Glory Road -- A Union After Action Report

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GGWBTS is such a great product, for the first time in 30 years of wargaming, of both the board and computer variety, I have been moved to write an after action report for further enjoyment. I hope board users will find it entertaining.

Scenario -- Full 1861 Campaign
Union vs. Confederate AI
Difficulty Normal
Game Settings -- Options selected are Fog of War, Semi-Random Leader Ratings, Unknown Leader Ratings, Corps Subcommanders, and Limited Command Point Recovery

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By the way, I am unsure how to take screenshots, and cant seem to find the hotkey in the manual. If anyone can enlighten me, I would like to be able to post screenshots with this AAR.

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[font="times new roman"]Harper’s Monthly, July 1861 – [/b]Since the first shots fired by the Southern traitors at Fort Sumter several months ago, our nation has eagerly awaited President Lincoln to suppress the rebellion by force of arms.  After a few necessary months to organize loyal regiments to smash the rebels, who now fancy themselves the Confederate States of America, our brave boys stand ready to enforce the rule of law and preserve our sacred Union.[/font]
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[font="times new roman"]In Missouri, where armed secessionist outlaws have been terrorizing loyal Union folk, General Nathaniel Lyon has moved quickly and decisively to restore order.  A detachment of mounted troops under General Sturgis has restored order in Joplin, while another mounted column has seized the arsenal and stores at Springfield, depriving disloyal hooligans in the south central region of the state.  This show of force has reassured a wavering legislature which had been considering secession into voting to remain in the Union, although it is rumored that southern sympathies remain strong in the southeast region of the state, near Poplar Bluff and New Madrid. General Lyon’s conduct in these actions was magnificent, as he boldly led his men from the front, often riding far ahead of his advancing troops.  While his aggressiveness and gallantry is inspirational to his men, they also express a grave concern for his health, and are concerned that in a future action, he may fall victim to enemy fire lest he curtail his recklessness.[/font]
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[font="times new roman"]General Lyon’s decisive actions were so impressive in dealing with Missouri that he has been called further east, to the Ohio River valley, to help organize troops assembling in Cairo, Illinois.  Just across the river, Kentucky has declared itself to be neutral in this conflict, but reports from within the state indicate there is strong agitation by pro-Southern legislators for secession.  President Lincoln has yet to decide how to deal with this delicate issue, but as a precaution, he brought General Lyon to the critical area where the Ohio flows into the Mississippi, and the critical routes to the secessionist heartland of the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers lies not far off.  A bit further to the east, other troops under the command of General Halleck have assembled near New Albany, across the river from Louisville, and General McCook has mustered a contingent of Ohio militia in Cincinnati, where General Rosecrans, a veteran of action in western Virginia, has joined him.  The fate of Kentucky remains unknown, but do not let it be said that our brave boys are ready and able to go to the assistance of good Union men in that state should they be set upon by Rebel sympathizers.[/font]
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[font="times new roman"]The mountainous regions of western Virginia are full of good and loyal Union citizens, who have chosen to reject the treason of the planter aristocracy.  Union forces have been dispatched to the region to protect the lives and property of these patriots.  Moving swiftly, cavalry under the command of General Davies made a daring ride of over 100 miles to Charleston, to guard against a rumored secessionist threat to the area.  A bit further to the north, the first combat of the war ensued.  Oh, what a thrill it was to see glorious General McClellan rout the rebels at Cheat Mountain, near Grafton.  McClellan’s vastly outnumbered men performed brilliantly against the Rebel hordes, advancing into hostile territory, repulsing a vicious attack, and watching the Rebels retreat ingloriously away whilst our men celebrated their triumph.  Indeed, the Union seems to have found its own ‘Young Napoleon’ in its hour of need!!!  All loyal Union men marvel at his skill, with the exception of one ancient local resident, a veteran of the Battle of New Orleans in 1815.  This man had the audacity to suggest that while General McClellan performed well indeed on defense, he showed very little inclination to go over to the offensive and finish off his foes.  Indeed, the man said that his old commander, General Andrew Jackson, would have never shown such hesitation or timidity in the face of a broken and retreating enemy.  However, this man is known by his behavior and reputation as an eccentric and a crank, and is of questionable loyalty to the Union.  His comments no doubt were intended to undermine morale and public confidence in General McClellan, the Man of the Hour!!!  Unionists in western Virginia have been secured!!! Once discussed only in whispers, now there is open discussion of a convention of loyal western counties where it is said that this region of the state may actually secede itself from the traitorous government in Richmond!!![/font]
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[font="times new roman"]The audacity and triumphs of the Young Napoleon in western Virginia stand in stark contrast to the puzzling actions of General McDowell near our capital.  As regular Harper’s readers know, the cry of every loyal citizen has been Forward to Richmond!!! as the secessionist legislature must not be allowed to meet there.  However, while possessed of a powerful army nearly 30,000 strong, fully supplied, ready to fight, and with rebels concentrated near Manassas Junction in defiance, McDowell protested violently that his men were too inexperienced to be committed to battle.  Instead of crushing the rebellion in its infancy, McDowell refused to move forward, and only sent a small force under General Runyon to southern Maryland, on the flimsy premise that secessionists were active in the area.  McDowell further demonstrated his unfitness for high command by parceling his troops out from their division commanders into smaller units, under less senior commanders, and sending them into encampments in small waterfront towns along the Potomac and Chesapeake, far from a position where they can march into Virginia and stamp out treason.  An outraged Congress demanded President Lincoln make a change in command to a more aggressive commander.  At the end of the month, the Young Napoleon, General McClellan, was summoned from Grafton to the Capitol, and given command of all federal forces in the region.  General McDowell was instructed to report to Cincinnati, and take command of the militia forces there currently under McCook and Rosecrans.  To placate McDowell’s sensitivities, this force has now been deemed the ‘Army of the Ohio’.[/font]
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[font="times new roman"]At sea, our naval commanders have moved to implement a plan devised by General Scott to intercept commerce headed to or from Rebel ports, in the belief that economic strangulation by this method will lead to southern surrender.  While General Scott is due great respect for his past accomplishments, nearly all sensible observers agree that this plan will have no effect, as the correct way to smash the rebellion is to take the Confederate capital in Richmond and hang the treasonous Davis and his gang of supporters.  As General Scott is now 75, this ‘Anaconda Plan’ is interpreted by many as a sign of feeblemindedness often associated with greatly advanced age.  Soon, President Lincoln may have to coax this commander into retirement and find a suitable replacement with more vigor.  If this paper can be so bold, we would suggest that General McClellan has shown himself to be more than equal to the task, and perhaps a more brilliant strategist than General Scott was even in his younger days.[/font]
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[font="times new roman"]With the failure of General McDowell to even attempt to suppress the rebellion, and the uncertain status of Kentucky, public sentiment now believes that this conflict may last longer than originally thought.   President Lincoln has issued a call to the states for 500,000 new volunteers to fight the rebels, and loyal men across the nation are flocking to the colors in droves.  Fortifications have been constructed to protect the federal arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, as well as key points along the Potomac River in Frederick County, Maryland. Reports of rebel piracy on the high seas have surfaced, with a ship under the command of the pirate Raphael Semmes being reported to have destroyed severl unarmed whaling ships off the coast of Newfoundland.  Contracts for war materiel are being let throughout the nation, leading to a flood of new economic activity as investors and inventors, speculators and scoundrels, and patriots and profiteers get involved.  New factories are springing up near several major cities, including Chicago, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh, and even smaller towns such as Cairo.  All along the Ohio river, hastily constructed shipyards are laying the keels for light gunboats and mortar craft.  On the eastern seaboard, shipyards are taking orders for dozens of new steam frigates.  Meanwhile, sections of the Brooklyn and New London naval yards have been sealed off by militia, while work commences on what is rumored to be a new and revolutionary ship design.  Across the nation, foundries are turning out field artillery, and it is said that at least a few new coastal defense Columbiads have entered production.  While it is unclear to our magazine why such a prodigious outlay of expenditures is necessary for what should be a short conflict, there can be no doubt that many ‘patriotic’ businessmen will profit greatly from this profligate spending on war materiel. [/font]

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[font="times new roman"]Harper’s Monthly, August 1861[/b]  The Kentucky legislature has met and reaffirmed its stance that it will remain neutral during the coming conflict.  Furthermore, it has warned both sides that if they violate its territory or navigable waterways, they will resist forcefully.  The Lincoln Administration and Congress are torn as to what to do, as they do not wish to violate Kentucky’s neutrality lest they drive it into the arms of the rebellion, yet they realize that the most likely route to the Confederate heartland, if such an invasion prove necessary, must proceed through Kentucky.  Ultimately, the decision is made to respect the neutrality of Kentucky for now, as the price to be paid should it join the Confederacy would be happy.  The commander of Union forces in New Albany, General Henry W. Halleck, vehemently disagrees with this decision.  His spies in Louisville and elsewhere report that the ‘neutrality’ resolution is but a sham designed to buy time for Rebel sympathizers to muster a majority in favor of secession.  Halleck argues that Union commanders have all shown great initiative, from Cincinnati all the way to Cairo, and many have even gone so far as to load their troops into waiting transports, anticipating an amphibious move.  When his pleas for immediate aggressive action to occupy Kentucky fall on deaf ears, he resigns his command in protest.[/font]
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[font="times new roman"]Despite the lack of activity in Kentucky, the aggressive Lyon refuses to debark some of his troops from transports back to Cairo, but rather sends them across the Mississippi to New Madrid, Missouri in a lightning strike to drive the last secessionist elements from the state.  Colonel Jacob Lauman’s Illinois militia secure New Madrid, while an accompanying force under General Gordon Granger drives all the way to Poplar Bluff, routing secessionists down into the Arkansas hill country.  Meanwhile, at Cairo, Generals Hurlbut and McClernand have proven to be exceptional at the task of training their men, using the time granted by political hesitation over Kentucky to drill several volunteer regiments up to the standards of regular troops. General Lyon has recognized their talent and expanded their responsibilities to chief training officers of the Cairo encampment.  Their talents will come in handy in the coming weeks, as the Union camps all along the border with Kentucky are flooded with waves of new men who have answered Lincoln’s call to the colors.  We hear reports from further upriver that Illinois Brigadier General Grant has also shown a tremendous talent for training, and has vigorous exerted leadership in camp after the resignation of General Halleck.  However, as Grant is outranked by General Buell, it is likely this command will devolve upon Buell, who is somewhat of a cipher at this point.  Further aggressive action near the borders of Kentucky took place when once again, General Davies and his mounted force, worthy now of the name cavalry, drove deeper into southwestern Virginia, and secured Huntington.[/font]
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[font="times new roman"]Nearer the cockpit of action in the East, the mysterious encampments along the Potomac and Chesapeake water towns quickly vanished, as the troops stationed there boarded transports.  It is reported that these regiments seized numerous coastal islands and sandbars, such as Ship Island, Dauphin Island, Tybee Island, Hilton Head Island, and Roanoke Island, along with the entire eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay.  What value can these insignificant islands and desolate shorelines have to a war which can only be won by capturing the viper’s nest in Richmond?  Surely, this diversion of necessary troops and resources to such trivial tests is yet another indicator of General-in-Chief Scott’s decline into dementia.  And because of the waste of these valuable troops, General McClellan, commander of the newly-christened Army of the Potomac, categorically states that he cannot even contemplate an offensive into Virginia, as he is quite certain the Rebel forces there outnumber his by a ratio of at least two to one.  In fact, General McClellan fears a massive rebel attack against the city any day now, and has ordered General Dix to improve the fortifications of the city posthaste.  As this work continues, McClellan states he has no choice but to await further reinforcement, and use the time available to drill the new recruits.  And this is yet another task of which the Young Napoleon has been shown to be a master.  In a matter of weeks, he has trained a large number of troops to a much higher standard than ever was attained by General Scott’s armies in the Mexican War.  [/font]
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[font="times new roman"]At sea, a powerful squadron of steam frigates has been dispatched to the North Atlantic sea lanes to hunt the pirate Semmes and protect the commercial trade routes.  Alas, the steam frigate USS Cumberland was damaged in an encounter with Semmes, who attacked from out of a fog bank.  The Cumberland returned to port for repairs of unknown length. Other squadrons concentrate in the sea lanes outside Rebel ports, in order to intercept smuggled cotton and contraband goods entering and leaving those ports.[/font]

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The situation in Kentucky at the start of September 1861

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Results of Union Amphibious Activity from August 1861

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Harper’s Monthly, Early September 1861. Rebel Treachery!!! Stupidity and Incompetence by the Lincoln Administration!!! These are but a few of the outcries being heard far and wide in our noble Republic. The original gorilla, Lincoln, has so foolishly ignored the warnings of sage General Halleck that the Rebels and their operatives in Kentucky were planning secession. The gangly simpleton in homespun clothes refused to take the warnings seriously, and now his gullibility has wrought legions of Rebels on the banks of the Ohio, a mere boat ride away from invading the North. Oh, had we not elected such a fool as our president, who undoubtedly was swayed in his decision by his wicked wife, seeking to protect her traitorous kin in Kentucky. Unknown numbers of rebel troops now occupy key strategic positions in Paducah, Bowling Green, and Louisville. It is reported that they have managed to throw up hasty fortifications along the banks of the Ohio north of Paducah, and along the Mississippi itself. If allowed to be stocked with cannon, these fortifications could well bring all river commerce in the North to a halt, and block our soldiers from any waterborne movement. If only the sage warnings of General Halleck had been heeded, and quick action taken to avert this disaster.

Fortunately for the Union, even if the baboon Lincoln has failed the country, there are other men who will rise up and be counted on to defend the Republic. In this Kentucky crisis, the men who were equal to the moment were Generals Lyon and Grant. They both realized that in times like this, every moment counts. Although their men were not fully prepared, both commanders hurled as many troops as possible across the mighty Ohio to save the people of Kentucky from their treacherous leaders and southern tyranny. Believing the time to strike was before the Confederates could consolidate their gains, they took what troops were available and moved south. Lyon’s took over half his command into Paducah, where he is expected to meet an unknown level of Rebel resistance. The camps across from Louisville were still leaderless in the wake of Halleck’s resignation, but General Grant took his command, and convinced a few other generals to join him in an effort to retake the key city. However, his arguments did not prevail on General Buell, who felt that the troops were not well trained enough to take the offensive, and thus declined to support Grant’s attack, along with several other generals in the ‘Buell Ring’. Grant moved forward anyway, prompting Buell to fire off a telegram to the War Department charging insubordination. In Cincinnati, even the normally passive General McDowell hurled his Army of the Ohio into Northern Kentucky. He was greeted by loyal unionists, and met little resistance on his march, advancing his line of battle to occupy all of northeast Kentucky from Ashland through Lexington, only halting his advance on the line of the Kentucky River.

In the east, General McClellan complained bitterly about the poor state of affairs which were left him from due to the organizational incompetence of McDowell and the troop diversions of General-in-Chief Scott. He explained to his many admirers in Congress that because of these factors, it was simply not possible to consider any offensive into Virginia at this time. He continued to busily train and reorganize the Army of the Potomac, with rumors emerging of a masterful campaign being planned by the Napoleon of our Age for the coming month of October.

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The Union moves into Kentucky after Confederates invade, in a desperate attempt to drive them out before they dig in with fortifications and heavy guns.

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Harper’s Monthly, Late September 1861 At Paducah, General Lyon’s forces were thrown back in disarray by a massive Confederate force under General Polk, numbering over 30,000 in strength, and supported by well developed fortifications and heavy guns. The normally aggressive General Lyon seemed shaken by this setback, and some subordinates wonder if his capacity to command larger forces of men may somehow have been reduced by this setback. Even worse, a squadron of our gunboats on the Mississippi was damaged by the Rebel heavy artillery. Northern logistics experts are mystified as to how the Confederacy, with very few ironworks capable of producing such large artillery pieces, could have manufactured so many so quickly, and then so rapidly deployed them into the vicinity of Paducah. The only explanation that makes sense is that of high treason. Rumors of incompetence, and worse, have swirled around the baboon Lincoln’s choice for Secretary of War, political crony Simon Cameron. It is widely believed that the utterly incompetent and corrupt Cameron was unable to detect the treachery of southern sympathizers in the War Department, who most obviously did not evacuate the heavy weapons from southern arsenals as ordered to during the initial stages of the secession crisis. This treason bequeathed the rebels an extraordinary gift of many of the finest Columbiads and heavy mortars in the Federal arsenal, such as they could never manufacture themselves.

However sad the news is from Paducah, it is more than offset by the glorious triumph of General Grant at Louisville. Facing difficult odds, General Grant’s scratch force of men were able to successfully cross the Ohio in the face of withering fire, deploy for battle, and defeat a force nearly equal in numbers commanded by the Rebel Braxton Bragg. Newspapers throughout the North are proclaiming the Battle of Louisville a major victory for General Grant, and suggesting that he be promoted to permanent command of an army as soon as practicable. Dispatches also note the bravery of General Thomas Sherman, who despite showing very little personal inclination to attack, is an inspiration to his men.

Dismayed by the whipping given to them by Grant’s boys at Louisville, the Rebel drive into Kentucky stalled out, with no reports of further advances other than a small force occupying the small town of Glasgow, reputedly a hotbed of rebel sympathy. Reports trickle in from sources throughout the south indicating that massive fortifications are being constructed at numerous strategic points and seaports. These citadels are reportedly well armed with heavy guns, suggesting no doubt the treachery in Cameron’s War Department reaches far further than Kentucky. Will this ape Lincoln not see that Cameron must be replaced immediately with a man of talent?

At sea, the pirate Semmes struck merchant shipping yet again, sinking a number of ships, as well as plundering supplies for the Confederacy. Already, the war effort is being affected by the drop in imports attributable to this scoundrel’s depredations. Let us pray the rumors we hear of more Confederate pirate ships under construction are false.

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Kentucky at the end of September 1861

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[font="times new roman"]Harper’s Monthly, Early October 1861[/b]   Following the repulse of Lyon’s forces in Paducah, the treachery of those War Department employees who allowed so many heavy guns to remain at Federal Depots in the South, and the general incompetence of the War Department, the Congress has formed a Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War.  This panel, comprised of distinguished members of the House and Senate with vast military knowledge, will proceed to investigate the aforementioned incidents, and oversee the actions of the Lincoln Administration in prosecuting the conflict.  We at Harper’s heartily endorse the formation of this panel, as it is evident to every sound thinking American that only the incompetence and bungling of the Lincoln Administration which has allowed this conflict to drag on so long.  We are particularly grateful for the Committee’s first action, persuading the Administration to assign the distinguished statesman and abolitionist leader General Benjamin Butler of Massachusetts to command of the Army of the Southwest, now forming in Springfield, Missouri.[/font]
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[font="times new roman"]In Kentucky, General McDowell ordered a division under General McCook to push south of the Kentucky River, where they liberated the Lebanon region.  At the same time, cavalry forces under James Jackson dashed into areas around London, with outriders reported to be within sight of the border with Tennessee.  After this brilliant and nearly bloodless campaign, General McDowell took the bulk of his army to Louisville, to unite with the forces of General Grant.  General Buell and the remainder of the forces on the Indiana side of the Ohio crossed into Louisville as well.  In a meeting with war correspondents, General Buell explained that although General Grant’s attack on Louisville had succeeded, it was largely due to plans developed by General Buell himself.   Because of the complexity of the plans, and the need to supervise logistics, General Buell regrettably had been unable to exercise personal command of the attacking forces, but rather was forced to remain in Indiana, where he attended to many details overlooked by Grant and his staff. Indeed, General Buell mentioned that if General Grant had followed those plans, the Rebels would already have been driven from Bowling Green.  Sources on Buell’s staff whisper to reporters that Grant was seen shortly after the battle in a well known public house in Louisville, sampling a well-known Kentucky Bourbon, when he should have been pushing his men forward.  It is reported that General Buell’s staff is forwarding these serious allegations to the newly formed Committee on the Conduct of the War for investigation.[/font]
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[font="times new roman"]With a mighty host assembled in Louisville, surely it will not be long until the remaining Rebels are driven from Bowling Green, and the central part of the state.  Scouts have learned that it is occupied by a rebel field army under the command of General Twiggs.  The only questions remaining are when will this offensive begin, and who will command it?  By virtue of seniority, General Buell believes he is entitled to command the combined forces.  General McDowell’s advocates point out that he is already the commander of the Army of the Ohio, which has successfully cleared the eastern part of the state of rebellion, and that the Louisville forces be melded into his army and placed under his command.  Finally, there are those who advocate that the aggressive General Grant, who has shown outstanding ability in the attack, and an equally excellent aptitude for training troops, be given the command.  However, with the charges General Buell has forwarded to Washington, it is thought by many that Grant’s prospects for leadership of the combined forces are not good. [/font]
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[font="times new roman"]Further west at Cairo, General Lyon decided to rest, reorganize, and retrain his army.  A fresh brigade under John McArthur was sent across the Ohio to seize the Henderson region, on the right bank of the Tennessee River, to prevent additional Rebel gun emplacements from occupying the bluffs along the river where they could further interdict Union riverine movement.[/font]
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[font="times new roman"]In the east, General McClellan, having developed a masterful plan for advance into Virginia, is stymied once again by the incompetence of others.  Unwilling to risk the Army of the Potomac in battle against vastly superior numbers without proper supplies, McClellan cites the incompetence of the Cameron War Department and its officials as the reason for the delay of his plans.  He warns that unless these problems are soon worked out at the War Department by a change in leadership, it is unknown how quickly an offensive may be possible.  With the mud of late fall approaching, with winter fast on its heels, McClellan is facing tremendous difficulties overcoming what he sees to be the incompetence and disloyalty of certain members of the Administration.  It is rumored that the Committee on the Conduct of the War may soon demand the replacement of Secretary Cameron, and there are many who believe that the Republic can be saved only by appointing McClellan to three posts simultaneously, that of Secretary of War, General-in-Chief, and his current role as commander of the Army of the Potomac.[/font]
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[font="times new roman"]Meanwhile, a large body of transport ships was seen exiting the Chesapeake Bay loaded with the brigades of Generals David Hunter and Edward Baker, destination unknown.  Could this movement be yet another move by the senile General Scott to strip General McClellan of the reserves he needs to press the fight forward in Virginia?[/font]

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[font="times new roman"]Harper’s Monthly, Late October 1861[/b]  The pirate Semmes has struck yet again, plunder even more merchant shipping.  Concern in the merchant community grows, along with outrage at the inability of the Navy and the Lincoln Administration to bring this scourge of the sea lanes to the hangman’s noose.[/font]
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[font="times new roman"]In other news from the high seas, the troops of Hunter and Baker, last seen sailing down the Chesapeake on transports, had targeted Fort St. Phillip at the mouth of the Mississippi for capture.  Although they outnumbered Rebel defenders by over two to one, the troops were easily repulsed by the Confederates, thanks to the preponderance of heavy artillery in shore batteries.  Many ships were damaged or destroyed by shore fire, which was much heavier and more sustained than any could imagine.  Indeed, the massive quantities of heavy artillery available to the Southerners, compared with the known lack of any manufacturing base in their agricultural society, points to more than just the negligence of Cameron and the treason of his staff at the War Department.  Indeed, this paper now believes that the Rebels have been plotting for years, if not decades, as it would have taken that amount of time to build up the massive numbers of heavy artillery pieces they seem to possess.  No doubt the traitorous Confederate ‘president’ Jefferson Davis of Mississippi, secretly diverted vast stores of heavy cannon to the South during his tenure as Secretary of War.  As some of the pieces appeared to be of Union manufacture, it is likely that the imperialists in Great Britain and France have been secretly supplying munitions to southern secessionists for years as well, no doubt in return for preferential prices on southern cotton.[/font]
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[font="times new roman"]Southern papers report that General P.G.T. Beauregard, principal aggressor of the outrage at Fort Sumter and commander of the Confederate host in Manassas, has been relieved of his command and replaced by General Mansfield Lovell.  Little is known as to why this change was made, but it is assumed by some that with the sweeping offensive of General McClellan seemingly imminent, the Confederates wanted a commander with more solid defensive abilities than the blackguard Beauregard.  In Kentucky and other theaters, all is quiet, as the Rebels seem to have no taste to follow up their repulse of General Lyon with an advance into Illinois, nor do they seem inclined to test the forces of Generals Buell, Grant and McDowell encamped near Louisville.[/font]

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The situation in the Western Theater at the end of October 1861, after the advance of McDowell's men south of the line of the Kentucky River, approaching the Tennessee River. Note that the Confederate fortress in Paducah, the hastily-constructed Gibraltar of the West, has completely destroyed Union Riverine movement and operations. Numerous transports have been damaged by these guns, and deadly opportunity fire reigns down on any who try to leave the danger zone. In Missouri, General Butler can be seen in route to his new command in Springfield. With an attack rating of 4, and a political rating of 4, and an administrative rating of 4, I am looking to get some successes out of the man with operations in Arkansas, then promote him to Western Theater Commander, and sacking the worthless Fremont.

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[font="times new roman"]Harper’s Monthly, Early November 1861[/b]   All along the Mason Dixon line, heavy fall rains have set in, turning roads into a sea of mud.  No possibility of advance in the Western or Eastern theaters is deemed possible, as thoughts turn to the question of whether permanent structures should be built to house troops during the coming winter.  Although many do not wish to discuss it publicly, there is a growing sentiment that the war may not be brought to a successful close before Christmas.  If so, it will be a sad Yuletide indeed.  General McClellan, citing the need to evade the prying eyes of enemy spies and saboteurs, has moved the main body of the Army of the Potomac north of Washington, and established new encampments there.  McClellan leaves strong forces commanded by Generals Banks and Heintzleman in Washington, to man the imposing fortifications, along with a detachment of mounted troops under General Hatch, to keep southern cavalry scouts away.  While some in Washington are uneasy about the move North, McClellan complains bitterly of spies learning his dispositions and plans, and the need for secrecy, as breaches of security have already compromised many planned offensives.  In addition to moving his encampments northward, General McClellan also has hired the world’s foremost detective, Mr. Allen Pinkerton, to be the head of his intelligence service.  The renowned Pinkerton and his agents will ensure the integrity of the Army of the Potomac’s camps, as well as dispatch many men into Virginia to scout the strength and intentions of the Confederate enemy.[/font]
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[font="times new roman"]Late word also reaches the capital of the intrepid Generals Baker and Lander, who reportedly have ordered their retreating ships to turn about and are planning an assault on Fort Jackson, which is believed to be the weaker of the two Confederate bastions at the mouth of the Mississippi.[/font]

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[font="times new roman"]Harper’s Monthly, Late November 1861[/b]   In what is becoming an all-too familiar tale to readers of this magazine, Captain Raphael Semmes strikes at sea yet again.  The pirate Semmes, who is known as ‘The Ghost of the Seas’ by his Confederate countrymen, seems to appear out of nowhere, strike hard at merchant shipping, and disappear before our naval squadrons can respond.  The editors of this magazine believe that if this pattern continues to repeat itself, there will be more widespread piracy and freebooting on the high seas, and that perhaps a new, more aggressive commander is needed that Commodore Stringham to hunt down this modern-day Blackbeard.  Already, rumors are reaching Northern port cities from travelers returning from England that the Confederacy has been so impressed with Semmes’ victories that they have ordered any number of additional ships from the dastardly English to be fitted out as pirate raiders!!![/font]
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[font="times new roman"]In other news, Generals Buell and Grant have both been promoted from the rank of brigadier to major general for the capture of Louisville.  At General Buell’s order, a grand review was held in the encampments for this momentous occasion, attended by the firing of several cannonades and a display of fireworks.  These festivities were attended by several prominent Members of Congress, who were seated next to General Buell on the reviewing stand.  Notably, General Grant did not attend the event, preferring to keep his own company with his staff in his command tent.  Aides to General Buell suggested to war correspondents that General Grant and his staff were completely inebriated.  Later inquiries to Grant’s staff about the General’s whereabouts were met with icy silence, with one aide-de-camp commenting later that ‘people will see soon enough what the General has been doing’.[/font]
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[font="times new roman"]The intrepid and dashing General Edward D. Baker is proving to be a superior soldier and statesman.  His courageous decision to take initiative by turning around his transports and assaulting Fort Jackson has proven to be correct.  Just as General Baker reasoned, the fort was not garrisoned as heavily as was Fort St. Philip, and his forces easily captured the works.  General Baker informs our readers that as soon as he is able to assembled the required men and materials from the quartermaster and engineer corps, he will order the construction of a new fortress, well stocked with long-range Columbiads.  It is Baker’s belief that such a citadel will render the mouth of the Mississippi at the Gulf impassible to Confederate smugglers and warships alike, cutting off a vital route for supplies to Rebel armies operating in the Western theater.[/font]
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[font="times new roman"]Captured southern newspapers report that General Twiggs has been dismissed from his command in Bowling Green.  Apparently, Confederate President Davis and his military adviser General Samuel Cooper were unhappy with the lack of aggressiveness shown by Twiggs after the opening stages of the Kentucky campaign, and his loss of the eastern part of the state to Federal forces.  Twiggs has reportedly been replaced by Braxton Bragg, who immediately started construction of several forts and earthworks from Bowling Green to points as far south as Gallatin and Clarksville along the Tennessee River.  It appears the Confederates believe the tide of fortune has turned against them in Kentucky, and are going over to the strategic defensive in that state.[/font]

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[font="times new roman"]Harper’s Monthly, Early December 1861[/b]   Union engineers and work gangs have converged on Fort Jackson, busily preparing earthworks, parapets, and heavy gun emplacements.  Large numbers of naval rifles have arrived, manned by two regiments of artillerists from Minnesota.  Work proceeds apace, with the goal of completing fortifications that will close the mighty Mississippi by the end of the year.[/font]
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[font="times new roman"]In the East, all is quiet.  General McClellan had detailed plans for a spectacular winter offensive into Virginia, but these plans had to be abandoned after the McClellan discovered the quartermaster corps in Washington had failed to provide the warm boots and clothes necessary for a winter campaign.  McClellan flatly states that the continued failures of Washington, and in particular General-in-Chief Scott, are likely to prevent him from resuming the campaign until next spring.  He orders the Army of the Potomac to construct permanent winter encampments, and to prepare for several months of drill, training and organization.[/font]
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[font="times new roman"]In Kentucky, a break in the poor weather of November produces dry roads and an unusually warm climate.  General McDowell leads his Army of the Ohio out of Louisville down to confront the Confederate forces at Bowling Green, in an effort to liberate the region before efforts at fortification are complete.  McDowell is accompanied by the forces of General Grant.  General Buell reluctantly brings his men along, complaining bitterly in correspondence to his patrons in Washington that McDowell cannot be entrusted with such a large command, and that by virtue of his seniority, he should be elevated to command the expedition.[/font]

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[font="times new roman"]Harper’s Monthly, Late December 1861  [/b] News reaches us late this month of a massive 2 day battle near the village of Plum Springs, outside of Bowling Green.  The Battle of Plum Springs, which started the day after Christmas, was a contest between General McDowell’s Army of Ohio, combined with the forces of General Grant and General Buell, against the Confederate Army of Kentucky, commanded by General Braxton Bragg.  Words cannot describe the immensity of this struggle, the largest ever fought on the continent, as over 100,000 men clashed in the struggle.  The casualties were appalling, with a fearful toll of 5360 of our soldiers killed.  However, the even more severe losses were inflicted upon the rebels, with nearly 8,500 casualties inflicted upon them, including the death of the aggressive Rebel cavalry leader General Earl Van Dorn.  Our Federal troops sent the remnants of the defeated Confederate army fleeing south into Tennessee, where only the natural barrier of the Cumberland River has brought their headlong flight to an end.  Reports of the battle make mention of the fact that Generals Grant, Buell, and Hurlbut played key roles, aggressively hurling their men forward in effective attacks against the Rebels.  Curiously, General McDowell seemed to play little role in the battle, with witnesses mentioning his seeming detachment back at headquarters, although managing such a large group of men was beyond his capabilities.[/font]
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[font="times new roman"]In the North Atlantic, Captain Semmes, recently the scourge of merchant shipping, was mysteriously absent from the sea lanes.  However, we are dismayed to learn that he has been joined by another pirate, Captain Buchanan, who is reported to have sunk and captured a number of merchant vessels.[/font]
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[font="times new roman"]Elsewhere, the harsh realities of winter set in.  Disease and desertion are rife in the Army encampments throughout the North, and common is the day when many a brave boy is buried due to a malignant disease, or some fainthearted lads dreaming of home and hearth steal away from the encampments at night, never to be seen again.[/font]
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[font="times new roman"]At the close of this sad first year of rebellion, we can only hope that next year, our gallant armies will advance into the heartland of the South, smash the rebellion, and bring this war to a close.[/font]

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In the western theater at the end of 1861, the key border state of Missouri has been completely secured, with Ben Butler's Army of the Southwest having initiative to carry the war forward into Arkansas in January. In Kentucky, large swaths of territory have been secured for the Union, including the key cities of Lexington, Louisville, and Bowling Green. The rebels are almost finished in central Kentucky, holding on to Glasgow by a thread. In western Kentucky, it is a different story, as the Rebels are strongly entrenched with heavy guns in Fortress Paducah, and have succeeded in destroying several Union transports, damaging a gunboat, and completely disrupting Union riverine operations. The Union has been quite fortunate with the skill rolls on several of its commanders in the Western Theater (playing with semi-random leaders and hidden ratings) Grant, Buell, Hurlbut and Lyon have all turned out to have attack ratings of 4, and Grant, Hurlbut, Lyon, Buell, Curtis, and McClernand all have infantry training ratings of 4 as well. Butler's attack ratings remain a mystery, but are likely low, but I needed his 4 political points per turn, and thus figured the Army of the Southwest would be a good place for him to demonstrate what skills he may have. This job was open due to the resignation of Halleck earlier in the year. McDowell has an attack rating of only 2, with a army mod of -1, just revealed after the battle of Plum Springs, so he will be sacked in January.

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In the East, the situation remains very static. West Virginia is largely secured, and the Army of the Potomac is screened in Baltimore far from enemy scouts. The Army of the Potomac simply lacks good commanders, and will need the advantage of surprise when it is finally committed to battle. McClellan is a 3 on defense, but alas, only a 1 on the offensive, thus making initiative quite difficult. As soon as a suitable replacement is found, he will be kicked upstairs to Winfield Scotts job. McClellan has a 4 on infantry training and on admin, making him an ideal field commander. Most of the rest of the Eastern Commanders are poor, including Scott, who only is rated a 1 for infantry training. Pleasant surprises among northern Generals are Edward Baker, now at 2 stars with 10 command points, who is rated 4 in the attack, and David Hunter with 9 command points and a respectable 3. JKF Mansfield shows promise as a division commander, with attack ratings of 3, while Frederick Lander has proven to be an outstanding brigadier with an attack rating of 4 and a defense rating of 3. Other than these individuals, I have not been as fortunate in the East.

Amphibious operations have proved successful, with all 5 coastal islands secured to assist the blockade, and the heavy guns of Fort Jackson now sealing the Mississippi from Confederate commerce and supply. Miraculously, little Mac has initiative heading into January 1862, and most subunits have amphibious capability, so look for some more coastal invasions.

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[font="times new roman"]Harper’s Monthly, Early January 1862[/b]   The New Year has wrought numerous changes in command of our armies.  In the Western Theater, General McDowell has been  relieved of his command of the Army of the Ohio, and summoned to the capitol.  It is presumed, to await a new assignment.  It is believed that after the battle of Plum Springs, many felt that while McDowell may be an adequate commander of smaller bodies of troops, he is not up to the task of commanding a full field army.  The Army of the Ohio has been dissolved, with its former regiments combined with the troops of General Grant and General Buell into a new formation, the Army of the Cumberland.  The name of this great force leaves no doubt as to its next goal, the mighty Cumberland River and the capture of Nashville, the state capitol of Tennessee.  The aggressive and hard-hitting General Ulysses S. Grant has been named commander of the Army of the Cumberland.  A new structure of command has also been implemented, the formation of Corps within the Army.  General Grant has named Generals Hurlbut, Prentiss, and Rosecrans the commanders of the XIV, XVI, and IV Corps of this army, with General Charles Hamilton the commander of the Reserve Corps.  There are some doubts as to whether General Hamilton is aggressive enough in the attack to serve under such a commander as Grant.  Grant has also named General Philip Sheridan to command the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Cumberland.  Sheridan, a small, fiery man who resembles a human minie ball,  is held in high esteem by General Grant, and it is hoped he will show the requisite aggressiveness necessary to engage the Southern cavaliers, who are suspected to be demoralized after the death of General Van Dorn at Plum Springs.[/font]
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[font="times new roman"]Further west, General Nathaniel Lyon has been relieved of command of the forces near Cairo, and summoned to Washington for consultations.  It is expected that the aggressive Lyon, while perhaps overmatched as an army commander, will be a fine corps commander in the Army of the Potomac or elsewhere.  He has been succeeded in command by General Buell, who has designated the Cairo forces the Army of the Tennessee.  This force is smaller than the massive Army of the Cumberland, consisting of only two corps led by Generals Samuel Curtis and John McClernand, and a small detachment of cavalry.  Readers should look for this force to grow in size in the next several months, as General Buell has already complained bitterly to his friends in Congress about General Grant, who is his junior in rank, receiving a much larger command.[/font]
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[font="times new roman"]In the east, the weather breaks, and the conditions are favorable for a general advance.  However, General McClellan is in the midst of reorganizing the Army of the Potomac, and only two corps commanders, Generals Baker and Hunter, are prepared to take the offensive.  As this force is too small to challenge the Rebel horde in Virginia, General McClellan insists his forces remain in camp and continue to drill.  From Washington, word comes that General-in-Chief Scott has dispatched the division of General Negley on naval transports, destination unknown.[/font]
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[font="times new roman"]In the far West, it is reported that General Butler has aggressively moved his small Army of the Southwest into Arkansas.  The first strike into that Rebel state is reportedly aimed at the capture of the strategic town of Fayetteville.  As the roads are bad in the dead of winter, and communications poor, there is an air of skepticism about the advance and its prospects of success.[/font]