The central position in attack: Gettysburg Day 1

[JasonC]

My comments on the proposed Confederate approach...

You are giving the Union too much time and a smart Union player can use that to hold pretty easily. Terrain isn't the key in any of it, the positioning of the forces is more important. If the Union stays too far forward under concentric assault that late in the first day, then your scheme might work, but there is no need for him to do so. If you are waiting clear until Anderson can arrive, then the Union can have brestworks all along Cemetary and its approaches (made by XI corps or even Robinson of I corps), perhaps even at intervening positions (Seminary, sunken road e.g.) on some parts of the front.

Then the Union just pulls out when your adequate forces finally arrive. You say so much the better because Seminary is harder to hold - but it isn't particularly weaker than McPherson's (which is too far forward anyway) as a reverse slope position, and nothing a few brestworks can't make a stronger line. All of the Union positions besides Cemetary should be treated as outpost lines anyway, and given up voluntarily as soon as the pressure on them gets hot. The Union shouldn't be sticking around to melee-brawl over anything, day 1.

Just fire and fall back, repeat as needed. The Rebels won't have any guns set up anywhere useful, that you can't just "skulk" away from within half an hour, making them move them again.

Ridges aren't cover by sitting on the crest line, but by sheltering the main body behind it. Sure have a few batteries and smaller regiments to skirmish at range, but the main body stays out of rifle fire until you want to accept combat. Then a short movement establishes LOS. That is basic reverse slope fighting principles in any era.

What I typically do instead as the confederates is just turn McPherson to the south with Pender. It is enough to lever the Union off the ridge, and if they don't go they will be "bagged" once Rhodes and Early show up as well. Instead of trying to smash the union center, I lap around it on both flanks. XI corps north of the town is too weak to hold off Rhodes and Early, and that position is bad anyway because retreat through the town is a mess. Much worse than Seminary. Meanwhile Pender marches or fights across McPherson to Seminary well south of the cavalry and 1st division of I corps. With marching doing as much of the "lifting" as possible.

The only part this has in common with your plan is that Heth skirmishes and sets up a grand battery instead of pushing hard, and I assume anyone who has played the rebels more than twice has figured that out. He fixes, but then you deploy and turn the Union left with Pender, then Rhodes and Early turn the Union right. No need for any frontal slogging match with I corps. The Union will pull out of the sack to avoid being trapped in it. When he goes back through the town you take what you can - cheaply - beyond it.

Then you need to assess whether to try to take the hill end of Cemetary or flank it, late day 1 or early day 2.