Torca (USA) vs Aryaman (CSA)

[Daxil]

I'm doing this game's play by play this round.

[ATTACH]6063[/ATTACH]

Turn 1

Turn 1 consisted of numerous cav screens passing one anothers pathes. A few front line settlements switched hands. Both sides seem to be frantically building, especially USA which used all its financial and recruitment options.

[ATTACH]6026[/ATTACH]

Cav screens.

[ATTACH]6027[/ATTACH]

Watie moves on Ft Gibson in the Trans Miss.

[CENTER]USA (Torca)/CSA (Aryaman)
NM -100/100
Casualties 0/0
VP - 27/38[/CENTER]

[Daxil]

Turn 2

There are reports of heavy USA factory and armaments facility construction in the Western states.

TN:Cav elements from both sides disperse, no engagements. Several rails in CSA territory have been destroyed, however. 3rd Kentucky US Cav continues its pacification programme, subduing Jackson. CSA elements move to the front lines as well, Livingstone falls.

Trans Miss: a quiet theatre.

US ship spotted in the Miss at New Orleans. A portender of things to come?

[ATTACH]6051[/ATTACH]

Cav screens disperse.

[ATTACH]6050[/ATTACH]

Humboldt and Columbus fall to USA.

[ATTACH]6049[/ATTACH]

A quiet Trans Miss.

[ATTACH]6048[/ATTACH]

US ship in Miss.

[CENTER]92/99
0/0
-44/74 (using all the money options made a negative # for USA. Turn 1 points should have read -74/37)
Points accumulated from- 28/37[/CENTER]

[Daxil]

Turn 3

It is late March. Winter's grasp on the Mississippi seems to be waning, and the Union river fleet has sprung into action. Admirals Andrew Foote and David Porter arrive at Island No. 10 with eight gunboats and four iron clads. Island 10's 500-man garrison defends valiantly,m but with 13-1 odds and a relentless pounding from the river guns, they are liquidated.

Meanwhile, Grant has advanced to Shiloh. Albert Johnston lurks nearby...

[ATTACH]6064[/ATTACH]

Island 10 falls.

[ATTACH]6065[/ATTACH]

A repeat of history?

[CENTER]93/98
540/420
Prisoners taken by - 200/0
-7/111
29/37[/CENTER]

[Daxil]

Turn 4

There is no Confederate attack. Instead the opposite happens. Sensing an opportunity, Grant advances towards Corinth. Grant and his Army of the Tennessee has within it two corps commanders - Wallace and Dodge - and approximately 54,000 troops. Facing it is William Hardee's well dug in Rebs. He has 27,000 troops and 100 cannons so on paper this would be a 2-1 USA advantage. Notably there is a heavy cav presence. The Union has 16,000 horseman and the CSA 8,000 under the redoubtable Nathan Bedford Forrest. This means correspondingly more casualties as routing troops can be ridden down on the battlefield like barbarian sub humans.

As it turned out this initial balance swung back in the South's favor as Pierre Beauregard and Johnn Breckenridge Corps' arrived by rail adding an additional 18,000 troops to the CSA ledger. Lewis Wallace's Corps does the brunt opf the fighting and after taking about 10 percent casualties diecides to withdraw. Grant is repulsed by Hardee and retreats back to his starting point to lick his wounds..

On the Miss the Union subdues the New Madrid garrison.

In the Far West things remain mysteriously quiet.

[ATTACH]6072[/ATTACH]

Battle of Tippecanoe near Corinth.

[ATTACH]6073[/ATTACH]

Union Mississippi advance continues.

[CENTER]93/98
7020/4095
200/0
22/148
29/37[/CENTER]

[Daxil]

Turn 5

A fairly quiet turn. Grant sits in recovery. USA cav is invading deep into central Alabama and Mississippi. USA has also wrested control of the Mississippi's mouth.


[ATTACH]6112[/ATTACH]

Decaturville skirmish.

[ATTACH]6114[/ATTACH]

Tuscombia falls.

[ATTACH]6113[/ATTACH]

Forts St Phillip and Jackson have been taken by USA.

[CENTER]USA/CSA
93/98
7350/4665
600/0
67/185
29/37[/CENTER]

[Daxil]

Turn 6

The main USA fleet has arrived off Mobile.

Ft Pillow on the Miss falls.

Action in the Trans Miss: Stand Watie launches a surprise attack on St Louis. Six thousand warriors and CSA cav assault the garrison of 5,500 led by Halleck. Union artillery proves decisive. The Indians thinking it to be thunder made by angry Gods scramble back into the steppe.

[ATTACH]6127[/ATTACH]

USA fleet is off Mobile.

[ATTACH]6126[/ATTACH]

USA Miss conquest continues.

[ATTACH]6125[/ATTACH]

Battle of St. Louis.

[CENTER]93/98
8490/6690
800/0
102/222
29/37[/CENTER]

[Daxil]

Turn 7

It is late May. CSA cav has captured several towns behind Union lines in an apparent attempt to break USA supply lines. Meanwhile Union forces captured Fort Gaines defending Mobile Bay and USA cav coming from the North captured Grove Hill at the confluent of the Tombigbee and Alabama rivers North of Mobile. No apparent CSA response yet save for a cav moving into the area to repair a broken rail.

In the Far West Watie retreated back out into the steppe, and a USA cav element captured Tuscon.

On day 15 Grant arrived at Chattanooga via naval assets, stealthily leaving his Purdy fortifications. Facing overwhelming numbers, Kirby Smith's Rebs retreat after his rear elements engaged Grant's vanguard. Being a strategic region USA morale improved sharply.

[ATTACH]6134[/ATTACH]

CSA attempts to disrupt USA supply lines.

[ATTACH]6136[/ATTACH]

Ft Gaines falls.

[ATTACH]6133[/ATTACH]

Chattanooga falls!

[ATTACH]6135[/ATTACH]

[CENTER]103/88
9270/8460
prisoners taken- 1100/0
154/249
Pts accumulated per turn- 34/33[/CENTER]

[Daxil]

Turn 8

EK Smith remains at Chattanooga despite his defeat. There are reports that Hardee's Corps of 20,000 men is heading East towards Atlanta, but US cav elements have arrived first. The USA consolidates its control along the Cumberland anmd Tennessee as Beauragard sits passively at Corinth. Butler arrives at Mobile and lays seige to its 2,000 strong garrison led by Mouton.


[ATTACH]6147[/ATTACH]

Tennessee front.

[ATTACH]6148[/ATTACH]

Atlanta front, Hardee reacts.

[ATTACH]6149[/ATTACH]

Butler lays seige to 2,000 man Mobile garrison under Mouton.

[CENTER]103/88
9450/8550
1100/0
188/282
34/33[/CENTER]

[Daxil]

Turn 9

It's late May. Summer is beginning to blossom and with it campaign season. Both sides once again selected most of the money/recruitment options. Immediatelly EK Smith fell backfrom an aggressive Grant at Chattanooga, and Butler inexplicably abandons his seige of Mobile. Perhaps he felt 8,000 troops were not enough to maintain. Several days later Polk arrived with a large force from New Orleans so perhaps a wise decision.

In the Miss, USA forces remain stationary near Ft Pillow, but CSA gunboats, including the ironclads Arkansas and Mississippi, are repported to the South.

In the Far West, CSA cav has arrived at Tuscon and an uneasy faceoff ensues with the USA cav element in control of the wild west town.

On day 13 Hardee emerges from the hills around Chattanooga and a two day battle ensues. Both sides had almost identical strength 20,000 troops and approximately 100 guns and both were in offensive mode. we had therefore a pure test of a general's skills in a key battle. It should be noted that Grant is a 6-6-4 general and Hardee a 4-3-1. Grant's subordinates were WHL Wallace (3-2-1), Robert Mitchell (3-1-1), and William Sherman (4-3-2). Hardee brought with him Benjamin Cheatam (3-3-3), AP Stewart (3-2-2), and Jones Withers (3-1-1). The skill numbers therefore favored the Union and that played out in battle. After two days of essentially probing each others lines - casualties were very light - Hardee decided to withdraw leaving EK Smith's division cut off in the town of Decatur North of Chattanooga.

[ATTACH]6166[/ATTACH]

Butler abandons Mobile.

[ATTACH]6167[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]6168[/ATTACH]

Chattanooga battles.

[CENTER]99/85
11220/11550
1100/0
222/315
34/33[/CENTER]

[Daxil]

Turn 10

An eventful turn. In the upper Miss, Foote's fleet, the ironclads Carondolet, Pittsburgh, Cairo, Mound City and two riverboats, arrives in Hatchies Confluent off Ft Pillow on day 1 and encounters the CSA gunboats Carondelet and Bienville. The heavier Union guns devestate the two gunboats from long range, sinking the Carondelet. The other gunboat barely makes it to Memphis. Shortly therefater USA elements under Phil Sheridan and John Pope capture Madison and Helena AR along with Austin Ferry on the Mississippi shore. Memphis is being encircled.

In the Far West, CSA elements capture Tuscon, but continue on out of the region and USA elements quickly recapture it. Van Dorn's CSA Army of the West has destroyed Fayete Depot perhaps in anticipation of something.

USA 5th Ohio Cav elements have captured Columbus, and its important depot and munitions factory, South of Atlanta.

Farragut arrives North of New Orleans! CSS Arkansas forays out to meet him, but Farragut's ships simply have a longer range cannon and it flees back into New Orleans. The CSA rail network in Alabama and Mississippi has been demolished and the reason soon becomes clear. In a brilliant move, on day 15 3,000 Union troops with elite marines amongst their ranks brazenly sail right past Ft Pike in river barges and march into New Orleans overwhelming its tolken garrison. Confederate refugees, including the Arkansas and Mississippi retreat across Lake Champlain to their apparent Alamo- Fort Pike. Polk is stuck in Mobile. CSA morale plummets.

[ATTACH]6176[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]6177[/ATTACH]

USA forces across from Memphis.

[ATTACH]6179[/ATTACH]

Damaged rails - central Miss.

[ATTACH]6175[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]6178[/ATTACH]

[CENTER]109/76
11,850/13,186
1,300/0
268/338
40/27[/CENTER]

[Daxil]

Turn 11

The Army of the Tennessee completes a depot at Chattanooga and receives reinforcements bringing it to approx 20,000 troops with advance guards. Hardee's 20,000 fall back to Atlanta and join the 2,000 man garrison. To the Northeast at Knoxville Smith has an additional 5,000 troops. CSA recaptures Columbus. A defensive standoff on the right side of the map apparently.

Butler arrives in New Orleans swelling the garrison there to 12,000. Forty seven captured naval guns and batteries are added to the force. Polk remains at Mobile, conceding the city to USA, although the CSA ironclads have sailed out into Koney Island to face off Palmer's command of 30 some ships. A two day cav skirmish at Springfield North of New Orleans leaves it in Union hands.

In the TransMiss, Franz Sigel attemptsto capture Little Rock and is blocked by CSA gunboats. A bit of good fortune as McCulloch's command outnumbers him 2-1, apoprox 10,000 to 6,500.

[ATTACH]6198[/ATTACH]

Sigel is blocked.

[ATTACH]6199[/ATTACH]

CSA recaptures Springfield.

[CENTER]109/77
12060/13496
1300/0
305/365
39/28[/CENTER]

[Daxil]

Turn 12

In the New Orleans theatre, the anticipated naval engage between Palmer and the Arkansas and Mississippi ends with the two ironclads limping into Shieldsboro minus a few guns and crew. Forrest's 800 troopers and 24 guns recaptures Springfield after a brief skirmish.

In the upper Miss off Memphis a USA river barge command of unknown size and with unknown objectives is used as target practise by Braxton Bragg's 64 guns. It sinks at an unknown point.

In the Trans Mkiss, Sigel's command withdraws from the banks of the Arkansas but his subordinate Phil Sheridan continues on with 2,000 mounted troopers. Once again it is found that CSA gunboats block his move towards objective Ft Smith. The Ozark Docks serve as a consolation prize.

In western Kentucky it is reported that Grant has arrived to take command of the main USA army based there. The Atlanta theatre remains quiet.

[ATTACH]6215[/ATTACH]

Arkansas and Mississippi sail out.

[ATTACH]6216[/ATTACH]

Something got hurt on the river.

[ATTACH]6217[/ATTACH]

Trans Miss.

[CENTER]109/78
12120/13640
1300/0
344/393
39/28[/CENTER]

[Daxil]

Turn 13

Another low event, movement turn. USA forces arrive in Texas, but are repulsed at Galveston. In Tennessee, another supply wagon moving down the Miss is pulverized by CSA river guns, but to the East the Army of the Tennessee has arrived and Beauregard's hold on the state is in doubt.

[ATTACH]6244[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]6245[/ATTACH]

[CENTER]109/79
12360/13880
1300/0
383/421
39/28[/CENTER]

[Daxil]

Turn 14

The CSA Army of Tennessee refuses to budge from its grasp on Western Tennessee. USA forces under Crittendon capture the important rail center of Meridian and Sheridan's troopers have also arrived in the region. To the Southm, Forrest is gathering his division and digging in at Springfield. Butler apparentlky intends to simply sit on New Orleans. Four USA transports inexplicably tried sailing into Mobile Bay alone and were anhilated by Polks batteries.

In the Trans Miss, CSA forces are pulling back from Fayete, but the USA Western Command arrives at Springfield gathering perhaps for an offensive. USA cav elements have captured Beuamont, East of Galveston, following their defeat.

The Atlanta theatre remains quiet. Over 25,000 CSA troops are coalescing at Atlanta with unknown intents.

[ATTACH]6251[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]6252[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]6253[/ATTACH]

[CENTER]109/80
1263/15515
1900/0
428/449
40/27[/CENTER]

[Daxil]

Turn 15

This turn was so quiet there won't be any screenshots. USA forces captured Knoxville and its depot without a fight. USA Western Command in Trans Miss moves to Fayette.

109/81
1263/15515

468/476
41/26

[Daxil]

Turn 16

USA Army of the West captures Fayette AR. USA forces are once again repuled at Galveston. Crittendon's Corps moves towards Vicksburg, Jackson falls. Other theatres remain quiet, but the Mississippi and Arkansas managed to slip by USA naval elements into Mobile Bay. Notably, USA has taken point lead and the casualty gap is growing.

[ATTACH]6340[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]6341[/ATTACH]

[CENTER]109/82
13410/20345
522/502
43/24[/CENTER]

[Daxil]

No updates here for a week - I'll be on vacation. The first half of this match is just about over, though. I'll post the results when I get back.

[Daxil]

Turn 17

Attempt number 3 finally nets Galveston for USA in the Trans Miss.

In the Atlanta theatre, William Hardee attempts to recapture Chattanooga. Defending Chattanooga is George Thomas Corps with subordinates Sherman, W. Nelson and Robert Mitchell. 18,000 men and 80 cannons in all (mostly 10 pounders with some seige artillery in the rear). CSA forces number 28,000 with over 100 cannons including Columbiad's.

Initially CSA cav elements isolate L. Rousseau's Corps in Knoxville by capturing Decatur. Thomas' folrces are dug in like an Alabama tick in mountainous territory, however. When the results come in it's somewhat of a foregone conclusion. CSA forces attack for two days and 10,000 casualties later give up the fight. Perhaps faulty intelligence or desperation led to the attack, or perhaps boredom on a quiet front.

In Mississippi, the USA advance from the South is in full swing. The attacks come from the river. Port Hudson and Baton Rouge have fallen. Forrest remains entrenched at Springfield. In the North, Crittendon's Corps has arrived at Grant's location. A USA offensive seems inevitable aimed towards Corinth and Memphis.

[ATTACH]6405[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]6406[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]6407[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]6408[/ATTACH]

[CENTER]109/85
17625/34295
4900/0
578/526
45/22[/CENTER]

[Daxil]

Turn 18 - Early Nov

First smatterings of snow have hit. Movement turn. Farragut ends up with USA Mississippi fleet and drives a few CSA gmnboats away from Memphis. Everything else is stagnant.

[ATTACH]6425[/ATTACH]

[CENTER]109/86
17625/34295
4800/0
623/548
45/22[/CENTER]

[Daxil]

I skipped the last few turns due to my vacation. Basically, aryaman did a good job of holding on to what he had left and actually ended up with a decent score for CSA despite the casualty gap. USA captured Corinth turn 19 and Memphis turn 21. CSA Army of the Tennessee was destroyed at Memphis, but the majority of its manpower escaped.

[CENTER][ATTACH]6432[/ATTACH]

Turn 19
107/88
20641/36245
5200/1000
671/586
45/22

Turn 20
107/89
20641/36245
5200/1000
716/608
46/21

[ATTACH]6433[/ATTACH]

Turn 21
106/85
27661/42064
5600/1000
778/629
45/21

Turn 22
115/76
27931/42738
5800/1000
838/640
49/18

Turn 23
115/77
28051/42788
5800/1000
887/658
49/18

[ATTACH]6434[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]6435[/ATTACH]

Final Stats:

Morale
USA/CSA
115/79

Casualties
USA/CSA
30691/47138

Prisoners taken by
USA/CSA
5700/900

[SIZE="3"]Victory Points
USA/CSA
989/694[/size]

VP per turn
USA/CSA
48/18[/CENTER]