Manpower Model

[DirkX]

I actually have no idea if we have too many men in the game but it is an interesting discussion.

someone give us hard data of armies/men in 63,64 and 65 please.
would be interesting to compare to historical data.

[runyan99]

Historical numbers differ based on source, time, and the CSA records seem to have been a bit doubtful to start with, but we can get ballpark figures at least. Wiki
gave me year end figures from the Reports from the War Department began at the end of 1861 (326,768 men), 1862 (449,439), 1863 (464,646), 1864 (400,787).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confederate_States_Army

Clovis quoted me the following from Mine from the History of Military Mobilization in the United States Army 1775-1945 and Official Records

dec 61 confederate present 258,680
Janv 62 Union present 527,204
dec 62 Confederate 304,015
Janv 63 Union 698,802
dec 63 Confederate 277,970
Janv 64 Union 611,250
dec 64 Confederate 196,016
Janv 65 Union 620,924

[Flashman007]

Forgive me but it was a long time ago - I read a book called "Why the South lost the War" or something like that. Anyway what sticks in my mind is that according to the author the South had some 350,000 men under arms at the end of the war (this included state malitias and garrisons and such)

I realize that it may be darn near impossible to reach a concensus on this subject. In any event I don't think anyone is looking to recreate exact numbers with history. What if the South had been trouncing the Yanks in 1864 and was on the verge of victory? Morale up. Recruitments up. who knows.

[saintsup]

In any event I don't think anyone is looking to recreate exact numbers with history

What I for myself would like is to deepen the gameplay by adding a new decision to make (i.e. not create hudge standing armies when you don't need them rapidly).

The numbers for me are not important but the dynamics of the decisions made at the time and I have the strong feeling that the attrition factor had a significant impact then.

[McNaughton]

What also must be listed are the numbers of troops away on leave (legal or illegal), which was substantial.

As AACW has no representation of desertion or leave, then we must base total army numbers on this factor not existing, which means there will be more men under army command. This, or put in place a system that represents stragglers and deserters.

So, using 'men present' does not show the whole picture unless the game represents men who are AWOL in some form. The South raised more troops than it actually had in the field (same with the North). The problem is, the game does not have a representation of such a drain on manpower.