Militia at the front

[stars&bars]

I know Militia are good units for defending rear strategic depots/cities etc. But do you incorpirate them into your frontline Divisions ? I am not a history buff, but I always assumed that Armies back then were made up of Regular-Irregular units, and Militia units also played they're part in battle alongside the Regular soliders. Even more so for the CSA perhaps.

As the CSA, I am thinking in future of putting 3 or 4 militia units into a Division from now on, and wonderd if this is (A) a good step to take with most Divisions (B) Only used for some Divisions and (C) Realistic to history ?

I know Militia dont fight as well as Regular troops, but its an interesting theory.

Your thoughts welcome

[MarkCSA]

Well, I always wait for them to convert to Line Infantry before sending them off to the front. In the mean time, if I can move them, I have a training centre in New Orleans (also handy against Yankee invaders) with the 'discouraged/defeatist' (I think it is Bragg) drilling them into Elite soldiers!

Just Railroad loose guys there and first rate infantry can be yours, no need for militia at the front when you can have much better troops with a little patience.

[Evren]

Yes, Bragg is a drill master, but he doesn't train them into elite soldiers. With the trait, units under his command gains 1 experience point per turn. Militia upgrade to line infantry default, there is a 7% chance every turn. So basically you have to wait if you have enough troops on the fronts. They can be handy in securing rear areas, but they are so vulnerable to standard troops.

[MarkCSA]

Yes, Bragg is a drill master, but he doesn't train them into elite soldiers. With the trait, units under his command gains 1 experience point per turn. Militia upgrade to line infantry default, there is a 7% chance every turn. So basically you have to wait if you have enough troops on the fronts. They can be handy in securing rear areas, but they are so vulnerable to standard troops.

Not Elite forces as in Elite Infantry, but troops with plenty of experience when they turn into Line Infantry. As soon as one of my fronts needs some extra guys, I send in my drilled troops.

It all helps.

[stars&bars]

Bragg is one of the training Generals, and there is one later on too Hardee(i think).

(q1)So how about recruiting and bunching a whole load of Militia togher in a stack with the drillmaster, that must work well ?

(q2)Do 2 training officers give a combined 2 points to each unit if in the same stack (or do you use them in seprate stacks to get more trained)?


Finally, I dunno if you have found this out, but I have just recently tried using the above Generals to train Militia units into line infantry. So that they can join a division and that division can move around the states and not be locked. And i noticed with Militia, you can combine 2 units togher to make 1 unit with 2 elements.

[GlobalExplorer]

I also use a lot of militia and in particular for my CSA Missoury campaign, I have tried to put them into divisions. Even with the commander having the militiaman trait, and with additional artillery, these divisions did not very well against regular infantry. In particular I found them to be almost useless in an offensive role. On the defense, at least they help to bring in numbers, and they sometimes won small victories over regular divisions. But even then, losses were about 1:1 on both sides, and I always felt they would collapse under less than favourable circumstances or when attacked repeatedly.

On it's own, the combined 2 regiment militia brigade instills some confidence and it can hold a town. That's what I use them for now most of the time. I also sometimes put 1-2 regiments of militia into a division to get some numbers, but never more than that.

After a while they turn into regular regiments, and of course it's a different story from then on.

[MarkCSA]

(q1)So how about recruiting and bunching a whole load of Militia togher in a stack with the drillmaster, that must work well ?

That is exactly what I am doing, I got 2 'training centres' with both training officers, 1 in New Orleans (also handy in case of silly Yankee Invasions) and one in Corinth, which is a rail junction, so I can rail in arty, cavalry and anything else a good division needs (good commander, nice 2nd in command, field hospital etc.). Once in so many turns I send out a completely decked out Division with some experienced troops. Be afraid, be very afraid.

I am not *completely* sure the training points go into units/elements already in a division, but all the 'loose' ones in the stack definantly get the points. The European Brigade (which has been in New Orleans for 2 years while I wait for the last element to convert) is now made up some very deadly guys

[GlobalExplorer]

The European Brigade (which has been in New Orleans for 2 years while I wait for the last element to convert) is now made up some very deadly guys

I wonder what kind of man you are MarkCSA. They volunteered for your country .. any you reward them with 2 years of drill under Braxton Bragg?

[MarkCSA]

I wonder what kind of man you are MarkCSA. They volunteered for your country .. any you reward them with 2 years of drill under Braxton Bragg?

As soon as that last element converts, I'll be the first to send them straight to the front!

[Coffee Sergeant]

Well given how many free militia replacements you get as the CSA, you might as well use them somehow.

[stars&bars]

Having the luxury to train them to Line infatry from Militia is well worth it, and time well spent. If I throw them in as only militia, they are always the units that get eliminated in a battle.

[GlobalExplorer]

I usually at least bring them closer to the front and keep them in reserve. Corinth, Memphis something like that.