Oh no, McClellan's in charge! Tullius (USA) vs Marquo (CSA)

[TulliusDetritus]

My forces at Strasburg are untouched. And they have indeed supplies and ammo (wagon trains).

In West Virginia I should be trying to encircle the stubborn enemy forces. Let's see if it works.

[TulliusDetritus]

In Missouri, as I have said, there should be a pantagruelian effort to capture Springfield. Ergo, there should be a quite big battle here. I am gathering the forces NE of the city and then I will charge like a bull. We expect every man will do his duty [:D]

[TulliusDetritus]

And first screenshot of the "west". Kansas: I recruited a regular brigade + artillery. They should be a firefighter brigade. Marquo seems to be advancing (southeast). Another cavalry regiment will soon arrive at Fort Leavenworth.

There is a militia regiment in the western part of the state.

[Q-Ball]

Leavenworth is an objective city; Lawrence has St. Capital, and thereforce produced 1 recruit and 1 money a turn.

Other than those points, though, what is worth defending in Kansas?

I'm just wondering. I also wonder how exactly supplies get to Union New Mexico, because that may be one reason you need Kansas, not sure

[TulliusDetritus]

I think zero supplies should be pushed via Kansas (to NM, Colorado, etc.). I am going to start a thread because I don't get it.

[Michael T]

That's an impressive production line [X(]

[TulliusDetritus]

[center]Early September1861[/center]

Well... I really thought I would be swallowing a lot of sh**! But this was -to my utter surprise- a really good turn (for the Union). Near Washington the situation is still not clear but let's hope (and pray, don't forget to pray ) we can keep the head above the water.

McDowell marched to Alexandria and... no battle at all [X(] I was outnumbered 2:1 but for some reason no battle. This does not mean the enemy mega stack will not trash me on the next combat resolution phase though! Let's hope Beauregard is not activated this turn!

I am keeping Farragut and his fleet in the Potomac river adjacent to Alexandria with bombard orders. I will certainly need the all the naval guns of this world to resist.

Needless to say, many forces will join McDowell. But maybe it's too late. Time will tell.

[TulliusDetritus]

In Strasburg, Marquo finally tried to kick me out [:D] He launched a leaderless 8.000 horde against Milroy's almost 11.000 men. We won and the enemy left the region.

Interesting note: to keep this force supplied, I am sending wagon trains. The thing is they need less than 15 days to get there, or to Washington (to refill) [:)] By train obviously.

I would have said this operation would be a fiasco but it could work after all! Well, we never know.

[TulliusDetritus]

The most successful place: West Virginia [8D]

Given that Kentucky is still a shield, I am sending some forces of Ohio and Indiana to fight elsewhere, where they are needed. West Virginia and Missouri at the moment.

These diverted forces won perhaps a decisive battle in West Virginia. They captured Morgantown trashing Floyd's stack in the process. This force should not be a threat anymore. Run, run! Run for your lives!!

And we also captured that depot on the top of that mountain. Nice gift I might put to good use if I plan to invade Virginia from the west! Very much thanks! Appreciated

[TulliusDetritus]

And Missouri. All the forces are gathered: 12.000 men. The boss in charge of this dangerous mob is Lyon. He is activated. And NO mud. Orders are clear and simple: advance towards Springfield.

So every man for himself, and the devil take the hindmost!

As I said, capturing (or not) Springfield is pure random luck (who will prevail after the combats?). Let's see if we can bag it.

[TulliusDetritus]

ORIGINAL: Michael T

That's an impressive production line [X(]

And if I am not mistaken, there are maybe a DOZEN of REGULAR brigades queued. The last thing I recruited was 10 New York militias. So these regular brigades are not shown. They would be on page 2 if there was one.

I really need to stabilize the front in the vicinity of Washington. Marquo has more men here. These forces should be decisive.

$ & men => the north. No big deal [:)]

[TulliusDetritus]

I did not mention the forces in Fort Monroe. A large brigade had been recruited (3 x infantry elements + 1 x cavalry element + 1 x artillery element) and sent to this fort along with Shields, the leader with the fort ability thing.

They left the fort and captured Hampton Roads, and now were trying to capture Williamsburg. They were defeated though. Back to the fort!

These forces inmediate task is really simple: attract enemy forces. But of course, if you try to threaten someone the threat has to be er... credible in the first place! That's the whole point or you better forget the threats! [:D]

So in theory I should be pouring more forces into Fort Monroe. Let's see it that can be done.

[TulliusDetritus]

[center]Late September 1861[/center]

Looks like Beauregard was not even active (or blue posture), but somehow I ended up attacking him. Now that's intelligent eh? [:D]

You may remember that I was outnumbered 2:1. Therefore I have sent a large force to assist McDowell. In the end we had 31.000 (Union) vs 33.000 (Confederate). I am pretty certain the forces coming from Washington joined McDowell's horde because the battle report clearly says some units had to cross a river (the Potomac that is).

A Union defeat. Despite this was a huge battle there were really light losses [X(] And off we go [:D] They finally kicked us out of Alexandria, now besieged [8D]

EDIT: no wait, I got all wrong. Orange posture => the Rebels, NOT the Union.

[TulliusDetritus]

The Shenandoah Valley. Strasburg finally fell to the Union! YES!

But... er... I'm beginning to smell a big, fat rebel rat!

I would bet you anything he plans to encircle Harper's Ferry [:D] Fredericktown is the key I guess. The enemy northern stack (or left pincer) should run out of supplies pretty soon: no wagons.

Ergo, I will send a respectable force to the aforementioned Fredericktown place thing. Just in case.

Looks like we are back to WitE, trying to surround the enemy! [8D]

EDIT: by the way, Marquo torched the depot in Strasburg.

[TulliusDetritus]

Those of you who remember my Soviet AARs chez WitE forum may remember I was a hardcore Strategic Reserves freak [:D]

Needless to say, I was not inventing the wheel. I was replicating history ie what Stavka (aka the Soviet High Command) had done: gathering countless reserves which were thrown to the enemy at the right place and moment, overwhelming the poor Wehrmacht (who had few reserves, but that's another story).

The Stavka did not invent the wheel either. We could say only the savages and barbarians ignored the reserves. Because as early as the old Roman Republic, these guys had understood they did need a [tactical, not strategic] reserve: the Triarii or the last line, better armed, more experienced and wealthier citizens.

This game is no different. I will have to gather [strategic] reserves. Right now it's impossible though.

But anyway, I am placing all available and non used forces (leaders + units) under W. Scott command. These forces (screenshot) will melt like snow under the sun because I MUST use them to stop the Confederate NOW.

But when I will manage to stabilise the front I will become again a compulsive strategic reserves freak [:D]

[TulliusDetritus]

[center]Early October 1861[/center]

Marquo has more than avenged the annihilated garrison of Leesburg. His mega stack has assaulted Alexandria and captured it, annihilating the defenders [8D]

Another enemy stack is advancing in Maryland and the Union stack (1-star boss Porter) did not even fight.

In the Shenandoah Valley, the Confederate recapture Strasburg. And this time I am NOT staying [:D]

I have other plans (yellow arrows on the screenshot): I could try to capture Winchester and Leesburg themselves...

[TulliusDetritus]

And Missouri is in my hands [:)]

I had calculated I had 50% possibilities => phase 1 (Rolla) + phase 2 (Springfield).

When I opened the turn I even thought "hey, let's send Lyon with 3 cavalry regiments to storm Fayetteville (in Arkansas)!" I could either try to stay or simply torch the depot.

But I don't think I have to push my luck. My objective has been 100% accomplished in this theater (Missouri controlled => right flank secured).

Not to mention that the enemy fat stack west of Springfield is adjacent to an enemy structure ergo it is supplied. In one turn he could recapture Springfield [;)]

[TulliusDetritus]

And the Northwest Department aka Illinois aka Mississippi River. I have to show it now since it will become active.

Last turn the Beast appeared in Cairo: Grant that is [:)] His 5-6-4 ratings are more than welcome! In fact I should be putting these ratings to good use now!

Last turn Marquo had done a strange [to me, but I might be wrong] move. He sent a horde under McCulloch command to cross the river and capture er... Metropolis in Illinois [:D]

You may remember that poor Foote was outnumbered. Now he is command of 9 Gunboats squadrons (+ 4 ironclads ready in one month). The thing is he was ordered to block the river, to prevent McCulloch retreat!! Which was done.

And that's where mega boss-ace Grant emerges on scene He is ordered to attack -repeat, attack- McCulloch (10 days to get there). If everything goes well, the Rebel could be in deep trouble if I well understood the rules of this game.

In other words, The Beast is coming, Marquo!

[TulliusDetritus]

Anyway, I really should feel ashamed of myself! Combat power of the Confederate: 53!

This turn a lot of firepower appeared. 4 elite brigades: Excelsior, Regular, Old, Philadelphia.

Five regular brigades are ready this turn (+ or - same number last turn) and there's still some more [8D]

[Michael T]

Don't get too confident in that Combat Power rating. I suspect it takes in to account Naval power as well, which is a significant proportion of your strength. Plus the Union have a lot more power held in fixed units than the South. You might find that you still only have 1:1 on the ground where it matters.