1-15 June 1861 (Turn 5)

Summer brings with it clear weather. Normally, this would be an excellent time for an offensive-If the Union army was ready. However, it is not. With the concentration on building up the navy, the Union has only 1.3 times the Confederate land power, a ratio that is insufficient to engage in significant offensive action. Also, many of the Union troops are untrained. The Union also lacks sufficient artillery and supply wagons to venture deep into the Confederacy. And most critically, the Union officer corps is insufficient for a large offensive operation. There are too few officers to command the units I am building and most of them lack the strategic rating needed to reliably move when directed, or adequately command the units they are assigned. This means that any Union offensive will be disjointed, with some units moving, while others stay in place. Further, most formations will be operating at a significant movement and combat penalty, since my officer pool has few officers that can command more than two brigades without penalty. Thus, any offensive action will have to be made en masse, with a large body of division-sized units marching short distances to ensure that some of them reach the objectives. This situation will improve with the addition of divisions in the Union TO&E in October and corps in March 1862. However, until these are available the Union is significantly hamstrung in its offensive capability.

By: Tripoli,

Unless the situation changes, this summer will be devoted primarily to opening up the B&O rail line through West Virginia, and increasing Union control over Missouri. Additionally, I will look for opportunities for amphibious landings to seize ports and bases along the Confederate Atlantic and Gulf coasts.

This is the Strategic situation in early June:

Strategic Overview

National Moral: 85 (Defeat at 40)

Victory Point: 340

Foreign Intervention: 8

CSA Mil. Power: 77% of US Army

15% of US Navy

Economic Overview

Cash: $ 973,000

Militia: 395

War Supplies: 219

Rail Points: 224

River Points: 57

Weather

Eastern Theater: Clear

Western Theater: Clear

Trans-Mississippi: Clear

Blockade

Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico distant blockade 25% effective

Events

Attempt to Habeas Corpus in St. Louis and Baltimore failed.

Attempt to establish martial law in St Louis failed. Central and Eastern Missouri (including St. Louis) is now only 15% pro-US

The CSA begins building arsenals in TN and MS. They are also increasing river transport capacity.

Government Decisions

Iron works are started in New England and armories in the Middle States. This will cost $750,000 and 180 war supplies, slowing the buildup of the Union to a single cavalry unit, a horse cavalry and 4 infantry brigades. These will be sent to Ohio and Indiana to prepare for the occupation of Kentucky.

Martial law is again declared in St. Louis.

Military

My objective in Missouri is to solidify Union control and drive the Confederates army from the state. A Confederate army under Sterling Price has formed just across the SW Missouri border in Fayetteville, AR. This is a formidable force of 11 brigades, larger than I can defeat with the current forces in theater. However, the lack of rail and roads in Missouri should cause this Confederate force some significant supply problems. Initially, I will engage in a Fabian strategy of avoiding battle with Price while allowing time and distance to attrite his force.

To help start winning the hearts and minds of the citizenry of Missouri, I will seize the Confederate-held capital of Jefferson City, while Price is too distant to interfere. Lyons (3-3-3), with two infantry and one artillery brigades board river transports escorted by Foote and 2 gunboats to seize Jefferson City. I also send a cavalry unit towards Rolla. If Rolla is unoccupied, Lyons will move on it in late June. I would like to use Lew Wallace for this, but he is frozen in St. Louis this turn. To build up forces for later campaigning, I rush General Sumner from Ft. Dodge, Iowa to reinforce the garrison at Lexington, MO. Finally, two cavalry units from Kansas are sent into Missouri. One is detailed to keep an eye on Price, while the other is sent towards Jefferson to link up with Lyons.

Historical Note: My plan is similar to what happened in Missouri in June 1861. Lyons, recently promoted from Captain to General, moved a Union force to Jefferson City to disband the pro-Confederate government forming in the state capitol. Lyon’s actions and at the subsequent engagement at Booneville, MO secured the northern third of the state for the Union, dispersed the pro-Confederate “State Guard” and overthrew the pro-Confederate governor. This allowed a pro-Union governor to be installed the next month. Although Missouri saw significant fighting throughout the remainder of the year, Union control was solidified by the decisive action taken by Lyons early that summer.

In the Eastern Theater, Union forces remain largely fixed. However, the Confederate army at Manassas appears to have disappeared. To discover their whereabouts, I send General Stone with a single cavalry brigade to reconnoiter Manassas and destroy the rail line there. If successful, this will cut the rail communications between the Shenandoah and Manassas.

Results

There are two battles resolved during the inter-turn combat resolution phase. In early June, General Lyons captures Jefferson City, easily defeating a Confederate regiment that was in the process of mustering there for duty. His victory results in his being vaulted up the Army list to the number 3 slot, quite the achievement as he began the year as a mere Captain. In the east, Stone’s reconnaissance of Manassas ended badly. Apparently, Beauregard was at Manassas, and his force of 22,600 men, 3,700 cavalry and 47 artillery pieces gave the Union horsemen a ‘wupping.’ The one silver lining of the operation is the intelligence regarding the size of Beauregard’s force was valuable, albeit the cost of 307 troopers a bit steep. I withdraw Stone back to Washington, DC to rest his troops, who are used up after this engagement.

16-30 June 1861 (Turn 6)

Weather

Eastern Theater: Clear

Western Theater: Clear

Trans-Mississippi: Clear

In late June, Patterson, with his five brigades of infantry are ordered to cross the south branch of the Potomac and threaten the rail line at either Strasburg or Winchester, VA. This would sever the Confederate LOCs into the Shenandoah. Hamilton and brigades will remain dug in east of Harper’s Ferry to tie down the suspected Confederate force there. Hopefully, if Patterson’s pincer movement is successful, it will encourage the Confederates to fall back towards the Richmond area. If they do attack either force, the hilly terrain and river should give me a defensive advantage and a favorable attrition result.

In West Virginia, I will try to force the Confederate forces in Clarksburg to retreat by moving Morrell around them and threatening their line of retreat back to Virginia.

Banks is ordered to land in unoccupied Norfolk, VA with a division size occupation force. I will have it dig in and begin to move additional artillery and infantry reinforcements to the area, as well as engineers to help fortify the position before the CSA can respond. Until the position can be fortified, I increase the naval units in the Chesapeake to provide gunfire support. Hopefully, this threat will encourage the CSA to reinforce this area, which in turn may allow an offensive towards Manassas later this summer.

With Lyons in possession of Jefferson City, Lew Wallace begins a probing action towards Rolla, MO. The large Confederate force under Price that was in Fayetteville last turn has moved north and is now threatening a small US force in Lexington, MO.

Results

June ends with a Confederate attack under General Floyd against Hunter in Morgantown, WV. The US forces manage to obtain a stalemate, but Hunter is wounded and sent back to his hometown to recuperate. Two gunboats that were supporting Hunter, the USS VALLEY FORGE and USS RAMSEUR were sunk during an engagement with Floyd’s artillery. The lesson learned from this engagement is that Union gunboats can’t take on Confederate field artillery. Building river ironclads will have to be a priority.

The end of June also sees Confederate forces under Joseph Johnson advancing into Fredericktown, MD. Despite Union general Hamilton defending the hilly terrain here with four brigades in level 3 entrenchments, he pulls out and skedaddles towards Washington without engaging the Confederates. To say I am unhappy with his performance is an understatement.

1-15 July 1861 (Turn 7)

Strategic Overview

National Moral: 90 (Defeat at 40)

Victory Point: 576

Foreign Intervention: 23

CSA Mil. Power: 78% of US Army

13% of US Navy

Economic Overview

Cash: $ 1,132,000

Militia: 508

War Supplies: 219

Rail Points: 279

River Points: 86

Weather

Eastern Theater: Clear

Western Theater: Clear

Trans-Mississippi: Clear

Events

CSA is building iron works in coastal cities and arsenals in the Trans-Mississippi

Northern papers are calling for an immediate offensive in the East

Union First Term enlistments expire (15 July)

CSA is building iron works in Virginia and South Carolina

Increased activity by raiders is observed in the Atlantic shipping lanes, although no Union ships are lost.

Government Decisions

Union rail and river transportation capacity is increased.

Because of low financial reserves, I begin selling bonds to raise additional funds. This will both lower the inflation rate while providing cash, albeit at a cost in victory points.

Builds

Four supply units are ordered in preparation for offensives in Missouri and Kentucky.

Military

Joseph Johnson‘s advance into Fredericktown, gives the Union an opportunity to cut him off. My plan is to have Patterson advance into the Shenandoah from the west, cutting off Johnson from his supply source. Johnson would then be between Union forces fortified in Washington and Baltimore. Being cut off from his supplies and facing fortifications he couldn’t breach with his 10,000 men would place this force in a difficult position. To accomplish this, Patterson and his three understrength divisions under Generals Mansfield and McCall are ordered to advance on Strasburg, VA. While they will be temporarily out of supply, each of the divisions have supply wagons, and they should be able to retreat west if Johnson attacks from Harper’s Ferry or Beauregard pulls forces from Manassas. If Beauregard moves against Patterson, McDowell and the Army of the Potomac will have an opening against Manassas.

In West Virginia, Blenker takes advantage of the last turn’s stalemate in Morgantown to go on the offensive against the weakened Confederate forces under General Floyd.

In Missouri, the approach of Sterling Price necessitates Lyons abandoning Jefferson City. He crosses to the north bank of the Missouri river and travels east to St. Louis. Foote and his gunboats patrol the most likely crossing points to block Price pursuing Lyons across the Missouri. Once in St. Louis, I may have Lyons conduct an amphibious assault on Cape Girardeau.

In Dallas, Texas, a small band of US cavalry formed. Consisting of two brigades of troopers, they are too experienced for me to lose. Lacking support, they are unable to do much good in Texas. In an antebellum version of the ‘Anabasis,’ I have them begin the long march to Kansas and safety.

Historical Note: Historically, there was a pro-Union element in Cooke County, Texas and in the Hill country north and west of San Antonio. Presumably, these forces represent that element.

Results

Union General Blenker scores a convincing victory in Morgantown, WV against Floyd, driving him from the field. However, in an epic military feat Joseph Johnson wheels his army 180 degrees from their position at Fredericktown, MD and marches it across West Virginia to challenge Blenker. Blenker, taking the better part of valor, withdraws the Union force from Morgantown before Johnson’s arrival and ceding the town to the Confederates.

15-30 July 1861 (Turn 8)

Weather

Eastern Theater: Clear

Western Theater: Clear

Trans-Mississippi: Clear

Blockade

Chesapeake Bay and Wilmington, NC are blockaded

The Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico distant blockade are 25% effective

Events

Union First Term enlistments expire (15 July)

CSA is building iron works in Virginia and South Carolina

Increased activity by raiders is observed in the Atlantic shipping lanes, although no Union ships are lost

Government Decisions

Habeas Corpus is revoked in Washington and Annapolis in an attempt to drive down pro-Confederate activity in these regions.

The USA begins to build iron works in Pennsylvania to increase production of war supplies

I decide not to institute a recruiting bonus, as the manpower pool appears to be adequate. I may revisit this decision in a month.

Builds

I start working on the riverine navy by starting construction on two gunboats, a mortar boat and a timber clad, as well as a single infantry brigade. Further riverine capability will be deferred until ironclads are available.

Military

My early July move against Harper’s Ferry did not turn out the way I planned. Neither Patterson (3-0-2) nor McCall (3-1-1), advanced. However, Mansfield (4-1-2) advanced all the way to Strasburg, defeating an unsupported Confederate brigade in the process. Now, Mansfield’s three brigades of tired troops are unsupported and deep in Confederate territory. This creates a problem. Mansfield’s understrength and weakened division is unlikely to survive deep in the Shenandoah. With Harper’s Ferry unsecured, it will be almost impossible for me to pull them out. However, I might be able to rescue them, or at least trade them for some valuable real estate. I order Mansfield to move north towards Harper’s Ferry, while Patterson with two division-sized units approaches it from the west, and Hamilton and Shurtz approach from the Baltimore and Washington area. These forces should be sufficient to defeat any Confederates in Harpers Ferry, giving Mansfield an escape route. Even if Mansfield is defeated, the Union forces might be able to use his move to capture Harper’s Ferry.

However, this leads to a conundrum. I had not planned on engaging in large offensive actions in the Eastern Theater. But, the large offensive action against Harper’s Ferry requires a supporting move by another force to tie down the Confederate army. The division in Norfolk is too small and too distant to play this role. That means I need to advance with McDowell, despite the Army of the Potomac not being t ready for offensive action. Hopefully, between the Union activities in the Shenandoah and Joseph Johnson being tied down in Morgantown the Confederates will be spread thinly enough that McDowell can take Manassas, despite the Confederates entrenchments there. Ideally, I would like to sidestep around these entrenchments and have McDowell drive towards Fredericksburg. However, that would leave the army’s LOC to Washington unprotected. Thus, a frontal assault on Manassas is unavoidable.

To support the operation, I will send Humphrey with a brigade of cavalry to cut the rail line from the south to Manassas. I will also send the three brigades from the reserve in Washington DC to Falmouth, VA. This unit will both protect the flank of the Army of the Potomac from forces from Richmond and also threaten Fredericksburg. Hopefully, this will encourage the Confederates to divide their forces further.

I also send two cavalry units to deal with a small Confederate cavalry brigade that crossed the Potomac with Joseph Johnson and found its way to Gettysburg. I must neutralize the threat to the Union rail lines from this threat. Until I get the B&O line through Harper’s Ferry secured, I cannot afford to have any damage to my rail network.

In Missouri, Lew Wallace will put up a defensive line northeast of Rolla to defend against Price. Lyons is sent south from St. Louis to drive off Confederate infantry and cavalry brigades that are threatening Wallace’s rail LOC to St. Louis. Foote is sent down the Mississippi to destroy a small Confederate force that slipped past the Gunboat guarding the river at Cairo.

Results

A Confederate cavalry raid across the Ohio was stopped by an Ohio militia unit near Pomeroy, OH.

On 18 and 20 July, Union cavalry skirmished with Confederate cavalry raiding near Gettysburg.

On 19 July, Admiral Foote heavily damages a Confederate landing force in the Mississippi, causing over 700 casualties for a loss of only 12 sailors. However, an ammunition shortage forces him to break off the action before destroying the Confederate transports.

On 20 July, Mansfield defeated a second Confederate force in Strasburg.

In a series of engagements between 17-29 July around Manassas, the Union army succeeded in driving the Confederate defenders from the region (Image 13).

Patterson, Asboth, Shurtz, Hamilton, Griffin gave conflicting orders and went to a defensive stance, thereby failing to advance against Harper’s Ferry

Patterson was relieved of command.

The revocation of habeas corpus was unsuccessful in Washington, DC

We hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving! Stay tuned for Part 4!

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