War For The Union Via Vassal March 1862

The Union appointment another three commanders and launch a memorable ironclad at Ft Monroe.

The Confederates get another trickle of volunteers, appoint two generals and launch an ironclad of their own at Norfolk to match that commissioned by the Yankee aggressors.

Grant takes command of the Army of Tennessee and attacks Bragg.  It's a 2:1 encounter with no modifiers.  The die roll is a 2. Both sides lose 5,000 men.  Grant takes a swig from his trusty bottle and orders a fresh assault. It's a 6.  At least he is safe in his tent nursing a hangover (Only a natural 5 is a risk to an Army Commander). 10,000 casualties per side, 1 fatigue for the Union, 2 for the Confederates who have to retreat (they head to Memphis). A S Johnston is wounded, replaced by Buckner.  Thomas and Lyon are also wounded.

Buell digs in, supplied by the US Navy's riverboats and the establishment of a River Deport.  The newly arrived McCook takes over Halleck's command who demands to be given the Army of the Ohio.

Hooker takes fresh troops to the Army of the Potomac and then goes on to lead the troops at Winchester. Sumner takes over from Banks. Burnside orders another attack.  The Third Battle of Manassas Junction is at 2:1 with a -3.  The dice roll is a 2. The Confederates lose 5,000 men, the Union 10,000 and also gain a fatigue.

S D Lee starts to sneak back to attack Fayetteville, AK.

Bragg, in something of a dilemma, withdraws to Memphis.

Polk reorganises in Nashville, while Dorn returns to Knoxville with 10,000 men (stripped from Magruder) with orders to clear the Cumberland pass. 

Beauregard and J E Johnston hold position, because the newly appointed Jackson has a plan.  Taking 20,000 men from the Richmond garrison, he force marches to Yorktown. He attacks Butler at 1:1 with a +3.  The die roll is a 10.  Butler loses half his army and retreats into the fort gaining 2 fatigue. Jackson loses 5,000 and gains 1 fatigue. Jackson aggressively storms Ft Monroe.  It is 5:2 with a +2.  The die roll is another 10.  Jackson is a legend!  The Union force is wiped out and Butler sent to write his memoires somewhere quiet and dark. (Aside: this process is a bit tricky, Butler's last act was to try an retreat through the Confederates, and the attrition this caused inflicted the final loss.  The real killer was the double 10 roll). 

Things are looking up for the Confederacy

now that an aggressive commander like Jackson has arrived.

But out west the Confederacy looks a little shaky.

April Interphase

Both sides recognise the quality of their troops, the Union militia become volunteers and the Confederate volunteers become veterans. The Vassal module makes this so easy with just one click of a button.

The Union commission three new squadrons of ships and appoint two generals.  Lyon is promoted on his hospital bed. Banks is put on the reserve list.

Confederate supply is down 5; 1 for Fayetteville, 2 for Winchester, 1 for Jacksonville and 1 for the blockade of Norfolk (which is still successful even with the loss of Ft Monroe).  They have 117 in total.

The Confederates stop calling for volunteers and start recruiting instead.  They currently have 260,000 infantry and 30,000 cavalry (not counting state militia).  They receive 20,000 replacements and are able to recruit an additional 105,000 men.

Atlanta is now a Key Industrial centre and the Confederacy now receive 5 additional resource points and now have 6.  They have been spending big upgrading their coastal batteries.