NC is invaded in New Bern. Gatlin intervenes, the Odds are 2.68 to 1 and CSA is forced to retreat. Our losses consist in a single INF dmg and it's the same losses the Union sustained. This thanks to the spawned MIL who fought better than i had imagined. Another of my many mistakes, the forces in Wilmington could not move to support due to the bad terrain, however two stacks are moved in the nearby area and whatever the situation I am determined to retake New Bern next turn. You will certainly think that more mistakes will come after I've learned to play. One of the things that i see as a wonderful effect of smart designing is the fact that you can play this game 1000 times but there's no way to reproduce the same situation and the same moves. Next time, i could consider better the terrain in Wilmington, but surely Gallatin and other leaders would have different stats thus producing different results which, in turn, demand for different choics.
The situation in MO is advantageous. Price has no initiative and can't seize those resources in the far West. However, i intend to keep the offensive going, so my main force will keep being screened by CAV and will keep receiving priority reinforcements from AR, disregarding TX. Bouie will have to supply Crittenden on itself and hope to take back Galveston. I can't divert those few reinforcements from MO now. The Union is probably puzzled by the forces of Hardee in AR. We have superiority here in MO as i had expected and we must press on before the Union reinforces its positions.
In LA the situation seems to have stalled. The Union doesn't have the numbers to attack me and press for New Orleans. However my main concern are the Union gunboats in Mississipi. I will try to take them by surprise with the movement of 2 HVY arty to Vicksburg coming from Mobile (which is now covered by my previous move in the neighbouring region). The gunboat sent from memphis and the gunboat who had retreated to Little rock after the defeat, have been damaged or destroyed. I do have a new gunboat ready but i can't risk it right now on the river battle...however this Union river detachment will certainly cut off my strategic movement allowance by sinking my transports. I hope my Hvy Arty will do the job, however more dmg Arty will be diverted to Mississipi once repaired. I am getting more and more discomforted by the lack of initiative in Ft. St. James. Releasing the river from blockade would rise the spirits (and supplies) a lot!
The situation in TN is desperate. I conveyed to Nashville as many reinforcements as i could and Grant unfortunately has the initiative. The rough assessment of the mere forces of Grant (but you can see the whole border is crowded with enemy troops) is 60.000 if he hasn't received more reinforcements. We must be ready to lose TN and fall back. Luckily i don't think Grant can move into battle all his troops at the same time as now that Johnston has been reinforced, and with all the neighbouring region containing troops in easy terrain my reaction moves would be more than successful. We also benefit from the presence of Forts which could prove a key factor in our defense strategy. Not everything is lost...yet and if we can delay the Union in MO perhaps we have a chance to convey more reinforcements in the future. Our goal is to delay them as much as possible so that we may make it hard for them to advance. In order to do that, more supplies are needed but the main priority is not to lose the army of Tennessee.
This is the time, now or never!
Sun Tzu teaches never to risk everything if you can't commit everything. And i sure did. Longstreet, Jackson and all the other leaders able to reach combat stations have been sent to Harper's Ferry to exploit an evident weakness in the Union lines. The number of troops involved are more than 6 to 1 (before the Union reaction phase) however combat factors and not numbers are needed to produce an overrun attack. My previous raids (Ashby) have cut off the rail in Harper's Ferry while Stuart is in combat himself and Bonham has ensured that the number of Union soldiers is at reach. This is a turning point where we can either be defeated slightly or take a strong victory with the PP rising to our favor.
An analisys of the situation in Ft. Monroe, also shows that the Union has diverted some of their troops there to invade New Bern NC. My gunboat in the bordering waters is ready to intervene in support in Ft. Monroe attack and troops have been mobilized from Richmond to New Kent. If it is true the Union outnumbers us by 2 to 1 already, this is not true in localyzed conflicts. The mere threat of an assault will force the Union to divert troops from the TN theater and open windows i can exploit, such as the one at Harper's Ferry. Besides, the very same position in New Bern has to be reinforced or be lost next turn by the Union. ...i suffer the pressure but so does the Union now.
The political situation is grim. A new Raider has been built as i deem necessary to steal more Union supplies (and PP). 2 raiders have been converted so far to Runners...and Semmes was my most valuable admiral...bad luck. The loss of these 30 supplies used to build this raider is sorely felt. After combat in Harper's Ferry i will need all possible replacements in line and trained as fast as possible because the counterattack will come through the Potomac. To this end, all production points have been used to build supplies. 15 supplies = 75 units, barely enough to sustain my armed forces. The blockade factors are starting to be seriously felt by CSA.
Cross the fingers for Harper's Ferry!
