"Give them the cold steel!" - A Gettysburg-TL

Dear audience,
A few quick remarks before I begin posting:
1. After years of lurking and reading, this will be my first attempt of a TL.
2. English is not my first language, but I hope the quality of my vocabulary and grammar is sufficient.
3. Yes, this is another Gettysburg-TL. I chose this, because the ACW is my favorite time period, I visited Gettysburg two times and I own a large amount of books concerning the topic.
4. The scenario is already well scetched out and you might expect regular updates. As a busy university student I might not always live up to the expectations though ;-)
5. My main intent is to focus on a realistic different approach concerning the battle. This includes military decisions and also casualty figures. If anybody believes it gets to wanky-ish, please keep me informed.
6. Feel free to give me any form of positive or negative but nevertheless constructive feedback.

PROLOGUE

Evening, June 30th, 1863
Headquarters, Army of Northern Virginia


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„General Longstreet, you have rendered me excellent service by providing the information of your spy, two days ago.“,

Robert Edward Lee, commanding General of the confederate Army of Northern Virginia, addressed his trusted second-in-command, Lieutenant General James Longstreet.

„Because of the absence of General Stuart with most of our mounted forces, it was essential for our cause to be informed, that all seven federal corps are on the march to follow our army’s movements.
Today, General Hill passed me a note* concerning a potential concentration of enemy forces near a small pennsylvanian town. One of his brigades, Pettigrew’s, briefly skirmished with a federal cavalry contingent. Pettigrew fiercly insists, that it has been neither militia, nor irregular troops, but elements of the Army of the Potomac. If there is cavalry, infantry is to be expected close behind.
Because of the railroad connections to the town and the good ground, I do believe we have an opportunity here to offer battle on circumstances favorable to us."

"What is the name of this town?", Longstreet asked after a brief silence.

"Gettysburg."

"Sir, I have to inform you about the disposition of my divisions. Hood, Mc Laws and the bulk of George Pickett's men are located near Fayetteville. It will take them possibly a day's march to reach the vicinity of Gettysburg. Jenkins' and Corse's brigades, that were attached back to Pickett thanks to your bargain with President Davis, are still around Williamsport and might need even longer to approach**. Therefore we are left with Hill's corps between Greenwood and Cashtown and Ewell, who is mostly concentrated around Heidlersburg, for immediate action."

"I am aware of that, General. My explicit orders to Generals Hill and Ewell this afternoon were, to take the town of Gettysburg tomorrow by force, but not to risk the integrity of the army by recklessly wrecking our available troops. It is the only army capable of offensive actions we have in the field in this theatre. I forbade any piecemeal attacks. We are going to go in with strenght, trying to quickly overwhelm any strung-out federal forces we encounter. Then we will await what George Meade has to offer as a reaction."

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*IOTL Heth and Hill did not pay attention to Pettigrew's remarks
**IOTL Pickett (deprived of two of his brigades) was located near Williamsport on June 30th. Corse and Jenkins had been detached.
 
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7:30 AM, 1st July 1863
Chambersburg Pike, three miles west of Gettysburg

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The first grey-clad figures appeared in the sight of the Union cavalry vedettes posted along the Chambersburg Pike, which lead from Cashtown to Gettysburg. Those sentrys were part of Gamble's brigade in Brig. Gen. John Bufords first cavalry division. Buford indeed was screening the approach of the Army of the Potomac.

The riders in grey though belonged to William "Grumble" Jones', whose nickname was earned due to his irritable disposition. At the beginning of the campaign, Jones' 1.100 men were assigned to Hill's 3rd corps in order to provide mounted support to each of the three large infantry formations in the Army of Northern Virginia*. As sort of a déja-vu, Buford had now to face the same brigade of confederates, he had not been able to dislodge with his entire division nearly three weeks earlier. But in this case, the position of attacker and defender were interchanged.

After sending the vedettes into confused retreat, the confederate horsemen pushed on east, following the road in the general direction of Gettysburg town. On a larger elevation, Herr's Ridge, they met first real resistance by a line of dismounted cavalry men using dragoon-style tactics.

As an impatient and rash decision-maker, Jones ordered the assault without long hesitation. With blaring bugles and waving battleflags, Jones' brigade trotted towards the federals. Nearly half a mile away, the troopers from the 6th, 7th and 11th Virginia pulled out their sabers and pistols and broke into gallop. Standing in their way were several regiments of Gamble's 1.600 strong cavalry brigade. Confronted with a mad dash of yelling confederates, the federals cooly delivered a volley, as the enemy approached fastly. Horses were tumbling to the ground, men were thrown from their backs and the several pityful cries from the wounded and dying were heard, mixed in with surprised shouts concerning the unexpectedly heavy stronghold presented to them. Gamble's men, mostly from the 8th and 12th Illinois, breechloaded quickly and produced a second, ragged volley, which hurled the confederate counterparts into withdrawal. They left behind several dozen killed and wounded.

Uneasy silence fell on Herr's Ridge, but it was soon to be broken by the rhythmical, booming steps of marching columns. Two of Heth's infantry brigades had closely followed in the foot- and hooveprints of "Grumble"'s horsemen, directly succeeded by a bataillon of divisional artillery**.

Marching up were Archer's and Davis' brigades, together fielding about 3.500 infantry. They formed lines north and south of Chambersburg Pike and reinforced Jones' effort to drive Gamble's people off the ridge. Facing an overwhelmingly outnumbering host, the federals had no choice but to abandon their position. They fell back towards McPherson's ridge, another, lower elevation featuring a small farm and a neighbouring forest, McPherson's farm and McPherson's woods.

While Heth at 9:20am*** reached Herr's Ridge, Buford, who had frantically called for reserves since last evening, discovered familiar banners watching east through his binoculars: Reynolds' first corps of union infantry was quickly nearing the battlefield.

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*IOTL Jones' brigade was guarding the confederate trains south of the Potomac and Heth advanced without any cavalry support
**IOTL Heth unconventionally led with the artillery, losing time in the approach
***Due to the support, Heth reaches Herr's Ridge an hour earlier than IOTL.
 
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Interesting. I'll be looking forward to seeing where this goes. Subscribed.

Always good to have another Gettysburg TL around :)

As an aside can you maybe make those footnotes a little bigger, they're a bit hard on the eyes with the small size :openedeyewink:
 
10:00 AM, 1st July 1863,
Herr’s Ridge, west of Gettysburg


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During the last half hour, Heth had redressed the ranks of his troops. He ordered his two lead brigadiers to form their regiments into a battleline with each just a single unit in reserve. Therefore he expected to be able to put pressure on a broader front and might achieve a quick collapse on any enemy formation coming up in his way.

Additionally, Heth positioned the divisional artillery, Garnett's bataillon of guns, in person. He chose the plain surface of Herr's Ridge south of Chambersburg Pike. The four batteries were facing the woodline near McPherson's farm and the top of Gettysburg's lutheran seminary beyond. After being satisfied with his arrangement and composition, Major General Heth told his brigadier generals Archer and Davis to advance.

Heth was well aware of the fact, that several brigades of federal infantry were approaching Gettysburg from the south-east. This had been delivered him due to a small reconnaissance operation by a squadron of Jones' cavalry.

He had heard nothing yet from Ewell’s 2nd Corps up in the north, but his remaining two brigades were closing the distance. Also, Dorsey Pender’s men, Hills next division in line, had departed their encampments. It seemed, that the engagement was growing, and Henry Heth was of the opinion, he was to play an important role in the upcoming events.
 
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10:15 AM, 1st July 1863
Herr’s Ridge to Willoughby Run


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James J. Archer was leading his brigade, 1.200 strong, down the slope of Herr's Ridge. In the front were from left to right the 7th, 14th and 1st Tennessee regiments, as well as the 13th Alabama. The 5th Alabama bataillon formed his reserve in the back. He had been told by a messenger, that union infantry was entering McPherson's Woods from the east end. As a result, Archer was well prepared for a brawl and pushed his skirmishers forward, before crossing Willoughby Run. While forcing his horse to cross the small stream in his way, he heard an eruption of cannon fire in his back, and, a few moments later, registered the impact to his front. Much pleased he noted, that he would not go in without support. Garnett's guns were focussing on the federals right before him.

This backing however was urgently needed, because only seconds later several cries from the skirmish lines were heard: "That's no ordinary infantry, it's those damned black hat fellows again!".

Opposing Archers confederates from Tennessee and Alabama was the famous Iron Brigade, containing western regiments from Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana. It had seen first action at the 2nd Battle of Manassas, where it held Brawner’s farm against repeated attacks from Lawton’s and Trimble’s confederate brigades and even fought the well known Stonewall Brigade nearly to a standstill. The Iron Brigade’s degree of familiarity was further molded during the battles of Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, where it had suffered heavy casualties and it’s soldiers had received a reputation as fierce and tenacious fighters.

Those 1.830 veterans were now headed by Brig. Gen. Solomon Meredith. Leaving the 6th Wisconsin in reserve, the 2nd and 7th Wisconsin, 19th Indiana and 24th Michigan entered the treeline, already suffering from the heavy artillery barrage. Even though being targeted in that fashion, Meredith's men still outnumbered Archer by a significant amount and the former was eager to use this to his advantage.

After having processed the vital information about his opponent, Archer ordered his skirmishers back and immediately halted his line. Soon, vicious long-range musket fire erupted between the two commands, as the confederates spotted the characteristic Hardee hats in the dense forest. In some places, the exchange of shots was so vehement, that branches caught fire, while ripe fruits exploded from the impact of swarming minié balls. Also, several trees had been felled by solid shot. The Iron Brigade, in it's usual agressive pattern that had already earned fame and praise on so many battlefields, advanced through a hailstorm of enemy fire and closed the distance.

As Archer was being aware of the fact, that the 24th Michigan began to overlap his right flank, he immediately ordered the 5th Alabama bataillon, his sole reserve force, to counter any flanking maneuvre. In the woods, the Alabamians produced a well aimed volley into the Michiganders, bringing down their colonel, Henry A. Morrow, and were momentarily being able to check the federal host. But Archer, even though causing considerable casualties to the western unionists, was soon beginning to lose more and more men he could not spare. His small brigade was in danger of being overwhelmed.

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Thanks already for your input. The size of the footnotes has been increased.

I don't want to give away to much on the course of this TL, but I think the general direction is clear. Overall, I got my inspiration from a passage in Tucker's "Barksdale's Charge: The True High Tide of the Confederacy at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863". I spent hours to calculate possible casualty figures down to every brigade to keep it as realistic as possible. I am going to include those numbers in the text flow, where the opportunity arises.
 
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