Gettysburg (1958)

One of the original set of Avalon Hill "Adult Games" that includes U-Boat, Tactics II, Verdict, and Dispatcher.

This is one of the earliest "typical" wargames, with movement/strength counters, order of appearance chart, CRT, etc.

Board has square grid with squares 1" = 1/4 mile. One hour turns.

27 Confederate counters
41 Union counters

Units include infantry, cavalry, HQs, and outposts (pickets).

Roberts redesigned this game in 1961 with hexagons. Although it sold out, Roberts wasn't happy with it. He then re-released it in 1964 with squares again, like the 1958 version. However, the rules were significantly changed.

The 1958 version was basically a miniatures game on a map. You used range cards (shown in the illustration) both to move your units and then to check their firing range. Units could rotate on their centers before checking with a range card, which was placed along the front side of the rectangular pieces. You got better odds hitting from a flank. Artillery had double range of infantry or cavalry.

The game also had optional rules for hidden movement. You left the room while your opponent put his pieces on the board and moved them, recorded their new positions and removed them again! If they came within sight of a unit (including an outpost unit), he had to tell you where they were seen, or leave them on the board if still in sight. Line of sight rules for all this.

The 1964 version required you to keep your units aligned with the square grid rather than the free form miniatures style movement of the 1958 version.

from The Avalon Hill Company History, 1980

Gettysburg (1958) Discontinued 1961, Revised 1961, Revised 1964, Discontinued 1976, Revised 1977
Designed by Charles Roberts
1977 Design by Mick Uhl

For separate descriptions of 1958, 1961 and 1964 versions, see "Versions" tab on this page; for 1977 version see Gettysburg-1977-edition

The "revisions" in this case were actually new games as the components of one edition generally could not be interchanged with the others. The original version used a large square grid; hex grids having not yet been "invented." Subsequent editions would alternate between hex and square grids. The current (1980), edition designed by Mick Uhl, has nothing in common with its predecessors save the title. Pending extensive availability of a revised rulebook, readers are urged to acquire Vol. 15, No. 1 of The General (see The GENERAL Vol.15,No.1) for the extensive errata contained therein.

Magazine References:

The GENERAL Index Article List:

• The GENERAL Vol.1,No.1
  • The Question Corner - Afrika Korps, Gettysburg
• The GENERAL Vol.1,No.2
  • Gettysburg – “ORIGINAL GETTYSBURG IS BACK!” (Commentary)
  • Gettysburg – “Was the Battle of Gettysburg 'Fixed?'” (Commentary)
• The GENERAL Vol.1,No.4
  • Gettysburg – “Arctic” (Discussion) Martin D. Leith
• The GENERAL Vol.1,No.5
  • Gettysburg – “How to Save Your Gettysburg (Hex) Game” (Variant Discussion) Lou Zocchi
  • The Question Box - Midway, Gettysburg, Chancellorsville, Baseball Strategy, Stalingrad, Tactics II
• The GENERAL Vol.2,No.1
  • The Question Box - Afrika Korps, Midway, The Battle of the Bulge, D-Day, Gettysburg
• The GENERAL Vol.2,No.4
  • Gettysburg – “Gettysburg: tactics '58, '64” (Strategy) Myron Brundage's Editorial Staff
• The GENERAL Vol.3,No.3
  • Gettysburg – “Gettysburg Reversal” (Strategy) Leonard Greene
• The GENERAL Vol.3,No.5
  • Gettysburg – “Gettysburg by Points” (Variant Discussion) Mark Dumdei
• The GENERAL Vol.4,No.1
  • Gettysburg – “CONTEST NO. 19” (Strategy)
• The GENERAL Vol.4,No.4
  • Gettysburg – “Gettysburg Expanded” (Variant Discussion) Geoff Burkman
• The GENERAL Vol.4,No.5
  • Gettysburg – “Union Victory Made Easy” (Strategy) 2nd Lt. Stephen Gilliatt
  • The Question Box - Afrika Korps, Bismarck, Gettysburg, Waterloo, Blitzkrieg, The Battle of the Bulge, Guadalcanal
• The GENERAL Vol.5,No.2
  • Gettysburg – “Togetherness for the Confederates” (Strategy) Alvin Files
  • Gettysburg – “CONTEST NO. 26” (Strategy)
• The GENERAL Vol.6,No.1
  • Gettysburg – “If Heth Had Gone Forward ...” (Historical) Gary Gygax
• The GENERAL Vol.6,No.3
  • Gettysburg – “Battle at Gettysburg” (Variant Discussion) Steve Grimmett
• The GENERAL Vol.6,No.5
  • Gettysburg – “Gettysburg Like it Was” (Historical) Stephen Tang
• The GENERAL Vol.7,No.1
  • The Question Box - 1914, Gettysburg, Anzio, Midway, The Battle of the Bulge
• The GENERAL Vol.8,No.1
  • Gettysburg – “Gettysburg, What Price Victory?” (Variant Discussion) Alan Augenbraun
• The GENERAL Vol.8,No.2
  • Gettysburg – “A Look at an Old Favorite” (Variant Discussion) Mitch Gniadek
• The GENERAL Vol.8,No.4
  • Gettysburg – “...there never was a body of 15,000 men who could make that attack successfully.” (Variant Discussion) Paul McBrearty
• The GENERAL Vol.9,No.2
  • Gettysburg – “Effective Gettysburg ...” (Variant Discussion) Mark Wielga
• The GENERAL Vol.9,No.4
  • The Question Box - D-Day, Guadalcanal, The Battle of the Bulge, Blitzkrieg, Gettysburg
• The GENERAL Vol.10,No.3
  • The Question Box - France, 1940, Gettysburg, Afrika Korps
• The GENERAL Vol.10,No.6
  • Gettysburg – “A Realistic Solution” (Variant Discussion) Joseph M. Boslet
• The GENERAL Vol.11,No.1
  • Gettysburg – “Reader Buyer's Guide Submission Form” (Insert)
• The GENERAL Vol.11,No.2
  • Reader Buyer's Guide - Gettysburg