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Wed Dec 08, 2010 12:10 am

Turn 16 results- Let me just preface this by stating this was one of the more intense turns I’ve witnessed. It was somewhat akin to the 4th of July. I think I might use the word epic. I mean, if I had turned up my speakers my neighbors might have ducked for cover!

First, to the events: The Trent Affair, where Confederate commissioners Mason and Sliddell were removed forcibly from a British ship has led to a morale boost for the south (+1 morale). Manstein has received an army HQ, and the elite Western Brigade in Michigan.

Next, to the West. Major Frederick of the Third US Cavalry Division observed his men uneasily as they flipped over the heavy steel rail lines along a long bend stretching for perhaps ¼ mile. All along he repeated the mantra: “the fight starts now boys!” The operations against the tribes had been a necessary evil, but an evil nonetheless. Now he and his men had a chance to redeem themselves against the true enemy.

The first wisps of snow had begun to fall in Tennessee and there were reports of rebel patrols in the area. Not surprising as they were deep inside Confederate territory at a key rail junction.

For five days they had performed this task; something the Third had done since the days of the Mexican War. In some day far in the future we might call them special op soldiers. Back then they were just tough as nails SOBs. Two Confederate engines had paid the price and now the rebels were moving in for vengeance. The last day of the spiking and Frederick was about to slip away, but alas.

Just then shots rang out in the distance. Frederick’s flank guards had engaged. As the smoke cleared 61 Confederate raiders lay dead while 31 troopers fell.

[ATTACH]13945[/ATTACH]

They retreated, their deed done, but escaping alive was another question. This was the preface of a running battle that would take place all across the map as the intensity level not only has been bumped up a notch, but perhaps two or three notches. Frederick’s men fell back towards the river, as more and more rebels joined the chase. A day later they made a stand at the river bank:

[ATTACH]13946[/ATTACH]

A draw, but a victory in that they would live to fight another day. And fight another day they did. Inconclusive engagements took place on day nine, day 11, and day 12 as the rebels pushed their advantage.

[ATTACH]13947[/ATTACH]

Low on ammo, they attempted to retreat, but could not as the evacuation was still taking place. Finally on day 15 they got the last man out, minus 200, and arrived at an undefended Savannah Tennessee. Spent, they took refuge inside the unwelcoming town, rebels still in pursuit. They were bolstered by 24 supply carts and crates of badly needed ammo.

The fight “had started now.”

A major series of battles has taken place at New Orleans.

M Bonham’s command successfully merged with Theophilus Holmes’command on day six. Battle was not joined till day seven-a costly delay for Hooker.

[ATTACH]13948[/ATTACH]

Only now, too late, did they realize the true horror of their blunder. They were trapped on the beaches like the Persians at the Battle Of Marathon, and were punished mercifully.

[ATTACH]13949[/ATTACH]
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"We shall give them the bayonet." -Stonewall at Fredericksburg.

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AGEod Grognard
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Wed Dec 08, 2010 12:15 am

Turn 16 Cont. -

[ATTACH]13950[/ATTACH]

In all nearly 15,000 Union troops lay dead, dying or captured. Approximately 5000 Confederates fell. 9000 rifles were captured and 4000 prisoners were taken. Confederate morale skyrockets (+8 CSA morale). Only 1000 Union auxiliary and artillery troops remain on the beaches by day 15.

Holmes is now promotable to a new rank.

[ATTACH]13954[/ATTACH]

The assault on Fort Saint Phillip’s went as planned, with approximately 600 casualties on both sides, but this is little consolation to the Union.
As for the northern part of offensive, things were mixed.

[ATTACH]13951[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]13952[/ATTACH]

Grant has captured Nashville, which will boost Union morale, slightly offsetting the loss at New Orleans. Just ahead of Grant’s arrival, the Cumberland Fleet escaped. Its route was blocked, however, by Foote’s fleet at Dover Bend. As Foote is in aggressive mode he trumps the passive mode of John’s fleet and it stopped. By day 15 blizzard conditions have set in making its retreat even more precarious.

By event, a volunteer brigade was raised by local authorities for Grant at Nashville.

Fortunes weren’t so good for Lyon:

[ATTACH]13953[/ATTACH]

The Confederates have recaptured Covington, and checked Lyon’s advance towards Memphis. Foote’s smaller squadron engaged the Confederate Mississippi Fleet on day six in the Obion Confluent, but retreated before battle back to Island 10. Amazingly the Union Fleet coming from Cairo Illinois did not engage either. It actually arrived in the water region south of the Confederate fleet on day four. There is no reference to the fleets criss-crossing and they should’ve engaged as the Confederates were in offensive mode. Although there are no game explanations, we’ll explain it away by saying one of the sides went down a tributary or some side canal. Regardless, despite their size, they did not encounter one another.

In the East, Dahlgren’s Fleet has successfully evaded the Virginia (95% chance). Despite that Huger’s command bombarded him for eight hits, receiving four hits in return fire. His fleet escapes into the Chesapeake Bay battered and bloodied, but intact.

EK Smith’s Command has breached the defenses of Ft Monroe, landing nine hits.

Further north, moving parallel with Hamilton’s command, Second US Cav has captured the docks at Stafford opposite Fredericksburg.

In the Far West, Manstein’s cav retreated before battle at Matagorda Texas, but is still under pursuit.

An engagement took place in the shipping lanes. Semmes delivered two hits on Palmer while receiving one hit in return fire. John’s merchant raiders have sunk 18 money, while his blockade runners return 10 and one war supply. Manstein returns 22 money.
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Wed Dec 08, 2010 12:17 am

[attach]13956[/attach]
[attach]13955[/attach]
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Mon Dec 13, 2010 2:06 am

Turn 17 orders (Early December) – Here’s a post mortem on Manstein’s situation at New Orleans:

[ATTACH]14025[/ATTACH]

Two of his best divisions from the Eastern front, the Fifth and the Eighth, have been nearly decimated. They’re the veterans from the battle at Harpers Ferry, and the conquerors of the Shenandoah Valley and Manassas. As they say in baseball the veterans minimize the damage, so we’ll see how he recovers from this debacle.

Manstein is using his purchases on line infantry replacements and artillery exclusively. He has separated Hooker from the main force and has him in passive mode heading to Fort Saint Phillip, while Blenker begins loading what’s left of the invasion force on to Farragut’s Fleet in passive mode. Load time is five days. The forces in Saint Phillip remain stationary in defensive mode while their offload fleet heads into the fort.

[ATTACH]14026[/ATTACH]

John doesn’t seem able to exploit the situation immediately, because his troops are nearly as decimated. He has placed most of them into the city, while the remainder remains outside in defensive mode. The fruits of victory are numerous, however. Some of them have gained tremendously in experience, many being over 100. Holmes himself has gained four out of a possible nine stars in the experience category, making him a much more valuable 3-2-3 leader. John has not yet chosen to promote him to two star rank. Additionally, Bonham has gone from a 3-1-1 leader to a 3-2-2 leader. John is also investing some points in infrastructure instead of replacements, which could prove valuable down the road.

John has some cav coming from the North in offensive mode, one day away, along with Cocke’s Brigade of 3000 men and 16 guns eight days away on the rail. The newly laid down Mississippi, likely Manstein’s initial target, is heading out into the river in offensive mode also, so the situation at New Orleans is far from resolved.

To the north at Nashville, the Confederate Army of Tennessee has unfortunately for John retreated to Carthage Tennessee, which is to the East of Nashville. Seizing upon this advantage Grant is advancing to region Rutherford Tennessee, south of Nashville in hopes of catching Johnson. John has picked up on this potential danger however, and is skirting around Rutherford through the hills to Winchester Tennessee. This move will take him 24 days due to frozen and muddy conditions, so the situation is unresolved here as much as New Orleans.

[ATTACH]14027[/ATTACH]

Meanwhile, responding to the winter conditions setting in in the region, the Cumberland Fleet, Mississippi Fleet, and the Army of Mississippi is heading back to Memphis while Lyon and the Union fleets head back to Island Number 10.

Exhausted, Third US Cav remains inside Savannah Tennessee, with rebel forces converging.

In the Far West, with Sibley’s Command approaching, Manstein has abandoned the siege of Matagorda Texas and is retreating his cavalry back towards Tuscon.

In the East things remain stationary as heavy winter conditions set in there as well. CSS Virginia is heading back to port at Norfolk; the siege of Ft Monroe continues. Manstein’s food stock it Monroe is at 129 with 41 points of usage per turn.
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Wed Dec 22, 2010 12:38 am

Turn 17 Results- Due to John’s defensive stance at New Orleans, Federal forces have managed to evade interception. However, Blenker’s force remains in Iberville region as the turn ends with one day left to finish the boarding of the ships.

[ATTACH]14142[/ATTACH]

Hooker has arrived at Fort Saint Phillip merging with Erasmus Keyes’command along with Keyes’ fleet, which took 46 hits from Ft Jackson.

In Tennessee, Third US Cav is trapped unable to move by land! With only eight power things seem very bleak indeed. We may be witnessing the destruction of our brave profile element.

[ATTACH]14143[/ATTACH]

Johnson has slipped by Grant. John’s Cumberland Fleet took seven hits from forts Henry and Donelson. Additionally, blizzard conditions have set in leading to massive ice floes, which have heavily damaged both sides. Amazingly the Cumberland Fleet slipped by Island 10 without a scratch. No ships have been sunk and it appears both sides will reach port for the winter.

Ft Monroe remains under siege. It has 100 stock of food and water (81%) and uses 41 per turn.

John’s raiders have sunk 18 money. His blockade runners have returned 10 money and one war supply. Manstein returns 22 money.

[ATTACH]14141[/ATTACH]
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"We shall give them the bayonet." -Stonewall at Fredericksburg.

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Tue Dec 28, 2010 5:24 am

Turn 18 Ord (Late Dec) – Third US Cav is attempting to escape its trap via the muddy Tennessee River. Grants and Johnston are falling back to winter quarters at Nashville and Chattanooga respectively.

[ATTACH]14233[/ATTACH]

In the East, John is attempting to sail the CSS Virginia past the guns of Ft Monroe and down his coast. He also has EK Smith, who’s been battered by the weather and is low on supplies falling back to James City-abandoning the siege of Ft Monroe. Apparently he considers it more important to preserve his manpower than to destroy Manstein’s.

New recruitment options have appeared. John has chosen to forgo recruitment and mobilization for the time being as well as taxes , war bonds and an embargo on cotton. Attempting to recoup his losses Manstein is taking the opposite tact. He’s chosen to recruit volunteers by paying a $2000 bounty, which will cost him one morale point. He’s also chosen full mobilization which will cost him 75 victory points and five morale points. He’s also chosen exceptional taxes, which will raise inflation by 1% and cost two morale points and maintains his total blockade.

Additionally, Manstein is recruiting heavily to replace his two lost divisions.

[ATTACH]14232[/ATTACH]

As the year comes to a close, the strategic situation in the central states stands as follows:

[ATTACH]14231[/ATTACH]
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"We shall give them the bayonet." -Stonewall at Fredericksburg.

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Mon Jan 03, 2011 9:14 am

Turn 18 results- The foreign entry level for Britain has been lowered this turn as a result of a U.S. apology in regards to the Trent Affair (-1 CSA morale) and a coinciding reaction to the U.S. blockade imposed by Manstein.

Entrenchment levels have also increased to a maximum of four for both sides. Gatling guns have been introduced into the United States army for the first time (Gatling gun unit at DC, plus five war US supplies).

New brigadier generals have been appointed to both sides, including Porter and Thomas for the United States. Theophilus Holmes has been promoted to the rank of general by John.

In the East CSS Virginia has been sunk! Its attempt to bypass the guns of Ft Monroe undercover of snow failed miserably as it took 30 hits. Buchanon is recovering from his wounds in Suffolk, Warwick, VA.

Weather has taken its toll across the front for opposite reasons as well:

•In the West gunboat USS Blackhawk was sunk in region Reelfoot Lake as Manstein’s fleet failed to escape the storm in time. Ironically a second USS Blackhawk, an ironclad, just completed construction this turn at Chicago.

•In Tennessee Grant’s command took 56 hits as it fell back to Nashville.

•The Confederate Army of the Tennessee took 34 hits.

•Manstein lost a cavalry regiment in the Far West due to lack of supplies.

The remaining action this turn mostly took place in the West. Sumner Tennessee, just north of Nashville, revolted to Johnnycai; Third US Cav Regiment escaped back to Forts Henry and Donelson; and Blenker’s Command successfully boarded Farragut’s Fleet. In the end, only about 500 men escaped, all members of the artillery.

There were several engagements at sea. John’s Harriet lane squadron was hit eight times while returning one hit to one of Manstein’s Atlantic squadrons. Manstein’s Gulf squadron located John’s Lewis Cass squadron inflicting four hits with one returned. Palmer found Semmes and hits went 1 to 3. John’s merchant raiders sink 16 money and two war supply. His blockade runners return eight money and one war supply. Manstein’s merchant marine returns 20 money and two war supply.

[ATTACH]14305[/ATTACH]
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"We shall give them the bayonet." -Stonewall at Fredericksburg.

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