What if

[Amish John]

Not asking NSD to reveal anything here, but I hope one of the "what if" scenarios has Sickles positioned on Cemetery Ridge on the second day where Meade wanted him instead of the advanced position he actually took and we get a chance to see what may have happened if Longstreet had the opportunity to exercise his original plan on the 2nd.

[IronBMike]

I would have to imagine that there is no way this won't be included, seeing as it was a huge turn in the battle when Sickles moved forward.

[Amish John]

IronBMike wrote:

I would have to imagine that there is no way this won't be included, seeing as it was a huge turn in the battle when Sickles moved forward.

That would be my guess also.

[BOSTON]

Amish John wrote:

IronBMike wrote:

I would have to imagine that there is no way this won't be included, seeing as it was a huge turn in the battle when Sickles moved forward.

That would be my guess also.

Let's say it was historical that Sickles stayed put, What's your interpretation (how it would affect) of the end results of the GB battle?

BOSTON

[Amish John]

Same final outcome. Assuming Longstreet still made his 2nd July offensive with Sickles on Cemetery Ridge and the Federal defensive line more cohesive I'd say more Confederate casualties and less Federal casualties. Even if the rebs pushed further east and tried to come around Sickles left flank, the 5th Corps was coming up in supporting distance plus a large Federal artillery reserve nearby.

Other opinions?

[BOSTON]

Amish John wrote:

Same final outcome. Assuming Longstreet still made his 2nd July offensive with Sickles on Cemetery Ridge and the Federal defensive line more cohesive I'd say more Confederate casualties and less Federal casualties. Even if the rebs pushed further east and tried to come around Sickles left flank, the 5th Corps was coming up in supporting distance plus a large Federal artillery reserve nearby.

Other opinions?

I have'nt a comprehensive understanding of the battle, but looking at the GB map, If Sickles stayed put, Longstreet's charge would have centered more on the second day to capture the Round Tops, to gain artillery elevation advantage and perhaps to extend the battle another day or two just raining death down on Union troops. Forcing them (US) to attack or retreat.

BOSTON

[Amish John]

BOSTON wrote:

Amish John wrote:

Same final outcome. Assuming Longstreet still made his 2nd July offensive with Sickles on Cemetery Ridge and the Federal defensive line more cohesive I'd say more Confederate casualties and less Federal casualties. Even if the rebs pushed further east and tried to come around Sickles left flank, the 5th Corps was coming up in supporting distance plus a large Federal artillery reserve nearby.

Other opinions?

I have'nt a comprehensive understanding of the battle, but looking at the GB map, If Sickles stayed put, Longstreet's charge would have centered more on the second day to capture the Round Tops, to gain artillery elevation advantage and perhaps to extend the battle another day or two just raining death down on Union troops. Forcing them (US) to attack or retreat.

BOSTON

There is not enough room on the summit of LRT to position enough guns to force a major change in the Federal dispositions. Also any Confederate guns on LRT would be the target of severe counter battery fire. The Federal artillery can bring enough guns to bear on the summit of LRT to perhaps make that position untenable. This will be fun to try out in the game to see how the game responds.

[BOSTON]

What I am looking at is the flat ground to the east and north of the round tops, the elevation is unknown to me, I figured the US would have a harder time shooting uphill than the CSA shooting downhill, certainly harassment from both sides. What I was counting on was for JEB Stewart to swing around from the east to do damage to the US artillery reserve. Do a defacto Picket's charge to the west of LRT (while holding the round tops), with the intent of rolling up Meade's left flank defenses at the same time. I'm sure the rounds tops would have defensive bonuses to make them worthwhile to maintain.

[Rich Mac]

I'm not sure that the Confederates would have ever had the opportunity to truly exploit LRT. Considering that the attack took place so late in the afternoon, by the time LRT would have been cleared of Federal infantry and guns could have been brought forward there would have been a shortage of daylight. However, I also realize that without Sickles taking his forward position, the timetable could have been significantly changed and Longstreet could've had the chance to take LRT earlier in the afternoon.

All that being said, I think that Meade would have considered his position untenable and you would have seen a very hasty withdraw along the Baltimore Pike. I think that Meade truly favored the Pipe Creek Line and would have used this as a very good reason to take that position.

[BOSTON]

Rich Mac wrote:

I'm not sure that the Confederates would have ever had the opportunity to truly exploit LRT. Considering that the attack took place so late in the afternoon, by the time LRT would have been cleared of Federal infantry and guns could have been brought forward there would have been a shortage of daylight. However, I also realize that without Sickles taking his forward position, the timetable could have been significantly changed and Longstreet could've had the chance to take LRT earlier in the afternoon.

All that being said, I think that Meade would have considered his position untenable and you would have seen a very hasty withdraw along the Baltimore Pike. I think that Meade truly favored the Pipe Creek Line and would have used this as a very good reason to take that position.

If the Sickles "What if" scenario had a carryover scenario to the next day July 3rd, I think would be real interesting, what I described in stragey, is alot of wishful thinking that might be too much to pull-off in one day. Don't forget we have scenario time limits. As far as the guns on LRT go, those are the guns I"d want to capture.