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24.06.1862

The situation is slowly escalating.

Another fort has been destroyed by the Union Marines.

Entire brigades of ours have been completely wiped out in Tennessee and Virginia. The few survivors have been distributed among other units; the field hospitals are places of horror.
But the Yankees are also bleeding heavily for every meter they advance.

In Missouri, the Native Americans were discovered by enemy scouts. Apparently, raiding isn't much fun under those circumstances, and the "savages" have retreated back into the hinterland. At least they'll spot enemies there; whether they'll report them to us is another question.
In Tennessee, the worst fighting is taking place in and around Dresden.

The Union seems intent on encircling Nashville from the east, west, and north simultaneously. We are most vulnerable in the east. Only one division, after a forced march and outside General Longstreet's command range, is covering the town of Crossville.
In northern Virginia, one of our brigades is in danger of being completely surrounded. Meanwhile, the fighting around Warrenton is resulting in heavy losses for the Union.
In Arizona, the Navajo are retreating again. Since the Union Indians are already equipped with superior weapons, the Union likely intends to lure them into an ambush.

08.07.1862

Those from the north have taken Crossville.

If they now advance east towards Nashville, they won't encounter much resistance.

However, they do have two cavalry divisions at their rear. They certainly shouldn't advance recklessly.
In Missouri, it seems to be nothing more than mutual reconnaissance. There's hardly any actual fighting.

But the Union is also advancing here in divisional strength. If they get serious, we don't currently have many options to counter them.
In Virginia, we were able to eliminate another division near Winchester. Otherwise, the order of the day here is to avoid giving the enemy any openings.
Our monitor, "Virginia," engaged the Union monitor in a skirmish, hoping to drive them away from Norfolk.

The result would probably be a classic draw. Both ships have been fitted with new ventilation holes.

The President has requested statistics on losses so far.

We intend to present them to him in such a way that while the Union has destroyed more units, we have lost the "more valuable" divisions.

22.07.1862

The Union is conducting an offensive in the Shannondoah Valley, as well as in Missouri—oh, and one of our cavalry units was surrounded in Tennessee.
Our cavalry units launched a counterattack. The enemy suffered losses but did not retreat. The situation there is critical.
But overall, the fighting spirit of our young nation remains more or less unbroken.

The Union, lacking success on the battlefields, is clearly having more trouble convincing its soldiers and population of its invasion plans.

05.08.1862

Our losses and casualties are mounting. They're now at division strength.
The troop balance was even for a while, but now the Yankees have gained the upper hand.
At least in Missouri, the situation is stable. Initially, neither side could launch an attack or gain ground due to the weather. Now they can't because both sides are holding firm.

In Tennessee, however, the Union forces are gathering near Dresden for an attack; I have no idea if we can repel it.

The fighting in Crossville continues.

The residents really don't care anymore which flag is flying over the town. They'll be shelled regardless.

On the other hand, the Union has loosened its grip on Knoxville. Our repeated cavalry charges have likely contributed to this.
In Virginia, Arizona, and among the Navajo, things are comparatively "peaceful."

One of our monitors has been commissioned near Mobile. This could be a surprise for the Union Marines in the Gulf of Mexico.

19.08.1862

Our monitor in the Gulf of Mexico made a dramatic entrance.

Freely paraphrasing Caesar, he came, he saw, he conquered.

A Union gunboat was practically blown out of the water.
Bad news, however, from the West. The Navajo Indians are now facing overwhelming odds. The question is how to respond effectively.
To continue the theatrical metaphor, the Californian column has entered the stage in Arizona.

I'm so proud that I so cleverly picked up on and continued the President's opening joke from the beginning of the meeting.

But he just looks at me as if I've been petting his dog without permission.
In Tennessee, Union troops have apparently loosened their grip on Knoxville to change direction.

We will probably send a brigade from West Virginia to meet them.

We must stop them before they reach the mine near Bristol, at the latest.

02.09.1862

In western Tennessee, the enemy's superior numbers near Dresden are now truly critical. Our counterattacks there are significantly less frequent. We keep receiving reports from General Johnsten calling for reinforcements. According to the latest report, he "can no longer guarantee anything."

Tennessee is currently the main theater of war. In the east, we had to evacuate Knoxville.

The cavalry would likely have been trapped there again otherwise, and who knows if they could have escaped or broken out this time.

General Lee interpreted the situation as a sign that his flanks were being prioritized. Therefore, he decided to exploit the perceived Union weakness to the north and ordered a crossing of the Tennessee River.

And indeed, it was even possible to attack General Pope's headquarters itself.

However, the question remains whether it was worth it, as a Yankee counterattack is guaranteed, and our spearhead is far from optimally positioned.
Another blockade runner has broken through near Mobile. The use of the monitor has already proven its worth.

In Virginia, despite the bad weather, another counterattack against the Yankees was successfully launched.

The Navajo Indians are now facing a fourfold numerical superiority. They suffered heavy losses and are down to only 40% of their original (estimated) manpower.
There were skirmishes with a Union river battleship on the Mississippi River in Louisiana.

Their engineers are clearly always coming up with new ideas.
A fort near Wilmington was destroyed, and we sent a brigade and a regiment to march toward the city and its surrounding fortifications. Their marine units are still out there somewhere.

16.09.1862

The Navajo Indians managed to break away from the enemy once again.

But they are being pushed back further and further toward their tribe. They could even be outflanked and their camp attacked directly.
In Tennessee, things unfolded as expected, but General Johnsten is still holding Dresden. He can now even observe the Yankee cavalry up close.

The good news is that reinforcement divisions have finally been formed, and we are in the process of forming even more soon.

The bad news is that they all still need to be deployed and equipped with better weapons and equipment.
In Virginia, the weather helped us with precisely this, as the rain and mud simply slowed down Union attacks.

But even here, where there is light, there is also shadow.

The Union has significantly increased its naval presence here. Monitors, battleships.

Could this be a sign of an impending landing?
Near Wilmington, we have taken up positions east of the city. A landing to the south should give us enough time to regroup accordingly. A first strike to the east, however, might not. At least that's the thinking.
The Gulf of Mexico, on the other hand, is more or less under our control.

It's astonishing that the Union is making so little effort here.

Or are the fleet movements on the east coast just a clever diversionary tactic?

04.10.1862

The Navajo Indians were wiped out, their tribe completely overrun.

This also means that the freed-up Union troops will almost certainly march south. There, they will encircle General van Dorn and the California column.

I wouldn't want to be in his shoes right now, because his orders were unequivocal: Hold the area, especially around the mine, at all costs.

Dresden has fallen, but with the reinforcements that have arrived, it has been recaptured.

The fighting in the area is a constant back and forth.
We took a closer look at one of the enemy ironclads off Norfolk; they seem to have improved naval weaponry compared to ours. Was it a mistake to rely on these behemoths if they are already inferior in comparison?
We have commissioned two monitors near Jacksonville. We hope they will have the same effect and success as the monitor in the Gulf of Mexico.
Then research capacity became available again.

At the same time, a heated debate arose over where to invest.

Corps organization or field telegraphy?

The president opted for the latter. Our generals seem
all in all to always be a step ahead of the enemy. Expanding this advantage early on could be crucial across the board.

04.10.1862

"But Mr. President, I beg you, I really beg you, to reconsider all of this. It seems, to say the least, rather hasty."

Hasty? The good Jefferson Davis is practically hysterical.

"You don't understand, none of you understand. It's about securing the leadership of the nation. Because, as of today, it's in absolute danger. Make yourself useful and help my slaves pack."

"Mr. President, this is a completely wrong signal to the nation, the people, the soldiers. We're not unprepared; on the contrary, we can quickly take countermeasures. New divisions can be formed in no time."

"Here."

The President throws me a Yankee newspaper, completely tattered. But on the front page it says:

"Union troops near the suburbs of Richmond."

And that was the trigger; the Yankees have landed. A combined operation near Williamsburg. They scouted out the strength of Richmond's defenses and then moved north towards Tapohannock, presumably to encircle Fredericksburg from two sides.
As a result, a decision must be made regarding further countermeasures. The idea is to deploy the "Land Merrimack." Our engineers have come up with the concept of mounting a heavy naval gun on one or more railroad cars.
The President is persuaded by this idea, and ultimately by the actual reinforcements that can be deployed. Historians will debate the distribution, but when it comes to the safety of the nation's leadership...

At the end of the day, I don't have to lug his luggage around.
Meanwhile, our two monitors continue northward, making the Union gunboats uneasy.

In general, the Yankee blockade has become more than porous. As long as that remains the case, there's a real opportunity here for our nation!

17.11.1862

It's as if both sides have shifted into high gear.

We're getting reports that the Union infantry has upgraded its weapons again. But we've also acquired that technology. Our cavalry also has new upgrade options. The Yankees apparently don't have those yet.
In return, we've identified a new unit strength, a corps on its way to Dresden.
And we've commissioned our battleships. Now we'll see if we can break the Northern blockade. They seem to be focusing their attention on the sea lanes around Richmond.
Richmond is also threatened from land, from two sides. The two fronts must not unite. That's why we're investing the most resources here.

Loving this AAR so far!

- BNC

Thank you, I'm very happy to hear that.

09.12.1862

Sometimes I wonder if Jazon has to go through something like this too, on Lincoln's staff, like I did under Davis.

I last saw him shortly before Fort Sumter.

Today is a diplomatic reception. A young nation, it seems, has to kiss a few asses now and then.

I'm curious which ambassador is invited today. Since we've been gradually loosening the blockade, there are all sorts of new possibilities. The British? Mexico? Other Europeans?

I don't like these events, with the gentlemen either in their finest tuxedos or their most beautiful uniforms—there's certainly no shortage of uniforms for generals, etc.

Anyway, time to put on a smile and get through the door.

And now I really have to smile.

All the expectedly dressed-up upper classes, and in the middle... A Native American, wearing only a loincloth, a feather headdress, and what I think are bones forming some kind of necklace.

Ah yes, that's right, the Seminole chief is to be persuaded to send his warriors to Missouri as well. That would unite all the Native Americans in the area under our command.

Well, it sounds good, but at the end of the day, they'll just do what they want. But if they shoot at the Indians to achieve that, so be it.

Generally speaking, it's winter, but it's not a real winter. The weather could be used for offensives and counter-offensives in many places. But both sides are obviously arming their units with the new weapons and getting into position.
But on our east coast and in the Gulf of Mexico, all hell is breaking loose.

Our monitors and battleships are practically hunting down Union gunboats.
Meanwhile, blockade runners are getting through almost regularly without being bothered. Most recently near Mobile.
Our revenues are really benefiting from breaking the blockade.

31.12.1863

The Yankees want to unite their two fronts in Virginia; that much is clear.

Despite the fact that winter, or at least the mud, has slowly set in, they are advancing, as they are in Tennessee. We have lost divisions in both states, and in Virginia, they have taken Tappahanock.
But their supplies there are poor; their operation seems to be on shaky ground. We can recapture Tappahanock and inflict devastating losses on them.
Our spies report that the Union is also investing in diplomatic missions.
The war of ass-kissing has now begun.

Our diplomatic efforts are clearly directed toward the British. The Union's certainly are as well.
Bringing the British into the war could truly be the key to victory. If we continue to prevent the blockade, it should only be a matter of time. At sea, there are currently no signs of Union countermeasures.

11.02.1863

Happy New Year!

However, it's starting just like the old year was: bloody.

Near Dresden, we managed to destroy the first Union corps.
In Virginia, we believe we've identified a weak point.

The Yankees simply can't get their supply lines in their landing zone under control. They're landing more divisions, but they're really just replacing their losses.

We want to go on the offensive! We're deploying our first corps near Richmond, and all units should receive the best possible equipment. With this mud, further attacks don't make much sense for now.
There's a stalemate in Missouri and Arizona.

After another blockade runner got through near Mobile, we're investing heavily in the mission "kissing English aristocrats' asses."
The Union has almost completely abandoned the blockade; our ships have to go far out to catch the enemy frigates.

25.03.1863

Blockade runners have once again made it through Mobile. It feels like normal shipping traffic is slowly returning.

The Native Americans have sent more warriors. This might make a raid of theirs northward possible in western Missouri.
Generally, the Union seems to be on its last legs. We're experiencing a lull near Dresden; no reinforcements are being sent. North of Nashville, there have been no southward advances so far.
The President is having a report from last month on unit strength compared to the Yankees.
And we're doing really well in that regard, almost on par.

Our battleships are now hunting enemy frigates far beyond our shores.

Two more monitors have been deployed in the Gulf of Mexico. Even if the Union does launch countermeasures, we're prepared.

In Virginia we were able to take out a Yankee cavalry.

16.04.1863

Another blockade runner has broken through. This time near Wilmington.

There are Indian skirmishes in Missouri. It's so different from when civilized soldiers are pitted against each other under orders from gentlemen.

Well, if you're unlucky, you'll end up on the ground; if you're lucky, you get to risk the same experience again the next day. It doesn't really matter whether you show up in a loincloth or a patched-up uniform.
In northern Virginia, the Union has advanced, and General Bauregard and his staff had to defend themselves.
But we've finally taken action against the Union landing. We've recaptured Williamsburg. We want more; we want Fort Monroe.

For this, our siege artillery is being deployed south of Fort Monroe.
Our monitors in the Gulf of Mexico are besieging a Union port. We intend to send the gunboats out to sea there so that the blockade is broken.

08.05.1863

We lost the Monitor Virginia.

The captain was eager to finally get back into action and participate in the gunboat hunt. He miscalculated the return to the safety of port, was cornered, and sunk.

At least we know that the Union's heavy naval units didn't continue south.

We suffered a defeat in Tennessee. Dresden is lost; we had to retreat. General Grant led the attack.
Heavy fighting is also taking place in Virginia, but we are largely holding our ground, even though our lines are quite thin.

But at Fort Monroe, we achieved a potentially decisive coup. We advanced right up to the fortress itself.

Union General Hunter is in a disadvantageous position. His units are cut off, and he now faces our corps and artillery fire.
In Arizona, the Union has launched an offensive. General van Dorn is heading north to counter the offensive. The threat from the north seems greater than the one from the west.
The Union's offensives and our subsequent counterattacks are resulting in ever-increasing losses. Especially for the Union.

30.05.1863

The Union strikes back. A clear sign of Jazon's handwork.

They won't rest until they've conquered every single one of our states.

They're conducting offensives in Arizona, Tennessee, and Virginia.
They're not abandoning Fort Monroe either; General Hunter has left the fortress, and a new division has landed.

But they and the remaining surrounding troops will be completely annihilated by us. We haven't been able to take Fort Monroe yet, but the fortress is under constant bombardment.
Our monitors continue to besiege and shell the harbor with the gunboat.

21.06.1863

The fighting in Missouri has subsided somewhat, and all sides are taking the opportunity to lick their wounds. We, the Yankees, and the Native Americans on both sides.
The Union continues its advance south after capturing Dresden.

General Johnsten orders a counterattack and succeeds in driving off at least the enemy corps. Reinforcements assem
bled in Memphis are already en route. We should be able to establish a new defensive line here.
As telegrams from General Lee and General Longstreet are read aloud with situation reports for their respective sectors, and the flags are dutifully placed on the map, it becomes apparent that something is seriously wrong in the local chain of command.

President Davies asks matter-of-factly:

"Which side are those who ordered this fortification to be on?"
In Virginia, General Bauregard repeatedly calls urgently for reinforcements; his lines are thin, very thin. The battles fought at his position near Woodstock have taken their toll on men and equipment.