SHILOH 1862 AAR

[Curtis Lemay]

The last unit of Hildebrand’s brigade was also somewhat attritted, but not retreated or destroyed. Another similar attack is set up. More units are in time to join this time.

[Curtis Lemay]

The attacks against Miller’s brigade succeeded in eliminating one unit and retreating the other. Now those successes can be exploited.

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The attack against Hildebrand’s brigade also succeeded, retreating the unit. Some exploitation is now possible.

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The success against Miller’s brigade has allowed some exploitation. Prentiss’s remaining infantry are close to surrounded.

[Curtis Lemay]

Exploitation against Sherman’s division has resulted in the pocket being more securely surrounded. Also, another RBC against the artillery unit evaporated it.

[Curtis Lemay]

Finally, I made some changes to further entrap McDowell’s brigade. I’m hoping I can keep the artillery and second regiment from escaping.

[Curtis Lemay]

This shot shows the start of the Union turn. Everything has been released from reserve. Note that the Union 1st Division might be thought to have an opportunity to try to rescue some of the trapped forces. But, I consider that to be throwing good money after bad. They will fall back to a safer deployment.

[Curtis Lemay]

This shot shows the Union move. 1st Division has fallen back, while 4th Division has moved forward to the sunken road. Only one of the trapped units even tried to escape, and didn’t get far.

[Curtis Lemay]

Turn 5 (10:00am)

Prentiss’s infantry is now completely surrounded. Now we have to reduce the pocket.

[Curtis Lemay]

Similarly, Sherman’s units now must be reduced.

[Curtis Lemay]

Reduction against Prentiss continues.

[Curtis Lemay]

Two pockets of Sherman’s division are eliminated. Work now shifts to the last few.

[Curtis Lemay]

Prentiss’s infantry is now stuffed into a single hex and fully surrounded. Next turn should finish it.

[Curtis Lemay]

Work continues against the remaining pockets of Sherman’s division.

[Curtis Lemay]

At top, see that the remainder of Sherman’s division has been forced into a single hex, like Prentiss’s infantry. The Union continues to form its main line of resistance. Note that it makes full use of the sunken road.

[Curtis Lemay]

Before proceeding, I want to point out a bug I discovered here. Note that one of the Union regiments has been subdivided by combat. They are all shown as unsupplied (black square) as they should be. But when I recombine them…

[Curtis Lemay]

The recombined unit is now shown, incorrectly, as supplied! Actual combat results incurred in the following turn confirm that this isn’t just a display issue. The unit really is treated as supplied. You can imagine the exploitation this bug could generate. It will need high priority on the bug list as soon as I can get to it. Otherwise, it makes no other impact on this game. Now, back to the report.

[Curtis Lemay]

Turn 6 (11:00am)

Attacks are set up on the remaining two pockets.

[Curtis Lemay]

This shows the results against Sherman’s division’s pocket. This is the double benefit of pocketing defenders: Not only are all defenders eliminated due to lack of a retreat path, but all losses go to the dead pile. None returns to the pools.

[Curtis Lemay]

And here are the results against Prentiss’s pocket. Note that a slight number were returned to the pools due to the recombination bug above. This is proof that the unit really was treated as if it was supplied. But a huge number were eliminated cheaply.