I'm going to give this a go. Keep in mind that I'm pretty new to this game.
Here goes.
Here is the complete Shiloh scenario. I will be playing the Union side:
This is an 8-turn scenario. As the Union, the aim will be to capture and possess Memphis. As a secondary objective to the scenario, the Union also gets Victory Points for grabbing Cornith.
The map at the beginning of the scenario looks like this:
The Union objectives to the southwest are Memphis and Cornith. Memphis is the big one, with Cornith being a secondary aim. In the northeast is the Confederate objective.
In Bowling Green I have three untis of the Kentucky Reserve and two supply wagons. The Kentucky Reserve is frozen for the entire scenario and cannot move.
Just to the southeast, in Nashville, the Union has the Nashville Force, also frozen. Along with this force are two naval units:
I’m not sure what use the transport will do, and if there will be any movement of troops via transport of not. One would think that the Transport is there for a reason and ought to be put to use. Some sort of defensive line will have to be set up along the Cumberland River, to prevent the Confederates from making a move on Bowling Green. To the north of the river is a perfect place to set up defensives—a Confederate move across the river and into a moderately defended line will be tough to deal with.
The Army of the Ohio, led by Buell, is in Clarksville:
Buell is a “slow mover”, giving a 25% move penalty to the whole stack. He also is a “good population administrator”, meaning that if he is the most senior general in the region population loyalty will increase over time. I’m not sure how I will use this attribute, but being a slow mover could mean that I will use this army as my defensive line, maybe using one corps and sending the rest forward.
Within General Crittenden’s corps there is some seige artillery, which I probably will use to take Cornith. General Thomas, who also has a corps in Clarksville and is a part of the Army of the Ohio, has a good defensive rating (6), a primary candidate to set up a defensive line north of the Cumberland.
I don’t see the Confederates sending much of a force to attack Bowling Green, so one corps is quite enough for the defense. Crittenden’s corp I will move southwest, heading toward Cornith.
But first I decide to detach a cavalry unit with decent patrol/evade numbers (10/12), to keep an eye on what the Confederates might be sending north.
Before this move I detach the 2nd Division from Thomas’ Corps, attaching it to Crittenden. Also from Thomas to Crittenden I transfer a Skirmisher Unit (which has a sharphooter attribute) and one supply wagon.
Here are the moves then, primarly made to capture Cornith and defend any Confederate move to Bowling Green.
First is the 3rd Kentucky Cavalry, taking 12 days to go southwest through Humphreys, Tennessee, to Perry, Tennessee:
The Third Kentucky is given a passive stance. The hills in Perry provide a hide bous of 1. From here, I should be able to monitor any Confederate movement.
I keep Thomas in Montgomery, Tennessee, north of the Cumberland. I send Crittenden just northeast to Montgomery, to await a move deeper south once I see what the Confererades are up to:
Now to deal with the Army of the Tennessee, located in Henry, Tennessee, west of Clarksville. The First Division is led by General McClernand, a two-star general. I will split this division and then attach it to the Army of the Tennessee, froming a corps. A also form a corps with my other two-star in the area, General Wallace.
Now to get things moving toward Memphis, the Union’s primary objective. The 6th Division will stay in Henry. Led by General Prentiss, who is better defensively than offensive, this division will keep an eye also on any Confederate move toward Bowling Green.
I detach a cavalry unit from the 4th Division and send it by rail southwest to Humboldt, to monitor. From Sherman’s 5th Division I send another cavalry unit directly south to Decatur. The area is wooded and will give the cavalry a hide bonus of 1.
With Sherman (best offensive general present) leading, I send the 5th and 2nd Divisions straight to Madison, Tennessee, with an attack posture. Madison is just south of Humboldt. I think this force will be sufficient enough to defeat any Confederates in the area. If the Confederates decide to send a strong force in the same direction, I’m doomed.
I move the 3rd Division into Wallace’s Corps, and send the whole force to Dyner, Tennessee, southwest of Henry. I do the same with McClernand, both set to attack posture. This will be the main force which will attempt to push on to Memphis.
The Cumberland Fleet is moved to Waverly Run, to support the cavalry moving south. I keep the gunboat in Nashville where it is.
Here’s the situation, before the turn is run:
My main force is moving southwest. Sherman’s force is penetrating deeper to the southwest, and my cavalry is monitoring across a few areas.
I’ll run the turn and show what has happened during my next post.
Any suggestions or comments on my approach are more than welcome.
Alan