American Civil War
Latest Brigade Battles of the Civil War
At last the Gettysburg game hits these UK shores. This looks a meaty package with its two mounted maps boards giving it the largest footprint in the series so far.
There are six scenarios;
The first day
The second day
The fight for the flanks
The third day
The fourth day
The full battle of Gettysburg
With the new version 1.4 rules and some new admin counters that these rules introduce, there is much to explore here.
Edit to the above
I have now played the 1st day scenario and it was very enjoyable. The designer has added errata that units moving on a road in column do not pay movement penalties for moving up-slope. This ensures that the initial Union reinforcements arrive to support Buford’s cavalry in accordance with the historical timetable.
A point that for me remains unresolved is the fact that Heth can use all four of his brigades from the very outset. Historically, he was quite tardy in that he sent just two brigades up front and the other two were kept too far back, so that they could not lend support.
By not preventing all four brigades being initially used, the average wargamer will of course use them and this puts Buford under more pressure than was historically the case and causes the morning battles to be fought further back than was the case. Regardless, it just allows Heth to perform better than he did historically.
By the end of my day 1, the Union had managed to withdraw into positions that nicely lined up with the historical close of day positions i.e.The Fish Hook.
Casualties were pretty even at around 6000 men for each side, but the Union still held Culp’s Hill and Cemetery Ridge, so a minor victory is awarded to them.
Johnson’s Division (Confederate) is marching down towards Spanglers Woods, intent on stretching the Union line so as to protect their flank. For the Union, it will be ‘Day 2’ reinforcements that will / may save the day.
Epic scale artillery
This was part of a small action in the early part of the Epic ACW project, when most of he figures were still unpainted and patiently awaiting their of a ‘lick of the brush’.
Here, the two markers are showing disorder because the guns have moved over rough ground.
I think the rough ground mat was produced by MiG. I have mounted it onto thick plasticard.
