CSA not taking Norfolk

[Courtenay]

On Sunday (two days ago) I downloaded the 1.15 patch and started an April '61 Campaign scenario, w/Kentucky. To my surprise, the CSA has not taken an undefended Norfolk as of the start of Early June. The only things that I can imagine are that either the Confederates have been unable to activate a leader, or that there is a bug. Even if no leaders activated, the Confederates could have just waked any unit into the place. In three subsequent tests, Norfolk feel in late April every time. Is this WAD, and I have just gotten lucky?

Thank you for your time. I have been playing this game for only a few weeks now, and will have lots of questions.

[Captain_Orso]

DON'T GO THERE! IT'S A TRAP!

Just kidding The only campaigns I've played have been the 61-4 w/Ky Campaigns and that as the Union. I've never seen Norfolk not get captured within the first few turns. It may just be coincidence. I've seen stranger things, like the CSA attacking Ft Sumter with such a weak force that it survived long enough for the garrison to get replacements and for me to send the Marines Bde down to reinforce it.

But it really is a trap. I suppose you could try to hold it, thus preventing the Merimack/Virginia event from occurring and have a second base from which to threaten Richmond, but it will probably cost you quite a bit on troops to hold it safely at a time when the CSA can field some pretty nasty army stacks, while you're still struggling with McDowell and the totally disorganized Army of NorthEastern Virgina.

Also if you do try to hold onto Norfolk, you will be pretty week around Manassas-Harpers Ferry.

Advantage: It may draw off the CSA's attention from northern Virgina-West Virginia.
Disadvantage: It will be difficult to defend because it's not fortified and you can only bring in reinforcements by sea, so reacting to attacks will need a lot of advanced planning and resources.

[Courtenay]

Thank you. It turned out to be a trap in a strange way: The whole Confederate Army of the Patomac charged off to try and take Fort Monroe, leaving Richmond wide open. Even if this strange event had not happened, I think it would have been worth holding Norfolk, because that area provides a wonderful base for raids against the rail lines and depots south of Richmond.

[Captain_Orso]

Watch out for that 'empty' Richmond. My experience has been that unless you can scout it out really thoroughly, there are probably more troops in there than you think.

But I have managed to corner a huge CSA army on the peninsula by charging into Jamestown while he was in Hampton cutting off his supplies from Richmond while blockading the James Estuary until it weakened so much that it can't fight it's way out. But you need a really big army to do that and only after the CSA army attacking Ft Monroe has gotten bloodied enough to not be able to kick-in the back door you've erected behind it.

I don't generally do any raiding as the Union. You would have to demolish a lot of track below Richmond to really have an affect and Athena doesn't really have a lot of patience with back-yard gorillas, but I suppose if I had Norfolk handed to me like that, I would be tempted to take it.

[Krec]

thats good keep those rebs outta there!!

[enf91]

Hey Captain, what exactly is that image? It just looks weird.

[arsan]

Its Hobbes, form Calvin & Hobbes comic strip!!
A dangeorus toy tiger ready to jump on his victim!

[enf91]

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. I used to read Calvin and Hobbes too. It's just I'm more used to seeing Hobbes in a C&H-related context. What was that from, one of the 300 times Hobbes stalked Calvin while C had a toy truck?

[Captain_Orso]

I picked that off the interwebs, probably years ago. I couldn't tell you for my life from where.

I think it fits very well in with the way Athena uses the CSA in my games