RTG #1
Replay of Roads to Gettysburg,
Scenario 6: The Gettysburg Campaign
This is my first solitaire replay of RTG using the standard series rules. Several years ago, I played this campaign using SLB rules and I remember the fatigue system allowing Ewell to really cover ground at the beginning. By the time the Standard Series rules came about, I was mainly interested in OTR and other non-GCACW gaming. So, I look forward to seeing how the Standard Series rules work in RTG. With the clear terrain, I expect artillery to play a big part. The Union cavalry will also get a big boost with divisional commanders. I decided to play with the 1863 optional entrenchment rules.
My plan for the Confederates is to send Ewell's corps north and east to levy as much as possible while Hill secures the naval battery in order to guard Lee's line of communications (i.e., deny Washington county control VPs). From there it depends on the arrival of the AoP. If practicable, Ewell will attempt to take Harrisburg. Most likely the Rebs will need to control Adams or York counties to win, so the ANV will converge on the center of the map in mid-to-late game.
For the Union, it depends on the board situation when the AoP arrives. There are too many variables to go in with a specific strategy. When the AoP arrives, you decide how much force to invest going for Washington County VPs versus how much force to send after the ANV. If you can take on part of the ANV, go for it since an united ANV is tough and will most likely do a lot of damage to you.
RTG#1: June 22nd to 28th
| Date | Random Event | AoP Arrival | VP |
| June 22 | NA | NA | +0 |
| June 23 | NA | 6=NE | +2 |
| June 24 | NA | 2=NE | +7 |
The campaign opens with Ewell's corps marching north into Pennsylvania. Rodes marches 21 miles to Chambersburg and Ewell marches 19 miles to Harbaugh's Store (just across the Pennsylvania border). Knipe rails back to Harrisburg. On June 23rd, Rodes marches 11 miles to Shippensburg; Ewell marches 15 miles to Rose Grove, crossing through the South Mountain range at Monterey Gap. A sub left behind levies Greencastle.
With the Standard Series fatigue recovery rules, Ewell's troops can cover a lot of ground in the first couple of turns by marching 3 times per turn. Ewell's corps rolled well for movement the first day (expected distance on three marches is 16.5 miles). The Rebs also passed their extended march rolls.
On the 24th, Rodes rests and levies Shippensburg. Another detached sub from Rodes levies Chambersburg. Ewell continues to press north, marching 17 miles to Hershey's Mill (just north of Gettysburg) with Johnson's division and a sub. Early stays behind in Gettysburg. Hill's corps is released to move and heads for the Naval Battery. Pender flanks the battery from the east and Anderson assaults from the west, routing Kenly (+4/+7 2DR/a). Anderson moves across the Potomac into Harper's Ferry and makes a normal attack against Smith's entrenched brigade. The Union defense stiffens causing Reb losses and their first ammo loss (+3/-2 f/2D). Heth reinforces Anderson, burns the HF RR station and assaults Elliot (+4/+2 Dr/1Da). Heth and Anderson end the day disorganized, exhausted and at F1.
Capturing the Naval Battery is an important Confederate objective due to its defensive benefits (fort+mountain). By holding the Naval Battery, the Rebs can deny the Union control of Washington County. It is risky though as poor dice can leave a division or two out of action for a day as happened here. The Rebs are also down two ammo rounds which could come back to hurt since ammo resupply is not automatic.
| Date | Random Event | AoP Arrival | VP |
| June 25 | 6=NE | 7=NE | +9 |
| June 26 | 9=NE | 4=B | +12 |
On the 25th, Rodes continues the drive north, marching 20 miles to Carlisle. Johnson makes another long march for the fourth day in a row, covering 17 miles along the road towards Harrisburg. Johnson (Jackson's old division incidentally) has covered 68 miles in 4 days! Early levies Gettysburg. Hill's corps recovers in Harper's Ferry and Pickett marches north to Greencastle.
The Army of the Potomac arrives on the 26th with a bonus cycle. Reynolds leads his wing into the Catoctin valley towards the South Mountain passes. Kilpatrck's cavalry heads for Westminster in Carroll County.
During the action cycle of the 26th, the Confederates use the first several initiatives to pull Hill's corps north towards Antietam Creek. A 6MP brigade is left behind in the Naval Battery. Longstreet (McLaws and Hood) move towards Antietam Creek to support Hill's corps in case of Federal attack. Rodes remains in the Cumberland Valley and levies Carlisle and Newville. Ewell and Johnson countermarch south to join Early near Hanover.
Though the Naval Battery and its weak garrison looks like a no-brainer attack for the South, I'm not a big advocate of it because it often leaves the ANV out of position as was the case here. The AoP should arrive on the 25th or sooner about 50% of the time (which is the case here if you take into account the bonus cycle). This doesn't give Hill much time to attack the Naval Battery, recover and march north. With the current situation, it will be difficult for Lee to put space between the ANV and the AoP. Also, since much of the ANV is still in Maryland, there is not a lot of pressure for the Union to march north, making it easier to send a corps into Washington County for lots of VP (2 or 5 per turn for over 10 turns). Thus, the Rebels will have to garrison Washington County or prepare to accept the loss of several VPs.
For the Union, Sickles' III Corps moves towards the Naval Battery and gets between Hill's main force near Sharpsburg and the detachment at the Battery. DM Gregg's cavalry moves to support Sickles. The I, XI Corps secure Turner's Gap and the V Corps marches into the Catoctin Valley to support Reynolds' force. Meade keeps the II and XII Corps in reserve near Frederick. Buford is sent north to support Kilpatrick who marches to Union Mills (a few miles north of Westminster) and rests.
Meade is keeping some of his force east of the Catoctins so that the Union can react towards Gettysburg if Lee moves that direction. Two Union cavalry divisions are sent north to slow down or prevent Ewell from levying the country side. The other cavalry division is sent to western Maryland to attach the two 1 MP regiments that start the game there. Hancock's II Corps will also attach the brigades that start in Frederick and some of the survivors from the Naval Battery garrison have slipped back over the South Mountain passes and will be absorbed into Reynolds’s force.
Near Harrisburg, the PA Militia is allowed to move and begins to secure the defense of the State Capitol. Two forces are created, one at Harrisburg and one in the mountains east of the Susquehanna River. Each force is lead by a detached substitute (thus raising the tactical from 0 to 1). Both forces will attempt to dig in as fast as possible before Ewell can attack.
| Date | Random Event | Stuart Arrival | VP |
| June 27 | 5=Union CP | 4-2=NE | +15 |
| June 28 | 8=CS Reinf. | 4-1=NE | +15 |
June 27th results in Union Command Paralysis, but the armies are not in contact, so it has little effect. The Confederate I and III Corps march from Antietam Creek towards Monterey Gap but poor rolling leaves them short of the mountain passes. Longstreet encamps near Waynesboro and Hill near Harbaugh's Store. Both corps march three times but only cover about 13 miles. Pickett has spent the day in Waynesboro and imposes a levy. Ewell levies Hanover and sends Early (6MP) to York. Kilpatrick threatens to prevent the levy of Hanover but there are too many Rebs near by (Johnson's division and two 5MP subs). Rodes (6MP) and another 5 MP sub begin marching south from the Cumberland Valley towards Gettysburg.
Meade sends the II and XII Corps north to Woodsborough and Liberty (respectively) in Frederick East County. The I, V, VI and XI Corps retire towards Frederick since it appears Lee is heading to Pennsylvania. DM Gregg's cavalry division marches through Sharpsburg, into Virginia (West Virginia) to Harper's Ferry, cutting off the retreat path of the Reb Naval Battery garrison. The Union III Corps threatens to surround the Reb detachment so it flees north towards Sharpsburg. Sickles secures the Naval Battery for the Union. To the north, Kilpatrick's cavalry end the day between Hanover and York; Buford's division between Taneytown and Littlestown.
On June 28th, the first increment of Confederate reinforcements arrive and Stuart fails to show up for the second turn. Longstreet and Hill march through the Monterey Gap and are still moving slowly. Anderson's division (10 Manpower) is detached to Falling Waters to guard the ANV's line of communications (i.e., Washington County). Imboden, the reinforcement, moves to Williamsport. In Pennsylvania, Rodes moves to Middletown and rests about 6 miles north of Gettysburg. Early secures York but is unable to impose a levy due to the presence of Buford and Kilpatrick's cavalry. Johnson attempts to drive the cavalry off by moving up from Hanover, but poor movement rolls leave him short of reaching York.
Meade continues to march towards Gettysburg. From head to tail, the AoP stretches from Bridgeport (II Corps), to Frederick (III Corps). Buford and Kilpatrick's divisions spend the day playing cat and mouse with Ewell's force near York and prevent a levy for the time being. Knipe (beefed up to 8 manpower) rails to a few miles north of York at the end of the turn.
The Union is able to delay the levying of York but without strong infantry support, the Confederates should be able to impose a levy. The delay could be costly as it will prevent Lee from uniting the ANV as quickly as he would like. Knipe's brigade is brought to the area in hopes he can stack with Buford's 2-tactical and provide a formidable force so that Ewell will have to bring all of Johnson's force near Hanover to York instead of sending them to Gettysburg.
