Gaines' Mill 150th Anniversay

Gaines’ Mill was Lee’s first battle as commander of the Confederate Army.  His plan was to use Longstreet’s command to drive Porter’s troops into Jackson’s divisions on the Confederate left.  However, due to staff problems and lack of a map of the area, Confederate troops took the wrong roads and did not arrive when and where they were supposed to.  The battle was one of the bloodiest of the American Civil War lasting from mid-afternoon until the evening.

Since the South Bay game clubs meeting was taking place on June 23^rd only four days before the 150^th anniversary of the battle on June 27^th we decided to re-fight the battle that day. 

The re-fight was also bloody with heavy casualties on both sides.  Jackson’s command drove the Union regulars back, but Longstreet’s became involved in a lengthy fight for control of the Union entrenchments.    Though the Confederates eventually gained control of them the Union troops did not flee the battlefield as they had historically.  The result was a draw.   The game was played using half hour turns stating at 2:30 in the afternoon and was scheduled to end at 8:00.  We made it to the 6:30 turn.  We started with three players and a fourth player joined late in the game.  If we had started with four it is quite likely that we would have been able to complete all the turns.  The following are some pictures from the game.

 

Start of battle view from Confederate side

 Start of battle view from Union side

 Confederates attack Union right

Union left under fire 

 Union right stabilized

 Confederates over run guns on Union right

 Confederates push Union left out of entrenchments

 End of game.  Union forces are holding and not running.