McPherson's Ridge, ACW demo-game at PeachyCon'26.

This scenario was based on the first day of Gettysburg, at McPherson's Ridge (and farm), with the US cavalry holding the ridge against the arriving Reb forces, with their own infantry of 1st Corps arriving to reinforce the out-numbered cavalry troopers - an escalating engagement for the low ridge (and the same demo-game from Partisan in May). It was demo-game at local gaming convention (PeachyCon'26, for local mate and wargaming Youtuber, Chris Peach). It was run by Dave Andrews (another former GW mate) and I got to play as the Union, as he commanded the Confederate attack. 

As is often the way at conventions, playing becomes secondary to the general wargaming chat around the table, but we did get to play most the game, roll some dice and have an agreed upon conclusion, it was pretty obvious who the winner was anyway. 

As a brief breakdown, the initial engagement saw the first Reb brigade advance on the ridge rapidly, with the dismounted cavalrymen inflicting some early damage. How long to hold was the question, until mounting up and pulling back... as to stay was to lose them all, especially once the second, then third Reb brigades deployed. The ridge would fall, that much was clear from turn 1, but could the Union counter-attack with their arriving infantry brigades to retake it by the end of the game?

So, phase one saw the cavalrymen blaze away, force a few Reb regiments back with their fire and battery, then, mount up and begin to withdraw, escaping away under some fire, with one regiment and their battery damaged, but none lost. Meanwhile, the Union infantry was racing up the board in march columns and then deploying into fighting their lines.

A brief pause in the fighting followed as both sides got into positions and the Reb brigades moved up behind the first, with the cannons still roaring.

Then phase 2 began, the crux of the battle, was the two sides infantry fully engaged in a hot firefight. It got bloody, but the Union lines were inflicting the greater damage, and their battery's counter-battery fire on deploying Reb guns saw one battery break and another suppressed. Denuded of most of their cannon support, the Reb boys were at a disadvantage in the attritional battle, and they were beset by active and effective Union skirmishers in the woods on their right. These managed to slow deployment here, at McPherson's farm, and give the Union line another slight advantage. They paid for it with heavy loses though.

After a couple of turns of heavy fire, several Reb regiments had to pullback and rally, one broke, but with more coming up to take their place. Rather than continue the war of volleys back and forth, they pushed down the ridge's slope (typical Reb aggression) to try and drive the Union off at close range. In punishing close range volleys, two more regiments soon broke and the Reb tide was turned. 

Now, still with their guns in close support, the battered Union front line regiments could fall back to be replaced by fresh ones in a 'transit of the lines'. Fresh regiments could now hammer the last Rebs, and the Rebs were all out of fresh troops. As we ran out of time on the day, it was obvious what would happen. The Union's coming advance would now drive the Rebs off McPherson's Ridge. We called it there, end of the event and time to pack-up. A great day gaming and chatting, a top game, all played with Dave A's superb collections of terrain.

The eye-candy... 

Union infantry move on, behind the cavalry deployed on the low ridge (beyond the cornfields). Rebs down the far end.

Union cavalry troopers hold the ridge to start with, a thin blue line.

First Reb lines deploy, to lead the attack. 1 of 3 brigades in action.

Their guns arriving up the road, but trying to deploy under Union counter-battery fire was costly.

1st Corps, on the way to the rescue.

Their commander watches on from the apple orchard, with a clear view of the cavalry in action ahead.

Reb commander arrives and urges his boys on, and up that ridge.

The Reb's close in and the cavalry troops get the order to mount-up and fallback (it only looks like we are running away!).

Action at McPherson's Farm (buildings are scratch build replicas). Reb's get the worst of it...

Rebs in full attack, the ridge is full of them, but the Union are deployed and ready below. Now the volley attrition begins to hurt... but who can take the pain best?

View from behind the Union lines, up the table. The last Union reserves are still marching up 'at the double quick'. The wagon is the war photographer, Roger Fenton... another scratch-built replica.

 

We plan to do something else next year for PeachyCon '27, so many choices... hmmm, maybe Nam??