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...

 

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...