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...

 

July 2, 1863: Longstreet's Attack Part II

 Reinforcements to the Confederate forces attacking Little Round Top, suffer bad luck. Strong Vincent's Brigade (with 20th Maine on the right of the Union line) deliver a devastating volley, scoring three casualties, and forcing the Rebs to fall back in disorder!

Yet another Confederate charge in the Den is thrown back (center). Just can't make a throw!

In Rose's Woods, the Rebs finally score, driving back some of the Federals in the center of their line...

Back on Little Round Top, the Yanks fire an ineffective volley against the 4th and 5th Texas (left), but the Rebs score two hits on the 16 Michigan, causing it to fall back disordered...

The Confederate attack on Houck"s Ridge is finally seeing some success. A charge throws the 124 NY back Shaken with two losses (stand with yellow cap), while a further volley staggers the 20 Ind, who suffer a casualty and retires disorganized (just above the 124 NY)...

Anderson's Brigade moves into Rose's Woods while a 17 Maine volley is ineffective...

At the western edge of the Woods, Yanks and Rebs blaze away with no effect...

Starting the Yankee phase of the Turn, the 16 Mich reorders itself and forms up on the Union right. The 4th Texas is rocked by the Yank's volley, losing two figures, but they stubbornly hold their ground...

At Houck's Ridge, Federal troops attempt to reset their line, while the various Confederate units are moving in and through the Triangular Field (left center). One can see how difficult it was to deploy and manuever in this area during the real battle...

The exchange of volleys in Rose's Woods, results in the first casualty in the 17 Maine (Perhaps this is my Great Uncle Color Sgt James Loring?) slightly left of center...

In between the Round Tops, Law's Alabamians successfully recovered from their Shaken status, while the Texans suffered another casualty in their exchange with the Federals to their front...

The Confederates are forcing their will upon the Federals in this sector, as more Rebs pout through the Triangular Field, and past Devil's Den...

In Rose's Woods, the right hand regiments of Anderson have also recovered from their Shaken status although still remain Disordered at the right edge of the Woods. Meanwhile some of Benning's Brigade inflict one more casualty on the defending Federals of de Trobriand's Brigade. At the western edge of the woods. more of Anderson's men inflict another casualty of the Pennsylvanians holding the Right Flank of this Union line...

Back on Little Round Top, Vincent's men cause the 4th and 5th Texans to become disordered. It is illustrating just how difficult it was to assault the hill...

On Houck"s Ridge, even though the Rebs are driving back the Federals. not all goes according to plan. Two times the Confederates fail to pass troops through the front ranks to press forward! They only succeed to go into disorder...

In Rose's Woods, the Confederates force a number of de Trobriand's regiments to retire, while the 17 Maine still holds the fenceline along the southern edge of the Wheatfield...

Between the Round Tops, the Texans reform their line but Law's men still remain Shaken...

Ward's men holding the north end of Houck's Ridge take another casualty, but the Rebs fail once again to move forward. The Devil's Den is proving to be a major obstacle..

Meanwhile in Rose's Woods. the Yanks reorder their ranks (left) while the Rebs were disorganized and took an action to reorder. Support troops are moving forward behind the front ranks...

More to follow...

Jul 2, 1863: Longstreet's attack begins...

 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...