Gettysburg at Durham, 2022

On Saturday I was again the guest, along with FLW author PHW, of the Durham Wargames Club as we'd been asked by Mike S to umpire their Gettysburg game.  We'd previously visited back in 2019 for the Waterloo game.  Two tables, each 5x20 feet had been set up and around 1200 54mm toy soldiers gathered.  Mostly these were provided by DWC member Conrad while several other club members brought figures.  We had about 14 players plus the two umpires.  I contributed around two thirds of the Confederate I Corps and also topped up supplies of artillery.

The game was set on day two of the battle and the forces were deployed more or less in their historical locations, with several units arriving over the course of the day.  Being rather busy running the game, I took only these few photos but I'm sure they'll convey the look of the thing.

I'd rationalised the orbats to make it easier to set up.  Broadly the US were in brigades of 12 figures, the Rebs in brigades of 16.  Figures were almost exclusively plastic, from a variety of manufacturers including HAT, Armies in Plastic, Italeri, A Call To Arms, Replicants, Timpo, Deetail, Conta, Imex, Barszo, TSSD and no doubt others.

General Longstreet engages in world class pointing and hat-wearing.

Hood's Division advances against surprisingly light opposition

Play began at 1030 real time (0600 in the game) and ended at 1530 (2100).

And who won?  In the northeast the Yanks have been forced back giving the Rebs a toehold on the hills.  However, the Rebs are too tatty to push on and the Yanks to weak to counterattack.  In the centre (northwest) it could go either way and it's getting very bloody.  In the southwest, Longstreet's I Corps is pushing forward, it's right flank against only fresh air so there's every chance the  door could shut on Meade's army from the south.  That said, there are more US formations still to arrive so day three could be interesting.  Hopefully some of the players will comment and take issue with my summing up!