War For The Union via Vassal March 1863

March is the last winter month. Neither side receives any reinforcements.

Hurlbut continues his slow move towards the Mississippi.  Lyon digs in at Nashville, as reinforcements are ferried across to him.  Sherman moves to threaten the Confederate's Army of the Tennessee's line of supply.

Grant leaves it to McPherson and Buell to attack Memphis.  It is a straight 4:1 combat.  The die roll is a 3.  The Rebels retreat losing 5,000 men and suffering 2 fatigue.  Memphis falls with no loss to the Union.

Over east the Union start to fortify their line, but in a more interesting move, 10,000 militia are transported to Yorktown using river transport, establishing a depot there to support future operations.

The Confederates newly launched ironclads at New Orleans attempt to escape, but are heavily damaged in the process.  

A S Johnston and the Army of the Mississippi attempt to retake Memphis.  Their 70,000 men attack the 45,000 Union troops.  It is a 3:2 +2 combat.  The die roll is a 3.  Both sides lose 5,000 men.  Perhaps defeatism has settled in on the Confederates?

No!  J E Johnston and the Army of the Tennessee attacks Lyons at Nashville.  It is a straight 1:1 combat.  The die roll is a 9.  Both sides lose 15,000 men.  The Confederates take 1 fatigue the Union 2 as they vacate Nashville, however its functioning as a Key Industrial Centre has been permanently destroyed by those damn Yankees (along with Memphis).  Lyon retreats to Carthage.

In the east Taylor moves to Richmond, ready to strike at the Yankee landing at Yorktown.

How long are those Yankees going to last at Yorktown?

Are the Union going to send troops to the Mississippi?

Can the Confederacy hold Nashville?

April Interphase

Troops are promoted.  Finally the Union will have parity of troop quality with the Confederacy.  In terms of numbers they have about a 50% superiority.

Confederate supply capacity is down to 106, however this still allows them to recruit an additional 25,000 volunteers.  With just three KIC they receive only 3 Resource Points.

The Union receive Slocum who is immediately put on the reserve list.

War For The Union via Vassal February 1863

Sedgewick receives a commission and Burnside is retired.  The Union call up another 40,000 militia.

Hurlbut returns to Missouri.

Foote attacks the battery at Memphis.  The battery damages the flagship, but is reduced.  Seeing the Union fleet diminished, the Confederate ships now move out to face them.  They score no hits.  The Confederate ironclad is however sunk and their ram decides to withdraw.  Foote pursues as far as Helena, cutting off river supply to Memphis, just what Grant was planning for.  He cordons off Memphis.

Sherman moves to Johnsonville on the Tennessee to receive reinforcements and rest his men.

Lyon storms Nashville.  It is 4:1 plus 2.  Die roll of 4 sees Nashville captured, but with the loss of 5,000 Union soldiers.  The attacking force gains 1 fatigue, but it was just a small part of the Army of the Ohio which now waits to see if the Confederates will counterattack.

Down in Texas, Banks gets ready to invade Louisiana.  Farragut tries telling the authorities that there are richer pickings on the Mississippi, but no one is listening.

In the East troops are shuffled about to maintain the line of the Potomac.

The US Navy again tries to neutralise the enemy fort at Ft Monroe.  The sailing ships are damaged and break off.  The iron clads have another go.  Dismal fire from both sides.  A third round and one of the ironclads is damaged, but the battery is suppressed.  However the Union ships withdraw.

A S Johnston and the Army of the Mississippi slip out of Memphis in an attempt to regain supply and to maintain an army in being.  S D Lee continues to move towards the Mississippi.  J E Johnston attempts to retake Nashville.  His 75,000 men throw themselves at the 60,000 Yankee aggressors in a 1;1 +1 attack.  The die roll is a 7.  Both sides lose 15,000 mean and suffer a fatigue, but Nashville remains in Union hands.

Magruder is replaced by Price who is sent down to Florida.   An ironclad commences is laid down in Norfolk.  The Confederacy look to fortify Winchester.  A scratch force of 20,000 men are assembled at Decatur under Forrest.  Lee rests his men on the icy banks of the Potomac and gets ready to renew the offensive.

The East where the action isn't

The South is just ... not there?

But the West is where it is at!

 

War For The Union via Vassal January 1863

Hurlbut tries to get back in supply from Springfield, MO.  

Before Grant can contemplate further action against Memphis, he needs Foote to destroy the battery and rebel ships and so block supply along the Mississippi.  The enemy ships take shelter under their guns up on the bluff.  In the first wave, one Union ship is damaged. but the rebel battery is supressed.  However all subsequent waves fail to inflict any damage.  Foot decides to hold position.

Grant sends McPherson to open up the railway line to Corinth and pick up reinforcements that had been abandoned by McClernand.

Sherman moves to cut off Nashville.  The rebel city is now surrounded by Union zones of control, choking off supplies.

Down south Banks starts to consolidate his position in Texas.

Over East Meade takes command of the troops at Hagerstown,  Rosecrans moves the Army of the Potomac to the icy banks of the Potomac. The US Navy evacuates the militia from Alexandria returning them to Washington.

The navy outside Norfolk bombard the rebel battery.  On the second round the battery is suppressed, but they are unable to make any further damage.  The new ships from Philadelphia attack the new battery at Ft Monroe.  The battery scores a direct hit on the new ironclad.  After one round of bombardment they promptly break off.

Farragut attacks Rebel ships at New Orleans.  The heavily outnumbered Confederate ships are sunk.  Noting that more are being built, Farragut holds his position.

The Confederates move troops to cover the exposed cities and towns on the Mississippi as well as fixing up the battery at Memphis.  A S Johnston and the Army of the Mississippi sit impotently in Memphis.  They have parity with Grant, but daren't risk an adverse outcome if they attack.

J E Johnston at Nashville doesn't have that luxury and moves out to confront Sherman. He attacks at 3:2 with a +2.  The die roll is a 9.  Sherman suffers 10,000 casualties and 2 fatigue and retreats.  The Confederates lose 5,000.  Supply is restored, but Nashville is very, very vulnerable.

Over East Jackson secures Alexandria,  Lee attacks Burnside's 30,000.  The odds are 5:2 with a +2.  The die roll is a 7, the Union lose 10,000 men and retreat suffering 3 fatigue.  The Confederates lose 5,000 and gain 1 fatigue.  Beauregard with 40,000 men crosses the Potomac.

Taylor with 20,000 stays in reserve at Fredericksburg.

The Eastern Theatre is hard work for the Confederates,

they have the upper hand, but not enough troops.

They need to watch for coastal landings

and for the Yankees cutting their supply.

Down Texas way and the Confederates have nothing they can really use to stop the erosion.

The West is too open for the Confederacy to stop the Union from breaking through.

Vikings versus Old Saxons

It started well, but my varied collection of figures from which I had constituted my Viking force, many of which have rarely graced the table, were no match for Dave's old Old Saxons.

The Vikings won the scouting,

but probably should have avoided pitting their large units against the Saxon's equivalents.

The Saxons come down off the hill,

the Vikings start to move out on the flanks.

The Irish javelins start to hurt the Saxons,

the Viking skirmishers are getting in position of the Saxon flanks

but the main bodies are with in charge range.

Who would get the initiative?

Well, despite the Saxons playing Decisive Initiative,

the Vikings won the toss and charged.

As you can see it did them little good.

One more turn and the Vikings are done for!

War For The Union via Vassal December 1862

Winter returns.  Supply becomes an issue.  40,000 more militia are raised to help fight for the Union.

In a move that has the Confederates screaming for their lawyers, the Union determines it can send more men over seas and provided they are in small parcels, they can "live off the land" (as their is no chance of attrition for 5,000 men on the table).  The only thing stopping the Union is that they did not plan things out and therefore don't have troops in reach that can do serious damage.

Banks gets on with his conquest of Texas.

Hurlbut starts to move troops back towards Springfield to get them in supply.  The troops don't really matter, what this foray into Arkansas has done is tie up a valuable general.

McClernand starts moving reinforcements towards Grant who is camped outside Memphis.  More importantly Sherman opens the rail line through to Grant.

In a sneaky move, Reynolds slips 20,000 militia into Alexandria, cutting off Confederate supply to the forces across the Potomac.  Rosecrans digs in and waits Lee's next move.

Lee pulls back and sends Jackson and 30,000 mean to deal with the Union militia in Alexandria.  It is a 3:2 attack with a +5.  Jackson's luck fails him, the die roll is a 1.  Both sides lose 5,000 mean and gain a fatigue.  

Elsewhere things are fairly static, although troops are being rushed to defend the supply centres that are exposed on the Mississippi (Baton Rouge and Natchez).

In the East the Confederates are back behind the Potomac, with the Union threatening their supplies.

In the South Texas has been occupied,

but the Union may have missed the chance to sail up the Mississippi

In the west things seem to be finely balanced,

although the Confederates are tied to defending Memphis and Nashville

January Interphase

The Union commission a new squadrons of transports in St Louis (essential for creating River Depots) and call up 30,000 militia infantry and 10,000 militia cavalry.  McPherson and Meade receive commissions, but McClernand is sent home. Two squadrons of ships appear at Philadelphia, included one that is an ironclad.

Twenty five precent of Confederate veterans will retire if supply capacity is less that 109.  It is 112 - but if the Union had got its act together and seized Baton Rouge...

The Confederates give Taylor a commission, but remove two divisional level commanders (one of whom was charged with taking troops to Baton Rouge - whoops!)

The blockade of Norfolk is broken.

The Confederates conduct a further recruitment.  They currently have 440,000 infantry and 35,000 cavalry (not counting state militia).  They are able to recruit an additional 25,000 men some of which go to Baton Rouge - phew!!

Confederacy have 12 resource points.

War For The Union Via Vassal November 1862

The Union call up a further 40,000 militia and appoint McClernand and Reynolds (posted to Washington) as well as creating the Army of the Cumberland in Louisville.

In a bold move, Rosecrans takes the Army of the Potomac to meet Jackson.  Hooker is recalled to Washington which is left with a garrison of 60,000.  With 20,000 men assisting from McDowell's command Rosecrans can get 3:1 with a -3 modifier.  The die roll is a 7.  Both sides lose 5,000 men, but Jackson is bundled back across the Potomac with 2 fatigue.  Burnside advances to close the gap.

Down in Texas, Franklin occupies Houston and attacks the rebel militia holding Galveston.  It is a 2:1 attack with a +1.  The die roll is a 6.  Franklin is wounded as is the Confederate commander.  It was a bloody battle with both sides losing 5,000 men which spelled the end of the Confederates in Texas.  Banks takes over a Governor of Texas.

Farragut sends his damaged ship to Fort Keys for repairs and sends a message that he needs infantry if he is to take New Orleans.

The Confederate cavalry retreat before Hurlbut's advance on Springfield which falls to the hungry Union troops. 

Lyon, realising that supply is going to be an issue, but needing to keep the opposing Confederate army occupied, moves slowly towards Nashville, ordering Thomas to join him, which will give him 60,000 men.  The newly arrived McClernand is sent to Columbus to organise the troops that have accumulated there.

Union cavalry occupy Decatur.  Nashville is now at risk of being cut off from supplies.

Troops are ferried to Ft Donelson and in a surprise move, Sherman entrenches his 40.000 men at Corinth (not trusting the Supreme Court, a river depot has been established there) and then slips into a fast boat and sails down the Tennessee to take command of the 35,000 men at Ft Donelson.  He attacks the Confederate blocking force at 4:1 at +1,  The die roll is a 7. The Confederates are wiped out, but 5,000 blue coats bite the dust in exchange.

While all this is happening, Grant keeps watch on Memphis, as Foote brings his ships back up to strength.

The Confederates bring J E Johnston back to take over the Army of Tennessee.  He can either attack Sherman or Lyon, but to do so would leave Nashville open to attack.  He decides to stay put, but sends Forrest to command the cavalry tasked with recapturing Decatur.  It is a 2:1 +2.  Die roll is 4.  It is a costly business with each side losing 5,000 horsemen, but Decatur is secured.

In Memphis A S Johnston faces a similar dilemma and decides to stay put.  Let those damn Yankees take the risk!

A battery starts construction at Vicksburg and some more ironclads are commissioned at New Orleans.

On the Potomac, Lee brings up more troops and shuffles fatigued troops between commands so that he can make a 2:1 +2 attack with 80,000 men against McDowell and his 30,000.  The die roll is an 8.  The Union suffer 10,000 casualties, and collect 3 fatigue as they are bundled from their position.  The Confederates lose 5,000 and gain 1 fatigue, but Lee decides to cross, but not make a second attack (which at best was 1:1 with no pluses on Washington, although he could have a 1:1 +1 attack on the Army of the Potomac.)  With winter just about here he decides a bit of consolidation will pay off.

The threat to Washington increase with Rebels at the gates.

But winter is coming...

The rebellion in Texas has been supressed.

Stalemate in the West.

War For The Union Via Vassal October 1862

In the East the Union are at a loss to know what to do, so they just bring up some reinforcements and dig in a bit more.

In Texas, Franklin attacks the Confederate defenders across the Trinity River.  It is 3:1.  The die roll is a 10.  The Confederates are wiped out, but the Union lose 5,000 men in the process.

Farragut has a go against the New Orleans battery.  One of his ships is damaged, but the battery is suppressed. On the third bombardment the battery is Suppressed Level 2 as well as being reduced which means it is eliminated.

In Missouri, Hurlburt commences the last stage of his march to reclaim Fayetteville.

Thomas attempts to overrun the Confederate cavalry screen, but it retreats.  McCook then tries the same thing and it again retreats,  Finally Lyon comes up and tries to attack the Confederate cavalry, but again it retreats.  It is fatigued, but has held the Union up.

Buell joins Grant and then Grant sends Sherman to retake Corinth.  It is a 4:1 attack.  The die roll is a 9. The Confederates are wiped out with no loss to the Union.  After extensive litigation, Sherman gets his way in claiming that Corinth as a city can function as a legitimate starting point for a LOS which along river hex-sides can be any length.  It is possible and provided that they are not blocked, river hex-sides could function like that.  The Confederates lodge an appeal.  It is this process of double checking the rules which is really bogging the game down unfortunately.

The Confederates know winter is coming and that will slow the Yankee aggression.

S D Lee moves to Clinton where he is still in supply, but able to strike at any Union advance on Fayetteville, AK.

A S Johnston with the Army of the Mississippi at Memphis daren't send troops after Sherman.  The best he can do is order up some cavalry to Tupelo.  

Pemberton leaves a small blocking force south east of Ft Donelson and moves the Army of the Tennessee to Nashville where he now has 75,000 men.  That should be enough to stop the Union at least.

The newly commissioned squadron of ironclads sorties out of New Orleans.  It is heavily out numbered, but not out armoured.  It is after the damaged Union flotilla, until a judge points out that D1 only affects attack strength, not defence strength. A quick calculation show a 50% chance of being sunk for very little gain and the attack is called off before it even starts.  

Lee decides to join Jackson and make a massive attack with his combined force of 90,000 mean against Hooker's 30,000.  The head waters of the Potomac reduce the odds to 5:2 and there is a +2.  The die roll is an 8.  The Union lose 10,000 while the Confederate lose 5,000.  Jackson crosses over this time.  The Confederates have 1 fatigue.  Hooker retreats to Hagerstown, he has 3 fatigue.

Early has been recalled from watching Jacksonville to Fredericksburg.

The Rebels are across the Potomac!

Panic in Washington!!

Texas in peril!

Sherman is on the loose!