Gettysburg Day one question - Brockenbrough / Pettigrew arrival

[Norm]

For anyone in the know and who is familiar with ‘the morning of Day 1’ type scenarios.

I am playing a Gettysburg boardgame.

Heth’s Division arrives early with all 4 brigades (as he did).

In reality, for whatever reason, Heth held back Pettigrew’s and Brockenbrough’s brigades - leaving Archer and Davies to shoulder the burden of attack for the whole morning.

However in the game, there is nothing to stop Heth initially attacking with all 4 brigades …. I mean, as a wargamer why wouldn’t you ……. But this doesn’t seem to deliver the historical essence of the fighting that morning and it overwhelms the Union cavalry.

Since this is the opening action of the three day battle, the consequences of scenario design decisions are easier to spot.

I think I might have been happier if the scenario had placed some restrictions on Pettigrew / Brockenbrough, say a ‘release’ rule or hampering their movement or deployment to contact in the first few hours for example - but instead, it is a free for all, with those two brigades arriving on table at the correct time, but in effect by allowing their full use, the scenario makes Heth much more aggressive / assertive in his initial approach than he was.

Have you come across any scenario examples that  deal with this? Does it even matter in the big scheme of things? Thanks in advance.

[vtsaogames]

Heth (pronounced heath) didn't know that all he was facing was two cavalry brigades. Presumably at least one brigade should be held back to guard the baggage - something rarely done in games. When Davis' brigade attacked, its largest regiment was guarding the baggage. One had to worry about other troops on the same side looting baggage.

Also, don't know if all four brigades were up yet. They had to fit down one road. He might have just attacked with the first two and figured the others would arrive should he get into trouble.

[Norm]

Thanks Vincent, I have been chasing this up and am I’m surprised of the few sources I have at hand (books and games) seem to gloss over it. Boardgames can get away with simply having them arrive later for the afternoon fighting.

But from the bit that I have managed to pick up, the impression seems to be that two of his brigades (Pettigrew and Brockenbrough) were too far back to offer meaningful support to Archer and Davies when the attacks went in and that Heth was slow in updating the senior staff that he had met and was engaging the enemy - it comes across as a touch of tardiness on the part of Heth - is that the case?

In my boardgame commanders are not individually rated, they are just all commanders in a generic sort of way, so there isn’t an inherent command and control mechanism that would / could reflect any of this.

Perhaps I will just leave well alone.

[vtsaogames]

At the least, it seems Heth wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer. I suspect that he was looking for a fight and got more than he wanted. The usual tale of looking for shoes seems suspect. He must have known that Longstreet's troops had been through the town previously. Any extra shoes would have vanished then.

This also points up the problem of having Stuart and his cavalry on the wrong side of the Union Army. I feel the last is the direct result of Stuart having been surprised at Brandy Station and looking to repair his rep.

[CapnJim]

I agree about Heth.  he was definitely outclassed by Buford and Reynolds.

And, as already pointed out, his brigades were strung out along a single road.   By the time Pettigrew and Brockenbrough showed up, as I understand it they had to form their lines in contact with Reynold's lead units.  Like Reynolds to Buford in the movie, they did kinda surprise Harry Heth!