Late Aug 62
VA & MO
Nothing of moment.
N. O.
Landed Keyes's Division - in the wrong spot, the Region to the immediate south. An oops by the computer operator. Not to worry - I unload the other Div, they both meet in five days and, if all goes well, knock the doors down.
TN
Trying very, very hard to hit something outta da park. The idea is that while I do not have immediate 75% MC, I threaten to, and, although time militates against me in this instance, he can either continue the siege (and possibly be cut off himself) or attack Grant (or Assault Donelson - I don't have hardly any experience on the receiving end of a siege and haven't the foggiest if 1:2 is daunting enough to keep him from attacking Thomas - if he overwhelms Thomas in Donelson, I am
toast, dude, just butter and jam is all that will be needed). If he attacks Grant, I'll take the defeat and and hope to have weakened him enough that he will be open to a counterstroke (and not entrenched). The formation in Nashville is about 400 PWR - this could be very, very bad on the strength matchup, but I'd rathe go down swinging. Grant, here is your moment.
Butterfield is breaking civil engineer's hearts south of Nashville.
*****
We are losing this war. Some could quite rightfully say losing
badly. We need to do something, we need to get inside his decision cycle, change the rules, turn the tables, come up with better cliches,
something. MOTS is a recipe for disaster.
%%%
Addendum
It is always useful to bear in mind that on June 18, 1815, Napoleon fought a major battle at Waterloo. One corps of
le Grand Armee spent the day marching to Wavre, then was recalled, and ended up doing nothing useful. Meanwhile, at Wavre, Grouchy fought a corps sized engagement against part of Bluecher's army, IIRC, which he won handily - while the French Empire was crashing down fifteen miles away.
The lesson is that part of the military art is
dispersal and
consolidation. Most here are familiar with 'defeat in detail', but the run-up to an engagement is crucial, also. It's knowing when to spread the court and when to drive to the hoop; when play for one run and when to go for the big inning. I could bore you to death with sports cliches, but the analogies are useful, I think. The Art of War is rythmic, like a dance, like a song (I play guitar); it's dynamic and he who can control the rythms often can tilt things his way.
I must disrupt his quartet and put a dent in his kettledrums. At least try, for the love of Mike, at least try! The US would not be a nation if it were not for one man who decided to strike a blow on Boxing Day in 1776.
[color="#AFEEEE"]"Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable!"[/color]
-Daniel Webster
[color="#FFA07A"]"C'mon, boys, we got the damn Yankees on the run!"[/color]
-General Joseph Wheeler, US Army, serving at Santiago in 1898
RULES
(A) When in doubt, agree with Ace.
(B) Pull my reins up sharply when needed, for I am a spirited thoroughbred and forget to turn at the post sometimes.