First Campaign Turn - Lot of Questions

[Heldenkaiser]

After playing two short scenarios (Shiloh, Bull Run) to conclusion, I started my first campaign - the year of 1861.

Already on the start of my turn 2, several things happened that confused me so that I am sitting back to wonder about them for a moment before I continue. Such as:

1) Units showing up double. Or very nearly so. At Baltimore, two 1st MD Brigades made an appearance, one composed of the 1st thru 3rd MD Volunteers, the other of the 1st thru 6th of the same, if memory serves. I believe I have other duplicates as well, though I am not sure.

2) Units disappearing. Since Patterson is a useless leader anyway, I stripped him of his two "flanks" and sent them to Washington per rail. However, in transit both lost one of their two brigades apiece and arrived with only one. Some attrition ... for a rail move. Or what's going on? (BTW, what's "NVA"?)

3) An event saying McClellan has been appointed commander of the Army of the Potomac. Sure enough, he is now a 3 star, but I believe there is no Army of the Potomac in the game; McDowell still commands the Department of NE Virginia. And isn't appointing army commanders my own prerogative, as player?

Just some things I don't really understand. I would be grateful for some hints at least regarding where to read up on this. I apologize in advance if these things have already been covered on this board somewhere or are explained in the manual. I read most of what's coming up here, but it's so many threads each day that I am sure I am not catching or remembering everything.

Oh, and question: can I move the Pacific Squadron into the Atlantic? The game seems to think I can and it would take only 43 days. All the way around the Hoorn?

Thanks for any help!

[Heldenkaiser]

Alright, I already found one answer

http://www.ageod-forum.com/showthread.php?t=3338

regarding the double 1st MD Bde. Apologies.

[Rafiki]

3) An event saying McClellan has been appointed commander of the Army of the Potomac. Sure enough, he is now a 3 star, but I believe there is no Army of the Potomac in the game; McDowell still commands the Department of NE Virginia. And isn't appointing army commanders my own prerogative, as player?

Indeed. This can be considered more of a flavour event, IMO, since there isn't anything that says that he actually becomes CO of the Army of the Potomac (which in your game is kinda hard anyway )

There are a few events in-game that seem to be based on how things progressed historically without necessarily any relevance to *your* game. Can be a bit confusing, I agree.

In any case, in the game log, there is a tooltip for the events that affect the game which describes adjustments in NM, changes in units etc. If there is no such tooltip, I take it that there is no effect of the event in question.

[Winfield S. Hancock]

3) An event saying McClellan has been appointed commander of the Army of the Potomac. Sure enough, he is now a 3 star, but I believe there is no Army of the Potomac in the game; McDowell still commands the Department of NE Virginia. And isn't appointing army commanders my own prerogative, as player?

If you move Little Mac to DC, place him in the same hex as McDowell and the NE Virginia Army, then remove McDowell and appoint McClellan to command, the Army renames itself the Army of the Potomac in the process. Pretty cool.

While you are right it is optional as to whether you put McClellan in charge of the AOP or not, I would. While his strategic, offensive, and defensive ratings are poor, his special abilities are pretty helpful. Especially early on in the game, it is nice to have a guy who is a good army organizer, a militia man, and a training officer all wrapped into one. Helps transform the raw levies of the AOP into a better fighting force, as he did historically. Then keep McDowell on as corps commander, a role he is better suited for, or send him west, with an independent command. At least he has some chance of getting activated, which should help you in your campaign to secure Kentucky.

[Heldenkaiser]

If you move Little Mac to DC, place him in the same hex as McDowell and the NE Virginia Army, then remove McDowell and appoint McClellan to command, the Army renames itself the Army of the Potomac in the process. Pretty cool.

Thanks for the explanation. The event listing is still a little confusing, but good to know how it's meant to work.

While you are right it is optional as to whether you put McClellan in charge of the AOP or not, I would. [...]

Of course, I don't doubt that. I just was confused because I was under the impresion that it's me as the player shaping national grand strategy (calling for volunteers etc.), so appointing army commanders seemed my own business even more.

[Pocus]

We will alter the wording of the Mc Clellan events. Indeed we are describing here History, not what has already happened in your game.

Yes the Pacific squadron can be used, a bit too easily perhaps.

[Heldenkaiser]

We will alter the wording of the Mc Clellan events. Indeed we are describing here History, not what has already happened in your game.

OK, I think that's what I didn't get. I thought it to be an in-game event description, not a historical interest note.

Thanks again. Any idea what could have happened to Patterson's brigades?