Mon Aug 18, 2008 11:01 am
Greetings Generals
We´ve been lucky the federals have stopped their operations around Richmond for a while, seems Winter has been our best allied here.
No money expenditures are going to be allowed for a while (as forming new divisions, combat formations and so on), we need to prepare the resources for the next volunteering and drafts. Monetary constrains and some important political affairs perhaps are going to delay us a bit into raising those troops, so expect a somewhat slow approach recruiting pattern for the next months. As a related question, the flow of men coming into our recruiting offices all around the nation has somewhat diminishing …
Our main fleet is still centered into bringing resource to the nation. Our single ironclad is doing operations to delay a brigade disembark into the North Carolina area.
I fear transport and supply assets will not be enhanced for a while, until the spring arises at least.
Our main objective now is turning our two main armies into effective combat formations. This is to be done having into account our scarce resources, both of men and material.
All generals capable of leading a Corps Headquarters are to be assigned one before the next spring arises. This should include generals Polk and Bragg. As now they are leading a couple divisions, this is to be delayed a bit, but they are to be sent to the army areas. Yourself general Lee should get Holmes Corps HQ, now he has achieved a safe location, so a full corps could defend Richmond immediately. After this, Holmes could reorganize another corps and be sent elsewhere.
All corps should be assigned a minimum division, once one could be available. Artillery is to be splitted as evenly as possible between divisions. A sharpshooter company is to be assigned to every division. If some material is needed, make us know so we can raise it in the next months.
Preparing some reaction forces and consolidating our garrison artillery positions is also to be discussed.
I´d propose the following pattern for coastal garrisons. Every fixed artillery battery should be assigned a small militia brigade, while trying to trench to the maximum.
Also, our back reserve commands should be organized. Those should defined as division under-powered commands, just with a few militia brigades each, and a few support units to add some extra punch. Once those militia brigades get fully trained, they should be sent to the main armies and replaced by new untrained formations. I believe no more than 3 of those formations should be needed, one in the Carolinas, and the other two in the Mississippi area.
As a final question to be discussed ... I feel as a strong reaction force in the Richmond area is to be created. This is to be a corps with at least a couple division sized formations and our best and more prestigious generals, such as General Smith. Once organized, if weather allows for it, this corps could try a counterattack to release the Norfolk area (or other operations) before Spring arises.