[SIZE="4"]Late May, 1863. Turn 52:[/size]
My blockade runners are bringing back 38 resources per turn, while the blockade has fallen to 20%. Things are pretty quiet in the East, as I continue to work to open the rail line into WV.
I gave up Bowling Green, and brought ASJ back to Nashville. Hardee at Cairo managed to drive off a large Union force that I didn't expect to be there. The battle is considered a stalemate, but the Union withdrew, while Hardee did not. Then Hardee made a follow up attack, but could not quite take the city. He has been ordered to maintain the siege and await resupply.
I am also moving up to retake Fayetteville since Grant is back along the west bank of the Mississippi in the swamps of AR.
[SIZE="4"]Early June, 1863. Turn 53:[/size]
I get the "increased food production" and "stainless banner" events giving me +8 to NM. It seems Johnny Reb is eager to finish this fight.
I will advance into Grafton WV. Hardee has been resupplied by river transports and will try to take Cairo. Bragg has finally tracked down the force he was after and captured some supplies. I will continue my advance in western AR.
[SIZE="4"]
Late June, 1863. Turn 54: [/size]
5% bonds were enough to finance an embargo, pay a small bonus for the new volunteers and buy all the stuff I need. It helps that inflation is quite tame at 5%. Actually I'm only buying river transports to support my drive into IL and a lot of replacements to cover those nasty losses at Washington, DC.
I secured Grafton and now will put a lot of men into WV. Ewell and part of his corps will arrive a bit later. I hope to secure some cities before the Union can react. Supply could be a problem here, so I am sending as many wagons as I can spare.
My other offensive is going well. I took Cairo and now Forrest will lead 2 divisions to take the depot at Salem IL. I am also advancing on Springfield, MO which is lightly guarded, perhaps because they reacted to my 3k man feint in Denver with 30k.
[SIZE="4"]Early July, 1863. Turn 55:[/size]
This turn has a lot going on, so I'll use it to get caught up on my screen shots. My armies will be advancing on almost every front.
The US used 6% bonds and called for Volunteers. I bought 4 river transports because the 2 from before are in a bad spot (my fault.) Again the aim is to support the IL offensive.
From WV I will advance on Wheeling and Pittsburgh. As you can see, I will also be bringing in new units, especially artillery. By next turn I hope to have the equivalent of 4 divisions in the area, 1 at Wheeling, 2 in Pit., 1 in Grafton. You can see that I am not assaulting these cities yet.
ASJ is already at Bowling Green and will assault, while Bragg with 16k will move up from Nashville and try to defeat the Union army near BG (if ASJ joins him) and then continue on to take Vicennes IN.
I had intended to send Forrest and his 2 divisions to take St. Louis, but my computer shut down twice trying to complete this turn and I forgot to reissue the orders the third time. I hate having to admit stupid mistakes like that, but that's what happened. Hardee will move up to cover Salem, while Polk will hold down Cairo. I did, however, send Bory from Springfield to try to take St. L. Since this leaves almost no defense in the far west I will try to destroy the depots at Rolla and Springfield.
I hope that I can secure the Mississippi River as far as St. Louis and that this will make any Union operations in AR untenable. Notice Grant at the bottom of the screen. I'm really hoping he isn't headed for St. L. There are more Union forces further south, but I think my threats will trump theirs.
Either the Yankee's are badly out of position, or I am in for a nasty surprise. My one concession to prudence was to pull JeJ back onto my side of the Potomac.