Friday, November 17, 2017
Young Guard Voltigeurs
After doing a sample some time back I finally got stuck into doing half of the figures as Voltigeurs after a bit of agonizing and research. These are 1813-14 but will do for 1815. There is a lot of detail, but they painted up surprising quickly.
Random figures finally completed
Bit of a mixed bag this lot. Sometimes I'm left scratching my head why I acquired the miniatures, all I can say is that I must have had a good idea at the time, or otherwise I got them because I couldn't pass on a scantily clad female figure.
This figure was completed about 20 years ago.
The final figure is SS63 Royal Attendant with vase from Garrison Sword and Sorcery. She doesn't look like the sample pictured in the Lost Minis Wiki, but I think that is just because her arm has been bent.
I am pretty sure I obtained this figure as a job lot with some similar types (which are at various early stages of being painted and have been so for a while). My current thought is she can serve as a denizen in a DBA camp and of course there is always Songs of Blades and Heroes to give her an outing.
This figure was completed about 20 years ago.
No idea of the manufacturer.
But a good figure.
This next figure was started about 10 years ago, but finished this week.
Again, no idea of the manufacturer,
except I think it was the same as the figure above.
Fleshtones are a challenge,
especially when there is so much of it.
The final figure is SS63 Royal Attendant with vase from Garrison Sword and Sorcery. She doesn't look like the sample pictured in the Lost Minis Wiki, but I think that is just because her arm has been bent.
I am pretty sure I obtained this figure as a job lot with some similar types (which are at various early stages of being painted and have been so for a while). My current thought is she can serve as a denizen in a DBA camp and of course there is always Songs of Blades and Heroes to give her an outing.
Perhaps not as good a casting as the other two.
But she came up well all the same.
Look out behind you!
WBTS via Vassal - Weeks 89 to 92
After last month's play where I thought the Confederates had been able to stabilize everything to now thinking it is all falling apart, let's see what happens with this installment.
For the Confederates Charleston and New Orleans provide imports (the latter because it is protected by an ironclad) garnering a massive 8 supply points. The Confederates are carrying 160 supply. They get 95 from major cities (Richmond, Atlanta and New Orleans). This gives them 263 to spend with their 10 personnel points. They raise 10,000 garrison troops and are left with 243 supply.
The Union have just 9 supply to carry forward and get 180 from major city supply. They have 30 personnel points (would have been 40 if they had freed the slaves). They augment 3,000 man divisions from Washington and Baltimore and a 4,000 strong, eh weak, division from Philadelphia. The remaining points go towards training 5,000 militia as that keeps the supply requirements low. They have a need as will be seen. They are left with 124 supply.
The Confederates deploy 10,000 garrison troops to Richmond, and 5,000 to each of New Orleans and Atlanta. No partisan bands form.
The Union receive 5,000 militia that they will hold on to. 10,000 man divisions are formed at Cairo, Bowling Green and Baltimore, a 3,000 man division is posted to Washington. A river flotilla goes to St Louis, along with 7,000 garrison troops. 5,000 more garrison troops go to Cairo.
Both sides conduct brigade merges were possible trying to replenish their worn down divisions.
The Union, using their accumulated supplies, rush fortification materials to Sedgewick who quickly fortifies Drewry's Bluff. They take no risks and spend 60 supply points.
Likewise the Confederates take no risks in fortifying Vicksburg. They also relocate the Department of Kentucky and Tennessee to Vicksburg. There is some laughter at this in the press and a number of editors are threatened with treason. Subsequent articles suggest treason was involved in the loss of Kentucky and Tennessee. That is labelled fake news and in loud voices Confederate loyalists declare that Kentucky and Tennessee will be, have been and still are part of the Confederacy of free states, united together to fight Northern aggression.
Magruder returns from sick leave and is given command of a corps in A Johnston's Army of the Mississippi. This immediately causes a fight with Huger who claims he was due a corps command.
A new recruit, Walker, is posted to Atlanta.
The Union (again) fail to create headquarters, just as Thomas and Heinzelman return to active duty. The latter goes to Washington while Thomas is given Burnside's command. Burnside takes it like a professional and hands Thomas his supply of specially procured seasick pills.
The Confederates build up their field army in Richmond by drafting in garrison troops.
The Union consume 47 supply using 16 rail. Sedgewick builds a depot which allows supply to be broadcast to him, making his foothold on Richmond's rear nearly impregnable.
The Confederates consume 24 supply using 12 rail. Polk, Forrest and the militia at Montgomery are all out of supply, but manage to get by without any serious desertions, even when Forrest unveils the new Confederate uniform consisting of a white sheet and a pointy hat.
Crittenden is ordered to get the Confederates at Helena. He performs a march attack across the river at the very small force Polk has screening the fort. The attack goes in on the 401-900 column of CRT 1. It is a failure. The 5% casualties doesn't register on the Confederates and so nothing happens.
Buell is then activated and collects his army and moves to confront Forrest.
Not wanting any delays, such as occurred with the disgraced Crouch, Thomas is ordered to set sail for Norfolk, VA. In a intricate move, 10,000 men sail there directly, 20,000 force march to Alexandria and sail from there and a supply wagon and Railway Repair Unit is also dispatched, along with necessary supplies. A 1,000 men perish in the rough seas, or from taking too many sea-sickness pills (a court of inquiry will be held), it is hard to say as the evidence all went overboard. Thomas names his operation "cat amongst the pigeons".
The reinforcements at Cairo are shipped down the river and get as far as Memphis. Some of the garrison troops newly raised don't appreciate the change of scenery and a 1,000 of them wander off. (The river transport could only reach Fort Pillow and it was a forced march for the new recruits to disembark and then move to Memphis).
Realising he's in disgrace, Crouch tries to make amends by distributing garrison forces throughout Missouri. He then sails for Jefferson City to pick up some stranded forces.
McCook stays put while McDowell swings round behind Hardee, whose troubles are far from over.
Halleck and Hooker are deep in conference and fail to realise it is their turn to move.
Over in the east, the Union await the Confederate reaction to Thomas' landing. Meade has the bright idea of sending a brigade down to stir Butler into action (free him from the restrictions of water transport). Butler asks if he has won the war yet.
Crittenden attacks! Whoops, no he doesn't. He challenges Polk to a duel. Polk receives a mere flesh wound, but Crittenden is hospitalised for nine months (I'd forgotten to check for leader casualties after his march attack). This setback for the Union means the Confederates get away as their hold on Helena, now that they were out of supply, had to be given up. It does mean 9,000 Confederates can keep fighting.
The Confederates order Hardee to make his escape. Before doing the same for Polk, the ironclad is sent up from New Orleans, getting as far as the protection of Vicksburg.
A Hill is ordered to attack, from march, the small Union force withdrawing from Chattanooga. He does so inflicting 1,000 casualties for no rebel loss.
In the east Beauregard is ordered to drive Sedgewick into the James. He sends a message to Taylor who is in charge of the Richmond army to send him some troops, but it doesn't get through. No other troops can be spared. He attacks anyway with 31,000 troops against Sedgewick's 14,000. The attack goes in on the 201-250 column of CRT 3. At least Beauregard is able to draw supplies for his attack from Richmond. It is a desultory affair with both sides losing 2,000 men.
Back in the West, Jackson decides he better go help Hardee and Forrest thinks the same. Bruckner seems lost in the mountains. Magruder takes 10,000 men and the supply train and heads off to meet Jackson and Forrest. Johnston stays in Vicksburg to raise some militia to build up the garrison.
A Hill finishes the destruction of the troops retreating from Chattanooga.
Farragut braves the guns of Fort Helena and sails down the Mississippi in the hope that the Confederate ironclad will come out. One Union River Flotilla is lost in the passage of the guns.
McDowell and Buell head to rendezvous with McCook in the face of the coming Confederates.
Burnside is ordered west, he takes the train headed to Memphis.
Troops in Bowling Green are sent to Nashville with a brigade being sent up to block A Hill's advance. The Union need to get an army with a suitable commander to central Tennessee.
On his own initiative, Sickles take 8,000 to confront A Hill.
Banks, Halleck and Hooker all sit put.
In a blow to the Union, Thomas fails to move. The rest of the Union generals in the East lose heart and no one moves.
Porter does bring the ironclad up to help support Sedgewick.
The Confederate high command order Beauregard to attack Sedgwick (an attack made as part of movement is done at half strength and only on CRT 1, but doesn't require supplies). Sedgwick is the better commander and frustrates the attack. There are no losses, although the Confederate generals get a scare when surprised by Union pickets (I have just found out I should be testing for every leader in a stack involved in combat).
The Union failed to remember their ironclad could have provided support. The Confederates are about to get Taylor to pull out of Richmond to make an attack, which could have fatal consequences for Richmond, when the black smoke from the Union ironclad is spotted and they decide not to persist. But they need to do something!
Bruckner is ordered to help A Hill with the invasion of Tennessee. The consensus is that while it is pointless, it has to be done. If the Confederates are lucky it will draw Union reinforcements away from the other theatres of operation.
Polk is ordered to leave a token garrison and sneak off down the Mississippi river.
Jackson, Forrest and Magruder meet up around Carthage, MI. Magruder hands over his troops and supply wagon and heads back to Vicksburg. Jackson has 17,000 men now and Forrest 5,000 troopers and more importantly a supply train.
Ewell sends reinforcements to one of the forts garrisoning the mouth of the Mississippi (they are garrison troops, but will be able to be absorbed over time into the regulars stationed there).
A Hill gets ready to cross the Tennessee, but writes to Richmond saying that Halleck's Army of the Cumberland is just a week's march from Atlanta. Richmond reply that maybe, but that his supply lines aren't. There are also 15,000 men protecting Atlanta and Halleck only has 10,000 and is a long way from getting any reinforcements.
Hindman, who was attached to Smith's Army of North Virginia is detached to take over Stuart's command who then gets his cavalry and marches towards Richmond. While the Confederate press is describing Thomas' descent on Norfolk as a "beached whale", Stuart knows better.
There are no attacks.
Farragut sails his fleet back up to Helena and blasts the poor Confederates who were left behind to pieces. He is almost hit by a ricocheting cannonball, but luckily had his lucky rabbit's foot in his hand. (I better fess up and say that these imaginative explanations are my doing and should not be taken as an example of any combat outcome specified by the game designers or developers.)
Crittenden's Corps is then ordered to occupy the fort and move down river to capture Arkansas Post.
Buell's Army of the Mississippi is ordered to the Mississippi and skillfully combines at Yazoo City with a grand total of 47,000 men. Vicksburg only has a garrison of 5,000...
Sedgewick is ordered to send one of his divisions to go and meet Thomas. This requires a forced march to cross the mouth of the James, but after a hearty breakfast this is achieved without loss (if they had thought to preposition the river transport then the Union could have made a Ferry).
Sickles moves to block A Hill from crossing the Tennessee as does the brigade down river facing Bruckner.
Thomas has overcome his astonishment at the lack of Confederate defenders and starts his march on Petersburg, aided by the troops sent by Sedgwick.
McClellan is busy writing about how he captured Richmond. Howard, who has been trying to see him to get some orders, decides instead to call for volunteers to cross the James and destroy the railway line. It's dangerous work and 1,000 men die in the attempt, but the rail line is cut, sealing Richmond's fate by putting it under extended siege.
Halleck, in an awesome display of initiative, takes his cavalry and cuts the rail line linking Atlanta to Macron.
Crouch brings back some 4,000 idle troops from Jefferson City, MI, to St Louis.
There are no attacks (McClernand tried, but failed and Thomas could have tried an "attacker wiggle", but why suffer the embarrassment of such an tactic?).
The Confederates have to move quickly in both the east and the west.
Richmond is doomed. Stuart can slow down Thomas, but the nail in the coffin has been the cutting/blocking of the two railway lines connecting Richmond with the rest of the Confederacy. Should they evacuate immediately or hang on for one more month?
The West gets attention first, with Hardee ordered to Carthage (a 1,000 men desert) and Jackson back to Vicksburg.
Beauregard gets a pitiful plea to save Richmond. He has Price wipe out the Union saboteurs, who are described in the press as terrorists with calls for the rising of Confederate partisans to take the war to the Union heartland and make them suffer. But Beauregard pulls out 48,000 troops defending the capital, leaving just 10,000 in the fortress under the command of General Holmes who is delighted to be recognized as the saviour of Richmond (and has no idea of the perilous state of his command).
Stuart at least has the initiative to block Thomas, although he better be careful not to get trapped.
A Hill and Bruckner are stalled on the Tennessee.
Walker, in Atlanta, seems out of his depth.
Ewell sends a brigade up to Baton Rouge. The whole of the Mississippi must be fortified.
Forrest, it seems, doesn't know what he should do.
Polk can't bring himself to abandon Arkansas.
Beauregard now has 45,000 men. He faces 8,000, but backed by an ironclad. He attacks. It is the 131-160 column of CRT 3. Both sides use supply. The Union suffer 10% casualties, which, including the ironclad makes 3,000. The ironclad passes its SNAFU roll and is unaffected. The Union lose 2,000 infantry, the Confederates 3,000. If the Confederates get to go first next turn...
Union lost 12,000 casualties to the Confederates 7,000, but seem to have well and truly seized the strategic initiative.
For the Confederates Charleston and New Orleans provide imports (the latter because it is protected by an ironclad) garnering a massive 8 supply points. The Confederates are carrying 160 supply. They get 95 from major cities (Richmond, Atlanta and New Orleans). This gives them 263 to spend with their 10 personnel points. They raise 10,000 garrison troops and are left with 243 supply.
The Union have just 9 supply to carry forward and get 180 from major city supply. They have 30 personnel points (would have been 40 if they had freed the slaves). They augment 3,000 man divisions from Washington and Baltimore and a 4,000 strong, eh weak, division from Philadelphia. The remaining points go towards training 5,000 militia as that keeps the supply requirements low. They have a need as will be seen. They are left with 124 supply.
The Confederates deploy 10,000 garrison troops to Richmond, and 5,000 to each of New Orleans and Atlanta. No partisan bands form.
The Union receive 5,000 militia that they will hold on to. 10,000 man divisions are formed at Cairo, Bowling Green and Baltimore, a 3,000 man division is posted to Washington. A river flotilla goes to St Louis, along with 7,000 garrison troops. 5,000 more garrison troops go to Cairo.
Both sides conduct brigade merges were possible trying to replenish their worn down divisions.
The Union, using their accumulated supplies, rush fortification materials to Sedgewick who quickly fortifies Drewry's Bluff. They take no risks and spend 60 supply points.
Likewise the Confederates take no risks in fortifying Vicksburg. They also relocate the Department of Kentucky and Tennessee to Vicksburg. There is some laughter at this in the press and a number of editors are threatened with treason. Subsequent articles suggest treason was involved in the loss of Kentucky and Tennessee. That is labelled fake news and in loud voices Confederate loyalists declare that Kentucky and Tennessee will be, have been and still are part of the Confederacy of free states, united together to fight Northern aggression.
Magruder returns from sick leave and is given command of a corps in A Johnston's Army of the Mississippi. This immediately causes a fight with Huger who claims he was due a corps command.
A new recruit, Walker, is posted to Atlanta.
The Union (again) fail to create headquarters, just as Thomas and Heinzelman return to active duty. The latter goes to Washington while Thomas is given Burnside's command. Burnside takes it like a professional and hands Thomas his supply of specially procured seasick pills.
The Confederates build up their field army in Richmond by drafting in garrison troops.
The Union consume 47 supply using 16 rail. Sedgewick builds a depot which allows supply to be broadcast to him, making his foothold on Richmond's rear nearly impregnable.
The Confederates consume 24 supply using 12 rail. Polk, Forrest and the militia at Montgomery are all out of supply, but manage to get by without any serious desertions, even when Forrest unveils the new Confederate uniform consisting of a white sheet and a pointy hat.
Week 89
The Union start with the 5 chit. There is lots to do.Crittenden is ordered to get the Confederates at Helena. He performs a march attack across the river at the very small force Polk has screening the fort. The attack goes in on the 401-900 column of CRT 1. It is a failure. The 5% casualties doesn't register on the Confederates and so nothing happens.
Buell is then activated and collects his army and moves to confront Forrest.
Not wanting any delays, such as occurred with the disgraced Crouch, Thomas is ordered to set sail for Norfolk, VA. In a intricate move, 10,000 men sail there directly, 20,000 force march to Alexandria and sail from there and a supply wagon and Railway Repair Unit is also dispatched, along with necessary supplies. A 1,000 men perish in the rough seas, or from taking too many sea-sickness pills (a court of inquiry will be held), it is hard to say as the evidence all went overboard. Thomas names his operation "cat amongst the pigeons".
The reinforcements at Cairo are shipped down the river and get as far as Memphis. Some of the garrison troops newly raised don't appreciate the change of scenery and a 1,000 of them wander off. (The river transport could only reach Fort Pillow and it was a forced march for the new recruits to disembark and then move to Memphis).
Realising he's in disgrace, Crouch tries to make amends by distributing garrison forces throughout Missouri. He then sails for Jefferson City to pick up some stranded forces.
McCook stays put while McDowell swings round behind Hardee, whose troubles are far from over.
Halleck and Hooker are deep in conference and fail to realise it is their turn to move.
Over in the east, the Union await the Confederate reaction to Thomas' landing. Meade has the bright idea of sending a brigade down to stir Butler into action (free him from the restrictions of water transport). Butler asks if he has won the war yet.
Crittenden attacks! Whoops, no he doesn't. He challenges Polk to a duel. Polk receives a mere flesh wound, but Crittenden is hospitalised for nine months (I'd forgotten to check for leader casualties after his march attack). This setback for the Union means the Confederates get away as their hold on Helena, now that they were out of supply, had to be given up. It does mean 9,000 Confederates can keep fighting.
The Confederates order Hardee to make his escape. Before doing the same for Polk, the ironclad is sent up from New Orleans, getting as far as the protection of Vicksburg.
A Hill is ordered to attack, from march, the small Union force withdrawing from Chattanooga. He does so inflicting 1,000 casualties for no rebel loss.
In the east Beauregard is ordered to drive Sedgewick into the James. He sends a message to Taylor who is in charge of the Richmond army to send him some troops, but it doesn't get through. No other troops can be spared. He attacks anyway with 31,000 troops against Sedgewick's 14,000. The attack goes in on the 201-250 column of CRT 3. At least Beauregard is able to draw supplies for his attack from Richmond. It is a desultory affair with both sides losing 2,000 men.
Back in the West, Jackson decides he better go help Hardee and Forrest thinks the same. Bruckner seems lost in the mountains. Magruder takes 10,000 men and the supply train and heads off to meet Jackson and Forrest. Johnston stays in Vicksburg to raise some militia to build up the garrison.
A Hill finishes the destruction of the troops retreating from Chattanooga.
The West with everything in it, even the Confederate ironclad very bottom left hand corner.
When winter ends the James won't be such an obstacle.
It could well be that Richmond is on borrowed time
Week 90
The Union get the 4 chit.Farragut braves the guns of Fort Helena and sails down the Mississippi in the hope that the Confederate ironclad will come out. One Union River Flotilla is lost in the passage of the guns.
McDowell and Buell head to rendezvous with McCook in the face of the coming Confederates.
Burnside is ordered west, he takes the train headed to Memphis.
Troops in Bowling Green are sent to Nashville with a brigade being sent up to block A Hill's advance. The Union need to get an army with a suitable commander to central Tennessee.
On his own initiative, Sickles take 8,000 to confront A Hill.
Banks, Halleck and Hooker all sit put.
In a blow to the Union, Thomas fails to move. The rest of the Union generals in the East lose heart and no one moves.
Porter does bring the ironclad up to help support Sedgewick.
The Confederate high command order Beauregard to attack Sedgwick (an attack made as part of movement is done at half strength and only on CRT 1, but doesn't require supplies). Sedgwick is the better commander and frustrates the attack. There are no losses, although the Confederate generals get a scare when surprised by Union pickets (I have just found out I should be testing for every leader in a stack involved in combat).
The Union failed to remember their ironclad could have provided support. The Confederates are about to get Taylor to pull out of Richmond to make an attack, which could have fatal consequences for Richmond, when the black smoke from the Union ironclad is spotted and they decide not to persist. But they need to do something!
Bruckner is ordered to help A Hill with the invasion of Tennessee. The consensus is that while it is pointless, it has to be done. If the Confederates are lucky it will draw Union reinforcements away from the other theatres of operation.
Polk is ordered to leave a token garrison and sneak off down the Mississippi river.
Jackson, Forrest and Magruder meet up around Carthage, MI. Magruder hands over his troops and supply wagon and heads back to Vicksburg. Jackson has 17,000 men now and Forrest 5,000 troopers and more importantly a supply train.
Ewell sends reinforcements to one of the forts garrisoning the mouth of the Mississippi (they are garrison troops, but will be able to be absorbed over time into the regulars stationed there).
A Hill gets ready to cross the Tennessee, but writes to Richmond saying that Halleck's Army of the Cumberland is just a week's march from Atlanta. Richmond reply that maybe, but that his supply lines aren't. There are also 15,000 men protecting Atlanta and Halleck only has 10,000 and is a long way from getting any reinforcements.
Hindman, who was attached to Smith's Army of North Virginia is detached to take over Stuart's command who then gets his cavalry and marches towards Richmond. While the Confederate press is describing Thomas' descent on Norfolk as a "beached whale", Stuart knows better.
There are no attacks.
The situation in Mississippi.
Alabama and Tennessee.
And in Virginia
Week 91
The Union get the 5 chit.Farragut sails his fleet back up to Helena and blasts the poor Confederates who were left behind to pieces. He is almost hit by a ricocheting cannonball, but luckily had his lucky rabbit's foot in his hand. (I better fess up and say that these imaginative explanations are my doing and should not be taken as an example of any combat outcome specified by the game designers or developers.)
Crittenden's Corps is then ordered to occupy the fort and move down river to capture Arkansas Post.
Buell's Army of the Mississippi is ordered to the Mississippi and skillfully combines at Yazoo City with a grand total of 47,000 men. Vicksburg only has a garrison of 5,000...
Sedgewick is ordered to send one of his divisions to go and meet Thomas. This requires a forced march to cross the mouth of the James, but after a hearty breakfast this is achieved without loss (if they had thought to preposition the river transport then the Union could have made a Ferry).
Sickles moves to block A Hill from crossing the Tennessee as does the brigade down river facing Bruckner.
Thomas has overcome his astonishment at the lack of Confederate defenders and starts his march on Petersburg, aided by the troops sent by Sedgwick.
McClellan is busy writing about how he captured Richmond. Howard, who has been trying to see him to get some orders, decides instead to call for volunteers to cross the James and destroy the railway line. It's dangerous work and 1,000 men die in the attempt, but the rail line is cut, sealing Richmond's fate by putting it under extended siege.
Halleck, in an awesome display of initiative, takes his cavalry and cuts the rail line linking Atlanta to Macron.
Crouch brings back some 4,000 idle troops from Jefferson City, MI, to St Louis.
There are no attacks (McClernand tried, but failed and Thomas could have tried an "attacker wiggle", but why suffer the embarrassment of such an tactic?).
The Confederates have to move quickly in both the east and the west.
Richmond is doomed. Stuart can slow down Thomas, but the nail in the coffin has been the cutting/blocking of the two railway lines connecting Richmond with the rest of the Confederacy. Should they evacuate immediately or hang on for one more month?
The West gets attention first, with Hardee ordered to Carthage (a 1,000 men desert) and Jackson back to Vicksburg.
Beauregard gets a pitiful plea to save Richmond. He has Price wipe out the Union saboteurs, who are described in the press as terrorists with calls for the rising of Confederate partisans to take the war to the Union heartland and make them suffer. But Beauregard pulls out 48,000 troops defending the capital, leaving just 10,000 in the fortress under the command of General Holmes who is delighted to be recognized as the saviour of Richmond (and has no idea of the perilous state of his command).
Stuart at least has the initiative to block Thomas, although he better be careful not to get trapped.
A Hill and Bruckner are stalled on the Tennessee.
Walker, in Atlanta, seems out of his depth.
Ewell sends a brigade up to Baton Rouge. The whole of the Mississippi must be fortified.
Forrest, it seems, doesn't know what he should do.
Polk can't bring himself to abandon Arkansas.
Beauregard now has 45,000 men. He faces 8,000, but backed by an ironclad. He attacks. It is the 131-160 column of CRT 3. Both sides use supply. The Union suffer 10% casualties, which, including the ironclad makes 3,000. The ironclad passes its SNAFU roll and is unaffected. The Union lose 2,000 infantry, the Confederates 3,000. If the Confederates get to go first next turn...
Richmond fighting for survival.
Atlanta under threat.
Confederate offensive into Tennessee stopped at the river.
Vicksburg, where the stakes are high.
Week 92
The Union get the 4 chit. Sedgewick is saved.
First Thomas is activated and he sends a brigade back to Norfolk thus removing the water transport restriction on the division there. He then conducts a march attack against Stuart who retreats before combat. The Division in Norfolk is then picked up and delivered to Sedgewick.
Farragut sails down the Mississippi and now blockades Vicksburg. Burnside is sent to take over Crittenden's Corps and he take's 10,000 men from Memphis with him.
Buell is ordered to attack Jackson. The march attack is on the 131-160 column of CRT 1. Jackson uses his skills to convert a retreat to a contact. McCook is almost killed when spotted by a rebel sniper, who. however. holds his fire hoping for a shot at someone with more gold braid.
Curtis and Sumner stay in St Louis. They have 30,000 men ready for any partisan problems.
Sickles and Banks also stay put in their respective posts (Tennessee and Mobile respectively).
Hooker and Halleck, who have stuff to do, decide to stay put as well.
The important Union generals round Richmond don't take advantage of the absence of its field army.
No one attacks, in the East or West.
The Confederates order Polk to double back to Little Rock so he can be in supply. (I now realise this is a false hope as Little Rock is only connected to one other city/town by rail or water).
Hardee is ordered to join Jackson immediately.
Stuart is ordered to destroy the Union base at Norfolk. With 5,000 troopers he can't fail against the 1,000 leaderless Union men. This action also destroys the Union Railroad Repair Unit.
Beauregard does nothing, but Price takes it into his head to move some of the garrison evacuated from Richmond to Bragg's command.
Over in the East, A Hill has the initiative to do something, but can't decide what. Forrest decides to retake Yazoo City and block Buell's line of retreat (forgetting the Union have the mighty Mississippi as their highway).
There are no attacks and the Confederates sink into a deep funk.
Militia are raised at Baton Rouge and put to work building fortifications.
First Thomas is activated and he sends a brigade back to Norfolk thus removing the water transport restriction on the division there. He then conducts a march attack against Stuart who retreats before combat. The Division in Norfolk is then picked up and delivered to Sedgewick.
Farragut sails down the Mississippi and now blockades Vicksburg. Burnside is sent to take over Crittenden's Corps and he take's 10,000 men from Memphis with him.
Buell is ordered to attack Jackson. The march attack is on the 131-160 column of CRT 1. Jackson uses his skills to convert a retreat to a contact. McCook is almost killed when spotted by a rebel sniper, who. however. holds his fire hoping for a shot at someone with more gold braid.
Curtis and Sumner stay in St Louis. They have 30,000 men ready for any partisan problems.
Sickles and Banks also stay put in their respective posts (Tennessee and Mobile respectively).
Hooker and Halleck, who have stuff to do, decide to stay put as well.
The important Union generals round Richmond don't take advantage of the absence of its field army.
No one attacks, in the East or West.
The Confederates order Polk to double back to Little Rock so he can be in supply. (I now realise this is a false hope as Little Rock is only connected to one other city/town by rail or water).
Hardee is ordered to join Jackson immediately.
Stuart is ordered to destroy the Union base at Norfolk. With 5,000 troopers he can't fail against the 1,000 leaderless Union men. This action also destroys the Union Railroad Repair Unit.
Beauregard does nothing, but Price takes it into his head to move some of the garrison evacuated from Richmond to Bragg's command.
Over in the East, A Hill has the initiative to do something, but can't decide what. Forrest decides to retake Yazoo City and block Buell's line of retreat (forgetting the Union have the mighty Mississippi as their highway).
There are no attacks and the Confederates sink into a deep funk.
Militia are raised at Baton Rouge and put to work building fortifications.
High troop concentrations in the East.
Dispersed operations in the West.
Casualties
Union lost 12,000 casualties to the Confederates 7,000, but seem to have well and truly seized the strategic initiative.
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
Normandy 44 - Turns 8 to 9
Two, tense, nerve wracking turns completed yesterday.
The Axis had made some unlucky attacks and the Commonwealth had made a very successful riposte with the 7th Armoured Division.
The Panzer Lehr had a lucky escape.
But the Americans had a very lucky escape from a Nazi counterattack by the 17th SS,
that if it had been successful might have seen a breakthrough to the beach.
(I did say it was a nerve wracking couple of moves)
The end of the 14th of June sees further success by the Commonwealth forces.
All the lines on the map serve a purpose. The blue dashed line is the limit of Allied naval bombardment. The reddish brown dotted line is the historical limit of the Allied invasion at the games end. It is used to determine victory points.
The Omaha front is just a grind.
Most attacks start at 1:1 and then there are shifts for troop quality (basically German panzer infantry and both sides' paratroops), armour, artillery (seriously limited by supply availability), air and naval bombardment. Except for major rivers, terrain just boosts combat factors. Combat factors are capped at 18 for both defence and attack.
But on the Cherbourg peninsula things are more fluid.
MMP's Operation Mercury - The Invasion of Crete
This arrived yesterday. I had it on preorder from Milsims from back in July and ended up paying $250 for it (that's okay - my partner doesn't follow my blog, she just wants to take it away and give it to me at Xmas). Milsims, now under new management, did a great job of packaging it and it arrived in perfect condition. The only challenge I had is that the new trader goes under the name "Joe Dodgy's Dice and Games".
Even though it will be put away till the New Year, I checked the contents were all there.
All present and correct!
Based on A Wargaming Odyssey blog post I read recently about books on Greece and Crete, I checked the Abbreviated Bibliography and I have copied it into this post for reference:
In the Designer's Notes, which I've now read, Joseph Chacon, the designer, mentions the NZ official history by D M Davin, a copy of which I have, but I'm yet to read. He also noted that it is available on-line here: http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Cret.html
Interestingly he also mentions that the war diaries of the Australian battalions involved in the battle are available on line. And after a bit of googling I found this
It can be found here https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1362721 There is a PDF to download which is scans of the various reports made during this period. Looks fascinating.
Sadly this will all have to wait till the New Year, not because she says, but because I am too overloaded with other boardgames and miniatures at the moment.
I don't need to do a review of the game as MMP have all the detail here. And there is always Boardgame Geek to check out.
Best of all for me there is a Vassal module.
Friday, November 10, 2017
WBTS via Vassal - Weeks 85 to 88
The war must go on, which, based on my reading of the Bruce Catton history, seems to have been very much the case.
The Union blockades of the three remaining Confederate seaports are ineffective and they get 12 supply. The supply from seaports always seems a bit of an anticlimax to me.
The Confederates carry forward 97 supply and receive 95 from major city supply. With the 12 import supply they have 204 supply. This is more than enough with just 10 personnel points. Maybe they need to call another draft?
The Union have 40 to carry forward plus 180 major city supply, a total of 220 to go with 50 personnel points, not 60 as there are no negroes, I mean people of colour, flocking to join the cause without emancipation. If the Confederates were to call for another draft the political points they would forfeit would help the Union deal with the political point loss for proclaiming emancipation. Tricky. Who's going to bleed white first?
The Confederates call up 10,000 men to be used as garrisons to stop the depredations of the Northern aggressors. They are left with 184 supply.
The Union augment a 3-3 to a 10-3, a 4-3 to a 10-3, commission an ironclad, a railway repair unit, a 2,000 strong cavalry division, 1,000 garrison troops and 5,000 militia. In the Department of Virginia 1,000 militia are converted to infantry. They are left with 52 supply. Hmmm, it would seem with that level of supply they couldn't outfit any black regiments even if they had wanted to.
The Confederates deploy a 10,000 man strong infantry division to Richmond along with 10,000 garrison troops (best to do this while they still can, but at the same time it is putting a lot of eggs in the one basket). Another big division goes to Atlanta along with 3,000 cavalry troopers in a division much needed by Forrest. A Hill is given command of the 9th Corps. There are 3,000 militia returning to the cause, but 8,000 militia decide to go home. Beauregard is able to absorb 9,000 garrison troops to build his army up to 45,000 men. A similar activity occurs in Richmond giving it a field army of 35,000 men. A Johnston and Hardee do the same, but on a more modest scale out in the west. There are over 40,000 Confederate soldiers (ignoring those besieged) around the Mississippi, but there are in four equal and well dispersed lots.
The Union, who still haven't been able to move all their previous reinforcements to the front deploy three big full strength divisions to Washington, Baltimore and St Louis. A supply train is established in Baltimore which appears to be destined for transport by sea. A 1,000 Union militia decide to call it quits. The Department of Virginia is relocated to Charleston. Rosencrans returns to duty and is put on the army reserve list, as is Sherman. Sickles is placed in command of the II Corps in Bowling Green. Crouch arrives in St Louis and is promoted to command of the VIII Corps, when he asks where are the troops he is told to head to Baltimore. Howard is given command of XII Corps. The Union move the Department of Virginia to Parkersburg. They had wanted to move it to Charleston, WV, but that place is not connected via rail.
Missouri raises a 1,000 militia in St Louis. Kentucky raises a 1,000 in Bowling Green.
The partisans are still keeping their heads down.
Union supply consumption comes in at 45 using 15 rail. They have 9 supply left and 15 rail.
Confederate supply is 24 and 10 rail leaving them with 160 supply and 10 rail. All the surplus supply is not enough to save Fort Pillow or Memphis. Both places surrender, giving up 19,000 captives and, with the loss of Memphis, two political points. Memphis also gave up 12 supply and Fort Pillow 4.
In checking the Political Point Matrix at the start of 1863 the Confederates could have tried for victory. My statement in my previous post on this game that the "Confederates now have a one political point ascendency, but that is not good for anything and in fact it is good for nothing" was wrong. They had a one third chance of victory.
Let's check. Their first attempt fails. The President refuses to see the Confederate emissaries (for to do so would imply recognition).
The Confederates make a second attempt... Another fail, the Democrat intermediary is relocated to Canada. The Union gain one political point. The Confederates can make a third attempt, but the chance has halved, however these are desperate times...
Failure. The attempt to get Britain to intercede and negotiate a peace is stillborn. The US had warned that such intervention would lead to war and that British trade would suffer severely. The Union gain another two political points and the fate of the Confederacy is now sealed (and I get to keep playing). For the record the dice rolls were 1, 3 and 2. They need a 5 or 6 on the first two attempts, a 6 on the last. The Union should have waited until Memphis had fallen before implementing the draft.
What to do? The Union really need forty free moves. All the bold moves in the East or West require multiple moves (to land at Drewry's Bluff or to try and cut-off Hardee for example).
Buell is encouraged to return to Memphis and collect his army together for an offensive down the Mississippi.
10,000 men set sail for Mobile to reinforce Banks.
Pope is ordered to join McClernand opposite the Confederates gathering at Lynchburg. It is imperative to stop any renewed offensive into the valley (as unlikely as that may be).
Howard is directed to join McClellan. He takes no troops, but McClellan has plenty that can be allocated to his corps.
With that decision process out of the way, let's see what initiative the Federal commanders display...
Crouch, who is really needed in the field, stays put in St Louis, having a chat with Sumner (whose job is to guard Missouri and could probably be sent down the river with his 26,000 men, except for the risk of partisan activity).
Sickles, newly arrived in Bowling Green, should be going to Bowling Green, but misses the train.
McDowell gets it into his head to go down and confront Hardee at Holly Springs. His compatriot, Crittenden, stays in Memphis to receive the keys to the city and await further orders. McCook holds Corinth against massive Confederate counterattacks that never happen.
Farragut assembles his river flotillas and ironclads just up river from Helena.
Banks needs to cross the Alabama River to get to Mobile, but decides to wait. Also in the deep south, Halleck and the Army of the Cumberland sits in Ft Gaines trying to think up a better name for his army. He keeps Hooker with him as word is coming down the Chattahoochee that the Rebels are massing in Atlanta.
Back in the East, Burnside sends the Railway Repair unit to Baltimore and moves into the valley to Staunton. McClernand stays put jostling for position with the newly arrived Pope. There is not enough troops for the three generals and their corps which are converging on the southern end of the Shenandoah Valley (that said, they are facing three Confederate generals with even less troops).
In front of Richmond, the Union sit paralyzed, unable to match the 48,000 men the Confederates now have protecting the capital or the 66,000 men Beauregard has in the Army of North Virginia.
Pope and McClernand both want to give orders to attack the Confederates in Lynchburg, but neither can find a pen. This does not stop them from writing to Washington complaining of the behavior of their fellow general.
McClellan thinks of attacking D Hill, but that's all he does, think.
Over in the West McDowell is determined to attack Hardee, but doesn't.
The Confederates are just as much as a challenge as the Union. They hope however to be able to have time to make all their moves due to the tardiness for the Union generals. We shall see.
The railroad repair unit is sent to join A Hill near Atlanta.
Price is ordered to force march to Drewry's Bluff; a 1,000 men desert along the way, but the immediate rear of Richmond is now secure.
The new cavalry division at Atlanta is ordered west to meet up with Forrest.
A Johnston and the Army of the Mississippi calls a rest break at Grenada, while Hardee decides to destroy the railway lines at Holy Springs and head to Ripley, believe it or not! Forrest fails to move from Pontotoc (at least where he is, he provides support for Hardee).
Further south Jackson makes an epic forced march to beat Banks to Mobile. 1,000 men are lost on the way but he doesn't care.
Buckner and A Hill do nothing.
On the James, D Hill sends a division to Smith to give his Army of North Virginia some meaning. It would appear Smith, Hindman and Stuart don't know what to do with them as no one takes any initiative to seal off the crossing point at the head of the James. The other generals in the east hold their positions, although Beauregard contemplates an attack in the hope of throwing McClellan back across the James. He can't decide. Johnston thinks about doing it, but he can't decide either. D Hill can have a go, but the initiative to attack seems to have left the Confederates even though they have over 50,000 men facing 36,000 Union south of the James.
The Confederates order A Hill to retake Tennessee. He says "Why sure." Forrest's new cavalry division is hurried on its way to him.
A Johnston is told to make haste and get to Vicksburg. He duly does so, but 1,000 of his men decide not to go with him.
Hardee pulls back, destroying railroads as he goes. Forrest decides Hardee is now safe and heads off to collect his new division.
Jackson crosses the Alabama River intent on destroying Banks. He has 7,000 men, Banks 3,000.
Taylor sends 10,000 of the Richmond garrison to help Beauregard make his attack.
Again Smith, Hindman and Stuart fail to close the gap at the head of the James.
Beauregard attacks! The 69,000 rebels hit the 35,000 Union troops on the 161-200 column of CRT 3. It is a bloody victory. The Confederates lose 11,000 men (15%) to the Union's 7,000 (20%), but McClellan is forced to retreat. McClellan has a lucky escape due to having moved his HQ to the north bank of the James when the rebels attacked.
Jackson attacks Banks. Due to the lack of supplies a it is only a modest battle, which turns out to be fortuitous as Jackson needed supplies. No losses occur and Banks retreats.
The Union order Banks to get back to Mobile immediately!
With their final free initiative, the Union push a brigade over the James west of Lynchburg. They will need to follow this up if they are to secure the crossing. Burnside and McClernand fail to see this, but Pope recognises what needs to be done and hurries a division of 6,000 men there.
In a surprise move, Halleck takes his army back up the Chattahoochee.
Out west Crouch and Sickles again fail to move. Buell and Crittenden sit down in Memphis and congratulate each other. McDowell however sees wisdom in pursuing Hardee. As does McCook who heads south from Corinth.
McClellan licks his wounds, while McPherson sends diminished divisions back to Washington and Baltimore, sends 3,000 men to Pope and then takes himself off to take command of the troops across the James west of Lynchburg.
Both Meade and Sedgwick have opportunity to attack Richmond at close parity in what would be an attritional battle in their favour, however the weather must be against them as both fail their initiative rolls miserably.
Confederacy lost 17,000 men due to battle and desertion plus 19,000 with the fall of Memphis and Fort Pillow.
Union suffered 11,000 casualties.
The Union blockades of the three remaining Confederate seaports are ineffective and they get 12 supply. The supply from seaports always seems a bit of an anticlimax to me.
The Confederates carry forward 97 supply and receive 95 from major city supply. With the 12 import supply they have 204 supply. This is more than enough with just 10 personnel points. Maybe they need to call another draft?
The Union have 40 to carry forward plus 180 major city supply, a total of 220 to go with 50 personnel points, not 60 as there are no negroes, I mean people of colour, flocking to join the cause without emancipation. If the Confederates were to call for another draft the political points they would forfeit would help the Union deal with the political point loss for proclaiming emancipation. Tricky. Who's going to bleed white first?
The Confederates call up 10,000 men to be used as garrisons to stop the depredations of the Northern aggressors. They are left with 184 supply.
The Union augment a 3-3 to a 10-3, a 4-3 to a 10-3, commission an ironclad, a railway repair unit, a 2,000 strong cavalry division, 1,000 garrison troops and 5,000 militia. In the Department of Virginia 1,000 militia are converted to infantry. They are left with 52 supply. Hmmm, it would seem with that level of supply they couldn't outfit any black regiments even if they had wanted to.
The Confederates deploy a 10,000 man strong infantry division to Richmond along with 10,000 garrison troops (best to do this while they still can, but at the same time it is putting a lot of eggs in the one basket). Another big division goes to Atlanta along with 3,000 cavalry troopers in a division much needed by Forrest. A Hill is given command of the 9th Corps. There are 3,000 militia returning to the cause, but 8,000 militia decide to go home. Beauregard is able to absorb 9,000 garrison troops to build his army up to 45,000 men. A similar activity occurs in Richmond giving it a field army of 35,000 men. A Johnston and Hardee do the same, but on a more modest scale out in the west. There are over 40,000 Confederate soldiers (ignoring those besieged) around the Mississippi, but there are in four equal and well dispersed lots.
The Union, who still haven't been able to move all their previous reinforcements to the front deploy three big full strength divisions to Washington, Baltimore and St Louis. A supply train is established in Baltimore which appears to be destined for transport by sea. A 1,000 Union militia decide to call it quits. The Department of Virginia is relocated to Charleston. Rosencrans returns to duty and is put on the army reserve list, as is Sherman. Sickles is placed in command of the II Corps in Bowling Green. Crouch arrives in St Louis and is promoted to command of the VIII Corps, when he asks where are the troops he is told to head to Baltimore. Howard is given command of XII Corps. The Union move the Department of Virginia to Parkersburg. They had wanted to move it to Charleston, WV, but that place is not connected via rail.
Missouri raises a 1,000 militia in St Louis. Kentucky raises a 1,000 in Bowling Green.
The partisans are still keeping their heads down.
Union supply consumption comes in at 45 using 15 rail. They have 9 supply left and 15 rail.
Confederate supply is 24 and 10 rail leaving them with 160 supply and 10 rail. All the surplus supply is not enough to save Fort Pillow or Memphis. Both places surrender, giving up 19,000 captives and, with the loss of Memphis, two political points. Memphis also gave up 12 supply and Fort Pillow 4.
In checking the Political Point Matrix at the start of 1863 the Confederates could have tried for victory. My statement in my previous post on this game that the "Confederates now have a one political point ascendency, but that is not good for anything and in fact it is good for nothing" was wrong. They had a one third chance of victory.
Let's check. Their first attempt fails. The President refuses to see the Confederate emissaries (for to do so would imply recognition).
The Confederates make a second attempt... Another fail, the Democrat intermediary is relocated to Canada. The Union gain one political point. The Confederates can make a third attempt, but the chance has halved, however these are desperate times...
Failure. The attempt to get Britain to intercede and negotiate a peace is stillborn. The US had warned that such intervention would lead to war and that British trade would suffer severely. The Union gain another two political points and the fate of the Confederacy is now sealed (and I get to keep playing). For the record the dice rolls were 1, 3 and 2. They need a 5 or 6 on the first two attempts, a 6 on the last. The Union should have waited until Memphis had fallen before implementing the draft.
Week 85
The Union get the four free initiative chit.What to do? The Union really need forty free moves. All the bold moves in the East or West require multiple moves (to land at Drewry's Bluff or to try and cut-off Hardee for example).
Buell is encouraged to return to Memphis and collect his army together for an offensive down the Mississippi.
10,000 men set sail for Mobile to reinforce Banks.
Pope is ordered to join McClernand opposite the Confederates gathering at Lynchburg. It is imperative to stop any renewed offensive into the valley (as unlikely as that may be).
Howard is directed to join McClellan. He takes no troops, but McClellan has plenty that can be allocated to his corps.
With that decision process out of the way, let's see what initiative the Federal commanders display...
Crouch, who is really needed in the field, stays put in St Louis, having a chat with Sumner (whose job is to guard Missouri and could probably be sent down the river with his 26,000 men, except for the risk of partisan activity).
Sickles, newly arrived in Bowling Green, should be going to Bowling Green, but misses the train.
McDowell gets it into his head to go down and confront Hardee at Holly Springs. His compatriot, Crittenden, stays in Memphis to receive the keys to the city and await further orders. McCook holds Corinth against massive Confederate counterattacks that never happen.
Farragut assembles his river flotillas and ironclads just up river from Helena.
Banks needs to cross the Alabama River to get to Mobile, but decides to wait. Also in the deep south, Halleck and the Army of the Cumberland sits in Ft Gaines trying to think up a better name for his army. He keeps Hooker with him as word is coming down the Chattahoochee that the Rebels are massing in Atlanta.
Back in the East, Burnside sends the Railway Repair unit to Baltimore and moves into the valley to Staunton. McClernand stays put jostling for position with the newly arrived Pope. There is not enough troops for the three generals and their corps which are converging on the southern end of the Shenandoah Valley (that said, they are facing three Confederate generals with even less troops).
In front of Richmond, the Union sit paralyzed, unable to match the 48,000 men the Confederates now have protecting the capital or the 66,000 men Beauregard has in the Army of North Virginia.
Pope and McClernand both want to give orders to attack the Confederates in Lynchburg, but neither can find a pen. This does not stop them from writing to Washington complaining of the behavior of their fellow general.
McClellan thinks of attacking D Hill, but that's all he does, think.
Over in the West McDowell is determined to attack Hardee, but doesn't.
The Confederates are just as much as a challenge as the Union. They hope however to be able to have time to make all their moves due to the tardiness for the Union generals. We shall see.
The railroad repair unit is sent to join A Hill near Atlanta.
Price is ordered to force march to Drewry's Bluff; a 1,000 men desert along the way, but the immediate rear of Richmond is now secure.
The new cavalry division at Atlanta is ordered west to meet up with Forrest.
A Johnston and the Army of the Mississippi calls a rest break at Grenada, while Hardee decides to destroy the railway lines at Holy Springs and head to Ripley, believe it or not! Forrest fails to move from Pontotoc (at least where he is, he provides support for Hardee).
Further south Jackson makes an epic forced march to beat Banks to Mobile. 1,000 men are lost on the way but he doesn't care.
Buckner and A Hill do nothing.
On the James, D Hill sends a division to Smith to give his Army of North Virginia some meaning. It would appear Smith, Hindman and Stuart don't know what to do with them as no one takes any initiative to seal off the crossing point at the head of the James. The other generals in the east hold their positions, although Beauregard contemplates an attack in the hope of throwing McClellan back across the James. He can't decide. Johnston thinks about doing it, but he can't decide either. D Hill can have a go, but the initiative to attack seems to have left the Confederates even though they have over 50,000 men facing 36,000 Union south of the James.
Sealing the James.
See Hardee run
Week 86
The Union get the two chit meaning the Confederates get a double move.The Confederates order A Hill to retake Tennessee. He says "Why sure." Forrest's new cavalry division is hurried on its way to him.
A Johnston is told to make haste and get to Vicksburg. He duly does so, but 1,000 of his men decide not to go with him.
Hardee pulls back, destroying railroads as he goes. Forrest decides Hardee is now safe and heads off to collect his new division.
Jackson crosses the Alabama River intent on destroying Banks. He has 7,000 men, Banks 3,000.
Taylor sends 10,000 of the Richmond garrison to help Beauregard make his attack.
Again Smith, Hindman and Stuart fail to close the gap at the head of the James.
Beauregard attacks! The 69,000 rebels hit the 35,000 Union troops on the 161-200 column of CRT 3. It is a bloody victory. The Confederates lose 11,000 men (15%) to the Union's 7,000 (20%), but McClellan is forced to retreat. McClellan has a lucky escape due to having moved his HQ to the north bank of the James when the rebels attacked.
Jackson attacks Banks. Due to the lack of supplies a it is only a modest battle, which turns out to be fortuitous as Jackson needed supplies. No losses occur and Banks retreats.
The Union order Banks to get back to Mobile immediately!
With their final free initiative, the Union push a brigade over the James west of Lynchburg. They will need to follow this up if they are to secure the crossing. Burnside and McClernand fail to see this, but Pope recognises what needs to be done and hurries a division of 6,000 men there.
In a surprise move, Halleck takes his army back up the Chattahoochee.
Out west Crouch and Sickles again fail to move. Buell and Crittenden sit down in Memphis and congratulate each other. McDowell however sees wisdom in pursuing Hardee. As does McCook who heads south from Corinth.
McClellan licks his wounds, while McPherson sends diminished divisions back to Washington and Baltimore, sends 3,000 men to Pope and then takes himself off to take command of the troops across the James west of Lynchburg.
Both Meade and Sedgwick have opportunity to attack Richmond at close parity in what would be an attritional battle in their favour, however the weather must be against them as both fail their initiative rolls miserably.
McPherson keeping the Union across the James.
The pursuit of Hardee
Banks is back in Mobile.
Jackson would be in supply trouble except the presence of the Confederate ironclad in New Orleans means the Union navy has to keep off shore to remain safe, unable to interdict Confederate coastal traffic.
Week 87
The Union get the two chit.
The Confederates order Jackson to safety and hurry Forrest's cavalry division along to meet him. After his victory, Beauregard is ordered to send troops to Smith and to Richmond.
Stuart takes himself off to fight McPherson, but doesn't.
A Hill gets on with his invasion of Tennessee, almost reaching the eponymous river.
A Johnston (who needs to get to Vicksburg), Hardee (who is not known for being tardy) and Forrest all fail to move, as does Bruckner.
The Union order up reinforcements for McPherson, it requires a force march and 1,000 men are lost crossing the mountains in winter time.
The 2,000 men holding Chattanooga are ordered to retreat.
Crouch fails to move from St Louis, but Sickles at last moves down to take command in Nashville.
Buell also gets into action, sending Crittenden with 23,000 across the Mississippi to confront Polk while moving himself to Corinth after leaving a garrison at Memphis. Both McDowell and McCook are inspired to continue to put the pressure on Hardee.
Banks rests in Mobile. Halleck makes no further progress up the Chattahoochee.
Burnside sends 6,000 men to McClernand and then heads off to Baltimore.
The only other action in the East is Sedgewick who moves down to the mouth of the James with 18,000 men and attacks the 2,000 rebels commanded by Price. As he is without supplies he attacks on the 401-900 column of CRT 1. The Confederates lose 1,000 men, but in a quirk of the CRT 1 table, don't have to retreat. A great missed opportunity. Price had a lucky escape, although reports that he was in Richmond posting a letter to the Emperor Maximilian, although strenuously denied, where later found to be true when the letter was returned due to insufficient postage.
The Division that put down the draft riots returns to Philadelphia.
The Confederates order Jackson to safety and hurry Forrest's cavalry division along to meet him. After his victory, Beauregard is ordered to send troops to Smith and to Richmond.
Stuart takes himself off to fight McPherson, but doesn't.
A Hill gets on with his invasion of Tennessee, almost reaching the eponymous river.
A Johnston (who needs to get to Vicksburg), Hardee (who is not known for being tardy) and Forrest all fail to move, as does Bruckner.
The Union order up reinforcements for McPherson, it requires a force march and 1,000 men are lost crossing the mountains in winter time.
The 2,000 men holding Chattanooga are ordered to retreat.
Crouch fails to move from St Louis, but Sickles at last moves down to take command in Nashville.
Buell also gets into action, sending Crittenden with 23,000 across the Mississippi to confront Polk while moving himself to Corinth after leaving a garrison at Memphis. Both McDowell and McCook are inspired to continue to put the pressure on Hardee.
Banks rests in Mobile. Halleck makes no further progress up the Chattahoochee.
Burnside sends 6,000 men to McClernand and then heads off to Baltimore.
The only other action in the East is Sedgewick who moves down to the mouth of the James with 18,000 men and attacks the 2,000 rebels commanded by Price. As he is without supplies he attacks on the 401-900 column of CRT 1. The Confederates lose 1,000 men, but in a quirk of the CRT 1 table, don't have to retreat. A great missed opportunity. Price had a lucky escape, although reports that he was in Richmond posting a letter to the Emperor Maximilian, although strenuously denied, where later found to be true when the letter was returned due to insufficient postage.
The Division that put down the draft riots returns to Philadelphia.
Week 88
The Union get the 2 chit again.
Hardee, to avoid being cut off is ordered to move to Grenada, MI. Johnston is ordered to get to Vicksburg immediately.
Beauregard is ordered to send reinforcements to Price and he dispatches 8,000 men.
A Hill retakes Chattanooga, bringing the war back to Tennessee.
Forrest finally picks up his second cavalry division in Tuscaloosa, AL.
Jackson moves to Winchester, MI.
Polk maintains his position at Helena on the Mississippi, but feels exposed.
The Confederates make no attacks as they know it will just cost them men and men are in short supply.
Banks receives reinforcements in Mobile when 10,000 Union troops disembark after their long voyage. As Banks had arrived on the coast after marching down, the newly arrived troops will not be under any movement penalty due to having travelled by sea.
Buell is ordered to secure Columbus, MI. With some skilful forced marches he does so, even extending the rail line as he did so. Forrest is now out of supply.
Crittenden is ordered to force his way past Helena. The Confederates have 80% of their force in the fort attempting to block the river. The small force outside suffers 1,000 casualties, but stops the Union in their march attack. In support, Farragut gets a River Flotilla past the fort and up the Arkansas river to put Polk's force out of supply. When Polk is told this he has a suspected heart attack, but as he is not bothered by excessive stars he recovers (a 2 on the casualty table only effects 4 and 5 star generals).
I'm not using the Experimental Naval and Fort Combat rules [30.0] and it is possible I have been a bit generous with Union naval combat/moves (but I don't think so, I tend to forget about them too much).
McCook, in his continued display of initiative, sweeps down through Greensboro and cuts Hardee off. Hardee can draw supply from the Yazoo river. And in an equally dazzling display of initiative McDowell continues his pursuit of Hardee. Hardee could have been surrounded, but it would have meant putting Union forces out of supply, so a bit MAD.
Banks throws a welcome party in Mobile. Which seems to be all Crouch is doing in St Louis - partying (he has a 50% chance of activating and failed to do so each week of this cycle - disappointed!).
Hooker cuts the last rail connection into Alabama.
Burnside inspects the reinforcements in Baltimore, but doesn't realise it might be a good idea to send them down where they are needed.
Meade moves alongside Sedgewick. McClellan, Franklin and Howard all discuss how dangerous the James River is and how it will be impossible to cross it.
McClernand clears the railway at the bottom of the Shenandoah Valley of an lingering Confederate claims to ownership.
Sedgewick attacks. It is on the 91-110 column of CRT 3. He has supplies now thanks to Meade and uses them. The battle costs the Union 2,000 casualties, but they are over the river cutting off Richmond's penultimate lifeline.
Beauregard is ordered to send reinforcements to Price and he dispatches 8,000 men.
A Hill retakes Chattanooga, bringing the war back to Tennessee.
Forrest finally picks up his second cavalry division in Tuscaloosa, AL.
Jackson moves to Winchester, MI.
Polk maintains his position at Helena on the Mississippi, but feels exposed.
The Confederates make no attacks as they know it will just cost them men and men are in short supply.
Banks receives reinforcements in Mobile when 10,000 Union troops disembark after their long voyage. As Banks had arrived on the coast after marching down, the newly arrived troops will not be under any movement penalty due to having travelled by sea.
Buell is ordered to secure Columbus, MI. With some skilful forced marches he does so, even extending the rail line as he did so. Forrest is now out of supply.
Crittenden is ordered to force his way past Helena. The Confederates have 80% of their force in the fort attempting to block the river. The small force outside suffers 1,000 casualties, but stops the Union in their march attack. In support, Farragut gets a River Flotilla past the fort and up the Arkansas river to put Polk's force out of supply. When Polk is told this he has a suspected heart attack, but as he is not bothered by excessive stars he recovers (a 2 on the casualty table only effects 4 and 5 star generals).
I'm not using the Experimental Naval and Fort Combat rules [30.0] and it is possible I have been a bit generous with Union naval combat/moves (but I don't think so, I tend to forget about them too much).
McCook, in his continued display of initiative, sweeps down through Greensboro and cuts Hardee off. Hardee can draw supply from the Yazoo river. And in an equally dazzling display of initiative McDowell continues his pursuit of Hardee. Hardee could have been surrounded, but it would have meant putting Union forces out of supply, so a bit MAD.
Banks throws a welcome party in Mobile. Which seems to be all Crouch is doing in St Louis - partying (he has a 50% chance of activating and failed to do so each week of this cycle - disappointed!).
Hooker cuts the last rail connection into Alabama.
Burnside inspects the reinforcements in Baltimore, but doesn't realise it might be a good idea to send them down where they are needed.
Meade moves alongside Sedgewick. McClellan, Franklin and Howard all discuss how dangerous the James River is and how it will be impossible to cross it.
McClernand clears the railway at the bottom of the Shenandoah Valley of an lingering Confederate claims to ownership.
Sedgewick attacks. It is on the 91-110 column of CRT 3. He has supplies now thanks to Meade and uses them. The battle costs the Union 2,000 casualties, but they are over the river cutting off Richmond's penultimate lifeline.
The East
The West
Casualties
Confederacy lost 17,000 men due to battle and desertion plus 19,000 with the fall of Memphis and Fort Pillow.
Union suffered 11,000 casualties.
Ligny - Take Two or Three - Part 2
The battle continues with the 17:30 and 18:00 turns. The two Stephens were available to command the Prussians, but the weight of the honor of France fell on Mark B's shoulders alone.
And of course the French make yet another attack on Wagnelee and Le Hameau.
They also make their first attack on Ligny, lead in person by Gerard.
It fails miserably.
To the north of Ligny the French launch a devastating counterattack on the Prussians who had bravely ventured across the brook.
The Prussian general in charge of those troops is not impressed.
The French cavalry ignore him as they thunder by in an uncontrolled follow up.
Blucher yet again leads a counterattack on Wagnelee and Le Hameau.
The French cavalry that crossed in hot pursuit north of Ligny are roughly handled and sent packing.
Gerard is trying to rally his troops, bottom left hand corner.
The French artillery has got the upper hand in its duel with the Prussian guns of II Korps.
And on the western side of the battlefield at the end of the 17:30 turn,
the troops from I Corps are being moved to the centre.
(The old Minifig is Jacquinot leading a brigade of lancers in march column)
(The old Minifig is Jacquinot leading a brigade of lancers in march column)
I also realised after I took this photo I had not completed all the combats. The Prussians recaptured Wagnelee and Le Hameau, yet again. I am really happy how the toing and froing is going.
But the French attacked Wagnelee and Le Hameau again.
They were defeated and it now looked like the Prussians would hold this village.
The Guard attack!
The heavy cavalry of the IV Cavalry Corps supports the attack
that is occurring between St Amand and Ligny.
Prussian cavalry try an immediate counterattack and are beaten off.
Blucher rushes over and leads an attack against the French Guard
who had formed square to see off the Prussian cavalry.
His attack fails miserably, despite the use of a Free Roll and cries of "free beer".
The French had deployed their secret weapon - le vin rouge.
The big picture at the end of the 18:00 turn.
There had also been an attacked by the Young Guard on St Amand that had been rudely repulsed.
The Prussians who valiantly held Wagnelee and Le Hameau perished under a hail of shot and shell from the would be French assailants. (Most units disperse at around half accumulated casualties).
The Old Guard are securely across the Ligny brook.
The French 13th Cavalry Division are a bit exposed,
but they have done their job in protecting the flank of the Old Guard.
One of the optional rules we are using from the 4th Edition is unit self rally, but without the penalty of a further rout if a 10 is thrown. My reason being that such a risk doesn't happen with the existing rally system, a further rout only occurs if the unit is moved, shot at or assaulted. Also rout is not "the unit routed off the table" type outcome (that is dispersal), just that the unit has temporarily lost its fighting cohesion.
I've also decided to allow cavalry to cross the brook in "line formation". My initial immediate research has a regiment of squadrons in line but those squadrons stacked one behind the other, suitably spaced, in column and taking up what is a four figure cavalry base. I stress I am still working on this.
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