Robert E. Rodes

When Lee reorganized the Army of Northern Virginia to compensate for the loss of Jackson, Rodes joined the Second Corps under Richard Ewell. At the Battle of Gettysburg, on July 1, 1863, Rodes led the assault from Oak Hill against the right flank of the Union I Corps. Although he successfully routed the division of Maj. Gen. John C. Robinson and drove it back through the town, his attack was not as well coordinated as it could have been and his pursuit was not as aggressively pursued as his reputation would have implied.
Rodes’ division sat idle for the remaining two days of the battle.

Completed Divisions

First up Johnson's Division. These were the figures that I picked up at the Bring'n'buy at the Border Reiver show. A quick touch up was all that was required. the infantry are all old glory, only the artillery are Peter Pig. As figures go the old glory are not as detailed or refined as the Peter Pig castings, however when painted up and displayed on mass they look excellent with huge variety in the poses.



Next up Early's Division. All of these figures are Peter Pig except for the model of Early, which is from Warrior Miniatures. I've order some of their infantry to help complete Rodes' Division.

Hay's Brigade - Louisiana Tigers pictures

Finally managed to take a couple of photos of Hay's Brigade. I painted up a couple of stands of Zouaves for this unit, just for the dash of colour. Particularly enjoyed painting the striped pants.

David Birney

At the Battle of Gettysburg, the III Corps commander was the notorious Maj. Gen. Daniel Sickles, under whom Birney command the 1st Division. On July 2, 1863, Sickles insubordinately moved his corps from its assigned defensive position on Cemetery Ridge. This meant Birney's new position was from the Devil's Den, to the Wheatfield, to the Peach Orchard, part of a salient directly in the path of the Confederate assault. It was too long a front for a single division to defend. Assaulted by the divisions of Maj. Gens. John Bell Hood and Lafayette McLaws, Birney's division was demolished. Army commander Meade rushed in reinforcements, but the line could not hold. Birney’s division and the entire III corps were finished as a fighting force.
As Birney watched the few survivors of his division gather about him on Cemetery Ridge, he whispered to one of his officers, "I wish I were already dead". Birney assumed temporary command of the corps after Sickles was grievously wounded by a cannonball, despite having received two minor wounds himself.

Edward Johnson

In 1863, following the reorganization of the Army of Northern Virginia to compensate for the death of Stonewall Jackson after the Battle of Chancellorsville, Johnson was promoted to major general and given command of the "Stonewall Division" in Lt. Gen. Richard S. Ewell's Second Corps. He was summoned back from medical leave to take the command.
By May 1863, Johnson had recovered enough to lead his new division in the Gettysburg Campaign. He still required a heavy hickory stick to move around on foot (and was known to use it against men he believed were shirking battle), giving him the nickname "Old Clubby" by his men.Johnson arrived at the Battle of Gettysburg on the evening of the first day, July 1, 1863. In a move that is still controversial, Ewell did not take advantage of Johnson's division and attack Cemetery Hill immediately that evening, when it might have been decisive. Johnson then controversially declined to attack Culp's Hill that same evening, for which he had a discretionary order. Johnson's division was the primary force that attacked Culp's Hill on the second and third days, suffering considerable casualties assaulting this impregnable position multiple times with no lasting success.

Figures

Visited the Border Reiver show today and managed to pick up a bargain from the bring and buy. Enough painted old glory 15's confederates for 27 fire and fury base and a divisional commander. Just need to paint up 7 spare figures that I have and I will have completed Johnson Division. The figures needed a little work. I've given them a wash with GW Badab black wash to help the figures match those that I have already painted, touched up the flesh and the white on the knapsacks and some of the belts. When finished basing I'll post pics of the 3 completed brigades as well as Hays' brigade from Early's Division.

Border Reiver Show Pictures

Just before my cameras batteries decided to pack up I did manage to get a few pictures of the Viking game we put on at the show. The game was well received by the public and we received a number of nice comments, which is very pleasing and a bit of a reward for all the effort Jon, harry and myself put into the game. The 2 longships and the construction of the terrain boards were common topics of discussion.

Layout of the game

The Saxon Village

Viking raiders launch their attack

Saxons move to block the viking advance

Saxon relief force begins to arrive


Vikings try their hand at shepherding

The vikings making their way towards the riches in the Church.

As for the show itself, it seemed to be well supported by both traders and public. There were a variety of games on show, Project X, 15mm Sci-fi. Medieval, ECW and a Sherlock Holmes game in the sewers of London (very nice terrain).