Sickes Salient - Report

DBACW game using the Fire and Fury Sickles Salient scenario .

This is a brigade level game with each unit an infantry brigade or artillery battalion of 24 - 32 guns.

For this game I combined some of the smaller union brigades so Caldwell Division consists of 3 rather than 5 brigades.

The table is 2ft 6in by 2ft 6in. The game lasts 9 turns. 

I also revised how I would translate unit quality from Fire and Fury to DBACW  as follows:-

Green = Raw

Experienced = standard Muskets

Veteran = Veteran

Crack = Veteran and ignores first hit.

Overview of the battlefield. 

As the Confederates deploy General Hood is hit and wounded.  I used a simple 50% chance of Hood being wounded and takes no further part in the game.

Confederate artillery opens up with a bombardment of Sickles position.

Hood division advances overunning Devils Den forcing back Wards brigade.

Mclaws Division advances supported by 2 Brigades of Anderson Division.  Union artillery fire is heavy pushing back Barksdale brigade who reform and come on again.

Union positions along the Emmitsburg Road come under pressure from McLaws division.

Hoods division continues to push forward towards the Wheafield. Musketry erupts and Hood brigades gain the upper hand destroying Robertson and De Trobriands Union brigades.

The Confederates surge across the Emmitsburg Road forcing back Union artillery in the wake of their advance.

Sickles line is collapsing under the pressure from Hoods and Mclaws divisions.

McLaws division moves forward from the Emmitsburg Road towards the Peach Orchard and the Wheatfield.

The lead brigades of Hoods division cross the Wheatfield and push back Burlings brigade confusion.

Mclaws clears the Peach Orchard driving back Grahams brigade in disorder.

Help is at hand for the Union as Caldwells division moves off Cemetery ridge to support Sickles faltering line.

With 7 Confederate brigades concentrated in the Peach Orchard and Wheatfield area it is little surprise that Sickles command is pushed back with heavy loses. 

Sykes Corps rushes to support the crumbling Unon line.

Longstreet orders forward his artillery to add support to the attack he plans on Cemetary ridge.

To releave pressure on Sickles Caldwell divsion pushes back Anderson from the Emmitsburg road.

On the Conederate right Laws brigade advances to attack Little Round Top but is halted and then pushed back by Vincents brigades accurate musketry.

Sykes brigades advance with Union artillery support forcing 2 brigades of Hoods division into a musketry battle. 

Panorama at the end of Turn 6. Union reinforcements are slowing the Confederate attack but will they hold. All to play for with 3 moves of the game left.

The Union rush reinforcements to blunt Hoods Division threat to Little Round Top. In the foreground Sickles rallies his two remaining Brigades as Mclaws brigades prepare to advance.

Rebel yells reverberate across the battlefield as they push towards Cemetery ridge.

Union volleys and artillery fire rips into the Confederate ranks as their Brigades on the left are thrown into disorder.  Sickles seizes the moment and leading from the front orders two Brigades to charge. The fight is close but when the smoke clears it's the Union that has faltered and been pushed back. Sickles is stricken in the leg by a musket ball and goes down wounded.

Hoods Brigades advance north of the Little Round Top and initially push back the Union defenders. Laws Brigade attack on Vincent position on Little Round Top is again pushed back in disorder.  

The Union receive more reinforcements from General Meade.  Mclaws is attacked on the flank by one of Caldwells Brigades and the rebels are decisively beaten. Meanwhile Hood is attacked on his flank by Vincent Brigade charging down from Little Round Top whilst being attacked in the front. The initial assault is held by the Confederates however they cannot hold their ground and are pushed back. With Dusk approaching Longstreet calls of attack.  The Confederates hold the Wheatfield and the Union Little Round Top. The game ends with an historical result.

DBACW provided an entertaining game with the better quality Confederates gaining the upper hand in the initial moves before the superior Union numbers where able to slow and then turn back the Confederate tide.