SHILOH 1862 AAR

[Curtis Lemay]

The remainder of Sherman’s pocket was eliminated via an RBC. But another attack has to be set up against the last of Prentiss’s pocket.

[Curtis Lemay]

Finally all pockets are gone. The opening stage of the battle is over. The next stage will require a new plan. But first, let’s check the results of the first stage:

Union losses: 11,680 men; 11.5 guns.
Confederate losses: 3,320 men.

So, the Confederacy has gained 8,360 men on the Union (and 11.5 guns). Now they have a small, but significant edge in manpower (for a while). However, all the Union force remaining has yet to be engaged. They are fresh. The Confederacy needs to recover a bit. That’s why I’ve clustered them around the supply unit and their officers. But time is running short, so I can’t do too much dawdling.

[Curtis Lemay]

The Union continues to push their forces to their planned defense line. Note that it makes use of the sunken road (gold square). And, it’s a long way from the landing – where the Confederates are trying to get to.

[Curtis Lemay]

Turn 7 (12:00 noon)

This shot shows the Confederate move and plan. Note that I’m leaving just I Corps with all the artillery to deal with the Union left, while concentrating everything else against the Union right.

[Curtis Lemay]

The Union move shows that they are just getting everything into place for their defense line right before the Reb attacks will begin on it. Note, however, the mistake I made with the artillery unit of 1st Division: It’s alone without infantry. It’s going to be easy to overrun.

[Curtis Lemay]

Turn 8 (1:00pm)

Note that cavalry units have been used to RBC the lone artillery unit and exploit the gap created. Elsewhere another weak cavalry unit has been RBC’d and exploited as well. The Union 1st Division is close to envelopment. But, first, some bombardments are planned for the Union forces around the sunken road. (It worked historically, so let’s see what happens in the game). The Duncan Field clearing allows line-of-sight to the target. Only a few artillery units were in place to join this initial bombardment. Others are still getting into position.

Note that artillery is modeled in two pieces in this scenario: a ranged part and a canister part. Most of the strength is usually in the canister part, so ranged fire is usually well less than half of the artillery unit’s strength. This is another factor that makes artillery primarily a defensive weapon in the Civil War.

[Curtis Lemay]

The results of the bombardment were not impressive. Nevertheless, another is set up, with more units able to join in this time.

[Curtis Lemay]

Better results, but still not much. Another is set up.

[Curtis Lemay]

Again, not much payoff is received. One more is set up.

[Curtis Lemay]

At the same time, the forces enveloping 1st Division have caught up with the turn’s time stamp and can add their attack.

[Curtis Lemay]

Finally, the adjacent infantry can join the attack. So the artillery is no longer bombarding alone, but is supporting a ground assault. As will be seen, artillery supporting a ground assault is much more effective than when bombarding alone. (This is because the game assumes the assaulters can adjust the fire of the guns – increasing their accuracy – and the defenders are more exposed since they have to deal with the assaulters).

[Curtis Lemay]

This shot shows that the attack was successful, resulting in a pocket in one location and close to one in another.

[Curtis Lemay]

This shows the results of the supported attack. Note that the results are significantly greater. Part may be due to the contribution of the ground assaulters, but much is also due to the increase in effectiveness of the artillery in support mode.

[Curtis Lemay]

The Union move adjusts their lines a little around the sunken road, but on their right, they just pull back – leaving a few units trapped. Some readers may think I’m being too cautious with the Union, and perhaps they are right. Perhaps more Union forces could have been saved if they had tried to fight their way out. But my feeling is that Union attacks tend to double the attrition rate. And attrition favors the Confederacy at this point. The only way they can get to the landing is to eliminate most of the Union forces.

[Curtis Lemay]

Turn 9 (2:00pm)

The infantry are not fully ready to proceed, so the guns bombard alone this phase.

[Curtis Lemay]

Attacks are set up on the two pockets.

[Curtis Lemay]

Now the infantry are ready and a supported attack is set up.

[Curtis Lemay]

While the pockets were reduced, they still have remains to deal with. More attacks are set up on the two pockets.

[Curtis Lemay]

This shows the results, with the pockets eliminated and the supported attack very successful.

[Curtis Lemay]

The success on the right has been exploited (isolating a few units), and a bombardment has been set up on the left.