Early CSA Leader Promotions

[Straight Arrow]

The Federals have fort busting as a quick and safe leader promotion ladder.

What's the best way to promote Southern leaders in the early years? - Jackson in particular

[ArmChairGeneral]

Jackson is actually less good as a three star than a two star, but in general, I don't have a reliable method to generate early promotions. In the East the battles are not decisive enough, and the West doesn't get rolling for me until 62. Once I am on the move in KY/IN/OH I put the guys I want promoted into the stacks that take down lightly defended cities so that they are in on a lot of lopsided battles.

[Straight Arrow]

Thanks ArmChairGeneral - I was afraid there wasn't a simple answer to the problem of CSA promotion.


And you are quite right, Jackson is far better as a 2 star. But, I often find myself hurrying him along so he can take command of the Western theater.


How do you handle the shortage of decent 2 and 3 star generals?

[Rod Smart]

Put them in charge of the divisions that will destroy the most units.

I've seen some people on this forum say to put them in charge of the artillery divisions. I'll put them in charge of the elite 900 power divisions.

Also, use those promotable cavalry commanders to lead cavalry divisions and destroy garrisons. Sending Forrest on a cross-country killing spree in Indiana in '62 has him in command of an army in '63.


Once I get into the usual slug-fest over Alexandria, I can get everyone promoted in a couple of turns. I've honestly never had a shortage of 2 and 3 star generals as the south.

[ArmChairGeneral]

One way to deal with the shortage is using Armies as fighting stacks. Another is to recognize that Virginia is crowded with 3 stars. Once Lee enters someone can go West. I usually send JoJo to take over for ASJ in TN/Kentucky, who I then either send on to Missouri or to NO. Bragg is a pretty good Corps commander, don't sideline him (I forget if he auto-promotes or not in the GCs, he is a 2 star in most of the shorter scenarios.) I also minimize the number of Armies I create, since I sometimes need three stars to serve as corps commanders.

Once things get going for me I do get a lot of promotions, especially if Athena tries to break through in Virginia, but there is definitely a point in every game where I have not had enough decisive wins and feel the leadership crunch. I usually take it as a sign to slow down on the building a bit. Also, focusing more on artillery builds reduces the number of commanders you need overall (it packs more punch in less space and you won't be able to afford to overbuy on infantry if you are buying artillery).

If you are trying to push one of your early game all-stars to Army command, do it with Longstreet, he improves marginally as he goes to 3 star (although he loses a good ability).

[Rod Smart]

How many armies are you people creating?

One in Virginia
One in central Nashville to push northeast into Ohio (or fall back southeast towards Atlanta)
One in Memphis along the Mississippi to push north to St Louis (or fall back south towards Vicksburg)



Everything else can be handled by a large division.

[Straight Arrow]

Add New Orleans, the Shenandoah Valley and the Trans Mississippi area to the mix; they all need a force stronger than a division.

[ArmChairGeneral]

I try to keep it to one Army in Virginia once Corps formation is allowed so everyone can support each other. A second Army in the Shenandoah just crowds everyone IMO. I usually end up with four or five Armies total, and that is probably one too many. New Orleans will eventually get one if there is activity down that way, but with aggressive play elsewhere Athena doesn't usually get up to much outside some early shenanigans with the Ft. Pickens boys. An Army in Missouri to push for St. Louis eventually happens, but I have taken it without one and am usually making good progress already before it arrives.

[Straight Arrow]

I hear what you are saying about one army in Virginia. But, marching to the sound of the guns across the Virginia Piedmont ridges has not worked out very well for me. That's why I tend to keep a smaller army in the Shenandoah Valley and pray there's enough rail points to join with the Army of Northern Virginia when need beckons.

[Boomer]

My CSA games' army counts usually goes as follows...

1st army - ANV under Lee in Virginia.

2nd army - Potomac army under PGT in Virginia, used for reaction movements and to possibly guard against James River/Norfolk landings by the Union forces.

3rd army - Mississippi command under Joseph Johnston holding the Mississippi and western Tennessee area.

4th army - Army of Tennessee under AS Johnston holding Nashville and used to move into Kentucky once the Kentucky decision kicks in.

5th army - Weaker 'army' under a two star leader like Holmes or Polk in Arkansas, usually around 10k-13k in strength for watching Little Rock and the Red River against incursions.

Everything else is handled by raiders and single divisions. Kind of has to due to the mid-game shortage of available 2 and 3 star generals.