Ft Monroe/Pickens

[Blind Sniper]

Hi all,

another question

Is possible to take Ft Monroe/Pickens? If yes, is it a wise choice?

Thanks

[Rafiki]

Taking Monroe (as the CSA) gives you a base to bombard all Union shipping that enters/exits Chesapeake Bay, so I'd say that it can give some good results if you do it properly. Pickens, I'm less sure of, though.

[Spharv2]

Pickens is usually a dead end, unless you're playing against another person. The AI will generally let the area be, so you can too. Another person on the other hand, can use Pickens as a beachhead to threaten Mobile and those areas.

Ft. Monroe should be taken, or at least hemmed in as much as possible. It shouldn't be your highest priority, but when you get a break and can send a good sized force over there from the Army, do it. I usually then transfer the Norfolk guns up there. Definitely a nice spot to have.

[Blind Sniper]

Taking Monroe (as the CSA) gives you a base to bombard all Union shipping that enters/exits Chesapeake Bay, so I'd say that it can give some good results if you do it properly.

Thanks Rafiki, how many units are necessary to take it?
A division is enough?

Pickens is usually a dead end, unless you're playing against another person.

Thanks Spharv2, I'm playing against an human opponent.
Same question above, how many units are necessary to take it?

Ft. Monroe should be taken, or at least hemmed in as much as possible. It shouldn't be your highest priority, but when you get a break and can send a good sized force over there from the Army, do it. I usually then transfer the Norfolk guns up there. Definitely a nice spot to have.

I'll try to take it, I'm a newbie

[Rafiki]

Thanks Rafiki, how many units are necessary to take it?
A division is enough?

No idea, to be honest. A division (with suitable artillery) doesn't sound to obad, but it depends on how much your opponent has reinforced Monroe. I.e. if there has been some reinforcing, you'll probably need more

[Blind Sniper]

No idea, to be honest. A division (with suitable artillery) doesn't sound to obad, but it depends on how much your opponent has reinforced Monroe. I.e. if there has been some reinforcing, you'll probably need more

If my attack go bad, is there any chance that all units surrender?

[Rafiki]

Shouldn't be, since you're the attacker, but you're likely to suffer (large) losses

[Spharv2]

Same for Pickens, Monroe has more defenders, barring reinforcement, but it's still a pain in the rear to take. When I want to be sure to take either one, I generally detach a full corps with two divisions between 350-500 STR. Most likely it's overkill, but it's better that than getting a smaller force stuck out there waiting and being useless because you can't get past the walls. Pickens is actually not too bad since you can rail a corps down in the winter when the weather should have pretty much immobilized the opposing armies up north. Send it down in late autumn, take Pickens, and have the corps back up before your opponent even knows it's gone.

[Daxil]

If you're playing PBEM you probably won't be able to take monroe because of the enemy fleet, but if you can I'd take both and Cairo if possible. The naval guns you capture, alone, make it well worth the cost.

[Banks6060]

I'd agree that taking Monroe takes a backseat for the most part, but if there is an opening...I always AT LEAST scout the area and then see if I can get in there and take it quickly. Most solid PBEM opponents will have reinforced the area by mid-to-late 1861 so it's tough to take after that.

Otherwise...coastal guns in Norfolk as well as Hampton Roads...with a decent naval presence on the James River SHOULD provide a nice little bulwark against any Union player that wants to take a jaunt up the James River past Norfolk. It'll at least hold them up with some relatively nasty losses.

Taking Pickens is a toss up really....the yanks can take and hold ANY of the forts they want prior to about 1863 in most games...so losing Pickens is no big deal....I'd say just leaving it there ensures that you know where the Union player will set up his base for operations in the gulf....then reinforce the Pensacola, Mobile and New Orleans Garrisons to 200+ pwr levels with a couple artillery batteries each...tough nuts to crack for any landing force.

[Daxil]

You know, one other thing that's not exactly relevant to the original question, but if you build one modern fort the best place to stick it is NO along with 9+ inf regiments, a couple guns and a wagon so it can hold out against a siege for awhile. The Union player can't win without NO so it's a worthwhile expenditure IMO.

[Blind Sniper]

Thanks to all for replies,

Pickens is actually not too bad since you can rail a corps down in the winter when the weather should have pretty much immobilized the opposing armies up north. Send it down in late autumn, take Pickens, and have the corps back up before your opponent even knows it's gone.

Good idea

If you're playing PBEM you probably won't be able to take monroe because of the enemy fleet, but if you can I'd take both and Cairo if possible. The naval guns you capture, alone, make it well worth the cost.

About Cairo I'm thinking to do just a raid, I don't think to hold it against an human opponent.

Otherwise...coastal guns in Norfolk as well as Hampton Roads...with a decent naval presence on the James River SHOULD provide a nice little bulwark against any Union player that wants to take a jaunt up the James River past Norfolk. It'll at least hold them up with some relatively nasty losses.

Yes, I'll wait my opponent move and then I'll choose if attack or defend.

then reinforce the Pensacola, Mobile and New Orleans Garrisons to 200+ pwr levels with a couple artillery batteries each...tough nuts to crack for any landing force.

Is necessary reinforce them immediately or I can wait to build up some brigades/divisions in MO/KY? (of course, is just a guideline)

but if you build one modern fort the best place to stick it is NO along with 9+ inf regiments, a couple guns and a wagon so it can hold out against a siege for awhile. The Union player can't win without NO so it's a worthwhile expenditure IMO.

Therefore is just an infantry brigade enough?

[Daxil]

Nine elements is half a division, so about two brigades. My opinion on New Orleans is it's either going to get attacked early (historical) or late. So buff it up as quickly as possible, if the Union player doesn't show up before mid 62 I actually pull some of those units for other fronts. Of course, it's all just an "educated" guessing game.

[Roll Tide]

The Union player can't win without NO so it's a worthwhile expenditure IMO.[/QUOTE]

Daxil,

I haven't finished a full PBEM game, but in all my AI games I have never taken New Orleans and have still won.

Is it only necessary in PBEM games or am I just lucky against the AI?
Against the AI I usually take Nashville, Chat, Atlanta, Memphis, Little Rock, and, of course, Richmond (and all Virginia).

This would be good to know as I continue my PBEM games. I would hate to be spinning my wheels.

[kjstrand]

I've won PBEM games without taking New Orleans.

[Dupleix]

I'm playing the Union, vs the AI. We're in April,1862 and the frontline has almost not moved... leure:
I have just lost Fort Monroe.
How hard do you usually defend it when playing the Union ?