Final Tournament Game - Pat Cleburne (USA) vs Seraphim (CSA)
August 61 - August 62
E Aug 61
Rebels Take Tuscon and Laredo!
From USA HQ: "I was half tempted to dive towards Fburg. Alas, I didn't set up good surveillance yet. It seems, like a good portion of his forces aren't on the front lines. I need to find them. Probably at Fburg.
My other big decision was whether or not to go after empty Fayetteville. I'm pretty sure he'll stop me, but if he doesn't..."
L Aug 61
Milroy Takes Jacksonville Florida!
Yanks Repelled at Shreveport!
Lyon Takes Fayetteville Arkansas!
from CSA HQ: "Polk was a little late..." (at Fayetteville)
USA HQ: " Darn. 4% away from being able to fight a defensive battle in Fayetteville. I'm worried about Lyon's hothead trait. I was tempted to remove him from command but he went in with them, let's see if he can get them out."
E Sep 61
Joe Johnston Appears in Arkansas! Barely Defeats Lyon at Fayetteville!
Yanks Take Springfield MO!
Rebs Take Jefferson City MO!
CSA HQ: So far I didn't lost anything important. I may end the year without much problems this time...
USA HQ: Hmm. Not sure what to do.
L Sep 61
Yanks Take WInchester!
Rebs Take Lexington and Bloomington in Missouri! Also Dallas Texas!
CSA HQ: I would have preferred that Kentucky made secession. But I can't afford to wait any longer. My forces are in place and Union seems focused elsewhere...
E Oct 61
CSA Invades Kentucky!
Hooker Takes Ft. Sumter from Secessionists!
Union Retakes Jeff City and Lexington in MO!
CSA HQ: An unexpected Union move... However Ft Sumter is nothing more than a symbolic location. I actually prefer having lost it than another (more vital) position.
USA HQ: I'm sure you've seen the attack on Fayetteville plenty of times already, and I doubt it has worked once. Can US Grant change that? (probably not, but my only other choice is to retreat...)
L Oct 61
Stalemate in Fayetteville as Grant Hits Polk!
Sid Johnston Takes Paducah!
Joe Johnston Takes Bowling Green!
Correction from last turn: Hooker took Ft. Sumter, not Burnsides!
Union Expands Holdings in Florida, Taking Palatka
Yanks Retake Bloomington MO, Take Charleston MO Too!
Yanks Hit Louisiana, Take Berwick Port!
Rebel Bushwackers Retake Jefferson City, Rolla MO as the Chase Continues!
CSA HQ: I may have made an error by invading Kentucky. My fast attack force is lost in the middle of nowhere and the Union attack Island 10 !
It seems that my plan was too audacious...
I have a question : what about the Union's Manassas event ? By now the Union should have lost 10NM...
USA HQ: Not even Grant can help in that Godforsaken wilderness. ... I was actually wondering that as well. I don't know what happened and I don't think I sent you anything. I think I may have held Manassas for a few days on one turn, but I never owned it at the end of a turn did I?
E Nov 61
Union Chased from Berwick!
Porter Stalemated at Island #10!
Fort Johnson Bombards Union Fleet Near Charleston!
Yanks Chase Bushwackers Out of Jeff City, Rolla!
Federals Take P'burg Kentucky!
USA HQ: I'm not playing a good game so far. No major losses though. Let's see what his reaction is to my moves.
CSA HQ For information, I just had an answer from Lodilefty:
Verbatim : "The script disables the loss of NM if the USA has Military Control >26 at any time before September 15.
So control before the warning will meet the requirements, negationg the penalty regardless of ensuing control"
...Good simple mod opportunity.... [? put a MinDate in the event *evt_nam_USA_ArmyInManassas *found in USA Events.sct]"
So maybe my MC was <= 26 when my opponents counterattacked in my previous games.
It's good to know that attacking Manassas as soon as possible is now a must do for the Union.
However, I think this is ruining the whole Manassas 1861 event...
L Nov 61
Nelson Takes Lexington in the Bluegrass!
Florida: CSA Retakes Palatka, Hooker Lands at Ft. Gadsden!
Several Skirmishes in Virginia!
CSA HQ Some interesting tactical situations in Virginia and Kentucky...
USA HQ Blargh... Not starting out good. I'm at a disadvantage in KY and who knows what will happen in VA.
E Dec 61
Bragg Retakes Ft. Sumter While Stewart Retakes Lexington KY!
Union Assaults Island#10! Porter Praised! +1 USA NM
McDowell and Jackson Square Off in Culpeper!
CSA HQ A mistake at Island#10. But I have gained valuable time...
If the Union conquers Richmond, it's Game Over for the CSA. So there is no need for rewards nor penalties.
If fact, if the Union can only come close to Richmond in 1861, and conserve the gained ground, it still will be in good (maybe very good) position for the remainder of the game.
But indeed, Manassas's importance was overrated. But now, with this "new rule" it's underrated : a couple of cavalry and elites units who take it for a few days is all the union need to satisfy its press... Not very credible !
USA HQ [Pat Cleburne was foiled for a couple of weeks due to a cable access issue, which was finally resolved in his favor!]
L Dec 61
Grant Loses at Paducah in Close Fight, But Takes the City When Rebs Withdraw! +1 NM CSA
USA HQ I wasn't completely sure last turn (after the layoff), but I know I ordered an assault on Ft Gadsden this turn. That's 2 turns in a row that nothing has happened. Can you check this turn to make sure it goes through. I'm not sure what is going on.
CSA HQ Bad decision in Kentucky : I could have crushed Grant's landing, now I have lost Paducah for no gain at Island#10.
My troops have hold the fort however...
Whatever happen in this turn, I can tell you that I consider 1861 a success : none of the key's points of CSA have fallen. The Union have taken a few "strategic" cities but none are vital for the Confederation and I have taken some "compensation" (Tucson and Lexington KY).
I had several objective for this year, only one truly failed :
1. Not losing anything important (like Savannah, Wilmington, Norfolk, Texas and so on...) : success!
2. Taking Tucson (a strategic city, a gate to the Far-West and an easily defendable position) : success!
3. Holding Springfield MO : a failure! At least Union's progression was stopped in Arkansas.
4. Attack first and take the majority of Kentucky. An half success at best. This state will be a battleground. Actually, it already is...
In my previous games with the CSA, by the end of 1861 I had serious problems. I'm pleased to see that this time I don't have cohorts of Union's troop roaming Texas, Georgia, North Carolina or Tennessee.
Appendix: from USA HQ: Well, I just figured it out. Ft Gadsden isn't in Franklin FL. It's in... Ft Gadsden FL. you have to actually target the fort. Bad mistake by me. Ocean forts all have their own region. Ft Gadsden appears to be the only one without the little red line and dot showing that though. I thought it was like the river forts. I suppose submitting a new turn changing that would be out of order? I'll just have to go after it next turn.
The E Jan 62 was due here, but:
Gentlemen:
My apologies. In trying to fix a problem I had discovered in the game (which turned out not to be a problem!) I hit the "restore turn" button one too many times.
This means we have to rerun the attached turn.
Fortunately, this is only one turn back, but I think it would be unfair for me to use the ORD you already sent me.
I think you will need to back your game up one turn, but perhaps you can just load these files and it will work. WARNING. Best to copy ALL the files into a backup BEFORE you restore a turn, as you can't get that turn back!
Sorry about the mess.
-Longshanks
(sigh) ... fortunately such mishaps didn't happen too often in the tourney!
Note: The turn was re-run, and there were some minor changes, but it was mostly the same.
E Jan 62
Sid Johnston Defeats Porter at Columbus!
Hooker Takes Ft. Gadsden!
CSA HQ: It's time to mobilize !
In my previous games with the CSA, by the end of 1861 I had serious problems. I'm pleased to see that this time I don't have cohorts of Union's troop roaming Texas, Georgia, North Carolina or Tennessee.
L Jan 62
Quiet turn!
USA HQ: I wonder how long our odd situation in NVA can last? Corps will make it more complicated.
Note: The "odd situation" to which Gen. Cleburne refers is this: The CSA is well entrenched in Manassas, but the Union hold the railroad to the south, and the coastal area to the East, thus surrounding the Rebels. The question was: can the Rebs hold out until relieved or will the Union prevail in the position and potentially bag an entire Rebel army?
E Feb 62
Hamilton Chases Rebs Out of Stafford!
CSA HQ: I'm in trouble in North Virginia...
USA HQ I need to work on achieving critical mass in one theatre. The question is which one?
L Feb 62
Union Takes Island #10
Bragg Retakes Jacksonville from Milroy!
Frankfort Ky Fought Over!
Indians Raid Jeff City Missouri!
Yanks Grab Natchez!
CSA HQ (referring to VA situation): No retreat ! For now...
E Mar 62
Fleets Battle in Gulf!
Hooker Takes Blakely, AL!
McClellan Drives on Bowling Green!
CSA HQ: I have supplies problems in MO: the bad weather has taken his toll…
USA HQ: I have no momentum whatsoever. And now I get to deal with the crappy union command structure. I almost forgot about that.
I actually found something of a glitch that lets you redeploy a general after you give him a corps command. You have to click the redeploy button, then corps him up, then click where you want him to go. For a second I you could redeploy whole corps, but it only works if the leader is alone. I won't be using it though.
L Mar 62
Lyons on Move in West Tennessee!
Pemberton Threatens to Retake Ft. Gadsden!
Rebs Surprise Massive Wagon Train in Charleston MO!
Union Takes Wakassa in Florida! All Yanks Now on West Florida Coast!
Rebs Retake Natchez as Union Takes Harrisonburg LA on Sabine River!
E Apr 62
[Longshanks: Happy New Year! We are heading into the Spring fighting season! Best wishes!]
Joe Johnston Wins Pyrrhic Victory at Humboldt TN over Lyon!
Kearny's Large Force Takes Tappahannock!
Gen. Davis Beats Stand Watie's Warriors at Jeff City!
Gen. Forrest Defeats Union Cav at Boone KY!
Rebs Chase Union Out of Harrisonburg LA as Union Takes Alexandria LA!
Yanks Move Into Central Tennessee, Taking Livingstone!
Rebs Take Ft. Smith, Move on Ft. Leavenworth!
CSA HQ (on the Kearny landing at Tappanhannock) Pat is tough!
He will escape the 10 NM penalty: I will not counterattack his landing. I knew better than that…
I try something else because I think he had made a mistake. If I won, I will retake North Virginia. If I lose, it will be time to retreat…
L Apr 62
BIG FIGHT AT CULPEPER! Bory Hangs on to Manassas!
Union Fleet Crushed at Cape Girardeau!
CSA HQ: It was not what I expected but it could have been worse…
Let’s scrap the plan of attacking the Valley! Next target: Alexandria!
E May 62
Month of Destiny?
Two Battles at Alexandria!
Bloody Confederate Victory as Bory Moves on Alexandria! Over 12,000 Casualties for Each Side! Union Routed! +1 NM CSA
Days Later Hamilton Defeats Rebels and Retakes the County! +3 NM USA
Hooker Takes Ft. Pike Near N'Orleans!
Joe Johnston's Boys Clean Up Yanks in West Tennessee, Defeating Lyon at Humboldt County!
Cherokees Defeat a Union Force Twice its Size at Ft. Smith AR! +1 NM CSA
Rebs Retake All of Florida But For Ft. Gadsden!
CSA HQ: I have lost this battle...
USA HQ: Fiddlesticks. I thought I could sneak on Ft Smith. I keep trying these single division attacks. I had a rule in my first Union game that anything that took more than a half division to attack needed 2+ divisions. He has interior lines and entrenchments everywhere. An attack has to have enough men to keep him from just gathering garrisons and defeating me. Diversionary half divisions achieve the same thing as a full division. 2 divisions are strong enough to beat any number of garrisons. I seem to have forgotten that rule this time.
1st Battle of Alexandria
2nd Battle of Alexandria
SITUATION IN EAST
SITUATION IN KENTUCKY-TENNESSEE
SITUATION IN MISSOURI
L May 62
Everyone seems to be recovering, out of supply, or otherwise in jeopardy!
CSA HQ: Not very surprising...
USA HQ {commenting on Lyons isolated position on the Mississippi in W Tennessee] Blech! I couldn't figure out where to move Lyons last turn so I ended up forgetting and not doing anything with him. I hope the whole damn division doesn't starve to death. Ewell abandoned the go on Denver looks like. He's gotta be having supply problems too.
E Jun 62
Kearny Storms into Norfolk!
Ft. Leavenworth Falls to Rebs!
Rebs March Deep Into the West, Take Denver!
Stuart Takes Harper's Ferry!
Union Jumps Lake Pontchartrain to Take Springfield Louisiana!
Standoff at Stafford Virginia!
USA HQ [commenting on taking Springfield LA] Another error. I plotted into Springfield LA to see the amount of days it took, but I apparently forgot to delete the move. Let's see what happens now.
CSA HQ: The good news :
In the west (actually the Far West) my troops are advancing.
Norfolk and soon Baton Rouge are the only valuable place theUnion have taken in my territory. The rest of the CSA is safe for now.
I still have half of Kentucky, Union barely invade Tennessee.
I lead in NM, VP and VP gain per turn.
The bad news :
Norfolk have fallen, the situation in Virginia worsen rapidly.
Baton rouge will fall. With Norfolk this prove the increasing difficulty of keeping the CSA's important place.
And it will get worse and worse...
So far, my strategy is a success : Union had made only little progress and CSA is still in good shape. And I have conquered a lot of land in the Far West.
It will be difficult for the Union to retake Kansas, Denver or Arizona. Nor that my opponent seems very interested in doing so. That mean 3 VP each turn for me...
This victory has a price however : it had required the equivalent of one division and I have lost men (and a lot of time) when bad weather jeopardized my expeditionary force.
Now, I have to make choices : I can't keep all the ground anymore. I have no real use of some positions in Kentucky or Tennessee, and I have more troop in this region than I need for fighting a defensive war. This means the Union will be allowed to get close to Memphis or Nashville. But I will have 3 divisions available for other duties.
I was tempted to send all the 3 in Virginia but I will try something more ambitious.
L Jun 62
REBELS INVADE INDIANA! New Phase of the War Makes Northern States a Target! Vincennes, Indianapolis Fall!
Stuart Withdraws from Harper's Ferry!
Columbus Kentucky Falls as Rebs Withdraw!
Note from Longshanks: Re: Baton Rouge.... you can know an enemy's strength, but you can never know his intentions.
CSA HQ Now is the most perilous phase of my plan...
USA HQ Lots of Crises to deal with. I need to start turning the tide fast.
E Jul 62
Rebs Win Naval Battle Near Baton Rouge!
Grant Takes Ft. Henry While Rebs Are Away Up North!
CSA's Holmes Crushes Crittenden at Bowling Green! +1 CSA NM
Hooker Relieves Indianapolis!
CSA HQ: A naval battle with the Atlantic fleet ! That was unexpected but at least building ironclad was not for nothing.
I see that the Union morale suddenly drops : Pat didn't escape the 10NM penalty ?
It's true that he send "only" 2 divisions, with 34 elements, not 40...
USA HQ Ugh. Kearny's corps only had 39 "units" in it. I thought leaders counted. -10 NM for me.
I've thought about resigning on a few of these last turns. I'm just gonna try to be more aggressive and let the chips land where they may. I'm guessing the game will be over sooner rather than later.
L Jul 62
Rosecrans Catches Johnston at Vincennes; Rebs Counterattack and Win! +2 CSA NM
Stalemate at Bowling Green, Followed by Reb Victory Before Grant Shows Up and Takes the City!
Keyes Takes Baton Rouge!
France Declines to Recognize CSA!
CSA HQ That was a close call. OK, the mission in Indiana is a success, let's withdraw.
Quickly !
USA HQ: Finally fired it up. I've got a new strategy now. We should see pretty quickly how it works. I really wish I hadn't lost that extra 10 NM for not counting Kearny's units properly though. The cohesion deficit probably dooms me to failure.
E Aug 62 [FINAL TURN]
BLOODY FREDERICKSBURG! Union Loses 20,000! (+7 CSA NM)
Grant Moves to Gallatin!
Rebs Take Ft. Smith in Kansas!
CSA HQ: I have won a great victory but at a great cost!
Longstreet, one of the best CSA's generals, is no more, [dead on the battlefield]. Troops can be replaced, excellent leaders not...
USA HQ: That went about as well as I thought it would. I guess I've made my last charge. I don't know how many people have come back from a NM deficit this big, but I bet not many did it against a good opponent. I'll ride off into the sunset and wait for AACW2 I suppose. A big thanks to you for organizing the tourney and putting up with my waning turn output. And congrats to Seraphim. He whipped me twice.
BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG