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Turn 25 Nov 21st

RP: Lots of rain in N. Va. so not much happened.

Reinf: Cav. Div. to Frankfort, Ky, Inf. Div. to Cairo, one to Louisville, and 2 to Evansville.
(Sent all my reinforcements to Kentucky front to help occupy the state and put pressure on Tennessee.

Reports: UK 6, Fr 10, Sp 6. Land: 58/60, Navy: 15/6.
Convoy: 370 (20 stopped). MPP: 1280/1170. FS: 99/96.

Destroyed fort outside Beaufort.
Landed a Brigade at Apalachicola to garrison it.

Research: Inf. Tactics and Cav. Tactics.

Purchases: Ironclad, Engineer, Inf. Div. and RG.

New Mexico is held by only 3 units. Hopefully I get an event soon to put more troops in there since I am not sending any form Indian Territory/Missouri.

ET
Rebs get the Creek Indians. Me nothing.


Screenshot of Kentucky after my move and reinforcements. Slowly putting a line together that can start advancing.

Turn 27 Dec 13th

RP: Not much happened.

Reinf: RI at Cairo, Marine at NY, 2 Gunboats at Annapolis, Inf. Div at DC and River Gunboat at Evansville.

Reports: Mex: 7/20, UK 8, Fr 13, Sp 6. Land: 61/61, Navy: 19/5.
Convoy: 345 (45 stopped), MPP: 1280/1160, FS: 99/96.

Moved the four Gunboats southward with the intent of destroying Ft. Pulaski.

Luckily for me the Rebel drive north in New Mexico stopped.
Raining in Kentucky so just adjust lines.
Send my ships in to test the defenses around Mobile.
Minor adjustments to the Virginia line.

Research: Maxed.
Purchase: Another Ironclad for 4 total, Ind. Div., Cav. Div, and River Ironclad.

ET
Decision Event: Have the California Column go to Fort Bowie? Yes.
Union develops Corps Organization. Will be able to build my first four Corps.


Screenshot of the Northern Virginia line. Trying to hold on to some ground south of the Potomac River so I can break this line later.

Turn 29 Jan 14th 1862

RT: Rebels attack Washington. Attack includes two siege guns.

Reinf: Marines to NY, Cav. Div plus 2 Inf. Div. to Washington.

Reports: Mex 19/20. UK 9, Fr 14, Sp 7. Land: 65/64, Navy: 20/7.
Convoy: 350 (55 stopped), MPP: 1280/1160, FS: 98/97.

Snowing in Kentucky so limited advancing without combat.

My Gunboats take out Fort Pulaski.
My River Ironclads and Gunboats take out Island #10 Fort.
Sending a Frigate and a Gunboat to the Gulf area.

The attack against Washington surprised me. I would write it off as just an attrition attack of opportunity but for the presence of Siege Artillery. These are expensive and useless to the Rebels unless they want to take Washington DC or Fort Monroe. This could be a limited distraction, or it could be the beginning of a "Hail Mary" attack with intend of taking DC and winning the war early.

Research: Chit into Corps Organization.
Purchase: 2 Corps, River Ironclad, River Gunboat.

ET
Decision: Send Gen. Canby to New Mexico? Yes (I am really weak there but cost 100 for a few turns).
Decision: Occupy Ft. Pulaski? Yes (but another 125 MPP for a couple of turns).


Screenshot of my lines in Kentucky. Still don't have enough units to advance much further.

Turn 31 Feb 25th 1862

RP: Rebels attack DC again. Beginning to seriously worry me.

Reinf: marines at Annapolis, RG in Tenn., Montor at Baltimore and Annapolis, RI at NY, Gunboat at NY, Inf. Div at Frankfort, Engineer at DC, Gunboats at Boston and New Haven, and Indians in Far West.

Reports: Mex 19/20, UK 9, Fr 14, Sp 8. Land: 72/69. Navy: 27/9.
Convoy: 250 (20 kills), MPP: 1280/1080, FS: 98/97.

Not sure why I am so weak in New Mexico. Hopefully didn't miss an event that created troops there.
Rains in Kentucky so not much I can do there.
Mud and Rain in Virginia.
I took Mobile and destroyed another fort near it. This will hurt the South.

In Virginia I have now spotted an Armored Train as well as the two Siege Artillery. This is a major commitment of resources so the Rebs may be planning on taking Washington. Especially worrisome is not seeing any attempt to hold Mobile. A single Infantry Division would have made that a questionable fight. This could mean everything is being pushed into Northern Virginia.

Research: Chit into Leadership.
Purchase: Corps and an Inf Div.

ET
Looks like the South's FS and European support is going to take a hit for losing Mobile.
Volunteers finally show up in New Mexico.

Turn 33 Apr 8, 1862

RP: Rebels attack DC again. Actually, drove my unit out of the city. Luckily, they had no units able to move into the vaccated hex or the war would have been losst.

Reinf: RI at Cairo, GB at NY and Cav. Div near DC.

Reports: Mex: 19/20, UK 1, Fr 0, Sp 0, Land: 75/70, Navy: 30/10.
Convoy: 280 (30 lost), MPP: 1280/1100, FS: 97/93.

I haven't quite figured out how the Rebels are getting convoy support of 280 MPP with European support at 0. Taking Mobile wiped out his European support but apparently didn't wipe out his trade. Blockade runners are still coming in since I am killing them.

Another oddity that I can't explain. The South left a gunboat in Savannah port. Apparently, it can attack Ft. Pulaski from there and is doing considerable damage to the unit there. And the unit doesn't seem to be able to rebuild itself there.

In Kentucky I was able to kill a brigade near Paducah and put more pressure on Tennesse. I was able to advance units withing four hexes of Nashville which reduce their MPP from cotton I think.

But Virigina is beginning to dominate things. I nearly lost Washington. In spite of rain I attack to drive the Rebs back away from DC. But this will probably cost me the division that moves in to the hex so they can't directly attack Washington.

It will be two more turns before my first Corps size units arrive and I can secure DC. While I have some divisions around the city most of my line is held by brigade units. The next few turns are going to be hard on the Union.

Research: At max.
Purchase: Corps and Cav. Div.

ET
Achieve Naval Tactics lev 1.

Here is a screenshot of the situation in Virginia. I showed the attacks and movements I made to relieve Washington in red. The division that ended up in hex north of Alexandria will probably die next turn if it doesn't auto retreat. This screenshot shows the situation in Kentucky and the attack I made there.

How is convoy raiding going? Seems like CSA are still getting significant convoy income.

DC is looking ok though it'll probably depend on who can get corps there first. Also do you have another HQ around DC as you definitely need 2 for all those units and preferably with decent ratings.

redrum68 wrote: Sat Aug 06, 2022 3:58 pm How is convoy raiding going? Seems like CSA are still getting significant convoy income.

DC is looking ok though it'll probably depend on who can get corps there first. Also do you have another HQ around DC as you definitely need 2 for all those units and preferably with decent ratings.

I am slowly getting more gunboats into raiding, but their convoy income took a major hit from the loss European support. Although not as much as I would have expected for support being nearly 0. Apparently, the fixed part of the Convoy income isn't affected by loss of support.

The DC line is turning out to be a serious problem. Mostly due to a big in the games handling of retreats. The Rebel play just repeatedly attacks the units near Frederick. They eventually retreat but instead but instead of retreating north they retreat SE to the open hex north of Alexandria. There they are adjacent to 2-3 fresh Rebel unit which quickly kill the unit. I haven't found a way to prevent it so eventually it will lose me the game. I can't sustain the line losing 1-2 units every turn.

Turn 35 Apr 30, 1862

RP: Ft. Pulaski still taking hits every turn. Lost a division in Kentucky. Rebels make attacks all along the line of the Potomac.

Reinf: RI at NY and sent to Mississippi.

Reports: Mex 19/20, UK 1, FR 1, Sp 0. Land: 74/77, Navy: 31/13.
Convoy: 240 (70 stopped), MPP: 1280/1060, SP: 96/93.

Raining in Virginia so just rebuild. Wanted to advance into the empty hex north of Alexandria but I can't "see" one of the hexes. I would take a serve hit if I advanced so leave it open.

For some reason Ft. Pulaski doesn't have enough supply to rebuild the Unit. Not sure what is going on here.

In Indian Territory I surrounded a Rebel Indian and eliminated it.

Rain in New Mexico plus I am too weak to do anything down there.
Just have to wait for the California Column to arrive.

Putting more pressure on the Union in Tennesse but my line is rather weak. To many gaps in it.

Research: Chit into Spying.

Purchased: 2 Inf. Div and a RI (River Ironclad)

ET
Spying leveled.

In this screenshot I show my position along the Potomac before my move. The red arrows show where he attacked based on my memory of the replay. Screenshot below shows the Kentucky/Tennessee line. I have actually crossed over into Tennessee and have one unit within four hexes of Nashville. I fear the line is too weak to maintain this. I got a cavalry over to DC area to spot allowing me to advance. This is a sacrifice but it will keep them away from DC while I wait for my Corps to show up.

kennonlightfoot wrote: Sat Aug 06, 2022 9:44 pm

For some reason Ft. Pulaski doesn't have enough supply to rebuild the Unit. Not sure what is going on here.

Pulaski is an isolated settlement located on an island. It'll never gain a higher supply level than three, which is why the the brigade there can't ever completely rebuild to a strength of ten. Nor can it ever upgrade.

kennonlightfoot wrote: Sat Aug 06, 2022 9:30 pm I am slowly getting more gunboats into raiding, but their convoy income took a major hit from the loss European support. Although not as much as I would have expected for support being nearly 0. Apparently, the fixed part of the Convoy income isn't affected by loss of support.

Correct, the blockade runner convoy routes aren't impacted by European support. Only the Spain, UK, and France convoy routes depend on the European support percentages.

Turn 37 May 22, 1862

RP: Lost a division in Kentucky and a brigade in Va. Harpers Ferry is taken by Rebs.

Reinf: RI and 2 Corps both at DC.

Reports: Mex 19/20, UK 1, FR 1, Sp 0. Land: 72/77, Navy: 32/15.
Convoy: 180 (80), MPP: 1280/980, FS: 95/92.

I was able to reinforce Ft. Pulaski but not to full strength.
I advance some southward in Indian Territory.

Research: Chit into Hvy Mortars.
Purchase: 3 Inf. Div.

ET
Inf. Tech. to level 1.

I am still a little confused by the convoy system. Not being able to see the details on what the CSA is receiving makes it hard to determine just what is happening. I figured there is a base amount of supply coming in from Europe and other locations (Mexico for sure). But I thought the Blockade Runner income would fall when the European support went to zero. While it did fall the fact, I intercepted about 80 worth indicates a lot is still coming in. Here is a screen shot of the Convoy plot.

Turn 39, Jun 13

RP: CSA Monitors are playing hell with gunboats. One of the problems with gunboats. A monitor can sink one almost 100% of the time.

Reinf: Inf. Div. to DC area.

Reports: Mex 19/20, UK 1, Fr 1, Sp 0. Land: 75/77, Navy: 31/16.
Convoy: 175 (85), MPP: 1310/980, FS: 94/92.

Marines land next to Jacksonville driving off the defending brigade and taking the Port.

Destroyed the fort east of New Orleans. But I really lack the means to make a landing there and take New Orleans. That probably needs to be done before the CSA player has monitors to protect it.

Virginia situation continues to be a problem. I can't get a strong enough line to stop the attacks.

Research: Chit into Inf. Equipment.
Purchased: 2 Inf. Div.

ET
Got some more Indians.
European support for South drops again.
Leveled in Skirmishers, Inf. Tactics, and Production Technology.

Turn 41 July 1

RP: Lost Cav. Div in Kentucky. Brigade and a Division in Va.

Reinf: Corps, Inf. Div and Ironclad.

In Virigina the have now pushed me completely back across the Potomac.

Reports: Mex 19/20, UK 0, Fr 0, Sp 0. Land: 75/81, Navy: 32/16.
Convoy: 180 (25), MPP: 1330/980, FS: 92/92.

My gunboats had to scatter to keep from being all sunk by the monitors. Eventually I will get enough monitors and ironclads to stabilize this, but the gunboat kills are pulling down my Fighting Spirit.

Meanwhile in Indian Territory apparently the Rebs were hiding a lot of Indian units. Surrounding some of mine.

Research: Chits into Inf and Cav Tactics, Production as well.
Purchase: Cav. and Inf. Divisions.

ET

I should be winning based on my production (MPP) advantage but I can't turn that into units fast enough to offset my loses of both land and sea units. Which is bulling my FS down into dangerous territory. Even though I am probably out purchasing the Rebels the loses are still pulling my Land unit count down below the enemy's. A cycle that can only end in my defeat.

The situation in Virginia is bad. Compounding my problems there it looks like a retreat bug in the game. The red arrows show the kind of retreats I have been seeing when units near Frederick are attacked. They almost always survive the attacks on the river line but retreat before they can be killed. Problem is they always retreat into the enemy (so far always to that next just north of Alexandria). There they are easily killed by the division in Alexandria since there won't be further retreats. Once or twice wouldn't be a problem but this will continue until I even have a full Corps killed this way later in the game. I finally tried withdrawing my whole line around Frederick to top these losses but that just exposed other parts of my line.
Until they fix the bug or whatever it is that causes this, the only Union counter I can think of is in future game don't lose the Alexandria/Manassas line. It apparently must be held at all costs.

Turn 43 July 15

RP: They sank another gunboat and killed another Infantry on the Potomac Line using the bug.

Reinf: 2 Gunboats, Ironclad, Inf. Div to DC and Cav to Kentucky.

Reports: Mex 19/20, UK 1, Fr 0, Sp 0. Land: 75/81, Navy: 32/16.
Convoy: 170 (40), MPP: 1340/970, FS: 91/92.

Ship losses have cost me heavily in FS. This is a side effect of strategies developed playing AI. AI never gave a serious fight on sea control, so I never had to figure out what the Union needed built to maintain control. Obviously, I should have built more Frigates (for blockading further to sea out of range) and a lot more monitors. The monitors can't really sink another monitor (usually damage it and chase it back to port) but they can protect the gunboats. But I need a lot more of them early on. Later the ironclads will stop the enemy, but they take longer to build.

Research: Chit to Cav. tactics.
Purchase: Monitor and Inf. Div.

California Column arrives in New Mexico. And demonstrates another problem that doesn't occur against the AI. The enemy just stationed an overwhelming force on the border. The column pops into the map without any lead way. They are all adjacent to the enemy which quickly kills them. Apparently, the one city hex they have control on entry will not allow them to even rebuild so they are all eventually killed. Another hit to my FS as well.

Screen shot showing the results of the first round of attacks. The remaining units are taken out on the next turn. This might be considered a bug or at least a poor design. Only option for now for the Union is to never bring these forces in through Fort Bowie. They come in at a predictable time and location. The Kentucky situation looks good, but I haven't been able to send division size units to that front in some time. Things won't go well long term if this doesn't change.

Turn 45 Jul 29

RP: They killed a RT on the Mississippi, started some major attacks in Tennessee and Kentucky driving me back along with the loss of a brigade and two infantry divisions. Killed most of the Califorinia Column.

Reinf: 1 Inf. Div. to Kentucky (that won't be enough).

Reports: Mex 19/20, UK 2, Fr 2, Sp 0. Land: 77/84, Navy: 31/16.
Convoy: 200 (10), MPP: 1450/1110, FS: 90/93.

My number of land units along with my Fighting Spirit are in a nose dive.

Strengthened the line in Virginia but still having the route bug kills against me. In Kentucky I withdraw to give me some space and time for reinforcements. Research: Maxed.
Purchase: Cav. and Inf. Divisions.

ET

Turn 47 Aug 12

RP: California Column is wiped out. They killed another division in Kentucky. This time one of my Corps retreats into the retreat bug area and is wiped out.

Reports: Mex 19/20, UK 2, Fr 3, Sp 2. Land: 73/84, Navy: 31/15.
Convoy: 160 (55), MPP: 1450/1080, FS: 89/93.

The Land situation is going to bring me down. South now has 11 more units in play than I do. In a game system that requires continuous lines this means I can't last long. As more of my line is manned by brigades the easier the kill will come to the South.

I get Corp Organization level 2 which will give me four more Corps. But they will not arrive in time to save Washington.

In desperation to find something that will stop the Retreat Bug losses I pull back my line in front of Frederick. They may still route into Alexandria.

Turn 49 Aug 26

Reports: Mex 19/20, UK 2, Fr 3, Sp 2, Land: 77/86, Navy: 32/15.
Convoy: 170 (40), MPP: 1450/1080, SP: 88/93.

Death Knell for my Potomac Line. Their attacks during their move almost break the line and enter Washington. They have gotten their infantry up to Infantry Equipment Level 2. Guess they got machine guns because they almost took out my Corps in Washington defenses. They also put together a divisional set of attacks supported by artillery that nearly took out my best Infantry Corps (attack shown in red). But with not enough Corps to man the line and all degraded by having green replacements to bring them up to strength, next turn will probably be the end.

Yep, high quality CSA infantry Divisions under good leadership can decimate Union Corps. I take it this is Aug 1862? It must be Lee.

Turn 51 Sept 9, 1862

Washington was taken. Although I have enough around it to retake it that would only return 50% of the FS loss and no doubt it would be permanently retaken the next turn after that.

So I conceded defeat.

I did these two AAR primarily to give people who have been playing just the AI or hadn't gotten the game a chance to see what happens as they get further into the game. I was hoping they would last into 1863 since the first two years fight quite different from the later years. Also, fighting the AI gives you a really warped view of tactics to use which got me into trouble on quite a few things. Beriand knows the game mechanics quite a bit better than I do.

While the bug in the retreat handling wasn't the reason I loss, it was the reason I lost so early. Losing over 6-8 units that all should have survived since they retreated from their battles but instead of going to safety went to an even worse position cost me. I didn't get an exact count because it took me a few turns to realize what was happening. I think without there loss I would have had enough force to maintain the Potomac River line until my next four Corps came in and I also reached Infantry Equipment level 2. Also, I was scheduled to receive some decent leaders in September and October. With Sherman and eight Inf. Corps I think I could have held the line and reinforced Kentucky as well.

Economically as was doing good. If I could have slowed the bleeding enough to let my purchasing, get me superior numbers, things would have gone better. My MPP was 50% higher than the South's by the last turn.

I would have still been defeated because having to constantly rebuild units keeps their experience level so low that they would never be able to beat the Rebel units. But I could have lasted into 1863 and maybe even 64.

Lessons Learned:

Obviously, you don't want to let the South get up to the Potomac River. I should have extended my line based on Alexandria and Manassas. Also, given it priority for my first divisions. I don't know how that would have affected the situation in Kentucky since there would be a lot less troop to send there. Hopefully, they will put out a patch fixing the retreating, but a more forward line will prevent that problem.

Bringing the California Column through Fort Bowie probably is not a good option anymore. I don't remember if the Rebel player gets any notification through events telling them which choice the Union made, but the safer bet is to not do this. It was much too easy to kill with a rather small enemy force.

I got too aggressive in the West for the amount of force i had. Should have done nothing more than advance enough to make sure they were there then draw back. Let them be the ones who run out of supply if they want to contest it.

I needed a much better naval strategy including build plan. One of the problems with mostly having played the AI is that it is easy to wipe out the AI navy. But against a player, Beriand's few monitors played hell with my navy. I am not sure if he fielded more than two or not, but I didn't have a good plan for countering. They cost me a lot of FS (Fighting Spirit) by killing gunboats. It might be possible to trap the CSS Virigina (Monitor) in Norfolk with two blocking monitors, but I haven't test that. I built lots of Ironclads, but they were late to show up. Probably should have built more Monitors so they would be in position to limit the damage.

I need to coordinate my amphibious landings a little better with making garrison brigades available to relieve them. I took a number of ports but I slowed myself down by not being ready to replace the marines with infantry brigades so they could move on to the next port.

And another big obvious. I need to figure out the land combat system. It looks like I should have put my chits into Infantry Equipment first. But in general, I need to figure out just which Research areas benefit infantry combat and prioritize them over all others. This is the Union's vulnerability early on and they need to fix it as quickly as possible. This may also require investment in leadership as well.

Another area the AI gave me know experience in was artillery. It turned out a lot more useful than I thought it would be. I never had to purchase any so I never knew what it could do. AI seldom last much longer than 1863 so you don't need siege artillery. And I assumed from the name that it would be something you used only against entrenchments.

If anything else occurs to me I will add it.


Maybe Beriand can add something on how to fight the infantry. I am mostly guessing since it is difficult to tell what is actually happening based on what you see in the Replay.