Is it me or the AI? AAR

[incbob]

Economically I finally can produce my new Corp, which I immediately order. I also have enough horses for another camp in Louisiana. Other than that I improve some more weapons on brigades on in the West to Minnies and hope they finally decide to move against the Army of Illinois.

The west after my moves

[incbob]

OK. Here I go with an update. Please if you have any questions ask or please just tell me what do you think either about my play style or how I write up this AAR.

Overview
The East, as in most situations, has been very quiet with little moves. The Action has been in the west where the Union Army of Illinois has advanced into Kentucky, which of course went Union. Meanwhile the Union 4th Army has advanced out of Missouri into Arkansas.

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My economy has been going about as well as the CSA economy can. I have done okay wise with diplomacy, but nothing to write home about either.

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January 1862
The Union begins a siege of the Lower Tennessee river fort while I continue the siege of Rappahanock.

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I promote General Lee, remember I am using random rating. Meanwhile my runners in the Gulf get 75! weapons.

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I send my blockade runners after 55 Money (50/20) near New England and 40 Iron (80/30) in the Texas Gulf.

Looking over my situtaion I am mostly please but worried in the West. I upgrade the brigades of the Army of Arkansas (AoA), late the CSA 17th Division, and order them to move against the USA 4th Army near Fayettville, Ar. I doubt however with winter that the AoA will actually move.

I build a plantation in Columbus, Ga. Because it is the only thing I can really build to aid my economy and Columbus, Ga won’t fall for a while and it is maxed out.

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The sieges of Fort Henry and Fort Monroe continues. The Army of Arkansas moves against the Union 4th Army and suffers a defeat.

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next screen

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My runners have been somewhat successful so I continue their exploits. My Gulf runner goes after 50 Money (70/30) at the mouth of the Mississippi and the other runner goes after the same money that was available last turn. Both runners are at full strength so I am doing okay there.   Looking at my situation militarily I am really disappointed in the AoA. It doesn’t have a general, which doesn’t help, but it should even though outnumbered, best the Union army. I move it to High Priority on supply since it needs reinforcements and keep it stationary north of the Arkansas capital.   Meanwhile I make some moves. With the East silent and the AoNVa sitting quite I break the 7th division, 12,000 men, away from it and send it westward on the march. I order General Hugar to take the CSA 11th division into Covington, Ky hopefully to threaten the Union and force them to make some changes in their strategy.   I know I need to reinforce and relieve Fort Henry so I order a three pronged attack.  I order the 13th division into the Central Mississippi river province and order Generals Ewell and General Early to make a two pronged attack against the Army of Illinois and hopefully relieve Fort Henry

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Here is the situation in the west

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As can be seen the increase in high priority supply to my western forces has really made a HUGE impact on my economy. I switch to money production in a couple of cities in order to hopefully balance it out. I am worried right now about my diplomacy Great Britain needs to join my side, but favors the Union. That is not good. I can’t afford fall behind there so I strip diplomacy for Europe and hope that my stockpile of 100 money will last long enough for me to be able to reduce my supply.

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Ugggg
Fort Henry falls a lot faster than I thought it would. I guess I should have reinforced it and upgraded its weapons. This allowed the Army of Illinois to move against General Early's division before it was able to form up with the others. The resulting battle cost me more troops.

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Another problem is that the Union 4th Army bypasses the Army of Arkansas and moves to siege Little Rock.

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February 1862
My blockade runners were again successful, but looking around I see slim pickings. I order my runner in the gulf to go after 70 horses (80/30) and my Atlantic runner is kept silent with nothing to hunt.

I finally am able to move my 4th corp where Ewell takes command of the 13, 15, and 16th division. I order Ewell to take his new 4th Corp, the Army of Tennessee, to move against the Army of Illinois near Cairo.

Meanwhile I feel I have no choice but to order the AoA to offer battle in order to protect the Arkansas capital.

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I also order General Hugar with the 11th division and Johnson, newly in commando of the 7th to continue the assault on the Kentucky.

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Again the Union 4th Army moved and surprised me. They moved to protect Fort Henry and got there before my Army of Tennessee got formed. Luckily Gen Ewell was able to rally the nearby forces and defeat the Union 4th Army. The bad news is I was unable to break the siege of Little Rock.

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next

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I order Gen Ewell to ignore Fort Henry and continue his pursuit of the Union Army of Illiinois. I order General Zollicof to take command of the Army of Arkansas (the late 17th division) and stop the siege of Little Rock. I order General Early and his division into Arkansas to support him. I am hoping and chancing that General Ewell will be able to handle the Union Army of Illinois.

My runners go after 50 money 70/30 and finally get a great hit near New England with 60 weapons 80/10 

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I am so pissed. How does my 10th division, under Gen Ripley, have Fort Monroe surrounded, under siege, but it defenses keep going up? WTF?

I win a small battle against the Union AoI, but otherwise it is quiet.

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My runners are gain successful and the Europe sends me some money. France increases their support, but Britain is still unmoved and this really worries me.