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Just coming to the end of my second full game. A lot better than the first that's to be sure. Getting the hang of initiative as the Union player.
However got to the election and Lincoln duly lost (again).
This time though I have taken Appomatox and Fredricksburg (after costly battles over the years in Manassas). I have taken all Missouri and Kentucky and most of Tennesee and the Mississipi. I have captured Vicksburg quite early and fought my way to Savannah getting Atlanta on the way.

I probably have too many troops down outside New Orleans and should have moved them to the east and left the western campaign.

I found Manassas a tough nut. Clearly the bigest lesson I learnt was that you need two Army Commanders with lots of troops with initiative to make simultaneous attacks. Likely you will lose one battle but may win the other. Problem is this doesnt happen that often.

I am amazed at the vast number of troops the south can put into eastern battles, often outnumbering me, which leads to obvious defeat.

So, have I concentrated to much in the west. How do you beat them in the east. And what more could I have done to save Lincoln.

Tony

PS. One area I failed to concentrate on was the suggested numerous invasions along the coast. I only managed two of those and then they were bogged down and couldnt move.

I think everything hinges on the 64 election- the amount of military victory means little to a people who have seen all their young men slaughtered to achieve it- war weariness was a huge problem- and if victory was too costly- or won at the expense of letting too many political points slip by- then all the military victory you could gain will only show the people a butchers bill, paid with their famlies blood, and the south still refusing to surrender - and they will vote for peace. Many in the north favored letting the south go its own way. Not Lincoln or his followers, naturally.

Thanks. I can see that but there has to be a balance somewhere in maintaining the assault, taking territory and defeating the southern armies. It strikes me that you get initiative as the Union so rarely in opportunistic conditions that you cant pass up the chance to attack. Up to Vicksgurg my points total was competitive. After that and a few defeats in Manassas and I was way off.

How many casualties are to many.

On a slightly different note. I use up large numbers of troops garrisoning sectors I have overrun which could be used at the front. Do you sacrifice some and let the partisans grow or do you maintain full strength to prevent that?

Tony

wouldnt allow the partisans to grow-- bad mojo there. They get too big they turn into problems that take large forces and initiatives to destroy. Use Militia for Garrisions, never regular infantry. Keep a few bad leaders in the rear doing training on the larger militia garrisions - some poor combat leaders have good infantry training numbers. Any Infantry created while on partisan duty swap out with militia and send off to the front.

Also from the earliest part of the war you need as the Union to decisively go after the Raiders- those little pin pricks of pol points over the course of the game add up to countering the loss of several regions or major battles.
 If you are the Union- try to keep a supplied and strong anti raider cruiser force out in the Atlantic trying to hunt them down- it pays big dividends to be agressive there.  If the Raiders live too long and gain too much experience they will become too deadly.

Best way to gain political points is through Victory, land and sea- also consider just one draft at first and then consider holding back a bit on the second and third draft- it costs big pol points.

I also suggest waiting on Kentucky until September 61, if possible- though you risk the Rebs taking Paducah in August 61, and also lossing big pol points, taking Kentucky aint cheap- and there is a 40 % chance it will go Union permenantly if the rebs come in, in August 61- that could be bad for the confeds.  Kentucky is a well placed zone to launch offensives deep into the core of the Confederacy- and produces a lot of extra stuff for the Union if they go Union..- a very difficult thing- it does save the union pol points to wait the invasion. Hmmm what to do??  That becomes the players call.