"How many federals opposed Picketts Charge?" Topic

Hi
I just got back from Cold War with a bunch of new Perry plastics to add to the roughly two hundred I already have. I've always been interested in the charge, and Im feeling up to a modest project. I'm thinking about doing a 1:30 scale recreation at 25mm. I found out the basic Rebel strength via Wikipedia, about 12,000 men (right?). This would be about 400 or so figures. However Im not as sure about the Union strengths. Does any one have any figures on this? I assume that it was somewhat less, especially in the initial phases when it apparently (I mean from what I remember reading) caught the Fedrral forces off-guard. Any information on this would be appreciated. Also, if anyone has wargamed this before, Id like to hear how it went. Sometimes battles frustrate rules-designers (Im thinking Waterloo, where Ive often heard the British should have lost!)
thanks!
Zach

"How many federals opposed Picketts Charge?"

Not many – they were glad to see them coming across open ground toward that stone wall.

The best I can get from two different books is that the Union front line strength was initially @ 6350, reinforced by another 2,600 or so during the battle. Round it out to 9,000/30 = 300.

And lots of artillery…….

How many federals opposed Picketts Charge?

All of them!

Seriously if you want a great scenario on the charge get Vol 2 of Scott Mingus' book Enduring Valor, Gettysburg in Miniature. It gives complete OOB down to regiment for JRIII (1:30) including number of men, and number of figures, armourment and morale ratings for each regiment, and battery at the angle. Scenario goes from just East of the Sherfy house on Emmitsburg road to Bishop's house on Emmitsburg road.

Basic Order of Battle is as follows:

1st Bde 3rd Div I Corps 235 men
3rd Bde 3rd Div I Corps 1500 men

1st Bde 2nd Div II Corps 720 men
2nd Bde 2nd Div II Corps 810 men
3rd Bde 2nd Div II Corps 570 men

unattached 1st Ma Sharpshooters 42 men

1st Bde 3rd Div II Corps 160 men (1 regt)
2nd Bde 3rd Div II Corps 714 men
3rd Bde 3rd Div II Corps 930 men

Total of about 280 figures at 1:30

II Corps Artillery
5 batteries

AOP Reserve
1 battery

1st Cav
1 battery

Check the JRIII Yahoo group I think there are a few postings about the scenario there as well.

VR
James Mattes

One item to consider, Artillery. You may want to somehow simulate the very large number of guns that were available and mostly used in pre attack bombardment (majority CSA) and later against the attack (almost totally USA)!! Otherwise you are going to have to buy a whole lot of 25mm Guns and gunners for your project! That could get very expensive indeed. One solution would be to let one gun represent a battery, but to magnify its fire if your rules consider each model a section or half battery! Best of luck!

Or place some of the artillery off board.

According to "Pickett's Charge: The Last Attack at Gettysburg" by Earl J. Hess:

Gibbon's division, Gates' demibrigade and Stannard's brigade totaled 3,785 men vs. Pickett's 5,830, but that doesn't count artillery. Hays' division of about 2,080 men opposed Pettigrew's division and Trimble's demi-division totaling about 6,200. So, all together, 5,865 Federals vs. 12,030 Confederates, not counting artillery. Or almost exactly 2:1 odds. Obviously not enough.