The Little Round Top (not only PP... But plenty of them!) - ACW

[Anatoli]

Hi...

Here is a debriefing of a ACW battle ("The Little Round Top") I played with Pierre (Camulogene) and another Friend (Patrick) a year and half ago. It took more than 10 hours to complete this battle!

This scenario is based on a rule written by Pierre, called "Billy Yank"; it is designed to play ACW scenarios to a regimental scale (5 bases = 1 regiment).

Here is a link to the rule (in french) : http://billy.yank.monsite-orange.fr
The version used is the 2013 one.

All the confederate army has been painted by Pierre, as more than half of the Union one...


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Little Round Top Observation Post, July 2, 1863 - 4:00 p.m.


"Sir... You should go up here and take a look!"

I throw my bad coffee on the ground, and climb the small wooden ladder that leads to the top of the little rudimentary observation post.

When I got to the top, the corporal pointed to the edge of the woods, which was located a few hundred meters in front of us. At this moment, I cannot even describe the shock I feel... A very long compact line of Confederates comes out of the woods, on the other side of the wheat field and the rocky field straight ahead...







For a time that I cannot determine, I remain shocked... But the voice of the corporal brings me out of my torpor.

"Things are going bad, sir... We will never be able to stop them"...

That's exactly what I think... I pick up my binoculars to observe the huge force coming towards our positions.







"Damn it! At first sight, I would say there are at least 15 regiments there. Look, corporal... There, I can even identify the 4th and 5th Texas... It's going to be a hard job to stop them"!







"No time to waste, Corporal!" Bring my orders to the staff immediately. We need help, quickly; if the rebels take our position here at Little Round Top, it will be a total disaster!

- Well, sir. I'll take care of it!"

Our position is really precarious. The hill where I am is completely bare. In the wheat field in front of us, De Trobriand brigade holds this area with at least four regiments.







Around the rocky terrain of "Devil's Den", the Ward Brigade took position with its six regiments, including the 1st and 2nd US Sharpshooters.







We only have ten regiments to oppose the Confederate ones which run toward us!

And there are no friendly troops at the top of Big Round Top area near to us... It makes a huge hole in our lines...

That's what I feared! I distinguish several regiments of Confederates who are moving at high speed towards the big hill, while the others rush to attack the other positions defended by our two brigades...




















The first shootings have already broken out. I can distinguish three regiments of the Ward brigade which fire on the first rebel elements which come into contact, near Devil's Den (on our left flank). Several Confederate units are disorganized after this first deadly fire...







The wheat field is covered with smoke after the first shootings. It is difficult to have a clear idea of the situation here, but I am sure to have seen rebel troops fleeing after the first round of salvo. In this sector, De Trobriand brigade seems to be firmly established. Artillery established on its right flank.

Despite all the smoke covering our positions in front of the two hills, I can see Ward who gives his orders to his subordinates.







From what I can see in the next few minutes, three regiments of the Union fall back in order to head towards Little Round Top, by the left flank. As Johnny Reb rushes towards the big hill, I imagine Ward wants to try to secure access to our position. It's going to be a real speed race in this area...

I watch with anxiety the race which takes place in this sector... The most part of the Confederate troops disappear from my sight. I imagine that they climb the big hill and that they will soon tumble on our left side...







One of our artillery section settled there after a withdrawal no longer shows any signs of life... Bad news...







In Devil's Den, the situation is going worse. Rebels begin to push back several of the Union regiments which defend this sector. We could be in big trouble over there... And those damn reinforcements that don't come! What are they doing?!?







Situation seems under control at the wheat field, at least for the moment... Fighting is going on, but I don't see any of our troops withdrawing, except the Smith battery which tries to rally Little Round Top.











"Sir! Look behind us"!

Hurray! A column of reinforcements arrives at full speed towards our position! Here are Vincent's brigade and Hazlett's battery coming! But they are still quite far away...







The three regiments that withdrew towards us would have to reorganize quickly to be able to fix the enemy and hold out until fresh troops come to reinforce them...

A clamour swells from the side of Big Round Top... Here we are! The rebels start to tumble down the big hill and head straight for us.







Three Union regiments come toward our hill; the third one is likely to be severely hooked by the first rebel elements who go down the big hill...











The Sharpshooters are there... Will they be able to hold our position?

The corporal informs me that our regiments installed on the rocky ground of Devil's Den have just broken because of the violence of the confederate attack! A flank fire from both the newly rebel installed artillery on the Big Round Top and a regiment that bypassed it violently shook them. Union regiments begin to rout...















On our position, the situation is improving. The Ward Brigade Sharpshooters have just reformed a defensive line and greeted the enemy with heavy fire, allowing our other two regiments to join our lines.







In addition, our reinforcements are divided into two groups. The main one (20th Maine, 16th Michigan and Hazlett artillery) climb the slopes of Little Round Top to support our troops there.







The second one, composed of two regiments (the 44th NY and 83rd Pennsylvania) runs along the small hill from the back side, to prevent an attempted of overflank initiated by the Confederates.

The situation is difficult ... I go down from my observation tower at full speed as it becomes really dangerous here... A bullet just whistled in my ear...

The arrival of 20th Maine rgt has given new impetus to our men who are now counterattacking...

But with rebel troops also climbing the hill on the other side, the situation becomes complicated at the top. Sustained charges are launched on both sides; heavy firings generate appalling losses!















The Sharptroopers fall back down the hill under pressure, and reform on the road.

The 5th Texas, suffering heavy losses but still combative, rushes to attack the Hazlett battery, which obviously did not expect such an attack. The battery servants try to fight as best they can, but the pressure is too great: they abandon their guns and scatter.







The Sharpshooters then open fire and definitively put the Texans out of action.

I had never witnessed such a scrum. How the hell did these men endure such carnage to the end, without giving in? I'm almost admiring them...

Behind the hill, rebel troops trying to get around the position came up against our reinforcements. They are temporarily stopped, but the fight turns to their advantage...







Suddenly, a clamor makes me turn my head... Other reinforcements arrive at full speed towards us! Hell! I'm so glad! This is the entire Vincent brigade that is coming to a run...







Immediately, one of the zouaves columns rushes on the rebel troops which attempt the overflank, and strikes them without even changing their formation into a column. The shock is terrible and unexpected! The fights are fierce, and the Confederate overflank attempt is stopped net! The latter fall back under the violence of the shock!







I can see the last reinforcements rushing towards Little Round Top to support our troops who are starting to give in... The situation will be difficult, as several newly arrived regiments are having trouble deploying...

Meanwhile, I intercept two messengers who tell me, recovering their breath, that the position of Devil's Den is definitely lost for us.

The situation is also deteriorating in the wheat field, where heavy hand-to-hand fighting is taking place at the moment. From what I understand, an artillery battery sent to support them was destroyed by fire from the Big Round Top. De Trobriand brigade is therefore alone, without support, and begins to give in under the furious assaults of the rebels ...

It looks really bad...











20th Maine is involved in a heavy fight... A salvo literally wiped out a rebel regiment. But the lack of immediate support (the zouaves being still far from being able to deploy), this elite regiment is bypassed and attacked head-on at the same time... Fierce combats take place, but the regiment ends up yielding and diverting ... The situation is untenable.







Nothing seems to be able to stop Johnny Reb... Even weakened, his regiments are holding Little Round Top, Devil's Den, and are probably going to capture the wheat field, from where clamours of combat still come.







The situation looks very bad. This day is not ours... The corporal looks at me, visibly shaken by what he has just witnessed. We will have to retreat... The confederation has just scored a point in this battle which promises to be decisive.



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It turned to be a confederate victory when we played this scenario... 

[Colonel Kilgore]

Wow - what a lovely game!

Many thanks for the super photos and detailed write-up, Anatoli 

You didn't mention the selection of scenarios for the rules that you also have on the Billy Yank website, including some for 1914 that might be of interest to Square Bashing aficionados...

Simon

[Antioch (Bob)]

Anatoli, love your write ups f the pictures are great...thanks for posting.

Bob

[Nick]

Another great read. Very enjoyable. Thanks for posting.

Nick