CSA First few turns.

[Groove74]

Ok after doing alot of reading on the fourms and endless restarts. I am still Struggleing to to get a good start in the game.

Here are some of the things I can quite get my mind around.

I start the 61 Full game, after a few turns I notice my armys are Stagnet The union just takes Winchester with ease even if I have say 3 armys in that reagion. so after I get pounded on for a few turns I notice even though I have put money into replacement and reinforcements, it seems my armys don't heal up and I just end up loosing city after city. it seems to me that I am just not grasping this at all.

So I was hoping Someone might be able to shed some light on what I need to be doing early on before the North just rolls over me. it like I set my armys up and next thing I now I have like 6 to 7 North armys just walk right past me.

Help

[Revolutionarythought]

Quickly, because I'm a complete noob too, I suggest that you start on the July 1861 campaign. That way you don't have to move units all around the map, and you've got an army more or less in Northern Virgina.

As for the rest of it, I'm coming along alright. I let parts of Northern Virgina fall into the AIs hands though. You've got to pick your fights, and sometimes Winchester isn't worth fighting for. In fact, as I recall during the war that particular town changed hands over 70 times.

-Scott

[Groove74]

I see ok then Cool, I have noticed I end of getting Slaughterd on or about turn 4 or 5 Because the North just marches right through Winchester. It just seem the AI can build up and attack much quicker then I can. I have started trying a defensive tactic, Example hold back and Let them come to me. But I have noticed my armys just do seem to Grow at all. It also seems to me that I can seem to Ge army's where I need them. Example alot of my Early Generals start with no Soldiers and when the North advances I have no answers.

It is possable I am just not doing things right as far as Management of my forces. When looking at the army's on the map the North has most of it's armys at full green mine are mostly Yellow or smaller. Maybe I am looking at this all wrong.

Thanks

[Revolutionarythought]

I see ok then Cool, I have noticed I end of getting Slaughterd on or about turn 4 or 5 Because the North just marches right through Winchester. It just seem the AI can build up and attack much quicker then I can. I have started trying a defensive tactic, Example hold back and Let them come to me. But I have noticed my armys just do seem to Grow at all. It also seems to me that I can seem to Ge army's where I need them. Example alot of my Early Generals start with no Soldiers and when the North advances I have no answers.

It is possable I am just not doing things right as far as Management of my forces. When looking at the army's on the map the North has most of it's armys at full green mine are mostly Yellow or smaller. Maybe I am looking at this all wrong.

Thanks

Also, when you absolutely want your armies to engage federal armies marching through a region they occupy, make sure you have your army set on aggressive. If you don't, and the AI armies are not looking for a fight in the region your army is in, they'll just pass you by.

-Scott

[Groove74]

Ahh I See I have been putting them on Defensive, I start doing that thanks

[Skibear]

Example alot of my Early Generals start with no Soldiers and when the North advances I have no answers.

It is possable I am just not doing things right as far as Management of my forces. When looking at the army's on the map the North has most of it's armys at full green mine are mostly Yellow or smaller. Maybe I am looking at this all wrong.

Thanks

The 'generals that start with no soldiers' are just new commanders that need to be assigned to new troops. They either new to form new divisions and attach enough brigades and batteries to make a good force, or if cant form divisions as they are inactive then assign a brigadier to a single brigade. Try to get all your brigades under command and then form 2 or more brigades and divisions into a corps under a good 2* like Jackson.
One idea might be to try to concentrate all your forces that start in the east (except Magruger and Hugers forces), along with new builds at a depot like manasas or fredricksburg. Here then split them into two fairly equal groups. One under Joe Johnson, and one under Jackson. Give each equal amounts of troops, generals and supplies. This gives you one army and one corps (once you click to assign Jackson as a corps). In each group create 2 division commanders if possible, then assign all brigades to these 4 divisions so they are under command. Depending on new builds this might not be possible.
If you manage to do this the 35% or 25% or whatever number you have on the right of the bar will disapear meaning your troops are all under effective command and will fight without penalty. Then you can move this two groups either together, or 1 county apart and they should fight the union much more effectively.
Its alot slower to build up an effective force in the west but this should be your aim too. Forming Armies, Corps and Divisions is the key. Once you do this this you should give the Union a much better run for their money.

[Groove74]

Cool, Looks Like I have been going at it all wrong. I have been sending my Gen/ to all my key city's and then buying reinforcement in the region I sent them to. I was thinking the new soldiers would fill the ranks. As I am finding out that is not working. Looks Like I need to get a better understanding of how to effectivly build army's. Thanks for the help, I will try that way. Time for restart number 25 lol

[Skibear]

When you build new brigades they turn up in a variety of the depots in the state they are raised. It usually takes 1 or 2 turns to train them. Keep a close eye on the log each turn and it will tell you "training for wise's brigades is nearly finished in petersburg" for example. Click on the message and it will go there and you can collect the brigade and march or entrain the new brigade to a marshalling point to form up with commanders to fight. If you miss the message in the log then you might forget a brigade in an obscure city and it might sit their for a while...ahem, sure we've all made that mistake.

[Groove74]

ahh ok I get it I just have been moving along to fast trying to get to a fight, I will indeed pay closer attenion. thanks

[Prussian Prince]

Guys, if I remember right in order for your units that you do have properly formed in brigades and divisions,etc.. you have to put them in a level 3? city to get their full manpower. Thats why the Union stack next to Washington builds it's strength so fast compared to the CSA unit in Northern Virginia.

[D_K]

Groove, get your manpower and war supplies UP in the f1 ledger..... create new units in the specific states that you want them in. keep in mind they will randomly appear in different cities, check the events list the turn after yoiu raise a bunch of units to see where they are (use the button for reinforcements to make the list smaller) it will take a few turns for them to complete training, make sure you have the "appropriate" reinforcements all set up.....it is best to have at least 10% of what is currently on the map AT LEAST !!!! so if you have 100 reg infantry regiments currently on the map you should make sure you have at least 10 in the reinforcements. you will notice it tells you how many are on the map to make it easier. it would be wise to plan out which units you want with which generals and get them in the same locations quickly. then put them in divisions of 18 elements, then put these divs in a corps under a army command. then you will stop those DAMN YANKIES!!!

[Groove74]

Ahh cool thanks for the Break down of how it's done DK. I totally forgot about the sort message button. that will make it much easier. I will try this that way.

[arsan]

Groove, get your manpower and war supplies UP in the f1 ledger..... create new units in the specific states that you want them in. keep in mind they will randomly appear in different cities, check the events list the turn after yoiu raise a bunch of units to see where they are (use the button for reinforcements to make the list smaller) it will take a few turns for them to complete training, make sure you have the "appropriate" reinforcements all set up.....it is best to have at least 10% of what is currently on the map AT LEAST !!!! so if you have 100 reg infantry regiments currently on the map you should make sure you have at least 10 in the reinforcements. you will notice it tells you how many are on the map to make it easier. it would be wise to plan out which units you want with which generals and get them in the same locations quickly. then put them in divisions of 18 elements, then put these divs in a corps under a army command. then you will stop those DAMN YANKIES!!!

Good advise but BEWARE: he means replacements!! not reinforcements.
Reinforcements are new units on map.
Replacements are used to refill damaged units already on map.

[tagwyn]

Read Laurence's AAR on the Austerlitz campaign in NCP forum. It is tough reading but well written. It will open many doors for you. System is the same. T apy:

[Jabberwock]

Guys, if I remember right in order for your units that you do have properly formed in brigades and divisions,etc.. you have to put them in a level 3? city to get their full manpower. Thats why the Union stack next to Washington builds it's strength so fast compared to the CSA unit in Northern Virginia.

The understrength units from the Shenandoah need to be stationed inside Winchester on passive stance as soon as they unlock. Save some resources for this turn - if you buy replacements too soon they will all go to garrisons. If you don't buy enough replacements, they will mostly get soaked up by Beauregard's forces at Richmond. As the units come up to full strength, they can be stationed in a corps outside of Winchester to defend the ones that are still understrength.

Side note: The supplies from either Norfolk or Charleston should be sent to Rockbridge, VA. The reserve unit that appears there doesn't need to starve till it unlocks. If you are proactive - you won't need to use railroads to rush supplies there.

[Walloc]

The understrength units from the Shenandoah need to be stationed inside Winchester on passive stance as soon as they unlock. Save some resources for this turn - if you buy replacements too soon they will all go to garrisons. If you don't buy enough replacements, they will mostly get soaked up by Beauregard's forces at Richmond. As the units come up to full strength, they can be stationed in a corps outside of Winchester to defend the ones that are still understrength.

Sound advice in it self and I would have given the same advice pre 1.08.
My experience post 1.08, but could be incidental is that the AI bull rush Winchester with the entire AtoP every game. Beating any full strength forces u can as CSA have positioned there, by then. Since the then sieged forces then wont build up str i generally find Wincester to be a bad spot and move Jackson else where to build up. Post 1.08 that is.

Just a note,

Rasmus

[Jabberwock]

Thanks! I'm a little rusty - only tried it once on 1.09 and didn't get swamped. Probably just got lucky. Give me a week or two to get back up to speed on current strategies.

[Walloc]

Could just be the AI vs me, why i underlined it could be incidentat. Just saw it in 4 games in a row.... in 1.08.
Wonder if its just me or its a general trend ppl see.

Kind regards,

Rasmus

[Jabberwock]

Would you recommend JJohnston to Richmond with the Shenandoah troops while everyone else forms a corps line from Harpers Ferry to Alexandria or Fredericksburg, cutting off the Union force?

[soloswolf]

I always use the Winchester Militia to cut the rails at harpers ferry. I have found it to be much more effective than trying to assault with them.

This way, the tiny garrison is cut off and you can take it when Johnston/Jacksons men get up to strength. I also will only assault Ft. Sumter with the volunteer bde. that is in Charleston, sending the rest of that force to Winchester to be ready to join the others in the valley.

Aaron

[Walloc]

Would you recommend JJohnston to Richmond with the Shenandoah troops while everyone else forms a corps line from Harpers Ferry to Alexandria or Fredericksburg, cutting off the Union force?

Since the bull rush occured the first turn both armies gets unlocked. My strategy was to rail JJohnston/Jackson with army to Charlotsville or Manassas to build up.(having made a depot in charlotsville in that case). Making the move in the same turn as unlock happened. Takes 4 days to get to Manassa via rail so AtoP wont have time intercept u. If u do a regular move it could possibly intercept u and eliminate ur understrength corps.

Since AtoP/AI seemed fixated on Winchester. Ok i just toke Alexandria with forces comming up from the south. Ill trade a line behind the Potomac to Winchester any day. Both for offensive and defensivly purposes.

As to cutting of its forces yeah i thot about it. Problem is i found is that this makes the build up of Jackson/JJ takes a turn or 2 turn longer. So i didnt think i had the forces to actually win a battle with the full AtoP.
It did usually send a small force to take Harpers Ferry, but yes i did noticed it was its only retreat possibility. So winning a battle having secured Harpers Ferry could spell doom for AtoP. By the time Jackson/JJ was full strength and by my judgement i had the forces for the this plan to be viable. The AI usually had retreated again to DC as a reponce to me taking Alexandria via
Harpers Ferry.


Kind regards,

Rasmus

[Walloc]

I always use the Winchester Militia to cut the rails at harpers ferry. I have found it to be much more effective than trying to assault with them.

This way, the tiny garrison is cut off and you can take it when Johnston/Jacksons men get up to strength. I also will only assault Ft. Sumter with the volunteer bde. that is in Charleston, sending the rest of that force to Winchester to be ready to join the others in the valley.

Aaron

I basicly do/did the same, but putting the Charleston force in Winchester if the AI do the Winchester bull rush isnt viable. A full AtoP will trash them so it doesnt really help and u just have JJ sieged which is what i was trying to avoid. Cutting the RR at Harpers Ferry wont help as it seems to go via land from Alexandria.
This again only assuming it uses the bull rush strategy.


Kind regards,

Rasmus

[soloswolf]

The rail (at least with the latest RR mod) does not extend from Alexandria to Winchester. As I always spring for Harpers Ferry, I have never been rushed by the full AoTP. In any case, I rarely enter cities with my larger stacks and I always have them set to avoid battle unless I am seeking it.

You definitely have time to cut the rails at Loudon as well, so if that is your concern you can always 'defend' yourself that way to buy you an extra couple of weeks to get your men up to strength.

I can usually secure the line of the potomac from Harpers Ferry to Alexandria by Fall/Winter of '61 and in doing so can often set the terms for battle in Maryland.

Best,
Aaron

[D_K]

Good advise but BEWARE: he means replacements!! not reinforcements.
Reinforcements are new units on map.
Replacements are used to refill damaged units already on map.

OOOOOPS !!!! my bad, thanx for correction.