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In a recent game against the AI I had the areas of Clarksville and Mobile completely surrounded with Union units. In both cases the areas were also cut off by water. ie: I had gunboats on the Mississippi and the port of Mobile was closed by sea.

In both cases I did not see any appreciable difference in the size of the Confederate units involved. For example, the AI had three brigades in Clarksville and although I had the area surrounded for close to nine months I did not see any change in the size of the forces. I know that when I have had units completely surrounded they eventually begin to wither away.

Also, I don't see any change in the little 'supply' symbol that is on the Rebel units.

Question: I noticed later on that the units that were surrounded in Mobile had a strange series of little wooden 'X' symbols in the bottom right corner of their counters. What does this indicate??? I missed it in the rules.

Mobile builds supplies, that's why they don't wither and die. The wooden X means entrenchments/breastwork only happens later in the war. 

GShock has it right.

In addition, when the units are surrounded the area may have a resource pool built up. It may take a bit of time for the defenders to eat through their supplies.

Eventually the little supply boxes may disappear, in which case the lack of supply should affect two things: their attrition rate goes up and their combat capability goes down. It is ugly. Attack them and you'll see what I mean.

I found myself as USA in the situation he described and i captured a whole army AC included (Beuregard, 3-4-4) Unfortunately, just 2 months later i fought him in Gordonsville and he whipped me (which made me very very pissed). [8D]

Ok guys thanks. That makes sense. Those few brigades in Clarksville were hanging on forever so I eventually just contained them and moved on.

That was my first win as the Union player against the AI. I find the AI pretty darn good in this game unless it is cheating like the devil. I get the sense it isn't but it does have the ability to always 'match' invading forces which I guess can't be helped in any AI situation.

This is, in my opinion the best Strategic game on the American Civil War out there.

Is your counter from the SPI Wilderness game, or one of the SPI Blue Grey quad games (or something else)?

That's "Anderson's" division from the good old classic SPI game "Wilderness Campaign". Good call. That game and the other "Lee Moves North" are still some of my favorite of the old operational level games on the Civil War.