Spharv2 wrote:This is because the US owns Tuscon, for now at least. It's considered part of Texas for the purposes of economics and such, but anything you do in that region really won't have any effect on Texas itself.
Thank you for the clarification. As expected, loyalty is dropping in Texas (now, part 2 of turn 1 is down to 3%) so I won't be calling Texas Union territory for some time...
Spharv2 wrote: What do you mean? All the states are represented, either in off map boxes or directly on the map. You will eventually be able to build some units out there, and California contributes money to your economy.
Let me try and rephrase that: the northeastern regions, under the Economics tab, show their contribution in terms of supply wagons, ammo carts, thousands of dollars, conscript companies and tons of war supplies. The northwestern ones, including Kansas, Missouri, Illinois and Wisconsin (Texas, too, but I'm not counting on those boys) show 0 contribution in all those aspects. I'm certain the manual will have something on that, but it seems strange, it's like there's a cutoff line there.
Let me get through with some minor issues with the Confederate results and the messages I got before proceeding to the AAR: The industrialization of New York (completion of armory) showed up in regular fonts, thus rendering the end of the message illegible. However, the Confederacy blockade showed up in reduced fonts with the (...) at the end that Pocus was talking about in another thread.
Also, all messages concerning battles (red fonts) were in regular fonts, thus the end of the message (concerning NM changed) was illegible.
Finally, the message concerning the merchant fleet results mentions "x money". Is that in thousands of dollars?
So, on with the AAR...
"Incredible as it may have seemed a couple of weeks ago, the Confederates have launched simultaneous attacks on Union forts and towns. Although tensions had been running high for some time and strong words were being exchanged, what many of us are feeling right now can only be described as sheer disbelief. The government has called for volunteers; some say this is only the first step towards more intense mobilization of the country's armed forces. In Washington, people are confident that this will be but a sad footnote in the history of our nation. For some reason, I'm having serious doubts."
The Confederacy attacked on two fronts: Harper's Ferry and Norfolk. Interestingly, Fort Sumter, where the strongest forces were gathered, saw very limited action.
Amazingly, despite facing superior forces, both garrisons held. The militia guarding Harper's Ferry faced 5 assaults, of which 4 on consecutive days, from the 5th to the 8th of April. On those 4 occasions they managed to repel the attackers, inflicting significant losses on the Confederates. However, on the 12th of April, my weary and unsupplied troops lost, although they did manage to hold on, barely. The Confederate militia has laid siege and things look grim for the brave Union soldiers.
The regulars defending Norfolk fared even better. On the 10th and the 11th of April, they managed to soundly defeat the Confederates, forcing them to abandon the field. Still, they are only up to 10% in strength. No enemy units can be seen close by, but Richmond is not far away and danger could be lurking close. Still, the Confederate plans have been delayed on this front.
Surprisingly, Fort Sumpter was only attacked in event mode (a message informing me of the historical attack, in "newspaper" mode but the far superior Confederate forces have not attacked and are actually split. A brigade seems poised to lay siege but has not done so yet, while the main force is waiting a bit further to the west. A bit odd, but welcome news nonetheless.
The Confederates appear to be suffering from limited mobilization, like my forces, so with a surprising victory at Norfolk and an interesting stalemate in Harper's Ferry, I turn my attention to matters of the state.
Roster = still no available units for recruitment. My decision not to mobilize replacements in my first turn may yet return to haunt me. Norfolk could have been strengthened, had I decided to spend some money and resources on that. Harper's Ferry is besieged, so I doubt any replacements would be able to reach my boys over there. Still, it is something I must consider for turn 2.
Drafts = My 138 conscript points are available. Call for volunteers will be unavailable for the next 6 turns and mobilization still seems too costly and I see no need for such a strong move...yet.
Financials = My light industrialization of New York bears its first fruit; the new armory provides me with an extra 14 general supply and 8 ammo per turn. The figures on the map have improved as well, with increase of output recorded in supply wagons, ammo carts, thousands of dollars per turn and tons of war supplies. Money well spent, I should think.
Loyalties = The Confederate attacks seem to have a slight effect in the loyalties of states neighboring their territories, but nothing too worrying for the time being, with the exception of Texas. It's a lost cause and I can only watch it slip away. I might consider instigating some measures there, but it does seem hopeless.
Economics = I'm quite pleased with the results of light industialization, I shall study the figures and decide where to expand my investments. Several promising states in the northeast.
In other news, the Confederacy decided to put an embargo on cotton. This costly measure has caused the British to change their opinion and has earned the South 15 points in their goal of achieving foreign intervention. Ouch. I may have to respond with declaring a total blockade. Suddenly, a 55% chance of depriving them of 7-15 intervention points seems tempting. On the other hand, the 45% chance of adding 7-15 points to their cause is till worrying.
My merchant fleet has begun bringing in a little money and much needed war supplies. I shall have to maintain control of the high seas. In a second event, newespapers run the story of the initial -and rather ineffective, due to limited resources, Union blockade.
The Pratt Street Riot, in Baltimore, saw the first civilian casualties in a major northern city. It seems clear from the beginning that I shall have to work hard both on the military and political front to maintain support for the war. In a possibly related development, the railroad tracks in Baltimore have been damaged. There's an engineering unit in Washington, but for the time being it remains locked in place. A few more turns, then, before repairs can commence.
On the military front, 2 Brigadier Generals have been made available: Erasmus D. Keyes and Lewus L. Wallace (sadly, with generic portraits). Nothing spectacular in terms of abilities, but it's a start. I shall have to decide whether to deploy them now, or wait until they have some troops to join them.
Time for some beans counting: starting with 50 VP and 85 NM, I now stand at 96-86. It sounds wrong (I mean, +46 VP for doing nothing? and just +1 NM for winning 6 out of 7 engagements?) but the fight is still young. Ahar...har...har...erm, ok.
So, this concludes turn 1 for both sides. Overall, with the exception of my failure to secure some replacements, things have turned pretty well for me. Which means I have all of 103 turns to mess things up.
Please feel free to comment (on what little has happened so far). Pointing out glaring mistakes, for example. Action is limited for now, but it's bound to pick up.
Coming soon (work permiting) turn 2. Thank you for reading this.
I can understand Kansas not producing since it was a new state, and even the farms were mostly still sufficiency farms, but Illinois should produce something at least. Good catch.
It would have been a silly thing to delay release for, so they decided that those could be updated later on.
