From: Jerry Taylor Subject: Re: CG's Bobby Lee David Brown wrote: > > In a message dated 23/02/97 06:45:55, taylor@erols.com (Jerry Taylor) > writes: > > << Moreover, with the North forced to hold every single rail > hex to ensure supply, the Union army gets pretty light by the time they > arrive at Richmond. >> > > This rules I beleive makes it almost impossible for a Union Victory. We have > used a house rule where common sense dictates the ownership of railroads so > that the Union doesn't need to garrison each hex. > > I am way out of order doing this and can the Union win the "long game" and > still garrison every rail hex? > > Regards > > David Brown The Union CAN win without the rules fix, but it's tough. He should always plan to use 1-point garrison units to hold rails whenever possible and supplement them with 1-point infantries kept inbuilt for exactly this purpose (their the absolutely LAST units to get builds, and only then when there's nothing else to spend them on). The rail lines dictate the Union's two central avenues of approach; south from Acquia Landing and west from West Point. The latter route is a good threat; build up your forces in Fort Monroe, take Yorktown (the Rebs rarely can afford to hold it as long as Alexandria stays beefed up) and then, instead of heading strait for Richmond, go north and seize West Point. ONLY THEN begin to set your sights on Richmond, otherwise you'll find yourself out of supply. The Union strategy I prefer is to plan your initial deployment (I always play the free setup campaign game) so that the Rebs can't possibly cross the Potomac around Harper's Ferry in '61. It takes some planning, but it can't be done. Once the Potomac is sealed up, the Rebs can't really do anything profitably, so sit back and BUILD BUILD BUILD. Artillery first, then cavs (!), then infantry. Try to put 3 or 4 cadres down on the board every turn, as all that blue is bound to spook the Rebs even if he knows the Union army is brittle. Come clear weather in '62, send a force or 3 full infantries and 3 full cavs with a headquarters or two down the Shanendoah. It's hard for the Rebs to hold it against determined attack because it's difficult to reinforce. The winter of 61/62 should have seen a build up in Fort Monroe and a strike either in the fall of '61 or the spring of '62 at Yorktown. What doesn't go down the Shanendoah should be split between Alexandria and Fort Monroe. While the army of the Peninsula drives toward West Point, the army of the Potomac should begin making dangerous flanking moves around Manassas, which should force the Rebs out without a fight. If he stands, he risks being surrounded and annihilated with no where to flee if the Union engages him in battle. The army of the Potomac should then secure the rail to Warrenton while the main force takes Acquia Landing (if its protected) and then deploy within the 3 hexes in the Wilderness in front of Fredricksburg. An opening for attack will usually present itself. Well, that gives you the basics. The Union must always be careful of well-fueled Reb counterattacks. Time and again I've seen smaller Reb armies kick the hell out of an overextended Union army because the blue HQs are nearly depleted while the Rebs HQs are pretty well jacked-up. A slow, relatively immobile Union army will die no matter how big (within reason) the strength imbalance is. The Rebs will be confronted with 3 main pincers. And if the Union is thoughtful enough to always leave 2 full strength infantry units in Baltimore, if he carelessly allows one of the 2 units in Norfolk to depart in response to sticky situations elsewhere, a sea invasion will bag an important 2-point city and REALLY stress him out on the victory board in '62. If you can manage an emancipation battle win in '62, this strategy can win it before '63! The rebs still have their chances; the game is beautiful in allowing the feel of Confederate forces outnumbered, pressured, but dancing, jabbing, and counter punching like a Muhammad Ali in his prime. In fact, I do give the Rebs a slight advantage in the game, but the Union strategy I outlined above has worked pretty well for me so far. Let me know if this helps! --JT