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Hello all,

I'm going to play my first PBEM game and I'd like to write an AAR but I don't know if I will able to keep updated it with regularity, soon will be busy days for me but I will try to do my best.


We will play the big standard scenario that starts at 10:00 am, I will lead the Unionist and my esteemed opponent chose to be the Confederate player (few doubts reading his nickmane [:)] )

After this post the thread is forbidden for Clinchrifles!

Edit: game started with 1.01 version

The Northeaster Virginia Army is leaded by Irvin McDowell that has all statistics under the average but Leadership, in fact I will have hard time to coordinate the army.

Quick analysis about the battle:
Pros
- better organization, with the divisional Generals I can put more units under command range;
- more boots, I can achieve numerical advantage in the early stage when all troops will be free to move;
- better weapons, both rifles and guns;
- the most part of the Victory Hexes are in terrain not difficult to take, of course there are several creeks but lot of fords are available and he cannot guard in force all of them;
- several divisions are already pointing to the VHs;

Cons
- we are not green alike in the same way, very few regiments hit quality 3 (if I understand correctly 3 is an average value that reflect the green status in the early battles) and surely we will see troops fly away from the battlefield;
- generalships, totally outclassed by Confederate leaders, I have to take in account that enemy units will move better and faster than mine;
- the Army morale breaking point is higher than the enemy, that means I can sustain less losses;
- lack of cavarly, this is a very big problem because I will be blinded while my troops will march.

I have time and better equipments against superior enemy quality and capacity to hold the ground.

So, first thing is to know my OOB with his strenghts and weaknesses:

2nd Division (ca 6500 men and 13 guns)
Hunter is a good leader with some strong units under his command, moreover the only Union cavarly unit is joining his ranks and can deploy several 12-pdr guns, 1st Brigade is locked for 20' (red check mark).

3rd Division (part of ca 4600 men and 10 guns)
Two of the three brigades are directly leaded by Heintzelman, a couple of good units but rather poor commanders, they need to march quickly.

1st Division (part of ca 5000 men and 13 guns)

This is the strongest division of the Army but only half brigades are close to Stone Bridge, both are locked for 120' and therefore I have to wait before launch the attack.
Sherman's Brigade is good even if his own command and tactics statistics are poor.

5th Division (ca 5700 men and 14 guns)
The smallest division under Miles that is the worst leader. Average quality units and most of them are equipped with Smoothbore muskets, good artillery at least.
One brigade is around Centreville, the other one is marching in the woods close Butler House.

1st Div/4th Bde (ca 2900 men and 6 guns)
This brigade is in front of Blackburn's Ford, the infantry is average but the artillery is great, 2 24-pdr and 4 Napoleon guns.

5th Div/2nd Bde (ca 2900 men and 4 guns)
Davis is a good commander and his NY units are nice, unfortunately all of them are armed with Smoothbore muskets.

1st Div/1st Bde (ca 2800 men)
Very good brigade (for the Union standard) but filled with infantry only.

3rd Div/3rd Bde (ca 2800 men)
Not so good units without any heavy weapons too.

In fact both brigades will be my reserve.

Here you can see my best and worst units of the Army.

Both are 700 men strenght but the main differences are the number between brackets (when the casualties reach this point the morale drop fast) and the quality (the value in the morale line after the dash), therefore the 71st NY Militia is very fragile and represent a 90 days recruits eager to back home.

Ward's 38th NY is a very good units for this battle, moreover it has the special ability "Disciplined" (the symbol after the rifle picture) that means it can change formation a lower MP cost.

Now I need a plan for my beautiful troops, several ideas come to my mind but I don't know how many times my guys will failure to follow my orders therefore I think is better to keep the plan simple.

OOB in game

1st Division

The 2nd and 3rd Bde near Stone Bridge cannot do nothing at the moment, I will just move the leaders a bit far from the frontline (I don't want that a lucky shot kill my commanders).
For the 1st Bde I change my mind and I will use it to put pressure on the confederate unit on the bridge forcing the enemy or to give up the position or to commit more units there.

1st Division

The 4th Bde will not attack the unit behind the Blackburn's Ford but will move towards Lynn House and will stay in reserve until will be clear where is the major enemy commitment.

2nd Division

Rather straightforward, both brigades will try to take the Stone House and then will see the enemy reaction.

3rd Division

Here the fun part of the plan, 1st and 2nd Bde will try to outflank the enemy marching towards Groveton and then Young's Branch, the terrain should hide my units until they will be in position.

3rd Division

3rd Bde will spread among the Harris House to intercept an eventually enemy flank counter-attack.

5th Division

Initially they will gather up south of Butler House and will wait further developments, in this side of the map I will be weak if the enemy will try to push but I think I can stand an attack, at worst I will retreat to avoid excessive losses.

I'm looking forward to watching this unfold.

Thanks!
Rick

Thanks Rick!

First turn done, good luck and have fun to my opponent [:)]

Heintzelman's 3rd Division is marching and at Sudley Spring's Ford there is some traffic jam.

Burnside is leading his brigade pushing hard to reach Buck Hill as soon as possible.
Of course I don't want to use March order so close to the enemy.

Keyes's Brigade has already joined the rest of the division and for the next turn I hope to engage the Confederates.