Tip #3 - Handling Replacements
I don't know if this is an issue for some players or not, but I thought I would briefly share how I manage my replacement options.
Generally speaking, the key thing about replacements is to keep enough replacements to absorb the losses you might incur in any one turn, but no more. I have heard some players say you should keep 10% of your total force in the replacement pool, but I think that may be too much, particularly in the case of the most important category of Line Infantry, which will be the most used. Consider that conscript points in the replacement pools are troops that are not on the map doing something good for you like defending a key region or attacking the enemy, so you don't want to keep too many resources idle here.
Below is a pretty typical replacements screen for one of my games. This one is for the CSA.
As you can see, I like to keep 10 Line Infantry replacements. I find this is generally enough to cover for any one turn, even if I fight a large battle. Other categories like Cavalry and artillery get 3 or 4 replacements only.
I like to keep at least one point in all of the combat categories like skirmisher or light infantry at all times, just to make sure that they have replacements available.
The April 1861 gives a lot of free militia replacements, and I have a hard time using them up because regiments convert from militia to line so quickly. As a result I never purchase militia replacements, but simply rely on the free allowance.
The noncombat and specialty categories at the end like heavy artillery or supply units I often leave empty unless I specifically want to supply replacements to these units. The reason for this is that many of these categories are expensive to replace, or often do not need replacements, so I leave them at zero until needed.
Finally at the bottom, notice I have not spent all of my money and conscript points, but still have a reserve in each category. This insures that if combat depletes my replacement pools, I will still be able to purchase new replacements next turn as needed. You don't want to spend all your conscript points as soon as you get them, and then fall short after a few big battles. Thus your available replacement capacity is a mix between what you have purchased in the replacements screen and the reserve resources you still have to call on. Generally, I will purchase new units freely until I get down to about 100 money and 100 conscripts, and then I am careful to maintain some reserves until I can call for new volunteers and/or a new draft in January or July.