Our wargame group, the North Phoenix Irregulars, re-fought the battle for the Wheatfield at Gettysburg (Juley 2, 1863) as our end of 2022 game. Rules were Johnny Reb 2 with all the ranges and movement upsized to 1"=25yds. I do not play with just the standard 5 stands per regiment structure of JR2. All my stands are based 4 figures to a 1" stand. In JR2 the scale is 1 figure = 20 men, so that works perfectly in a 1"=25yds scale (assuming 20-25" per man as per Hardee's Tactics). To account for Morale factors – in original JR2, per stand lost is a +2 – I use per stand loss with 4or less stands =+3, 5 stands = +2, 6 or more stands = +1. It works just fine and means I don't have to think about rebasing.
Ok, to the Wheatfield. Five guys playing, one referring. Perfect for this Wheatfield scenario which was a combination of Scott Mingus's excellent Enduring Valor, Vol 2, (Rose Farm/Wheatfield) and an old Wargames Illustrated (Battle for the Wheatfield – originally designed for Guns At Gettysburg rules, which are same scale as JR2). Each player commanded one Brigade. Tilton, Sweitzer and deTrobriand for the Union, Kershaw and Anderson for the CSA. Semmes for the CSA and Cross with Bigelow's elite battery were available for reinforcements if time permitted. As it turns out, time did not permit.
Setup was free-form. Kershaw was on the CSA left and Anderson on the right. But within that restriction, the players were free to set up from the small stream on their left (where it crossed Emmitsburg Road) all the way over to the end of the stone wall where it abuts Houck's Ridge. They also had to be at the southern edge of Rose's woods. The three Union players could set up anywhere from behind the Wheatfield stone wall to just north of that small stream. The Union setup one brigade then the CSA a brigade and so on. Interestingly enough, they setup in pretty much their historical positions. Orders were placed and the game commenced.
Things started badly for the CSA when Kershaw, not seeing Winslow's battery of 12il Napoleons, advanced to engage Tilton's untested regiments (instead of just Green regiments, I have a Green regiment test the first time it takes a Morale test to see how it will do – 1D6 and 1-3 = Green, 4-5 Average, 6 = Elite to replicate that Green untested regiments in the Civil War sometimes far exceeded their "greenness"). As it turned out, one tested Green, the other Elite. Winslow's battery opened up and rolling an 11 with 2D6, devastated the 15th South Carolina. It held but was hurting.
On the CSA right, Anderson advanced his brigade toward the stone wall in front of the Wheatfield with casualties on both sides. The player with Anderson, however, was rolling ‘1s' for saves at a prodigious rate, so the Union was taking more than it gave. And the, at the end of Turn 2, disaster for the Union. deTrobriand, their best commander, with his brigade stationed in the Wheatfield, fell severely wounded.
Now, on Turn 3, Anderson advanced his brigade with a fury as the Union could only using H (Hold) orders until a replacement for deTrobriand came up. A severe firefight opened up and 11th Georgia went Shaken putting a crimp in the CSA line. deTrobriand's 3rd Michigan routed.
On the CSA left, the battered 15th South Carolina attempted to Disengage but was hit hard with Unexpected Devastation (a 12 with 2D6) by 18th Mass (the Green regiment which had rolled for elite status) and went Shaken and then destroyed. On its left, the 2nd South Carolina disengaged and fell back into Rose woods. It continued to be whittled down over the next couple turns as it reformed. The 1st Michigan under Tilton was firing well. The 7th South Carolina fired on the green 118th Pennsylvania and along with Unexpected Devastation from the reserve rifled artillery on Warfield Ridge routed it. Fraser's battery fired on Winslow's battery on the Stony Hill. They managed to hit one figure. The CSA reserve guns sitting far back on Warfield Ridge also fired on Winslow's battery and hit another figure. Two hits like that in a turn will kill the crew. Winslow is down a gun.
Next turn, the 7th advanced through Fraser's battery, did not disorder (rather than reducing movement for obstacles such as streams and fences and the like, I have regiments take a disorder roll) and using moving fire and routed the 9th Mass which was at the base of the Stony Hill. On the CSA right, deTrobriand's replacement fell.
With the 9th Mass gone, the 7th SC concentrated on Winslow's battery with First Fire. 5 hits after Saving rolls on Winslow's battery. No more battery.
Anderson's regiments traded fire with deTrobriand's brigade, While the 11th Georgia routed, the 8th New Jersey went Shaken. Things were not looking good for the Union. deTrobriand's replacement's replacement came up and took command of the 3rd Michigan which had routed but rallied and was now returning to the Wheatfield toward the Stony Hill.
Now, with Winslow's battery on the Stony Hill gone (it had been up there all by its lonesome (you'll have to ask the player commanding Sweitzer why it was unsupported), the 7th South Carolina ordered a Charge on the flank of the 5th Michigan which was at the nearest end of the stone wall. Before it could execute the Charge, the 8th Georgia under Anderson eliminated the 5th Michigan. The 7th SC continued its charge angling over the forward "slope" of the Stony Hill. End of turn coming up. Even though disorderd, the 7th planned to charge the shaken 3rd Michigan which had just come up. There was nothing behind the 3rd Michigan all the way to the little hillock at the northern edge of the Wheatfield upon which was posted Phillip's battery of rifled guns. With Anderson now advancing, albeit it haltingly as it tried to recover from losses and shaken regiments, the battle looked, finally, well in hand for the CSA. It was the end of the turn. All that remained was to roll for officer casualties and then on to Kershaw ordering the elite 7th South Carolina to charge. There it was. What could go wrong. Well, I will tell you. Kershaw died a spectacular death. Rolling 1D6 to see if he was hit, I rolled a 6. Dang. I ten rolled for the effect of the hit. Another 6. Spectacular death. NOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!
At this point we decided to call the game. Stony Hill was worth 25 point, and that belonged to the CSA, The Wheatfield stonewall was worth 25 points and that was contested although still in Union hands. The central part of the Wheatfield was worth 10 points, which belonged to Union. The hillock was worth 50 points. That belonged to the Union. (As an aside, I use coins placed on the terrain features for point values. That is somewhat risky with my lot of gamers as they must be watched closely so they do not enrich themselves before the game begins.) Casualties were about even.
So, as it turns out, the Union held the Wheatfield.
Thanks to Tom who ended up referring the game. Tom grew up in Scotland and was part of the group with George Anderson who played JR2 endlessly (George worked with Ryan Toews to write several scenario books for JR2 and Tome was a playtester) and knows the rules inside out. Bruce, my good buddy handled Anderson's brigade. His great, many more greats, Uncle was in the 3rd Michigan and wounded while on picket duty in the Peach Orchard as Kershaw advanced. I handled Kershaw's brigade. Enough said about that.
Neil had deTrobriand's brigade. Officers are refusing to serve under him in future battles. Just too hazardous. Greg has Sweitzer's brigade and Phillip's battery, which did a lot of damage. John, our jovial Irishman, commanded Tilton's brigade. Stop rolling boxcars, John, please, when you face off against me. You never do that when we play on the same side.
It had been a while since we played Johnny Reb 2. Hopefully, it won't be that long to the next one. Everyone seemed to have a good time with a lot of laughs, some cursing, and a couple disagreements. Thanks, guys for a great game.
completes his initial Union force in 1:72nd scale.
