The 1755-56 Georgia Campaign

[KG Erwin]

As part of my strategy in the FIW Colonial Campaign I detached Col Dunbar and two regiments of his Majesty's regulars from Braddock's army and shipped them to Augusta GA. Their mission is to destroy the Indian villages at Ocmulgee and Cusseta, in conjunction with a regiment of Carolina provincial volunteers. After doing so, they will be transferred to the northern section of the NATO (North American Theatre of Operations), which is overseen by me, General Lord Erwin. As the French have the support of several Indian tribes, I decided early on to suppress them in the southern colonies to secure that region.

[Durk]

KG Erwin,
Would you talk about why this is a game winning mission? Many players would not think to send such a mission. How does destroying these villages advance the British cause?
Thanks

[KG Erwin]

What it does is secure Augusta GA and South Carolina from Indian raids, at least in the first three-four years. I destroyed the two villages by April 1756, and will now have Col Dunbar's regiments free to be deployed elsewhere. Remember that in the real campaign, these regiments were decimated in the ill-fated attack on Ft Duquesne. I elected to forego that, and instead elected to turn Ft Cumberland into an improved fort/depot to establish a solid base for a later advance upon Ft Duquesne. My overall plan is to establish solid bases/supply centers for a staged series of attacks as the game progresses, and to provide bases for defense and counterstrokes against French raids. As the British, I'm adopting a very deliberate and conservative approach to winning the war. That's not my usual style, but I've determined that is the way for the British Empire to succeed. I'm modeling my gameplay similiar to Montgomery's approach prior to El Alamein in WWII. It is a rather dull method, but it helps save my troops' lives. We shall see.

[Durk]

Very helpful in understanding.
It is indeed a frustration to try to take Ft Duquesne 'as ordered.'
This opens the British player to a more 'active' defense against quick and agile opponents.
Do you find this helps you preserve Ft Cumberland or are your reduced troops simply overwhelm? This might be a question for later in your play.

[KG Erwin]

As of 1756, Col Washington and his brigade of trained provincials are fairly secure in Fort Braddock, formerly Fort Cumberland. I built up the fort and increased its depot capacity. Gen Braddock, of course, has been recalled to England to retire and will live out the rest of his life in peaceful obscurity, with only the name of this North American fort to preserve the memory of his final military mission. He never saw any combat in the colonies.

My intent for Ft Braddock is to serve as the base for a future attack against Ft Duquesne. I believe it is strong enough to bottle up the French in their fortress, and will hold in check any French incursions into Virginia and Pennsylvania.

[Narwhal]

So what would you do when the French commit all the couriers they have in Dusquene + some indians on the siege of Fort Cumberland ? You have no depot in Fort Cumberland, so it might surrender any turn, and no way to bring forces fast enough if France attacks from the very first turn.

The French player does not need Ocmulgee and Osseta for long range raids by the Indians. From Fort Duquesne to the South of Colonial England, there is no more than one turn, one turn and half. I believe Braddock forces are best use to make sure that Nova Scotia and Grand Pré falls as soon as possible, lest the French mounts an assault on English Nova Scotia (which I never pulled off in MP, but already did against the AI).

[KG Erwin]

Narwhal, I AM able to upgrade Fort Cumberland to a level 1 fort and level 1 depot, as I transport Delancey's supples and artillery to Alexandria in July 1755, and have them advance cross land to Cumberland. Even if the Duquesne garrison destroys the fort early on, I can rebuild it. This is enough for me to use this as a base for my later arriving forces to launch upon.

I also use Ft Cumberland as a training ground for later-arriving Virginia and Maryland militia. Washington plays the training role admirably.

Now, I HAVE seen the French raid outer regions of Pennsylvania/Maryland, but the local garrisons are usually enough to defend the towns of York, Lancaster and Fredericktowne.

As for Fort Beausejour, I transport Braddock's Naval Guns and Winslow's brigade to Halifax, Nova Scotia to reinforce Monckton's troops. These are usually sufficient to take Grand Pre, and build up the depot there with additional purchased supplies.

I'm giving away my plans, but that's OK, as I do not play PBEM. Perhaps someone else can use my ideas as a basis to plan upon.