American Civil War Game Club (ACWGC)

My revised scenario for the Battle of Gettysburg (Gettysburg Supplied) has now been made available in the 'Customized Scenario Database' which can be found here (https://www.acwgc.net/customgames).

This scenario is essentially '007 Gettysburg' with the following changes.

Supply
Some consider that the Battle of Gettysburg scenarios have insufficient supply, for both sides (and artillery ammunition for the CSA). Therefore, I have increased supply as follows:
CSA - Supply wagons from 4,400 to 8,200, Artillery at start to 7,393 (up from 5110); and
USA - Supply wagons from 6,900 to 12,000, Artillery still 11,335.

Supply Wagons
Supply wagon supply was based on Blake Strickler's system as described in one of his videos. I have not increased the number of wagons as I still wanted there to be some probability of localised shortages (as occurred in this battle and many others). So, if you lose a supply wagon you are likely to lose a lot more than previously. However, Campaign Gettysburg does not allocate any VPs for supply so there are no point penalties. You will (especially if playing as the Confederates) miss the loss of a large amount of supply if one of your wagons is taken.

Artillery
Getting the artillery right was a bit more involved. Researching it I found out that during the Battle of Gettysburg the Union expended about 106 rounds per gun while the CSA expended 103 rounds per gun. The important point to note is that both armies fired off about the same number of rounds per gun. In this scenario:
The Union's current allocation gives them 31.8 rounds per gun (35.3% of the actual fired);
The Confederate's new allocation gives them 29.68 rounds per gun (less than 30% of actual expenditure).
I'm thinking that the original designer didn't provide anything approaching the number of rounds fired or there would be too much damage and people would be firing at everything and everything at maximum range. So, keeping both sides at around one-third seems about right to me. The Union maintains a good advantage in the artillery arm (more guns and more rounds per gun).

Other Changes

The supply wagons for Rodes and Early were moved (stacked with an infantry unit) to inhibit suicide attacks by Union cavalry to remove a substantial amount of Confederate supply.

Meade is 'on map' in 007 Gettysburg and this has the effect of detaching the Union Corps Commanders from Turn 1. The same does not occur for the Confederates as Lee does not enter the map until later. To prevent this from occurring, Meade (plus associated cavalry units and the Provost Guard) have been removed from the map and now enter as reinforcements. They enter at {202,303} to enable them to reach Taneytown in time for their previous release time there of 7:00 pm on 1 July.

Tests

I am currently playing this for the second time with another experienced Member. Gettysburg on the big map is, to me, more realistic than the 'Historical Gettysburg' that is usually the scenario played. The big map also makes the Confederate player really feel their lack of cavalry (as should occur). Buford's cavalry reigns supreme, able to threaten the Confederate advance down the Chambersburg Pike or head elsewhere to perform other tasks. Both sides need to take care of their flanks and rear, this is not 'Historical Gettysburg' where the lines of advance and supply are considerably shortened.

The supply seems to work well; there are sufficient, but not excessive, amounts. The Confederate player will still not be able to fire off their guns at anything and everything if they expect their artillery ammunition to last three days. [Artillery casualties have been very heavy in both games. This arose due to the current quirk with artillery (not the new supply situation) which should be addressed in the next WDS update.]

_________________
Paul Swanson
Lieutenant-General
First Division
First Corps
Army of Northern Virginia

It plays well.

My advice; don't try to defend Gettysburg with Buford. The CSA will learn to hate them on day one if used correctly.

BTW, this game can be played very differently each time it is attempted.

When I was the Union, I tried to avoid combat on day one, thinking I would be outnumbered and below the CSA quality average. Day one had less than 1000 losses for both sides combined.

General Swanson is now playing the Union (and hating every minute as a blue belly) and did a good job holding on until fresh troops could arrive. Now my CSA is just barely holding south of Gettysburg as the Union pushes North. I see what he is trying to do with his human wave assaults on my artillery. He is trying to bleed me dry of artillery ammo.

BTW, I will get Buford if it is the last thing I ever do!

_________________
Brigadier General Richard Walker
II Corps, 4th Division, 6th Brigade
Army of Tennessee
(JTS/WDS Scenario Designer)

I agree. Buford has had a prominent role in both games. In neither has he attempted to defend against Heth's advance to Gettysburg. I think that Buford would only try to stop Heth would be if Heth advanced tentatively towards Gettysburg (as he did historically, constrained by Lee's orders).


I agree. It is a credit to the original designer. The overall design works as he intended.


The Confederates now have enough artillery ammunition to last three days, but they do not have an inexhaustible supply. I suspect you may also be starting to run short on supply wagon supply, certainly in some sectors.
The Union continues to plod (as is their way) forward.


He was a menace to me when I was the Confederates. It only seems fair that the favour should be returned. His command has, over the course of two days, traversed a significant part of the very large battlefield.

_________________
Paul Swanson
Lieutenant-General
First Division
First Corps
Army of Northern Virginia