rebel artillery smash an entire stand of Yanks south of the peach Orchard, but Reaction fire causes the remainder of Kershaw's Brigade to Rout (right of center, Red Cap)...

After driving off one Federal Battery at the Peach Orchard (top left corner), Reb artillery caused the heavy losses on Federal infantry previously mentioned. Federal Artillery Counter-battery fire however, dropped two casualties on two different Confederate batteries...