Gettysburg Day One : Blocher’s Knoll

We managed our second Gettysburg battle as planned yesterday. A scenario from Day 1 out of Brad Butkovich’s excellent Summer storm scenario book, so a shout out to him.

This scenario is to the NE of the town with Ewell’s Corps driving south into the town

Squeezed onto my 8x5 table

I’ve labelled this one up, to add a spice to the scenario the Union General didn’t know where the confederate reserves would arrive from. Rock creek would slow movement.

Barlow has sent troops forward to capture the only high ground north of the town Blocher’s Knoll also know known as Barlow’s Knoll

Gordon’s large Georgia Brigade will be the forefront of the attack

The bulk of the Union force looking to hold the Rebel advance but not realising the size of the force against them

Confederate artillery batteries open up from the East

Gordon’s brigade move upto the creek and open fire at the defenders on the hill

Doles Brigade splits its attack along the Carlisle road

After 4 turns the confederate reserves arrive, Hays brigade from the west potentially catching the Union defenders in the flank

The rebels are struggling to make headway across the creek but are building up their fire on the defenders

Finally Von Gilsa’s brigade is broken and confederates start to break across the creek. The Union bring up Ames Brigade to hold the Knoll

Hays brigade driving in from the west, but the defenders have been able to reform and fight back the initial charge

Finally after several failed attempts to arrive Hoke’s brigade arrives late from the East

Doles brigade is fighting hard but the Union defenders are able to throw back another charge !

Breakthrough ? Confederates surge forward up the Knoll but are hit by canister. This was the high point for the Rebels but somehow the rebels rolled absolutely rubbish every time they got into combat, in fact looking back we think the confederates lost almost every single combat they were involved in !

Gordon’s brigade is driven back off the knoll broken.

Is there still hope on the rebel right ?

Far too late Hokes brigade gets going forward

In a climatic final turn, Doles and Hays Brigades break and flee the field 🙁

A splendid battle and a good tough scenario, the rebels combat rolling was horrific repeatedly failing to break through Union forces who were in open order. In one case I rolled 8 dice and only managed one 4 ! It also didn’t help that Hoke arrived really late, failing to arrive and then not moving for a couple of turns.

That’s the last battle before our holiday, but I have been pushing on with painting those ACW cavalry.

Thanks as always for checking by

Matt ♥️