Featured in This Issue
* "Pleasant Hill" - a' scenario for the Decisive Battles Game System * "Back to Bataan" - a scenario for the 11attlefront Game System * Design Analysis - a tutorial to simplifY scenario design * The American Civil War - the second part of our historical article Strategic Studies Group Presents Th~ Legend of Conquer Your the Desert Fox Galaxy
Roger Keating Ian Trout MarkHobnan Phil Niven David Freer
By January 1941, the War in North Africa was going Reach for the Stars is Strategic Studies Group's very badly for the Axis powers. The Italian army had all-time classic game of space exploration and been routed out of Egypt and almost out of Libya. conquest. The third edition contains two great A small German force was scraped together to try games in one: the original Reach for the Stars and and stem the tide. Command of this force was given an entirely new scenario, with lots of options for to General Irwin Rommel. . . and for the next two advanced play. years, outnumbered and poorly supplied, the Desert Whichever game you choose to play, you're in for a Fox out-witted and out-generalled all of his foes. tough time. It's a four-cornered contest for ROMMEL recreates his greatest victories as well as domination of the galaxy and there's only one other battles from the North African Theatre. You winner. The computer plays all places not taken by can command either Axis or Allied forces against humans and it never gives anyone an even break. human or computer opponeP.ts in the battles of... To win a game of Reach for the Stars you must have explored all of the galaxy and colonized the Syria Sidi Rezegh Cauldron choicest portions. You will have expanded your Alem el Haifa Malta Kasserine industry, engaged in frantic R&D, and produced a large space navy. This will have been employed in Maknassy Tebourga Gap settling territorial disputes with your neighbours. As The Battlefront Game System mechanics are so always, the person with the biggest navy gets to simple to use, you will be issuing orders like a adjust the border. veteran within ten minutes of assuming command. ~t's not as easy as it s~unds. Do the wrong thing and You'll have complete control over the computer It could be three against one, especially if you're battlefield when you use the comprehensive playing against Keating's Enhanced Veteran wargame construction set, WARPLAN™, and our computer players. They just don't like you to start unique graphics editor, WARPAINT™. with, and can get really annoyed if you mess with WARPLAN™ lets you construct original battles of them. That's why there are Beginner and your own design as well as creating endless Experienced players on which to first practice your variations to the historical scenarios. galactic domination skills. WARPAINT™ gives you complete graphic control. Whatever your qualifications as a space tyrant, Shapes and colors can be changed at will to produce Reach for the Stars is guarantied to be totally your own special effects. addictive ... Available now for IBM, Available now for How to Purchase. Visit your retailer or call Electronic miga, IIgs, Macintosh, Arts 800-245-4525 (in CA call 800-562-1112) for VISA Apple II Family and or Mastercard orders or write to Electronic Arts, P.O. Apple II Family and C64 I 128 computers. Box 7530 San Mateo, CA. 94403. C64/ 128 computers. Price $40.00. Price $45.00. Issue 10 Run 5 April, 1988
Editor's Chance 2 Notes, Work in Progress ... Letters to the Editor 3 Readers have. their say. . . The Q Store 4 Have a look at our special offers The Battle of Pleasant Hill 5 Stalemate on the Red River RFTS Errata 12 A few teething problems Back to Bataan 13 Homma's assault on Luzon Scenario Updates 24 Old Battlefront scenarios up-graded Decisive Battles Contpetition 25 You can do it! Design Printer 26 Some thoughts on scenario design The Alnerican Civil War 30 History reviewed (Part 2) Editor lan.Trout EDITOR'S CHANCE Contributing Editors This edition has caught up a couple of SSG, a brand new game system! Our Roger Keating weeks on the previous one. Sooner or Battle of the Bulge game will be an later we're going to get back on sched operational level game of the fighting in Gregor Whiley ule. I must apologise for the non-ap the winter of 1944 in the Ardennes. pearance of the Russia article and OB Danny Stevens Units will be divisional sized with regi in this issue. I'm still working on it and Malcolm Power mental breakdown. Special features expect to have it ready for Issue 11. will include bridge blowing and repair, Stephen Hart We have another competition starting sophisticated logistical and replace up. This time it's for Decisive Battles ment rules, artillery and air support. Mark Holman of the American Civil War original We are very excited about this new Andrew Taubman scenarios and scenario variants. Send system and feel sure that you will like it in as many entries as you please. to. U.S. Operations There are also rumours emerging from New Releases Roger's programming cell of a totally John Gleason Published since the last edition of Run new intelligence programming struc 5 have been the second volume in the ture, to allow the best possible intelli Civil War series and the Apple lies gence system. Watch this space for Dlustrator version of Reach for the Stars. The more details. Nick Stathopoulos Amiga version is only a bug away. Coming Not Quite So Origins '88 Mentor Soon From August 18-21, I will be in Milwau Still under production but not quite kee for the 1988 Origins I GenCon game Ken Trout imminent are the Mac, IIGS, Amiga and convention. SSG are being represented IBM versions of Halls of Montezuma. by 1EVEX this year and I can be found These are expected to come out around Colour Artwork most times at their booth. Please come Christmas time in roughly the order up and say hello. John Mockridge shown above. I expect to be giving a seminar on SSG 's Graphus Pty Limited plans for the future as well as partici pating in a computer game forum being· Coming Next Year Printing organized by Russell Sipe from Com Nextyearwill see the Napoleonic game, puter gaming World. the conversion of the Civil War system Edgar Bragg & Sons I'll also have with me previews of our to the 16 bit machines, the greatest Pty Limited Macintosh Halls of Montezuma, the computer rple-playing game ever Korea and DBACWVol III releases and made(!), further operational level games and whatever else we can fit in. Run 5 is published 4 times per our Battle of the Bulge game. year by Strategic Studies Group Recruitment Pty Limited. All Rights Re Coming Up setved. © SSG 1988. Well SSG has finally thrown off the Joining the staff in July was Stephen shackles ofWorld War II. In October, we Hart. He comes to us superbly qualified Australian Office will be releasing a new Battlefront as a practising archeologist, with P.O. Box 261, Drummoyne, game covering the Korean War. No immense personal experience in both NSW. 2047. Tel (02) 819-7199. confirmed title as yet, although we are digging holes and directing others to do working on it. Expect eight scenarios the same. His job, apart from any an American Office that will do full justice to the savage cient warfare simulations or oil explo 1747 Orleans Court, Walnut conflict in Korea. The developer is Dan rations, will be to help produce this Creek, CA. 94598. Tel (415) Antolec from Monona, Wisconsin. magazine. He is also working on a game about the colonization and exploration 932-3019. Also due in October is the third and of the new world. final volume of our highly successful ISSN 0816-7125 Civil War series. This will cover the last Still Available Run 5 is available wherever you battles of the war. The scenarios will be Spottsylvania, Wilderness, Franklin, Don't forget the Reachfor the Stars buy ou games or you can order Nashville, Atlanta and Cold Harbour. it direct from SSG. Subscrip upgrade for all those owners of the Second Edition, details are found in the tion rates are shown on p.4. And now, for all those correspondents wanting a more strategic game from Q Store section. + 2 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR A I I have not found the invasion surprise mixed bag of letters this time. have flag yet. included several which request additional When in player control of OKH I have had armies reassigned to other Army features in some of our games. Well, the Groups with no reason. Thank you for this opportunity to pro more things change ... vide input to your game design and I hope you produce many more suc cesses like Russia Dear Roger and Ian, 7. Allow a Map Walk choice in the Have you ever considered making a Russia is topnotch! The scope, flexibil Doctrine/Orders menu. tactical squad level game which would ity and component quality are excel 8. Provide an on-screen color overview allow all us "over-the-hill" Squad lent. I purchased it after reading a map to get the strategic "big picture" Leader fans to utilize our many, many review on it by Evan Brooks in Com with no details beyond terrain (e.g. Scenarios in FfF or PBM games? No puter Gaming World. Evan's review rivers, forests, cities, etc.) and color one has done it yet and I think there is was "right on" regarding both its good and location of friendly I enemy units. a real market there if it is done "right". and bad points. However, I think he 9. Allow player at game start to set the Please do not bother to answer this should have raved a bit more. rates that new supply lines can be set letter; use the time on Version 2.0 of Ifyou ever plan to release a Version 2.0 up to put captured cities "in supply". Russia or on your next game. I under of Russia, please consider the following 10. Have on -line estimate calculated by stand completely the pressures of time. for us garners in out-of-the-way places program of how long it should take for Gary Chappell who may want to play by mail: an indicated target city /hex to become Prince Albert, Sask. 1. Request at start of game if this is a a supplied city. Also how long it will CANADA PBM game. IfYes, then have routine to take in tums for an Army to get "re auto-save last combat phase replay to charged" from its present location and (There will be a detailed article on Rus save disk for opponent to review the state. sia in the next issue. Ed.) action. Otherwise only one player ever 11. In the middle of a game OKH or sees the combat. Stavka should be able to reallocate Dear Sirs, 2. Password the access to Axis and control of a border city from one Army As a recent purchaser of Europe Ablaze Soviet orders to prevent spying in two Group/Theatre to another. and subscriber to Run 5, I wish to player and PBM games. The following are some things in addi congratulate all of you on your out 3. Allow choice of enemy target by tion to Evan's comments that I still find standing products. I first came into friendly assaulting unit. Many times I very difficult to comprehend about Rus contact with your products when I would have liked to change the target sia, despite many times going over the bought a copy of Carriers at War sec from one unit to another to concentrate manual backwards and forwards with ond-hand (the previous owner having attacking force. a fine-tooth comb: sold his C64 to go IBM). Having speni 4. Allow choice of any hex (within usual I do not know why 1t takes varying many hours sweating over a keyboard 7 range) for Main Effort Target to allow lengths of time in tun1s to make a newly awaiting the outcome of my strikes, I encirclements and flanking. These captured city a supplied city when decided to take the plunge and buy hexes should also be able to act as replayed under the same circum Europe Ablaze. Now I'm totally hooked! Army HQ's and "created" supply stances. I have waited for tum after Having lavished you with praise, may I points, with somewhat less capability tum with good communications, now be cheeky enough to make a few than rail supplied cities but more than weather etc. but to no avail. Granted, suggestions. Coming in late to join the the normal "by road" supply line from there may be some need for random bandwagon, I was too late to enter the korps to Army HQ in city. ness involved but some more specific EA or CAW design competitions {and I 5. Allow choice of Deploy or Contact. guidelines would certainly help in plan doubt if I'm good enough yet anyway!). The first would deploy without any ning attacks. However, as an RAAF Officer and keen enemy contact, the second would try to I do not know why some new army HQ's military historian, I enjoy the hypo thetical possibilities made available by deploy in contact with enemy or as suddenly appear with no korps in them close to enemy as 2 hex limit (from HQ) part way through a game. the design kit. My particular interest at the moment is a scenario designed for would allow. I do not know how, when and why some, prior to May lOth 1940, to see how the units like .SS units suddenly appear? 6. Make available a large 24" x 36" full Germans would have fared had the The replacements and reinforcements color map of the same quality as your Allies held, or if Germany had tried a little ones at an additional cost. This aspects and effects are still a fog to me. would be for those of us who like to The specific effects of air and ground cover wall maps in plastic and keep support points in various modes of track of moves with erasable color combat are not at all clear. Some com Continued on p.12 marker pens. bat tables would be most helpful. 3 THE Q STORE
RUNS RUNS REACH FOR THE STARS SUBSCRIPTION RATES BACK ISSUES UPGRADE (4 issues/1 year) At last. Reach for the Stars(3rd Ed.) is com IN AUSTRALIA pleted. If you own a second edition copy of IN AUSTRALIA Single Issue = $AUD 5.00 the game, you can upgrade it to third edition Magazine/disk sub.= $AUD 65.00 Plus $AUD 1.00 shipping (max.) (Apple II or C64 version) . Issue 8 contains Magazine only sub.= $AUD 15.00 a strategy article on the new RFTS. You IN NORTH AMERICA must enclose the front page of the second IN NORTH AMERICA Single Issue = $USD 5.00 edition rulebook and the original disk to be Magazine/disk sub.= $USD 65.00 Plus $USD 1.00 shipping (max.) eligible for the upgrade. Magazine only sub. = $USD 15.00 ELSEWHERE IN AUSTRALIA ELSEWHERE Single Issue = $AUD 5.00 RFTS Upgrade = $AUD 20.00 (Surface Post) Plus $AUD 2.00 surface shipping (max.) or IN NORTH AMERICA Magazine/disk sub.= $AUD 75.00 $AUD 4.50 air shipping for the first maga RFTS Upgrade = $USD 20.00 Magazine only sub. = $AUD 25.00 zine and $AUD 2.00 for each subsequent magazine. ELSEWHERE (Airmail Post) RFTS Upgrade = $AUD 20.00 Magazine/disk sub. = $AUD 85.00 Plus $AUD 4.50 air shipping Magazine only sub.= $AUD 35.00 To subscribe, consult the schedule of fees above and make sure you include your RUNS computer type (Apple or C-64) with your cheque or money order if you want a disk SCENARIO DISKS POSTERS subscription. A disk subscription entitles (Apple II or C64 Format) you to however many disks are necessary to Put our great artwork on your wall. SSG complement all the scenarios in the maga IN AUSTRALIA game posters are approximately 26" x 16" zine. This is at least two disks per issue. Single Disk = $AUD 15.00 ea. and printed in glorious full colour. We have For those of you who don't want to spend 2 or 3 Disks = $AUD 12.00 ea. posters available for each of these game titles. this extra money ... don't worry. All the data 4 or more Disks = $AUD 10.00 ea. necessary to build the magaline scenarios Plus $AUD 1.00 shipping (max.) Reach For The Stars, Halls of will be provided for you. IN NORTH AMERICA Montezuma, Decisive Battles of Single Disk = $USD 15.00 ea. the American Civil War (Vol 2 or 3 Disks = $USD 12.00 ea. umes 1 &2), Rommel Customers in North America 4 or more Disks= $USD 10.00 ea. IN AUSTRALIA should send their cheque or money Plus $USD 1.00 shipping (max.) Single Poster = $AUD 4.00 ea. order to- ELSEWHERE 2 or more Posters = $AUD 3.00 ea. Strategic Studies Group Inc. Single Disk = $AUD 15.00 ea. Plus $AUD 2.00 shipping (max.) 1 7 4 7 Orleans Ct 2 or 3 Disks = $AUD 12.00 ea. IN NORTH AMERICA Walnut Creek, CA. 94598 4 or more Disks= $AUD 10.00 ea. Single Poster = $USD 4.00 ea. Plus $AUD2.00 surface shipping (max.) or USA. 2 or more Posters = $USD 3.00 ea. $AUD4.50 air shipping (max.) Plus $USD 2.00 shipping (max.) (Tel: 415-932-3019) ELSEWHERE Customers in Australia and Elsewhere can dial direct (02-819-7199) for Single Poster = $AUD 4.00 ea. Visa and Mastercard orders or send their cheque or money order to- 2 or more Posters = $AUD 3.00 ea. Plus $AUD3.00 surface shipping (max.) or Strategic Studies Group Pty Ltd $AUD5.50 air shipping (max.) P.O. Box 261, Drummoyne, NSW. 2047. AUSTRALIA 4 THE BATTLE OF PLEASANT HILL 9th April, 1864 A Scenario for the Decisive Battles System by Ian Trout
The Red River Campaign, undertaken in the early the flag west of the Mississippi. In September 1863, a surprise invasion months of 1864, had the distinction, if unwanted, of of Sabine Pass resulted in immediate being the only Union offensive of that year to be com and costly failure. A second attempt to reach the Sabine River, this time over pletely repulsed. The Confederate victory was all the land, was called off because of the more remarkable given the disparity of forces, the expected difficulty of supplying troops presence of a Union gunboat.flotilla and that the most in such inhospitable country. Undismayed, Banks resorted once important battle of the .campaign, Pleasant Hill, re more to naval operations. Between sulted in a tactical Union success. November and December, Brownsville, Corpus Christi and Fort Esperanza were occupied (see accompanying Confederate leadership in the west, by Grant and Admiral Farragut, as well as map). The only major port in Texas in and large, was inferior to the foe. In this Banks himself, all favoured an expedi Confederate hands at the beginning of one campaign, however, General tion against Mobile as being the most 1864 was Galveston and Banks began Richard Taylor deserves the lion's effective means of lending support to moving against it early in January. share of the credit for the routing of the proposed operations against Chat The operation had barely started when Maj-Gen. Nathaniel Banks' assorted tanooga, at that time the major objec Halleck directed Banks to resume the forces. tive of Union forces in the west. delayed Red River operation against The Red River Campaign had its begin Washington saw things differently. Shreveport. The 1864 expedition was to nings nine months prior to the fateful General Halleck, possibly at Lincoln's be on a larger scale with Banks receiv expedition of March, 1864. The fall of insistence, directed Banks to employ ing assistance from Steele's forces in Port Hudson in July 1863 cleared the his troops against Texas. There were Arkansas, Sherman's forces in Missis lower Mississippi, freeing the forces of political as well as military considera sippi and a gunboat detachment from the newly created Department of the tions behind this order. Much impor Farragut under the command of Admi Gulf for fresh employment. General tance was attached to re-establishing ral Porter.
Commanders at Ple• ant Hill From left to right Taylor (CSA}, Polignac (CSA), Mower (USA) and Banks (USA)
5 The Red River is ndt generally navigable rendezvous was 100 miles behind en kind of piecemeal employment, to say above Alexandria except when swollen emy lines! Furthermore, the subse nothing of the vague command struc by spring rains for a few weeks in late quent junction with Steele's 15,000 ture and inadequate provision for reli March and April. With this in mind, it troops would occur at Shreveport, able resupply. Unable to convince his was planned that the operation should another 150 miles into Confederate superiors of the dangers ahead, Banks get underway by the middle of March. territory. The accompanying map resolved to carry out his orders as best From the outset, the Union plan was shows the direction of Banks' march. he could. seriously flawed. Ten thousand troops Even the most elementary military Confederate General Kirby Smith, in from Sherman's command were to be prudence should have warned against command of the Department of the transported by Porter's gunboats to such a potentially dangerous plan. Trans-Mississippi which placed him in Alexandria where they would link up Banks' own assessment of the opera charge of virtually all rebel forces west with Banks' 17,000 men; the intended tion specifically argued against this of the Mississippi River, could muster about 25,000 men to oppose the Union advance. The field commander for the Confederate forces was General Richard Taylor, son of former President Zach Taylor. Porter's gunboats, transporting Sherman's troops under the command of Major-General A J. Smith, were the first to arrive, on the 18th, at Alexan dria. Banks' troops artived a week later. On the 27th, Banks received new orders from Grant. The campaign against Shreveport must be success fully resolved by April 25th; in early May all troops would be needed for the operations against Atlanta and Mobile. Banks considered abandoning the campaign. Yet the possibility that Kirby Smith would not be able to concentrate his troops in time as well as the chance that the Confederates would choose not to defend Shreveport encouraged him to continue the fight. By April 3rd, the Red River had risen enough to permit Banks' transports and thirteen of the smaller gun-boats to pass the rapids above Alexandria. The Confederate forces immediately confronting them were gathered at a plantation about 40 miles north-west of Alexandria. Taylor still awaited the arrival of reinforcements from Price's army, a total of two divisions under the command of Thomas Churchill. On the 6th Banks' army, now about 24,000 strong (some 5,000 men had been told off for rear area security) set GULF OF MEXICO out overland toward Mansfield. They found Taylor with about 16,000 men skilfully deployed on the edge of a small clearing about 2 miles south of Mans field. It wasn't until late in the after SCALE qF MILES noon, about 4 pm, that battle proper 0 50 100 was joined. The Union troops were sent forward The Department of the Trans-Mississippi with inadequate flank support, and (otherwise known as Kirby-Smithdom) combined with some poor tactical deci- 6 PLEASANT HILL - Map
TERRAIN KEY
PLEASANT HILL - Terrain Effects Chart
7 Little Rock sent to the rear to guard the wagons ARKANSAS and took no part in the impending battle. STEELE'S ROUTE (23 Mar-4 May, 1864) Taylor was determined to complete the destruction of the Union Anny. His tired troops were on the road early and by 1 pm had reached Pleasant Hill. For two hours the Confederate's rested while Taylor prepared a plan of attack. Churchill's two divisions, unused the previous day but nonetheless vecy tired from two days of continuous marching, deployed on the right flank with orders to assault the Union left and hopefully uncover it. Walker's and Mouton's divi sions, the latter now commanded by Prince Camille de Polignac following upon Mouton's demise, deployed in the centre with orders to pin their oppo nents. Green's cavalry were to move around the Union right and put them selves in position to cut off Banks' expected retreat. It is at this point that the Pleasant Hill MISSISSIPPI scenario begins.
CREATING THE SCENARIO If this is the first time you have tried to ------LoUISIANA transfer a magazine scenario onto a Port Hudson save-game disk, we recommend you follow these directions. The letters in parentheses after each heading refer to the corresponding section in the Deci sive Battles manual. Preparing the Disk [3]. Boot up the Master Disk and select
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PLEASANT HILL Divisions
PLEASANT HILL - Objectives
Pleasant Hill control to each hex. All hexes to the left units of course; what we have done is of, and including, the following hexes make room for additional Rebel units if Stalemate on the Red River are under Confederate control. All we want to enlarge the scenario. April 9th, 1864 other hexes are under Union control. Do not change the weapons limits or (The hexes are 7,0; 6,1; 5;1; 5,2; 5,3; weapon types data bases. 6,4; 6,5; 7,5; 7,6; 7,7; 7,8.) The map Forces [5b(iii)]. Edit the North Army Do not change the command names. shows which roads should be entered HQ as follows; (Banks)(-) (Army of) (the Go back to Menu J and re-save the as hidden (sunken) roads. Where roads Gulf) (10,4) (O) (0) (0) (6) (0) (4) (2) (2) (1). game in'the same location. run through town hexes, make those Edit the South Army HQ as follows; Map Size [5a(i)]. The top left sector is 0. roads into hidden roads; it looks better (Taylor) (-) (Army of the) (Trans-Miss) The bottom right sector is 1. ifyou do. (4,2) (0) (6) (7) (0) (O) (9) (5) (l) (6). Define Terrain [5a(ii)]. The accompa Save the game again. How often you nying Terrain Effects Chart lists the save really depends on how lucky you There are two North corps. In the '8' details of the active terrain types for feel. After several major disasters, I slot enter (Smith), (13,5) (O) (l) (O) (4) (1) this scenario. Select the icons of your choose to save after each section is (9) (l *) (5) (4) (l) (6). !n the '9' slot enter choice to represent the six terrain completed. (Franklin), (9,3) (0) (0) (l) (6) (O) (9) (0*) types. Limits [5b(i)]. Before you can set the (3) (4) (l) (7). A third North corps is Create Map [5a(iii)]. Select the force limits, you must go through all available for the early start variant as t xplained in the variant section.
VARIANTS There are now five different Reach for the Stars (3rd Ed.) titles 1. By the time .the Confederate troops released: Apple II family, Commodore 64, Macintosh, IBM and Apple had moved into position to attack the IIGS. This will bring you up to date with any known problems in these Federal line, it was almost 4 pm. If we games. assume that the Battle of Mansfield on the previous day had not taken place, Mac (V3.0) then we can begin this battle much In the basic game only, both PDBs and garrisons on conquered earlier in the day. planets should be limited to a maximum of fifty, but are not. It is up Make the following changes. Add to you whether you observe these limits. Ransom's Corps. In the '10' slot enter (Ransom) (17,4) (0) (l) (O) (6) (O) (9) (O) (2) In the advanced game, if a player owns no stars whatsoever then he (3) (2) (5). Add Cameron's and has no navigation range and no valid destinations for ships. In the Mac Landram's divisions as detailed in the version ships in that situation always manage to retreat in combat, division table. Add Flory's, Raynor's, instead of being stuck where they are. Just remember, they can run Emerson's and Vance's brigades as but they can't hide. detailed in the brigade table. Make the parenthesized changes to IBM (V3.0, V3.01) and Apple IIGS (V3.0) Polignac's division as detailed in the There are some structural problems with saved Global Resource division table. Make the parenthesized Points. In IBM V3.0 saved RPs over 32,767 go negative, causing all changes to Gray's and Stone's brigades future production to be lost. On IBMV3.01 and IIGS V3.0 Global RPs as detailed in the brigade table. Extend the end turn number of all objectives to are limited to 32,000 and 64,000 respectively, and will not increase 12. Add turns llam to 3pm as daylight beyond that level. In any case, if you can afford not spend such vast (3). move (l) turns. sums on warships, you must already have won the game. 2. Some very interesting variants to this scenario can be created by playing IBM around with the likelihood values of If a task force is at a star system with more than one valid planet as certain units. Experiment for your a target, the attacking routines form only one TF. To change its des selves. In the final two variant slots on tination move the cursor to the destination field and use the window's the subscription disks, certain Next Planet command or type the planet number directly into the des changes have been made to the likeli tination field. To have multiple attacks on the same turn use the New hood variables which will make for TF command and transfer ships out of the existing TF. The destina exciting battles. tion of the new TF can be adjusted in the same way. This is not mentioned in the printed manual, but is included in the Readme file on the distribution disk. .. continued from p.3 IBMV3.0 strategic bombing campaign prior to Setting any movement cost to one will eventually cause a "divide by blitzkrieg. Generally though, any "what zero" error. Any other movement rate is fine. if?" type of scenario is the type of thing that I enjoy, and am most interested in Apple II Family and C-64/128 from a design viewpoint. Just to set the record straight. Human Nav ranges are 3,4,5,and 7 at My point is, have you, or would you, the respective navigation Technology Levels. Computer Nav ranges consider publishing in Run 5 the con are 3,5,6, and 7. tact addresses and interests of people There can be a small targeting problem when using the
12 BACK.TO BATAAN Homma's Assault on Luzon 22nd- 29th December, 1941 A Scenario for the Battlefront Game System by Ian Trout
Throughout the 1930s, American pol On December 22nd, 1941 advance ele icy for the defence of their Pacific inter ests was continually undermined by a mentsfrom the ImperialJapaneseArmy's congress unwilling, and sometimes un able, to find the funds for its implemen 48th Division came ashore at the northern tation. In both diplomatic and military circles, few senior executives were pre end ofLingayen Gulf, establishing a base pared to accept Japan, or any non Caucasian race for that matter, as a of operations barely one hundred miles serious military threat. The general opinion was that the Oriental just north of the Philippines capital, Manila. couldn't stand up to the white man. Events would prove this opinion to be Within a week they had smashed the Fili very foolish. General Douglas MacArthur became pino defenders, driving them back to pre the senior military adviser to the Philip pared positions in the Bataan Peninsula pines in 1935. More accurately, his position was as its de facto military and had opened the road to Manila. It was commander. He drew up grandiose plans for a self-sufficient, local defence a crushing defeat, the first ever suffered force which would supposedly reach maturity in 1946-7. Very little was by the US outside America. actually accomplished, except for the induction of a large number of Filipinos into an army which had neither the Yet, if comparisons are to be made, the leadership or equipment to accommo mostly raw Filipinos performed no worse date them. Rather than abandon his plans and than their regular British Army counter attempt to achieve something in the realm of reality rather than fantasy, parts in Malaya; and Britain had been at MacArthur used most of his energy to lobby for more appropriations. They war for two years! didn't come. 13 commitment of the 21st Filipino Divi ond drive and replace it with a blank Equipment sion help matters much. The arrival of disk. Filipino regulars in the form of the Select
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HEAD UARTERS DATA FORMATION H I.D. UNIT TYPE H ADMIN LEADERSHIP 7 HQ SUPPLY 7 7 BRITTLE 0 0 MOVEMENT N/A N/A ARRIVAL N/A N/A LOCATION (x, N/A N/A BATTALION DATA FORMATION 11/111 1/1 2/1 3/14/1 1/22/2 3/2<4/2 1/3 2/3 3/3 4/3 1/4 2/4 3/4 4/4 1/-> 2/- 3l- 4/- UNIT I.D. [3] <1 2 > 3 Sup t < 2 <>3 < Sup 1 > 2 3 >Sup .••.. 1 <.• < 2 Sup Mtn Arm Eng · Art> Mtn LOCATION (x,y) <<6;o 6, 1 >6,2 << 6, 1 8,0 8,0 8,0 8,0 8,0< 8,o <8;o 8,0 14,0 14,0 14,0 14,0 18,0 8,0 8,0 < 8,0 ClASS 0-13 .· >7 >· FATIGUE 0-7 7 7 <7 7 ········· I ········ · 7 >7 7 <7 > 7 .·· 6 \" 6 6 7 > 7 7 EXPERIENCE 0-7 6 ) 6 > 6) 6 .6•····· 6 ) 6< 6 / 6 > 6 ) 6 > 6 >... >.·6' > 6 < 6 - 6 >5> 6 <5 <. 6 ATTACHM'T 0-4 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A t \ 1 >2< > 2
.,·· 16 HEADQUARTERS DATA
BATTALION DATA
17 HEADQUARTERS DATA FORMATION H I.D. UNIT TYPE Militia H ADMIN 2 LEADERSHIP 4 0 HQ SUPPLY 5 3 BRITTLE 0 1 MOVEMENT N/A N/A ARRIVAL N/A N/A LOCATION (x, . N/A N/A BATTALION DATA
18 BATTALION DATA
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BACK 'l'O BATAAN Briefing
BACK TO BATAAN- Terrain Effects Chart
TERRAIN COSTS PER HEX ATTACK EFFECTS ARM ART INF
20 BACK TO BATAAN- Objectives
LD. 'Name Map Loc Div. Start End Pts/Turn Pts/End [11] [x,y] (0-3) ( 1-99) ( 1-99) (0-30) (0-255)
12(AL) Bongabon 24,16 3 15 31 5 75
BACK TO BATAAN -Miscellaneous Factors
21 r
HEADQUARTERS DATA
BATTALION DATA
22 VARIANTS Continued from p.l4 IContinued from p. 12 1 1. The almost uncontested air support provided by the IJAAF played a major Define Miscellaneous Factors [5.13]. role in the Japanese success. Assume same lines, and provide a means of Enter the appropriate data from the that the USAAF had survived the first "running" your thoughts or efforts past Terrain Effects Chart and the Miscella week of war. Reduce the Axis day sup others with similar interests. I realize neous Factors Chart on pages 20-21. port points from 35 to 20. Reduce the this may well be outside the scope of Create Map [5.14]. Use the accompa reliability from 3 to 2. Increase the Run 5, but I offer it as a suggestion. nying map to build up the screen map. Allied day support points from 8 to 20. As I also believe you are open to sugges Do not forget to assign control to each Increase the reliability from 0 to 2. tions for new developments, may I hex. All hexes begin the game under Change the air superiority from 1 suggest some possibilities that would Allied control. (Strong Axis) to 3 (Weak Axis). interest me, and probably others. Per Save the game again. How often you 2. The only American division in the haps a game similar to Europe Ablaze save really depends on how lucky you Philippines was not committed until catering for modem Air Combat, possi feel. After several major disasters, I the defense of Bataan. Assume it was bly on a more tactical scale, may be of choose to save after each section is committed against the Japanese land interest. This would open up many completed. ings. To implement this variant, over possibilities, such as the Air War in write the Allied 3rd division data (the Vietnam, the Arab-Israeli wars, In Equipment Roster [5.22]. Enter the dian/Pakistan disagreements, and data shown on page 14. 91st Filipino) with the Philippines Divi sion data as shown on page 22. Incor many hypothetical possibilities {Air Troop Creation [5.21]. The lone Japa porate the improved Allied air power Operations near the Falklands, World nese division is shown on page 16. The from variant 1. Add 3 to the points per War III in Germany etc). three Allied divisions are shown on turn awarded to the Japanese for the Another type of game that may go well pages 17-19. Enter the data into the conquest of each objective. Where is a tactical or strategic game, maybe appropriate locations. appropriate, add 2 to the number of somewhat like CAW, catering for mod Note that an additional Allied division, turns each objective remains operative em naval Operations (The Falklands the Philippines Division, appears on for Japanese forces. One new equip again?). As you can see, my leaning is page 22. This is for use in the early ment type needs to be added; enter towards games that would allow simu commitment variant. 105mmHow in slot 11. lation offairly modem warfare, and this Axis/Allied Objectives [5.23]. Enter is because of my RAAF service. the data shown in the Objectives Chart Having taken much of your time, may I on page 21. BONUS close now by saying once again how Finally, save again and the scenario is much I enjoy your present offerings, ready to play. SCENARIO keep up the good work! FltLt D. Freeman Rather than a third variant scenario, disk subscribers have a bonus. The Sale, Vic. PLAYER NOTES landing of the Japanese 16th division oz at Antimonan and its drive to Manila is These are very straight-forward. The simulated in this scenario. The advice Japanese have a tremendous advan Dear SSG, to both players is exactly the same as tage in troop quality. This is counter for the Back to Bataan scenario. Please renew my magazine subscrip balanced by a very demanding sched tion. The address is correct. The Japanese have one formation, the ule of conquest. Thank you for mentioning news of the 16th Infantry Division while the Allies The Japanese troops must keep con Amiga conversion of Battlefront/ Can't have two, the 41st and 51st Divisions of tinually on the move, capturing each wait. Since using A500 my Battlefront the Philippine Army. objective at least three or four turns and Russia for 128 have gone to chip before its victory points expire. heaven. I play Kampfgruppeon A500 a If the Allied player can hold his oppo SPECIAL NOTE lot, but interesting as it can be, it lacks nent for a couple of turns anywhere in the depth, scope and manipulation of the first 2-3 days, then you may throw Commodore disk subscribers should SSG games. Plus the dam thing him off schedule enough to win. Be also be aware that there are two sides to crashed near the end of the game warned, however, that many of your the Back to Bataan scenario disk. Use sometimes. Filipino recruits are brittle and will Side 1 if you plan to run the scenario Really hope the Amiga versions use melt away once casualties rise: Each with the Halls ofMontezuma or Rom mouse/pointer methods to make all Allied division has at least one non mel master disks. Use Side 2 ifyou plan brittle regiment and you should use to run the scenario with the Battle these as much as possible to protect f ront or Battles in Nonnandy master Continued on p. 25 your brittle regiments. disks. + 23 SCENARIO UPDATES FOR THE BATTLEFRONT GAME SYSTEM By Malcolm Power
The Allied adjacent hex penalties As promised, another four of the older are 0,0,1,2,3,4. Battlefront Game System scenarios are 2. Units upgraded to Halls ofMontezuma/ Rommel Subtract 1 from the divisional sup ply values of Axis divisions 1 (Pz standard. Lehr) and 2 (2 Pz). Subtract 1 from the regimental All the remaining older scenarios will be supply values of Pz Lehr regiments 1 (901). 2 (902), 3 (Comp) and4 (KG upgraded in the next issue. This includes 12SS). all magazine scenarios from Issues 3-7 Subtract 1 from the regimental supply value of regiment 3 (Royals) inclusive. of the British 7th Armoured Divi sion. Change the following unit strengths. Read the changes as UTAH 3. Objectives (current strength/maximum (Battles in Normandy) Axis strength). Assign Div 1 to Valognes. Pz Lehr/901 - 1 Bn (8/ 10), 2 Bn (7 I 1. Map Assign Div 2 to Montebourg and St 10) Colombe. The Allied adjacent hex penalties PzLehr/902-:- 1 Bn (9/ 10), 2 Bn (7 I 10) are 0,0,1,2,3,4. Assign Div 3 to Bricquebec and St Sauveur. Pz Lehr/KG 12SS- 1 Bn (8/ 10), 2 The name, movement and combat Allies Bn (8/10) values for terrain type T9 have been omitted. In the T9 slot, enter (DE Assign Div 1 to Montebourg and St The recon battalion asset from 2 Pz FENCES, 10, 4, 1,2,4). Thus, both Jacques. should have an equipment value of terrain types T9 and T11 are DE Assign Div 2 to St Mere-Eglise, 3 (SdKfz251). FENCES. Note that this addition Chef-Dupont and Barneville. 3. Objectives should also be made to the Sword Assign Div 2 to Carteret, Can scenario which was revised in Is quigny and Portbail. Axis sue 9. Assign Div 1 to Tilly, Juvigny, Hot tot and Point 213. 2. Units VILLERS Assign Div 2 to Sourdeval, Villers Add 1 to the divisional supply val and Tracy. ues of Axis divisions 1 (77th Inf) BOCAGE Allies and 2 (91st Air-Landing). (Battles in Normandy) Add 2 to the divisional supply value Assign Div 1 to Villers and Tracy. of Axis division 3 (243rd Inf) 1. Map Assign Div 2 to Tilly and Juvigny. 24 EPSPM GOODWOOD (Battles in Normandy) (Battles in Normandy) J Continued from p. 23 J 1. Map 1. Map that screen work easier. Amiga game The Allied adjacent hex penalties The Allied adjacent hex penalties play interlaces and sounds can be in are 0,0, 1,2,3,4. are 0,0,0,1,1,3. credible - adult market should really love SSG on it. 2. Units 2. Units Will the magazine plus disk subscrip The 1st tank battalion asset from Subtract 2 from the divisional tion be available for Amiga users? 12SS Pz should have an equipment supply value of Axis division 1 Imagine it will be. In the meanwhile, I'm value 9 (Pz V) The 2nd tank battal (ISS/ 12SS Pz). hoping the 64/ 128 versions can be used on Amiga versions of SSG games. ion asset from 12SS Pz should have Subtract 1 from the divisional an equipment value 8 (Pz IV). supply values of Axis divisions 2 Got to mention that I read an Atari (21 Pz) and 3 (116 Pz/272 Inf). commercial programmer lamenting the 3. Objectives ST piracy issue. Said his company Axis 3. Objectives won't develop for ST any word process ing or spreadsheet programs. Piracy Assign Div 1 to Cheux. Axis appears to be rampant on that ma Assign Div 2 to Gaurus and Baron. Assign Div 1 to Bourgebus, Se chine. If SSG ever has to adopt a copy Assign Div 3 to Carpiquet and Point queville andArgences. Assign Div 2 protection scheme, would you consider 112. to Cagny and Emieville. Assign Div the keyword/manual method. Least 3 to Bras, St Andre and Garcelle. difficult to user, safe and still allows a Allies needed backup copy. Assign Div 1 to Mouen, Cheux and Allies Thanks again for support ofAmiga and Point 112. Assign Div 1 to Soliers, StAndre terrific games! Assign Div 2 to Rauray, La Valtru, and Garcelle. Assign Div 2 to Den Frank Graham Grainville and Gaurus. nouville and Argences. NYC, NY. Assign Div 3 to Baron, Evrecy and Assign Div 3 to Cagny, Bourgebus USA To StAndre. and Bras. + Dear Messrs. Keating and Trout, ENTER OUR This letter is meant to serve two pur poses. Firstly to purchase a disk sub DECISIVE BATI'LES OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR scription to your wonderful magazine - Run 5, which is in my opinion unpar DESIGN CONTEST alleled in the gaming world for the support it provides your games. Prizes totaling $1 ,000 will be awarded to the authors of the winning Secondly, to compliment you on your entries. There are two categories for submission. The first is scenario fine game - Decisive Battles of the variants. The second is original scenarios. American Civil War. Not having any Scenario variants are historical 'what ifs'. Take one of the historical interest at all in the Civil War, I still bought the game from the unspoken scenarios and modify the data to reflect what could have happened had recommendation of the rest ofyour fine circumstances been different. Original scenarios are whatever you wish games. Was I impressed! It has sud to create. We would prefer they bear some relationship to history, but denly become my most played game it's up to you. In both cases, we would like to see as much use made of and given me a new interest in this WarPaint™ as possible. There must be some graphic genii out there. area. Submit entries on a floppy disk together with the documentation sug If your upcoming Decisive Battles ofthe gested on p.29. The judge's decision will be final, etc. The winning Napoleonic Wars can do for that period entries will be published in Issues 12 and/ or 13. All entries become the whatDBACWhas done for the Civil War property of SSG and may be used for publication from time to time. A then even Napoleon would be im suitable payment for such publication will be made. pressed. All submissions must be sent to our Australian office. Overseas entrants are advised to wrap the disk in foil as a precaution against magnetic erasure. Continued on p. 29
25 DO IT YOURSELF! Scenario Design Guide-lines for the Battlefront Game System and Decisive Battles of the American Civil War
Malcolnt Power Explains ...
tion structures to control units within Throughout military history the combina the game. Players need the capability to command units as they were histori tion of many, varied ingredients has com cally used, often the designer must modify the 'book' OB to one that reflects bined to control the outcome ofcampaigns the actual employment of troops on the and battles alike. The combination of battlefield. A good example of this is found in the "what ifs" are endless, each with its own DBACW South Mountain scenario. Here, most southern brigades are inde mystique. pendent and are attached directly to the Army HQ, rather than being organ ized into divisions. This makes the Access to the data bases of BGS and users for either competition entries or South more flexible to command. Hill DBACW, via WarPlan™, allows players magazine publication. We found it dif successfully committed brigades inde to create their own variants to our ficult during contest judging to evalu pendently at South Mountain, without scenarios, correct data they don't agree ate submissions on topics we were regard to divisional integrity, therefore with or create entirely original scenar unfamiliar with, unless they were well the player should be encouraged, and ios. While we're not sure just how many documented. We consider that the allowed, to do the same. do take the plunge into creating a new adoption ofa minimum documentation BGS uses a fixed OB structure, but scenario for themselves, our scenario standard will allow all entries to stand careful use can effectively represent competitions have proven that a wide clearly pn their own merits. most command structures. Combined variety of expertise in this field does arms plays a major role in modem exist amongst our users. combat, and OB design in BGS allows It seemed logical then to encourage THE STEPS IN designers to simulate combined arms this, as the more scenarios that become SCENARIO DESIGN doctrine as used by different regi available, the greater enjoyment we all ments. In attack and defence, regi get from our hobby. To that end, this Each topic chosen will be unique, and ments in the BGS receive bonuses if a article will briefly outline an order of presents the designer with different suitable combined arms team is pres steps to follow that should be of some challenges; therefore no rules can ent. assistance to fellow BGS and DBACW guarantee perfect results. If this were Consequently, good doctrine will give a fanatics out there who want to cook up the case, half the challenge would be regiment either integral artillety and a little history of their own. lost. I find, however, that the following armour, (e.g. a German Kampfgruppe) Elsewhere in this issue, you will find steps are useful in minimizing the or access to them as divisional assets details of our next scenario/variant problems that can arise. (e.g. a standard American infantcy divi design competition. We hope this ar sion in late WWII). In contrast, the poor ticle will both encourage more entries 1. Order of Battle performance of British armoured divi and make the design process easier to The key to unit performance is found in sions after D-Day was largely due to use. _ its organizational structure. To effec virtually non-existent infantcy-armour At the end of this article is a list of the tively simulate a militaty formation in co-operation. In the BGS this is repre documentation that we consider to be battle, its structure must be reflected in sented by British tank battalions being the minimum necessary to allow us to the game's systems. separated from their infantry counter fairly appraise scenarios submitted by BGS and DBACW use different forma- parts. 26 2. The Map obstacles to movement should be por trolled brigades (DBAC\Vl which way to The flow of a battle is controlled by the trayed by rivers and care must be taken go: Generally, keep roads to a mini terrain over which it is fought. A good to allow realistic crossing capability by mum and omit dead-end roads leading scenario will faithfully represent the provision of fords and bridges. to destroyed bridges etc., unless some terrain, in game terms, and therefore Always be on the look-out for 'river path is provided to lead the route preserve the flow. traps' that can trip up the movement onward. routines. River traps can occur when a Note that in DBACW, cosmetic roads (i.) Scale unit must move further away from its can be used for dead ends. This pre The scale chosen should result in a unit objective to avoid the impassable river serves the historical 'look' of the battle density that mirrors reality. hex-side. field without confusing the computer. Post D-Day battles in Normandy have a The computer's movement routines Both roads and hidden roads (the latter high density, (especially for the Allies) will sometimes overcome these traps, in DBACW only) can help define a path when compared to the more open des especially if there are nearby roads to through rugged or partially prohibited ert battles. Bear in mind that a unit has help, but you should always be aware of terrain, but thejr effect must be evalu a attack capability over two hexes (even the problems which may arise due to ated during testing. for range 0 units) in BGS and in DBACW convoluted rivers. Such traps can seri a unit with skirmish orders can engage ously imbalance a scenario. If a game (lv). Forts and Fortifications a target two hexes distant, in this case plays more accurately with a crossing Forts in both games are useful to in it being assumed that a regiment or two added, or by removing a minor kink in form the computer that "this is a good has been sent forward to pin or harass a river, then do it. position to hold". Units in both games the enemy. Also remember that in both will tend to hold their ground when oc games, the fewer map sections used the (iii). Roads cupying a fort, even if the fort value is faster the games will play. Just as rivers are the most significant relatively low. Read the entrenchment negative movement factor, roads are rules introduced with Vol II ofDBACW (ii). Rivers and Prohibited Hexes the most positive. The computer relies · before deciding between forts and en I always draw rivers first as they have on the road system to aid it in making trenchments. the most effect on the game mechanics, sensible movement decisions. Don't and also define the basic topography of forget that when you are the com 3. Objectives the land. Remember, rivers are impass manderyour computer staff have their Objectives tell both human and com able to all units in DBACW and all but maps out and are telling all your battal puter players where to go, but more non-mech units in BGS. Only major ions (BGS), and all non -directly con- importantly - how to win!
OBJECTIVE SCHEDULE
Schedule 1 27 (i). Planning and Placement. side. Those values marked with a (1} computer's performance can be easily The first step in designing objectives is can be taken directly from your histori gauged by referring to your front line to draw a map showing .front-line move cal map. Those values marked (2) must map and victoxy schedule. ments at critical times during the sce be generated by you. Until you feel The size of objective point awards nario. This will tell you which points confident with scenario design, make should be relative to the point value set were under whose control at various the first and last active turns the first for casualty rates. Some adjustments times throughout the battle. When a and last turns of the game. may need to be made during balancing commander had several options for his The Back to Bataan scenario in this to allow for acceptable losses sustained main thrust, additional (non-histori issue has some objectives where the by the attacker. cal) lines may have to be considered. frrst active turn is not the first turn of (iii). Divisional Objectives in BGS Once the map is prepared, significant the game. This technique allows you to All objectives in BGS and DBACW are objectives can be added, followed by Window' the turns when an objective active the whole game for computer or any extra ones needed as signposts or must be occupied. manoeuvre points. human access, and can be targeted for Working with the above schedule, your movement ·whether active or not. (The (ii). Point Values aim is to assign points so that if the active turns are for per turn victoxy For each objective, calculate the his battle were to end with an historical point allocation only.) However, in BGS torical turns of possession for each result then the points total for each side (Halls ofMontezuma and Rommel only; side, along with end game possession. would be equal. this feature is not present in the earlier Enter this data on an objective sched The work invested here in establishing titles) divisional objectives were added ule similar to the one shown in Sched a base line for victoxy point values will to more clearly define adivision's role in ule 1. Prepare one schedule for each.. be rewarded during testing as the battle. If selected as a divisional objec- TEST RECORD SHEET (BGS)
WINNING MARGIN
Schedule 2 28
------=------tive the objective will still function * Divisional objectives are offensive in Now you should be able to sit down and completely normally, but additionally nature, if a side in defence has limited beat the computer at its own game. Play the computer will choose the objective ability to counter-attack, divisional testing may find loopholes in your nearest the division HQ that is enemy objectives should be used for critical design that may ne·ed attention. Gener held and active (i.e. for victory points points only. The best course may be to ally, if the objectives have been cor per tum) as the divisional objective for set no divisional objectives for this rectly set, the computer's intelligence the specified division. This objective division as the standard intelligence will give most players a run for their will be flagged as the 'current divisional will defend, give ground with minimal money. objective'. losses, while still attempting to hold The CDO becomes the focal point for objectives and react to enemy forces. the divisions attack and as such the SCENARIO MINIMUM computer player will attempt to take, or 4. Testing and Balancing DOCUMENTATION LIST First watch the game play to make sure regain this position by offensive action When submitting scenarios to ·us, we no major probkms exist in your data. as soon as possible. To this end the will look very favourably on those sub "No battle plan ever survives contact computer will pick the closest regimen missions which include all of the fol with the enemy", but once the powder tal HQ to the CDO as the attack regi lowing ment, and assign it the divisional as starts flying things soon sort them 1. Map showing front-line movements sets. Other regiments will be assigned selves out one way or the other. and objectives to active divisional objectives closer to To display and analyse the results of their regimental HQs, or other objec several games on one sheet, it is con 2. Objective Schedule tives until the CDO is taken, changed, venient to prepare a test record sheet. 3. Test record sheet showing final ver or the attack regiment's losses necessi See Schedule 2 for an example. The test sion test results tate its withdrawal (reserve). Note that record sheet for DBACW is much the 4. Historical description of scenario a regiment in reserve is exempt from same. After several games have been topic. + selection in all cases. recorded, a pattern of results will ap For the human player the CDO defines pear that can be evaluated. the planned axis of attack for the divi The task now is to adjust the scenario sion, battalion commanders (computer so that the unit performance averages Continued from p.25 controlled) will tend to penetrate to out at about the mean historical result. ward the targeted objective. Thus a Many situations don't lend themselves I am also eagerly awaiting all of your thrust towards the CDO will be most to a fmely balanced conclusion as the other upcoming releases as described effective, with isolated regiments mov loss of one key position may cause the in Run 5. Have -you finished 3rd Ed. ing towards other divisional objectives whole line to crumble. Such games can RFTS yet? I would like to know. in their localities. result in large victories to either side J. Kavanagh Some ·player's dislike, n.ot having the with few close results. ability to define the divisional objective The main rule to observe when adjust Charlestown, NSW. themselves. It should be noted that ing scenarios is to modify the least oz. divisional objectives simulate the lines known factors or relativities in your of demarcation between divisions that design first. It is vital to test fully after Dear John, are planned prior to the campaign at each change or correction to determine army level and are not generally con its effect. The number of tests needed Again, I want to wish you and your trolled by corps commanders (similar depends on the scenario; a bare mini family a very Happy and Health New to the army objectives in DBAC'W). mum is 4 for minor changes. More tests Year and a prosperous one for SSG. Enclosed you will find the Halls oj If no divisional objectives are active or will be necessary in peculiar circum Montezwna disk that appears to be enemy controlled, target choices will stances. For example - faulty. The problems that I've had with revert to the original BGS priorities. (i). In BGS if one side has overwhelming this disk are on the Scenario side. I am These are- air superiority combined with fluctuat contacting Apple's Compute publica ing weather conditions (e.g. Nor * The computer is strongly biased to tion to attempt and write a review of mandy). Extra clear skies for the Allies attack towards CDOs. this game for their publication. If I'm can make it tough for the Germans, and *Depending on the circumstances in not successful there, I will try some of the reverse is also true. the scenario, careful timing of active the other Apple publications to see if I divisional objectives will enhance the (ii). In DBACW, the likelihood value can get any success. performance of computer and human significantly effect results. Being an old time wargamer for over 10 players. Once each side is achieving the desired years with boardgames and computer * Giving a reinforcing division a set of results, consult your final version on games, speaking professionally, I can divisional objectives behind friendly the test form. Adjust the victory points, lines will cause it to counter-attack if necessary, to obtain the best balance these points if lost to the enemy, pro possible. Having done this run one last Continued on p.48 vided free regiments exist. set of tests to confirm ·your results. 29 THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR A Short History in Two Parts By Stephen Hart Part Two
ground which would so favour his Following upon the twin disasters at Sec superior numbers, especially in artil lery, and went on to the defensive. ond Bull Run and Fredericksburg, the Jackson organized a flanking move ment on the 2nd and attacked Hooker's Army of the Potomac Was desperate for a unprepared right flank. On the 3rd Sedgwick attacked and broke through good commander. They were destined not at Marye's Heights and attempted to to get one for a little while yet. come to Hooker's rescue but was held near Bank's Ford and Salem Church. On the 4th, Lee counter-attacked Sedgwick but could not drive him from THE RISE AND FALL OF ment and was well aware ofthe fact. He the ford and Hooker spent the day planned to use these numbers in a digging in. His nerve failed him during JOSEPH HOOKER pincer movement, whereby one half of the night, however, and he ordered a full retreat. On 25th January 1863, General Jo the army would. cross the Rappahan seph "Fighting Joe" Hooker was ap nock below Fredericksburg and the Lee was furious that Hooker's army pointed commander of the Army of the other would cross upstream and come had escaped him but he should proba Potomac. He had a good record as an around on Lee's rear. Each half of the bly have been ·giving thanks instead. aggressive but intelligent fighter and pincer would be about as big as Lee's Had Hooker displayed the pig-headed Lincoln hoped that he had at long last entire army. Stoneman's cavalry, stubbornness of Rosecrans at found the commander he had been meanwhile, would be spreading confu Murfreesboro and held fast it is likely looking for. sion behind the ·lines (although in the that Lee, assaulting superior numbers event this last achieved little). Hooker's arrival was welcomed by the within _prepared defences, would have troops. He ordered vegetables and soft Rain in early April de~ayed the advance been massacred. It might truthfully be bread to be added to the diet, cleaned but by the end .of the month the move said that Lee defeated Hooker, rather up the unsanitary camps, instituted ment was. underway. By leaving than Hooker's army per se. Hooker furloughs and arranged for six months Gibbon's division in its call)p in Fal- . himself acknowledged that "For once, I back pay to be delivered to all 'con . mouth which was visible from Lee's lost confidence in Joe Hooker" . cerned. Reviews and parades were or encampment, he initially foole.d Lee Hooker sat back and waited for the axe dered to keep the men busy and per- . about his flanking movement, al which duly descended in the middle of sonal corps insignia were introduced tq · -th<;>ugh not for long. June when his command was given to give men more pride in their units. On 30th April, watching Sedgwick dig- Meade . The tone of the army improved rapidly. . .ging in his bridgehead .to the south, Lee Yet it was the victorious Southern army To combat Confederate cavalry superi made,· his·decision: "The main attack which suffered the severest loss of ority he re-organized the Union cavalry will come from above" he said referring, generals for Jackson contracted pneu so that instead of being attached to in presumably, to the river rather than monia after being accidentally shot fantry commanders on a regimental the heavens. He moved about 45,000 and died in delirium on May 1Oth and basis, it was formed into a single corps, men u~der Anderson, McLaws and his absence in future battles was often 11,500 strong under Brigadier General Jackson towards Hooker, leaving Early critical. His dying words "Let us cross George Stoneman. with a scant 10,000 to hold Sedgwick. over the river and rest under the shade With over 130,000 men and 412 guns, On 1st May Hooker, for some reason, of the trees" became a standard euphe Hooker had approximately double his declined to advance out of the tangled mism for death for following genera opponent's numbers in each depart- wilderness country into the open tions of Southerners. 30 THE VICKSBURG CAMPAIGN Vicksburg, controlling the central stretch of the Mississippi, was a nut of the very toughest variety. Not only was it perched on high, unscalable red-clay bluffs from which guns could rake the Mississippi, it was also very difficult to get at geographically. Directly to the north was the leaf-shaped Mississippi Yazoo delta, a swampy region utterly impassable to any large body of troops. Gunboats could not sail down past Vicksburg without being shredded and a determined resistance at Port Hudson, some l 00 miles downstream, was preventing boats from sailing up The Battle of Gettysburg stream. Confederate Troops Assault Cemetary Ridge Grant planned a two-pronged attack. Sherman would sail down the Missis Mississippi by a levee. However, Bayou called off and the badly battered iron sippi, turn the fleet up the Yazoo and Baxter drained it west into Bayou clads wound their way disconsolately attempt to land on the bluffs to the Macon, which flowed into the Tensas back. north ofVicksburg. Grant, meanwhile, River, which flowed into the Red River Steele Bayou: Meanwhile, Porter and would march south down the railroad which fmally joined the Mississippi a the navy had been attempting a short through Grenada, defeating Pember few miles above Port Hudson. Despite ton on the way. The plan did not work cut to the same destination. A drive the 4 70 mile detour which this route across flooded banks led east to the . out at all well, largely due to the efforts would necessitate, Grant thought the . of Nathan Bedford Forrest and Earl Steel Bayou, thence to the Black Bayou, idea worth a try. Further investigation, connecting with Deer Creek, connect- VanDorn. Forrest led a December raid however, showed that the Bayou which cut Grant's supply line to bits. . ing with Rolling Fork Bayou, connect Baxter was blocked by cypress trees ing with Sunflower River which flowed Van Dorn, eager to rehabilitate his and flood wreckage. Extensive work reputation after the Corinth fiasco, led into the Yazoo above Haines Bluff. The with underwater saws achieved little way was extremely difficult and a second raid to destroy a large supply except exercise for the troops. dump at Holly Springs. With his sup tangled. Deer Creek wound so much Yazoo Pass: Grant simultaneously had plies gone and no method ofbringing in that in one half-mile stretch, five war another plan to exploit the tangled river more, Grant was forced to retreat to ships could be seen pointing in five system. Just south of Helena, a bayou Memphis, living off the land as he went. different directions. The expedition called the Yazoo Pass allowed passage meandered on for a while but eventually Sherman's attack on Haines Bluff was east from the Mississippi to the ran into underwater willows which so no more successful for he found it Coldwater River, which flowed into the completely fouled the paddle wheels impossible to advance up the steep Tallahatchie which combined with the that Porter gave up and went back. cliffs under heavy fire. Undiscouraged Talbusha to form the Yazoo. A levee Second Canal: a brief attempt was by these two failures, Grant kept at currently blocked the entrance but work throughout the difficult wet sea made to dig a canal just below Duckpor1 Grant reckoned that by cutting this he to allow light-draft supply vessels son, undertaking projects which even could get tr
The battle ofGettysburg, fought on lst- had arrived. The battle reached a cli Potomac. Meade was slow to follow up, 3rd July 1863, was not destined to be max on the third day with a valiant suspecting a trick or an ambush. He one of Lee's successes. Over-encour charge by Pickett's and Heth's divisions then decided not to follow his enemy aged by tactical successes on the first which was shattered by Union artille:ry directly over South Mountain but to day when he had out-numbered the and the strong Union defensive posi head south to Frederick and then west, Union forces he continued to take the tion. On 4th July, Lee started to with and t:ry to catch him at the fords. He offensive even after Meade's full army draw to a position on the rain-swollen reached Middletown, west of Frederick, 35 on July 9th and then paused again to but was soon chased off by Forrest's The obvious route to Chattanooga lay to consider his options. cavalry. Although he failed in his pri the north but Bragg had it well covered. A planned probing movement on 12th mary purpose, the raid was neverthe Rosecrans sent three brigades in that (Sunday) was canceled due to a sudden less of great importance for it moved direction with orders to light hundreds thunderstorm and, on morning of 14th Bragg to a decision. He opted to save his of bonfires every night, to hammer on when he finally advanced, Lee had army, and retreated across the rain barrels and to throw pieces of sawn gone. Meade crossed in pursuit but Lee swollen Tennessee. wood into the river, and generally give stayed ahead and crossed the Rap In less than two weeks, and at a cost of the impression that a large force was pahannock and the Rapidan. By 4th 570 casualties, of whom less than one preparing for an amphibious assault. August, the two armies were more or hundred were dead, Rosecrans had The deception worked perfectly and less back where they had started. liberated all of Middle Tennessee and Bragg moved extra troops up to cover taken over 1600 prisoners. while Rosecrans crossed the Tennessee at Bridgeport, some fifty miles south, Even the Confederate newspapers THE CENTRE virtually unopposed. admitted it was brilliant. Rosecrans' GIVES WAY superiors were, of course, delighted but He then split his army into three for could not help thinking that the lack of speed of movement and to manoeuvre For six months after the battle of bloodshed indicated that the whole around Bragg. Crittenden was sent Stones River, Rosecrans held · fast at matter could have been accomplished directly north to Chattanooga; McCook Murfreesboro, refusing, despite vigor much earlier. OnJuly7th, following the was sent on a southern detour via ous prodding from Washington, to fall of Vicksburg and Lee's defeat at Winston Gap; and Thomas (with Rose move until he was ready. This did not Gettysburg, they were already urging crans) punched straight through the happen until June 24th but when he him and his "noble army" forward middle. Once again, Bragg had been finally got under way, he moved, de again. Rosecrans, with an army ex completely out manoeuvred, and was spite unseasonal heavy rains, with hausted after trudging across Tennes forced to beat a hasty retreat from speed and skill. Feinting east and west see in deep mud and on short rations, Chattanooga, which Crittenden took with Crittenden and Granger he sent was exasperated. without a fight. his main body straight towards Man "You do not appear to observe" he tele It was here that the normally cautious chester. graphed acidly, "the fact that this Rosecrans lost his head. Optimistically He was fighting in difficult country with "noble army" has driven the rebels from believing Confederate "deserters" who many easily defended passes, but a Middle Tennessee. I beg in behalfof this were primed with the story that Bragg lightning attack by Colonel John army that the War Department may not was completely demoralized and in Wilder's mounted infantry brigade, overlook so great an event because it is disarray, he pushed forward. Bragg using the new, rapid-fire, seven-shot not written in letters of blood". Rose was no such thing. He was looking for carbines, ploughed through the 1st crans was discovering the problems of a fight and was hoping to defeat the Kentucky infantry at Hoover's Gap. At a succeeding beyond expectations. three widely separated sections of the cost of 14 dead and 4 7 wounded, Rose Union army seriatim. It was a good plan crans was now on Hardee's flank with a Regardless, he was underway again on but it was defeated not by Rosecrans, road open to his rear. Bragg was forced .16th August. Burnside too was under but by delays and disorganization to pull back to his supply base at Tul way now that an annoying cavalry raid within his own army. Attempts to take lahoma and prepared to receive Rose by Morgan had been captured or driven first Thomas and then Crittenden failed crans' attack. off. Setting out on 15th August his task due to Bragg's orders being misinter was to liberate Knoxville, which objec preted or simply disobeyed by subordi Rosecrans, however, failed to turn up tive he achieved with ridiculous ease. to the rendezvous. Having reached nates lacking in faith. Manchester on 27th, he turned south Buckner, his opponent, had pulled out Rosecrans soon realized the danger east instead of south-west, moving and Burnside entered the town unop and pulled his forces back behind around Bragg's right flank and threat posed on 3rd September, thereby cut Missionary Ridge and sent out desper ening the railroad which was his line of ting the direct rail link between ate messages, attempting to re-unite supply. This put Bragg in something of Richmond and Chattanooga. On 9th his forces. By the 18th he had suc a quandary, for the divisions of Granger September he took 2,500 prisoners at ceeded and had deployed his forces and McCook were in Shelbyville to his the Cumberland Gap and then, hearing east of the ridge near the Rossville gap, north and could not be ignored. The that Bragg was in full retreat to the some seven or eight miles east of Chat situation was beginning to look suspi south, decided that it was unnecessary tanooga on the banks of the Chicka ciously like a trap. to continue south to support Rose mauga Creek. It was here that one of Wilder's "Lightning Brigade" had crans, as ordered. the bloodiest battles of the war was meanwhile been sent ahead to attack Rosecrans, however, would have been fought, a battle which was to provide the main railroad line. In this he failed, glad of his support. Initially, everything the Confederacy with a much-needed however, due to the fact that six infan had gone well. He had relied on his victory after the triple loss ofVicksburg, try regiments on a train could move usual tools of thorough preparation, Gettysburg and Middle Tennessee. faster than a brigade on horseback. He speed and deception and they had not The battle of Chickamauga was one of destroyed trestles on two branch lines let him down. the few large battles of the war to be 36 . THE BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA 19th-20th September, 1863 The Chickamauga Creek (chickamauga meaning "stagnant water" or, more sensationally, "river of death") flows approximately north-south into the Tennessee River, a few miles east of Chattanooga, through heavily wooded country. On 18th September the armies of Rosecrans- approximately 65,000 men in three corps under McCook, Thomas and Crittenden - and Bragg - a similar number in five corps divided into two wings under Polk and Longstreet who had just made a long rail journey from Virginia with about 12,000 men. Bragg had planned to attack on 18th but·delays meant that nothing happened, except that Rosecrans shifted his position northward to be nearer the Rossville Gap - his retreat route to Chattanooga in an emergency. On 19th the battle started at the north end of the line when Thomas moved to drive off what he thought was a single brigade. This quickly escalated into a slugging match with both sides pouring in more troops. Fighting spread south in the afternoon when Stewart's division, sent to help against Thomas, accidentally attacked a mile to the south. It hit Van Cleve's division and drove it back almost to Rosecrans' HQ at the Widow Glenn's house. Here, however, they met Reynolds' and Negley's divisions heading north and it was suddenly three divisions to one. Stewart was obliged to retreat back across the north-south, Lafayette Road. As this attack was failing Hood, without orders, sent in the divisions of Johnson and Law, immediately to the south. These met Davis' division which fell back. Again Widow Glenn's house was in view but again two divisions came to the rescue - this time those ofWood and Sheridan, and Johnson and Law too had to fall back beyond the road. As the sun was setting Cleburne, at the far north end of the line, attacked and drove Thomas back almost a mile but he was still in good order as darkness fell. Throughout the night, the Confederate soldiers could hear their northern counterparts felling trees and hurriedly putting together barricade~. Rosecrans was not displeased with the situation. Although it had been close at times, his line had held together and there seemed to no reason why it should not continue to do so. Bragg also was quite pleased with the way things had gone, despite the unco-ordinated nature of the day's attacks, and he ordered Polk and Hill to attack at dawn. Or rather, he thought he had so ordered, but the messenger could not find Hill in the darkness and by the time everything had been sorted out and the attack finally sent in, it was approaching ten o'clock. Rose crans' soldiers had not been idle during this period of grace and the breastworks now had a grim and solid look about them. The series of divisional attacks which Bn1gg had ordered in the north were prosecuted with great enthusiasm but could not break the well-defended line. The battle might well have continued in this manner until Bragg had worn his army down to nothing had not Rosecrans here made a catastrophic mistake. His aides reported to him a "gaping hole" between Reynolds' and Wood's divisions and, apparently forgetting his own dispositions, Rosecrans sent an order to Wood to "close up and support" Reynolds. Brannan was posted between the two and the only way Wood could support was to go around Brannan, which he did. There he met Thomas who said that Reynolds did not need support - he had just repulsed an attack by Stewart, but sent Wood, on his own (Thomas') responsibility, to reinforce the left. This created the "gaping hole" which had previously had no reality. Longstreet, meanwhile, had been carefully massing four divisions for an attack and, as Wood's last units were leaving, they went in, leaping over the deserted barricades and charging into the vulnerable Union flanks. The army fell apart, a good third of it routing back to Chattanooga. Rosecrans himself went with them to organize a defence which might well have been necessary had it not been for Thomas. Thomas, in an action that was to earn him the nickname of "The Rock of Chickamauga", refused to succumb to prevailing panic. Thus Kershaw, rushing in with two Confederate brigades, met with a bloody repulse. The Confederate army gave Thomas everything it had but, re-inforced by two brigades from Granger, who had been in reserve guarding the Rossville Gap, managed to more or less hold on until dark. They were obliged to leave many of the wounded behind and Bragg was to report a total of more than 8,000 prisoners. The Confederate victory had been at a terrible cost, however. Final casualties were 16,170 for the Union and 18,454 for the Confederacy, including in the latter case, 14,674 wounded. For the number of men involved, this was the bloodiest battle of the war. fought between roughly equal-sized oxville. About 65,000 men on each side orders left a quarter-mile gap in his line armies. Bragg had been re-inforced by took part. There was little room to through which Longstreet duly and the troops from Knoxville and with two manoeuvre in the dense woods around gratefully charged. Fully one third of of Longstreet's divisions, brought in by the creek and a two-day slugging match the army immediately routed back rail on a thousand-mile, variable track ensued. Rosecrans' position fell apart towards Chattanooga but the Union ride, necessitated by the loss of Kn- on the second day when a confusion in was saved from total disaster by Tho- THE BATTLE OF CHATTANOOGA 23rd-25th November, 1863 mas who grimly held the left wing to gether until dark, earning for himself Holding Missionary Ridge during the siege of Chattanooga, Bragg had the nickname of "The Rock of Chicka an extremely strong position. Grant planned to use Thomas' four mauga". divisions in a holding action on the plain in front while Sherman, who The victo:ry caused elation across the had just made a devious detour through the mountains with four Confederacy a.,nd expectations ran high divisions, attacked Bragg's right flank along the ridge. Hooker was to that Bragg would sweep the invader attack Lookout Mountain .on the left with three divisions and Howard back across the Tennessee. But it was not that simple. Although Union casu held two divisions in reserve. Bragg was defending with seven divisions, alties were high (over 16,000 killed, with Cleburne holding the right and Stevenson on Lookout Mountain. wounded or missing), Confederate On 23rd November, Thomas was ordered to move out of the city and casualties were even greater at over take up a position half-way across the plain. Thomas' men had heard 18,000. . Bragg's army was simply in no through the grapevine that Grant had doubts about their morale after condition to follow up. Nevertheless, he Chickamauga and were on their best behaviour. They marched out penned Rosecrans' army in Chat with the precision of a review and the Confederate outposts on Orchard tanooga and waited confidently for it to Knob and Bushy Knob were enjoying the show when suddenly, the starve or leave. trumpets blew and they were swamped in a rush of soldiers. As he looked down on Chattanooga from the heights of Missiona:ry Ridge On 24th. Sherman attacked smoothly on Bragg's right, brushing aside and Lookout Mountain, Bragg must all opposition, until he held the high ground. In late afternoon, have felt confident of the outcome. Its contemplating the next day's attack along the ridge, he suddenly only supply line was a very roundabout realised that he wasn't on the ridge at all. He had been tricked by the wagon route through the mountains - unfamiliar terrain and he was on an isolated hill, separated from the quite inadequate to supply a full army. main ridge. He dug in, realising that he had everything to do again on But Bragg had problems within his own the morrow. Meanwhile, Hooker had been attacking Lookout Moun army. tain. On the steep and rocky terrain the two Confederate brigades put Firstly, his own supply situation, al up a good showing but against the pressure of three divisions they though not menaced by the enemy, was could only fight a delaying action. During the night they were pulled still difficult and it was soon debatable whether the hungriest men were to be back to Missionary Ridge by Bragg who felt that they would be more use found on the ridge or in the town. More in the d~fence there. Thomas did nothing this day. serious, however, (from Bragg's point of On 25th, virtually nothing went as Grant planned. In the early morning view anyway) was the running fight he the American flag could be seen flying on the summit of Lookout was having with his generals, none of Mountain and Grant waited confidently for Hooker to advance on whom were happy with the way he had Rossville and Bragg's left wing. He waited some time however, for the commanded Chickamauga or the way terrain was extremely difficult and there was a delay of over four hours he was running things now. Bragg was while Hooker got into position. undoubtedly also aware that blame would be cast for the heavy casualties Sherman, at the other end of the line, had run into a wall. Cleburne's in the battle and he chose Polk for his single division held off attacks by Sherman's four. Grant sent Howard's main scapegoat, relieving him of his two divisions over to help and Cleburne drove them off too. Sherman command. Things got so bad between attacked repeatedly and with vigour but he simply could not budge Bragg and Dan Hill that Jefferson Davis Cleburne, entrenched on the high ground. himself visited on 9th October to t:ry and sort things out. He could not recon At 3.30 pm with Hooker in position at one end and Sherman stalled at cile matters, however, and it came the other Grant looked doubtfully at Bragg's triple line of entrench down to a clear choice between Bragg ments. at the base of the ridge, midway up, and on the crest. and and Hill. It was a hard decision for ordered Thomas to take those at the base. Thomas' men were still Davis but he decided against firing the annoyed that their morale might be called into question and they took only Confederate commander to win a the trenches at a rush. substantial victo:ry for months 'and it was Hill who packed his bags. Once there, however, they found themselves subject to plunging fire A scalp-hunt was also underway in the from the the trenches above. They could not stay there, only go back northern camp. Both McCook and Crit or forward. A wild spirit caught hold of them and the entire four tenden were relieved of their com divisions charged up the steep slope. It couldn't really be done but, mands, ostensibly because of their aided by Bragg's poor siting of his entrenchments which left large flight in time. of danger, although there sections of the hill in defilade, they swept over the summit and the were mutterings about the fact that Confederate line broke and scattered. Total casualties were 5824 for Rosecrans had beaten both of them the North and 6667 for the South, including 4146 captured or missing. back to the town. Apart from indulging 38 tacked directly up the front of the ridge and cut Bragg's army in half. Grant, who had seen a first class disaster emerging as Thomas' men attacked the "impregnable" ridge, was able to claim a great victory. Bragg retreated success fully towards Atlanta. At Knoxville, Longstreet fared no better. Burnside had set up an extremely strong defence and none of Longstreet's probes revealed any weakness. On 27th November, hearing the rumour of Bragg's defeat at Chattanooga, he de cided that an assault was imperative, both to draw troops away from chasing Bragg and to make his own retreat easier when it came. The assault went in on the morning of 29th but it was an July, 1864. Five Miles to Washington absolute disaster. Having slowly nego Early's Division is too little and too late to threaten the defences tiated a field of criss-crossed wire, the attackers came to a nine-foot ditch. As staff officers (reconnoitring at great in the required blood -letting, Lincoln wasting their time and an ingenious personal risk through long-range bin remained characteristically hard plan was almost ready to go. Smith had oculars) had told them it was only five headed about the whole situation, real built a small fleet of flat assault boats feet deep, no one had thought to bring izing that the gain of Chattanooga was which could drift silently downstream scaling ladders. Some soldiers at more important than the loss of at night to Brown's Feny and take the tempted to climb up on their comrades' Chickamauga and that it must be held. outpost there. The boats could then be shoulders but it was hopeless. The In a brilliant exercise in logistics converted into a pontoon bridge and a defenders were massed shoulder to 20,000 men under Hooker were trans mass of troops could cross and take shoulder, artille:ry raked the trench ferred by rail, along several different Raccoon Mountain to the west, opening with enfilading fire, and, when the railroads, to be in Bridgeport by Octo a line out. northern soldiers started heaving ber 2nd. Sherman was also underway In the early hours of 27th October lighted shells over the parapet, Long from the west with another five divi 1,500 men floated silently downstream street sounded the recall. He had suf sions which would lead to the unusual on sixty wooden boats, captured the fered 813 casualties against the Union situation of the defenders outnumber sleepy pickets, and the whole thing total of 13. ing the besiegers. went like clockwork. Hooker arrived When Longstreet learned a few days Rosecrans remained in command for a with an extra two divisions from Br later that Sherman was on the way with month but this was only a stay of idgeport and "The Cracker Line" was six divisions he knew the game was up execution while Lincoln solved the open. On 30th October, one week after and headed for Virginia to rejoin Lee. problem of how best to utilize both Grant's arrival, 40,000 rations were Bragg, meanwhile, had finally run out Thomas, the only Union Corps com delivered to the grateful troops. As of credit. He was ordered to hand the mander to emerge with any credit from · supplies kept flowing in it WC:lS clear command of the Army of Tennessee to Chickamauga, and Grant, now com that Bragg's time was running out. Hardee. paratively idle and underutilized after At the end of November, with Long the fall of Vicksburg. His solution was street detached to deal with Burnside to create the "Military Division of the around Knoxville, the blow fell. Grant MEADE AND LEE Mississippi", comprising the Depart now had Sherman's troops available, Virginian Pas de Deux ments of Cumberland, Ohio and Ten as well as Hooker's and Thomas', and nessee, and place Grant in charge. he attacked Bragg on Missiona:ry.Ridge. In the eastern theatre, Meade and Lee Thomas was given Rosecrans' com Sherman, after a long detour through spent some months performing a series mand of the Army ofTennessee. the mountains, attacked Bragg on his of manoeuvres, involving much march Grant arrived in Chattanooga on 23rd right flank and Hooker attacked his ing and counter-marching, but achiev October to experience, as it were, left. Thomas was ordered to demon ing ve:ry little. Vicksburg in reverse. The supply situ strate against the centre. The plan Ever since his return from Pennsylva ation was obviously the first priority. called for Sherman to attack along the nia, Lee had wished to take the offen The men were slowly starving on quar line ofthe ridge but in the event. he was sive against Meade but the detachment ter rations and nearly all the animals held immobile by Cleburne's single of Longstreet to Bragg made this impos were dead. Thomas and his chief engi division. Instead it was Thomas' sol sible, for it reduced Lee's army to less neer, W.F. "Baldy" Smith, had not been diers who, totally without orders, at- that 50,000, about half as many as his 39 THE BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS 5th-6th May, 1864 Fought in the tangle of undergrowth that had overset Joe Hooker. the battle ofWildemess was a total and bloody confusion. Normally steady troops often broke ·and ran when unexpected attacks broke out of tangled vegetation a bare 20 yards away and on both sides units tended to become mixed. making the transmission of orders difficult. Three main roads led into the Wilderness from the west and south-west: the Tumpike and Plank Roads from Orange. and the Catharpin Road from Gordonsville. Ewell was ordered to take his corps along the plank road and form a defensive position and wait for Hill. on the Plank Road and Longstreet on the Catharpin to arrive. Longstreet had much farther to travel than the other two. Ewell deployed successfully and ran into Warren's corps. Initially. Ewell's forward brigade was routed but the attackers were soon outflanked and routed in their tum. Two more blue divisions were surprised and driven off. some fleeing into Confederate lines so completely had they lost their sense of direction. Ewell did not advance beyond his original position and spent the aftemoon digging in. Hill. coming slightly later up the plank road. made heavy contact with Hancock who had been given orders to backtrack from the Catharpin Road to deal with him. The terrain decisively favoured the Confederate defenders but it was still 25.000 versus 7.500 and Hancock would probably have broken through were it not for the fall of darkness. · Both commanders were planning attacks for the following day. Grant was sending Bumside to fill the gap between Warren and Hancock. Warren was to keep Ewell occupied while the main attack went in on Hill. Lee planned to shift Longstreet from the Catharpin Road to the Plank Road and have Hill sidle north to fill the gap. Longstreefs corps was delayed until well after sunrise. Hill's troops. who had neglected to entrench overnight. were pushed back. although in good order. and matters were getting critical when Longstreet's lead brigade finally arrived. By about 10.00 o'clock. the line had been restored. There was then something of a lull. Grant. at this point. had both flanks exposed and n9 centre. for Burnside had got himselflost in the tangle and was wandering around in circles with two divisions. Ironically. by having disappeared. Bumside put in an effective defense on the right flank. Gordon. commanding the Confederate far left bpgade repeatedly asked permission to attack the open flank but was refused because Burnside was unaccounted for. On the Union left. not only was Hancock's flank open. but an unfinished railroad cutting led right up to it. Longstreet was not the man to miss such an opportunity and he sent Sorrel with three brigades into the attack. At 11.00 am he exploded into the Union flank with dynamic results. As Hancock said to Longstreet years later "You rolled me up like a wet'blanket ... The Confederate units had become terribly mixed-up however and two actually started firing on each other. Longstreet went forward to stop it but was badly wounded ·and had to be carried from the field. Command went to General Field who spent the next four hours sorting the units back into some sort of order. At 6.00 pm Gordon finally got permission to attack the Union right when Lee himself came up to investigate. Burnside had by this time found the centre opposite Hill and his phantom flank protection worked no longer. Gordon charged in and started to roll up the flank~ but darkness fell before Grant suffered any major disaster. The following day saw both sides entrenched and very little fighting. Grant had been decisively beaten. losing 17.666 casualties to his opponent's 7 .BOO and being turned on both flanks. It was a far worse disaster than Hooker had suffered on the same ground. Unlike Hooker. however. Grant managed .to avoid defeat by the simple expedient of refusing to acknowledge it. He marched for Spotsylvania and Lee would have to do his work all over again. opponent. However. when he later between the Rapidan and the Rap Railroad. On 14th. A.P. Hill saw what learned that Meade had detached two pahannock. With the example of he thought was an opportunity to corps to help Grant at Chattanooga. he Chickamauga to spur them on. the snare half a Union corps, caught mid decided to try and repeat his success Confederate army marched in high way across Broad Run and milling in against Pope in a similar position the spirits. confusion. year before. Meade. however. did not stop to contest Impetuous as always. he sent two of his On 9th October he started his march the crossing of the Rappahannock as brigades in at the double but it was a north and. sure enough. Meade. like Pope had done but continued to fall well-laid trap. Warren's corps was hid Pope. fell back from the constricting "'V' back along the Orange and Alexandria ing behind a railway embankment and 40 they fired full into the Confederate action, Nov. 30, 1863". The attack proposes to pardon us and not to plun flank. With misguided instinct the never happened, however. Warren re der us of anything more than the prop Confederate troops turned and charged ported to Meade that the attack no erty already stolen from us ... [he prom their attackers but it was two brigades longer looked feasible and Meade, ises] to support with his army one tenth against three divisions and they were coming to see for himself, agreed. of the people of any state who will cut to pieces - 1400 killed or wounded Warren's soldiers could be seen walk attempt to set up a government over the and 450 taken prisoner. ing about with relieved grins, both other nine tenths." Lee continued the pursuit but found Warren and Meade having risen sub Perhaps so, but Lincoln's interest in that Meade had entrenched in a strong stantially in their esteem for having the reconstruction ahead of revenge was by position along the Centetville-Chan moral courage to cancel a wrong order. no means universal in the north. It is a tilly ridge. With the weather getting ever Meade pulled out after sunset on Dec. measure of his greatness as a states colder and with an inadequate supply 1st. Lee had actually ordered an attack man that he was prepared to ignore all line, Lee's ragged troops were in no for the morning of 2nd but his men that had happened if only the Union condition to remain in the area and on charged into a vacuum. Annoyed, Lee could be reconstructed. It is also a 17th, Lee withdrew. Meade sent his set offin pursuit but Meade's head start measure of his shrewdness as a politi cavalcy in pursuit but regretted it when was enough to take him back across cian that, as a President seeking re they were ambushed by J eb Stuart and the Rapidan. Both sides moved into election, he sought to increase his routed. camps and prepared to endure the power base with a civilian population Meade himself advanced much more winter. presumably happy to have such a pain slowly, having to repair the railroad as less end to an increasingly painful war. he came, but by the end of the month he THE TEN PERCENT was back on the Rappahannock where GRANT IN COMMAND Lee had entrenched. It was a strong SOLUTION position, but a sharp night attack on The Boss Takes Over Kelly's Ford successfully turned Lee's On the first day of 1863 Lincoln had position and he was forced back across signed the Proclamation of Emancipa In Februacy of 1864, Congress passed a the Rapidan. tion. Now, at the end ofthat same year, bill reviving the rank of lieutenant in his address to Congress, he an general, previously only held by George At the end of November, Meade, en nounced two more Proclamations. Washington and Winfield Scott. On 1st couraged by intelligence reports that Lee's army was down to about 40,000 The first was a declaration of amnesty. March, Lincoln signed the bill and immediately promoted Ulysses S. (its actual total was 48,000) against his He promised full executive pardon to all Grant to the position. On 8th March, own 84,000 and by his recent encoun Confederates - with a few exceptions Grant arrived in Washington to receive ters with that army, crossed over the such as high ranking officers or holders his new commission. Rapidan into the fringe of the Wilder of public office - who were prepared to ness area where Hooker had failed so take an oath of loyalty to the govern Grant replaced Halleck as general-in signally seven months previously. Un ment and support the Emancipation chief and Halleck moved to the new like Hooker, Meade employed no decep Proclamation, with all the related slav position of "chief of staff'. It was here tion but relied solely on speed and ety acts. The second followed from the that Halleck's talents were put to full superior numbers, hoping to catch his first and stated that as soon as ten use. His meticulous concern for the enemy unprepared. percent of the registered 1860 voters details of administration and logistics had taken the oath, the state would be removed from Grant the burden of There were delays, however, and by the readmitted to the Union with full paperwork and enabled the general-in time the first troops arrived at Mine constitutional rights. This would prove chiefto concentrate on overall strategy. Run they found Lee entrenched behind in the future to be a vecy useful mecha His grand strategy was fairly simple. seven miles of earthworks, with all nism for easing southern states back Sherman, who took over command of approaches cleared and covered by into the Union. the armies of the west, would advance overlapping fire. Meade was deter Reactions were, of course, varied. In on Atlanta, the last Confederate east mined to break the line if he could find the north it mostly received support al west rail-link. Grant, simultaneously, a weakness. though few went as far as the 'fribune would advance on Richmond. Whoever When Sedgwick and Warren reported in stating that "no President's message achieved the objective first would weaknesses on the flanks he ordered a since George Washington ... has given march to join the other for the final kill. dawn assault by Warren while such general satisfaction as that sent And over and above all this, the armies Sedgwick pounded the opposite end of to Congress by Abraham Lincoln to must keep on fighting \).ntil, if for no the line with artillety. day." In the south it was somewhat the other reason, they would have won by Warren's soldiers were appalled by the other way. Jeff Davis was outraged: sheer attrition. prospect, and most sat down to write "If we will break up our government, This last was what Lincoln had seen farewell messages to their loved-ones. dissolve the Confederacy, disband our from the first and for more than three Some cynics even wrote their names on armies, emancipate our slaves, take an years he had been looking for what he pieces of paper, fastened to their oath of allegiance binding ourselves to called a "killer arithmetician". In Grant clothes with the message "Killed in him and to disloyalty to our states, he he had such a man. 41 The first major problem Grant had to Still, it soon became obvious that Grant Towards sunset, Gordon's Brigade face was that the three-year enlist meant business. He pulled many back started rolling up the Union right flank ments were running out. 455 of the 956 line regiments out of their cushy billets but received inadequate support. The volunteer infantry regiments and 81 of into the front line, including many of third day was mostly spent digging by the 158 volunteer artillery batteries the Washington defence units. Even both sides. were due to complete service. The army teamsters were taken from their wag Despite the confusion, it was clear that could not surv1ve the loss of half its ons and g1ven Spnngnelds. He had no Grant had been decisively defeated. He volunteer force, and the veteran half at flair for, or interest in, military polish, had lost 17,666 casualties to Lee's that. Grant therefore decided to appeal although he could often be seen on 7,800 (a ratio as bad as Burnside's at to two of man's most basic instincts: inspection, and he ignored irrelevan Fredericksburg and with a higher to greed and pride. cies (for instance, he took no action tal), he had had both flanks turned Greed was appealed to in the form of a against soldiers who, disgruntled at (even Hooker had only lost one flank) $400 bounty, plus whatever the home being re-organized, wore in a parade and his way forward was completely town civilians were willing to put up. their old corps caps with the new ones blocked. This was familiar territory to Pride was utilized on two levels. First, pinned on the seats of their trousers.) the soldiers of both sides. The next individual pride: the man who re-en He gave the impression of solidity, un move was for Grant to retreat, a new listed would be classified as a "volun likely to crack under pressure. As one general to be appointed, the army re teer veteran" and would wear a special recruit remarked "We all felt at last that organized and, eventually, the whole chevron. Second, unit pride: any regi the boss had arrived". dreary process would be repeated ment re-enlisting 75% of its former By the beginning of May, "the boss" was agaip.. Sure enough, the army marched members would retain its organiza ready to move and he sent Sherman a out'that night but the Union soldiers tional status. This latter, of course, put message, letting his subordinate offthe were surprised (and elated) when, in regimental commanders, keen to retain leash. The great steam-roller ground stead of going back, they advanced their rank and position, right behind slowly into action. down the Brock Road, heading for the idea. The plan worked well, and Spotsylvania. This was no Joseph 136,000 men signed up again, al Hooker. This was the killer arithmeti though most were in the west where THE FORTY DAYS cian and he was prepared to utilize the morale was much higher. grim formula right to the end. On 4th May, the Army of the Potomac, Where possible, Grant got rid of com began the now familiar march south. The man probably least surprised by manders who were incompetent or Grant planned to follow the route taken the manoeuvre was the man it was unwilling to fight. Sheridan (who com by Hooker and Meade through the wil designed to surprise - General Robert manded an infantry regiment at Chat derness area around Chancellorsville E. Lee. "Grant is not going to retreat," tanooga) was brought east to command but hoped, by dint of speed, to be out of he told his subordinates. "He will move 13,000 troopers of the cavalry division. the tangle before he encouptered Lee. his army to Spotsylvania." This appar A bizarre figure with a close-cropped, ent reading of his opponent's mind was bullet head, sporting a black mous Butler, meanwhile, was ordered to actually a solid understanding of the tache and with short legs and long arms move the Army of the James up the strategic realities. If Grant could hold (the type, Lincoln remarked "that can Yorktown p~ninsula and invest Spotsylvania, he would be between Lee scratch his shins without having to Richmond from .the east and south - a and Richmond and Lee would be stoop over"), he had the aggressive move which'Giant hoped would dis obliged to attack him in an entrenched qualities that Grant required and tract Lee more than jl' little. position, leading to almost certain dis would walk around the camps repeat Things _pid not quite go according to aster. Lee sent Anderson at the double. ing "Smash 'em up! Smash 'em up!" and plan. Like Hooker, Grant failed to clear He made it in time, but a minute later hitting his hand with his fist. the Wilderness before he was brought would have been too late. Fitz Lee's Initially, Grant was highly unpopular to battle. The three-day encounter was cavalry was attempting to delay the with the Army of the Potomac. Many of very confused but went heavily against advancing blue column and the attack the new recruits were low quality the Union forces. on their improvised breastwork was humanity, with numerous bounty On the first day, Warren ran into Ewell, actually moving in when Anderson's jumpers (men who would enlist for the pushed him back,. was counter-at lead regiment came up, literally at the bounty, desert, and then enlist again tacked in tum and later, almost out run, and the attack was narrowly re under another name) and camp disci flanked by Hill, who was stopped by pulsed. pline had to be tightened. Even more Hancock. On the 6th, Hancock pushed There was fighting at various points unpopular was his putting an end to forward but was stopped by throughout the day but the Confeder prisoner-of-war exchanges. Militarily Longstreet's arrival. About mid-_day, an ate position held. During skirmishing this was a sound decision, increasing attack by Sorrel broke into Hancock's on the following day, the 9th, Grant lost the rate of attrition on the Confederacy left flank, but he eventually succeeded one of his best subordinates to a and giving it extra mouths to feed, but in rallying his troops. Burnside spent sniper. Major-General John Sedgwick, to the men, many of whom had suffered most of the day lost in the tangle of attempting to instil confidence in his the starvation rations in the Confeder underbrush but eventually s-ucceeded troops, came up with his now famous ate P.O.W. camps it seemed harsh. in finding Hill, who repulsed his attack. last words: "they couldn't hit an ele- 42 phant at this distance", just seconds would attack this isolated corps and Wright had arrived with three divisions before the bullet penetrated his brain. then the rest of the troops could be to relieve Sheridan and the position was The 1Oth and 12th saw hard fighting, brought up, forcing Lee to a full-scale held. Lee's army abandoned hope of particularly around a small salient battle in the open. Lee declined the taking out a portion of Grant's army known to the men as "the mule shoe". gambit, however, and marched south and once again dug in for defence. On On 12th, Hancock made a successful so that when Grant arrived on the June 1st-3rd Grant launched a series penetration, capturing 3 generals, North Anna he found Lee entrenched in of frontal attacks against Lee's strong thirty guns and an entire division of another strong position. position and was bloodily repulsed men but that was the sum total of the Here, Lee had set a cunning trap, which every time. His losses were in the.ratio success. There was sporadic fighting Grant did not at first recognize. He had of about five Union to one Confederate the following week as Grant searched disposed his army in a wedge south of and even Grant could see that this for a weakness but failed to find one. On the North Anna, with the apex touching arithmetic was not going to work. 20th, he started another flanking theriveratOxFord. WrightandWarren There was a pause while Grant took movement. crossed upstream and Hancock down stock and his critics pointed out that he Meanwhile, a number of other Union stream and they were moving in when had reached the same position that activities had been rewarded with indif they suddenly realized that Lee could McClellan had two years ago, except ferent success. Sheridan was sent on a fight a holding action on one side of the that Grant had had to pay 50,000 casu cavalry raid on 9th May but his com wedge, moving the bulk of his army to alties for the privilege. Nevertheless, parative inexperience at handling defeat part of Grant's in detail. The despite all the defeats and casualties, horsemen meant that little was Union army started entrenching at a Grant's plan was essentially working achieved. He took 300 captives and frantic rate. In the event, however, no well. His constant pressure on Lee freed 400 Union prisoners but un attack came for Lee has been struck prevented any troops being sent to aid doubtedly the best result of the raid. down by an intestinal complaint and Johnston in front of Atlanta where (from the Union point of view) was that had been obliged to take to his cot. Sherman was advancing steadily. Fur Jeb Stuart was mortally wounded in a Grant disengaged and sidled to the left thermore, although Confederate losses battle at Yellow Tavern. Sheridan once more. were much lower than Union, they had reached Butler on the James river on There was a brief confrontation near still lost 27,000 men- a full40% of the 14th and rested a few days before re Atlee, with a large cavalry battle, then army - and two dozen general officers turning to Grant. Grant moved sideways once more to were dead, captured or seriously Butler himself had failed totally at his Cold Harbor, where he would link up wounded. appointed task. Moving his army out with Smith's corps from Butler's army, On 12th June, Grant did his last sidle, against the Richmond defences, he now in the process of landing at White crossing the James and attempting to suddenly lost his nerve, ordering every House. Once again however, Lee had come at Richmond from the south one back to their original lines. As the read his opponent's mind and he sent through Petersburg. Although Lee sue- Richmond defenses were very under Fitz Lee and the manned at this time it is likely that a cavalry to hold Cold bold advance would have succ~eded. A Harbor until the few days later, Beauregard arrived and infantry arrived. succeeded in penning Butl .r into a May 31st saw an peninsula formed by a bend in the all-day cavalry en James. gagement there. Sigel was supposed to be moving in the Sheridan suc Shenandoah Valley and he was, but ceeded in taking the unfortunately, in the wrong direction. place as night fell On 15th May he had met Breckinridge but he could see at New Market, had been decisively Confederate in fan defeated, and was consequently in re try arriving and he treat back up the valley. The only good sent a message that thing from Grant's point of view was he did not think he that it gave him the excuse to relieve could hold it. Meade Sigel who was replaced by Major Gen and Grant dis eral David Hunter. agreed and sent With Butler bottled, Grant's task be back word to hold came that much harder but he perse "at all hazards". vered, sending for those of Butler's Lee was still stric troops who were not necessary to hold ken by his illness off Beauregard. He started a new turn and the subsequent ing movement se'riding Hancock's Confederate attack corps around to the left towards Ha was bungled. By The Victor of Atlanta noverJunction. The hope was that Lee mid-morning, William Tecumsah Shennan 43 THE BATTLE OF ATLANTA 22nd July, 1864 ceeded in covering once more, the situ ation had developed into a siege, the In replacing Johnston with Hood, the Confederate High Command one thing he wished to avoid. As Beau expected an aggressive approach to Sherman's advance on Atlanta. In regard had wamed a few weeks earlier this regard, Hood did not fail to deliver. On July 20th he made a sortie "The picture presented is one of ulti mate starvation." which became known as the Battle of Peachtree Creek. Launched against the rock-steady Thomas, it achieved little but on the following day Wheeler's cavalry reported that McPherson, on the Union left, had SHERMAN ON THE neglected to protect his flank. Hood saw an opportunity here for a decisive victory and sent Hardee on a circuituous night-march, with MARCH orders to attack the exposed flank at dawn. He withdrew the rest of his 1. Chattanooga to Atlanta troops to Atlanta's inner defences and sent Wheeler to attack Decatur To oppose Sherman, Joe Johnston was and the Union baggage train. appointed commander ofthe Confeder Things did not go completely according to plan due partly to bad luck ate Army of Tennessee. Following and partly to bad management. There were delays in the process of dis Bragg, he would undoubtedly have engagement and it was not until 3 a.m. that the last of Hardee's corps been tolerated whatever his faults but he was an able commander with a real had left the Atlanta entrenchments. The men were also tired after the care for his men and he soon became heavy fighting on 20th and skirmishing on 21st. It was not until noon, extremely popular. therefore, that Hardee arrived at his objective and launched the attack. He commanded two corps under the The results were variable. Maney's division went in too far to the left and able Hardee and the aggressive Hood, hit an entrenched position. Cleburne, next in line, was much more together with cavalry under Joe successful and made a substantial penetration. On the right, however, Wheeler. Although outnumbered two to Bate and Walker ran into an unexpected defence. An entire Union corps, one, he was defending terrain most under Dodge, had spent the morning engaged in destroying the railroad unsuitable for attack and was fairly to the north and was marching back as Bate and Walker moved forward. confident of holding out. They immediately faced left and the column turned into a long defensive In Sherman, however, he had a skilled line. opponent. Sherman evolved a plan McPherson, one of the north's most able generals, was killed in the which he would use again and again on battle. He was over at headquarters with Sherman when he heard the the march to Atlanta. Using the de pendable Thomas as the main column, firing and went across to investigate. ~e ran into Cleburne's penetra he would send Schofield to the north tion, ignored a call to surrender and was shot down as he tried to ride and McPherson to the south, threaten away. Sherman sent few re-inforcements across, wanting to give ing Johnston's supply lines and forcing McPherson's veterans a chance for revenge. him to retreat. His faith in them was warranted. There was hard fighting around Bald Sherman also had a specially trained Hill, held by Leggett but the gallant corps commander Logan took unit whose sole job was to repair rail command of McPherson's army and the critical point held. At the end roads. As he advanced down the rail of the day, Hood had nothing to show for his efforts except for 8,000 line, therefore, he was able to maintain casualties to Sherman's 3,700. Unlike Johnston, Hood did not fully his supply line despite the damage done appreciate that aggression was not necessarily the better part of valour. by the retreating army and by cavalry raiders. All through May and into the middle of man frontally assaulted Johnston's take stock and was contemplating his July, Johnston conducted a series of position and was repulsed at a cost of difficulties when Jefferson Davis, un skillfully managed retreats, delaying 1,999 casualties to the Confederate satisfied with Johnston's apparently Sherman as much as possible but 442. Sherman had hoped that unaggressive stance, replaced him with always escaping with his army intact. Johnston's centre was weak, which it Hood. Sherman felt this to be a distinct On the whole, there was little serious wasn't, but he did not count the attack advantage. He had immense respect for fighting. Sherman complained that the as a total waste for it had shown Johnston and was proud of having out whole country was "one vast fort, and Johnston that he was prepared to at manoeuvred him. Lee had once de Johnston must have fifty miles of con tack entrenchments and Johnston scribed Hood as "All lion, none of the nected trenches." Still, Johnston had a must therefore keep them well fox" and his ill-considered aggression similar complaint for Sherman moved manned. made Sherman's task much easier. his large army cautiously, never giving By mid-July, after a long, slow waltz On 20th, as Sherman was pushing Johnston opportunity for a counter across the red-clay country, Sherman towards Atlanta, Hood attacked Tho attack. was across the Chattahoochee River mas on the march at Peachtree Creek The only serious battle was at Kenne and only six-miles north of the strong but was beaten off at a cost of 4, 796 saw Mountain on June 27 where Sher- Atlanta defences. Sherman paused to casualties to Thomas' 1,799. On 22nd 44 FRANKLIN 30th November 1864 the city on 1st September and it was After Sherman took Atlanta, Hood obtained permission to launch what occupied by Sherman on 2nd. Sherman was to be a futile expedition into Tennessee. On 28th-29th Schofield, prepared for his raid to the coast by retreating north, had escaped from a trap, largely due to a mix-up of destroying the enemy's potential base orders on Hood's side. Hood was absolutely furious and it is possil?le behind him. On 7th September he or dered the city evacuated, deaf to any that this warped his judgement. protests. "War is cruelty, " he said "and He arrived at Franklin to find Schofield dug in and in the process of you cannot refine it." repairing the bridge across the Harpeth River so that he could continue towards Nashville. Two of Hood's seven divisions were still well to the 2. Hood Heads North rear, as well as all but eight of his guns, so he had with him about Following the loss of Atlanta, Hood 30,000 men. Schofield was entrenched with 34,000 and 60 guns. received permission from Davis to move Furthermore, there was two miles of open plain before the town. Hood's west and attack Sherman's communi subordinates were aghast when he ordered a general attack but, in the cations. Sherman wasted some time grand tradition ofAmbrose E. Bumside, he refused to listen and at 4.00 trying to pin the elusive army down but o'clock, about one hour before sunset, the attack went in. eventually reverted to his original plan for the massive raid across Georgia, Initially the attack went surprisingly well, due to a mistake on the JeavingThomas to deal with the defense Union side. Wagner had two ofhis brigades in a forward position across of Tennessee. the tumpike, about half a mile in front of the main defences. As Hood's On 21st November, Hood crossed the army started forward he neglected to send a message ordering the two Alabama/Tennessee border and on brigades to retreat and the colonel's in charge delayed to fire volley's 27th he made contact with Schofield into the approaching enemy. .They left their retreat too late and were and about 30,000 men at Columbia. swamped and routed by the oncoming charge. As they ran back, Hood turned his position and Schofield Cheatham's and Brown's divisions followed in close pursuit and were was rather casual about his retreat, thus shielded from hostile fire. They broke into the entrenchments and leaving himself wide open to attack. tried to tum the guns there on the defenders but the horses had bolted Hood was fully aware of this but, for with the primers. Suddenly, tired from having run half a mile, they reasons that are still unclear, his order to attack was never carried out and found themselves under fire from two dozen guns and when the Schofield escaped to his prepared forti reseiVe, under Opdycke, charged in, they were forced to fall back and fications at Franklin. tcy to find cover outside the works. There, on 30th November, the impetu- This was the high point of the attack. French, Walthall and Loring, , ous Hood launched a series of badly co attacking the Union left, were caught in heavy fire from across the river ordinated attacks, not waiting for his from Fort Granger and from masked batteries, and in small arms fire artillery to arrive. It was a dreadfully from entrenched troops armed with repeating rifles. At 7.00 pm, an botched job and although charges hour after full darkness, Hood committed the resetves but although continued to go in until 9.00 pm they fighting went on until9.00 o'clock nothing was achieved. had no effect whatsoever. Schofield retired during the night towards the Schofield retreated during the night and Hood had wrecked his army. safety of Nashville, some twenty-five Six generals were killed, including the highly competent Clebume, one miles north. Union casualties had been captured and five badly wounded. 6,252 veterans were casualties, 2,326. Hood had lost 6,252 including including 1, 750 dead. Schofield had suffered 2,326 casualties and was five generals killed, one captured and falling back on re-inforcements. Hood continued the pursuit to Nash six wounded. ville, to lose heavily in a battle with Thomas on 15th December, but Hood followed on to Nashville but his essentially, any hope of a successful campaign ended here at Franklin. position was becoming hopeless. Tho mas, in command, now had 55,000 men behind strong fortifications. Hood he cleverly turned McPherson's left us." This was not apparent to Hood, also dug in but he was ill-equipped to flank using Hardee's corps in a move however, for on 28th he attacked again, cope with the freezing weather and the ment which would probably have won this time losing 5,000 casualties to an army's morale was dropping daily. the battle in the first years of the war approximate 600 inflicted. After this, Thomas would have been quite happy but Sherman's veteran army refused to Hood finally got the message and re to wait until the Confederates froze panic and the attack was eventually tired behind his siege works. solid but pressure from Washington beaten off. Hood lost around 10,000 Sherman had no intention of attacking forced him to attack. On 15th Decem men in this encounter which, out of an him, however. He attempted to cut ber he moved, turning the Confederate army of 40,000, was far beyond what he Hood's communications with his cav left flank which crumbled towards could afford. Sherman wrote back to alry and, when that failed, he cut loose sunset and Hood's army was pushed his wife "I am glad when the enemy from his base and used the army to do back about two miles. The next day, attacks, for the advantage then is with the job. Hood was obliged to evacuate following a two-hour artillery bombard- 45 ment, Thomas attacked again. Several How the sweet potatoes even started be able to re-inforce Sherman if Lee assaults were repulsed but in mid-af from the ground, tried to use his interior lines and attack ternoon the left was penetrated and the As we marched through Georgia." him. Wilmington was taken without op position broke apart. Hood had lost position on 22nd February. Savannah could not attempt to hold 1,500 killed and 4,500 captured. out against Sherman's force and the Sherman had not waited long at Savan Hood managed to get the remnants of 10,000 garrison troops escaped on a nah and was soon on the march again, his army back to Tupelo, Mississippi, pontoon bridge. Sherman, in high spir despite the dreadful winter weather. but the last Confederate offensive was its, sent Lincoln the following message: Hardee and Beauregard still had ar over. mies but by concealing his objectives "I beg to present you, as a Christmas Sherman managed to evade them, al gift, the city of Savannah, with 150 3. Marching Through though it is unlikely that either could heavy guns and plenty of ammuni~ion; have done more than slow him down. Georgia also about 25,000 bales of cotton" Stopping overnight in a cold, deserted On 12th November, Sherman marched mansion he added his personal mite to towards the Atlantic coast from At the general destruction by feeding the lanta. Or rather, from where Atlanta THE ROAD TO bedstead into the fireplace. had been, for on his departure he APPOMATTOX burned the city to the ground. He aimed Columbia, taken on 17th February, his march between Macon and Au The strangulation "anaconda" policy, lost rather more than an old bedstead gusta, leaving his opponents unclear as first proposed by Winfield Scott at the as two-thirds of it was burned down, al to his objective. In fact, he went for very beginning of the war, was moving though it must be said that Sherman's neither city. His objective was the into its final phase and the Confeder men acted here on their own initiative Confederate economy and he concen acy was being crushed in its coils. In and Sherman did his best to put out the trated his work of destruction upon the the final three months of the war, with flames. railroads and the farms. superior forces in all Departments, On the principle that changing naviga The Confederacy attempted to raise a Grant could do virtually as he wished. tors might stop the ship sinking, the force to stop him but the motley collec The Atlantic port of Wilmington was Confederacy shuffled commanders and tion of fragmented units and over-aged still open and blockade runners were Joe Johnston took command of all the reseiVes came to no more than 14,000 still getting a trickle of supplies forces in North Carolina. Lee, the mir effectives - pitiful when compared with through to Richmond via the railway. acle man, was appointed general-in Sherman's 62,000 veterans. Bragg, for Fort Fisher, at the mouth of the estu chief of the armed forces, which might once, summed up the situation well: "I ary, was taken on 15th January, by a have done some good in 1_862 but was must candidly express my belief that no heavy bombardment. Grant then or by now no more than a gesture. In any practicable combinations of my avail- · dered Schofield and his 20,000 strong case, Davis had been following Lee's able men can avert disaster."· Army of the Ohio to North Carolina to advice throughout the war. The march .was in two large columns . take Wilmington. The capture of Fort Never the man to do a double overkill under Howard and Slocum and by th·e Fisher had closed the port to the block when a triple was available, Grant or time Savannah had been· reached on ade runners but Grant wanted the port dered further raids to break up what 1Oth December the destruction had itself in Union hands. The other reason was left of the Confederate army and been tremendous. Over ·200 miles of for moving Schofield was that he would economy. Stoneman was ordered to railroad had been destroyed and the rails heated on burning cross-ties and twisted into "Sherman neckties". Apart from the hard ·work this entailed the expedition was regarded by the army as a sort of holiday. They· dined well on what was taken from the farms and what could not be eaten was killed or burnt. About 10,000 slaves were freed or deserted-. Sherman estimated dam ageat'$100,000,000.about one fifth of which -- was "inured· to our advantage" and "the remainder.is simple waste and destruction." The expedition was ·even commemo- rated in song: . . "How the darkies shouted when the heard the joyful sound, How the turkeys gobbled which our Richmond Ablaze commissary found, Corifederate forces bum supplies before abandoning their capital 46 conduct a cavalry .raid into East Ten two armies that the nessee from Knoxville. Wilson, with Union forces carried 12,500 troopers was ordered into Ala on quite calmly with bama where Nathan Bedford Forrest a review before was still on the loose. Canby with Grant and Lincoln, 38;000 infantry was ordered to take just behind where Mobile and move into Alabama. Due to the attack came in. delays, neither of the cavalry raids got An all-out attack by underway until March and Canby was the once-feared still besieging Mobile in April but the Army ofVirginia was lack of these supporting movements brushed off as an made little difference to Sherman. irrelevancy. Johnston really had no chance. He did On 1st April, Sheri his best, with gadfly attacks but he was dan broke the outnumbered, and his troops out Southside Railroad, classed, by what was probably now the defeating Pickett in finest army in the world. the Battle of Five About the only thing that served to Forks. He was now -. The Aftermath of War raise Confederate morale was a cavalry at Lee's rear, with The Richmond & Petersburg Railroad Station battle in South Carolina where the Lee's last supply line Union Brigadier General Judson Kilpa - the Richmond and trick was surprised while asleep and Danville Railroad - his for the taking. cal phrase read "each officer and man nearly captured. Like a lover surprised Lee ordered the immediate evacuation will be allowed to return to their homes, · by the returning husband he leapt out ofRichmond. President Davis and such not to be disturbed by the United States of bed and fled without even bothering gold as was still left in the treasury were authority so long as they observe their to put on his trousers. His poise on loaded aboard a special train and sent paroles and the laws in force where they shattered, the resourceful general then south. may reside." Effectively, this was im succeeded in rallying his troops and the Lee's last chance was to link his army munity from prosecution for war activi attack was finally beaten off, ending with Johnston's. He set off along the ties, which was even more generous what became known as "the Battle of line of the Appomattox River, seeking a than Lincoln's earlier proclamation of Kilpatrick's Pants". point at which he could turn south. But amnesty which had held no such guar Arrtving at Fayetteville, North Carolina, Grant kept his army moving in parallel antee for high-ranking officers. Not in on 11th March, Sherman reported "the arid it was impossible. Besides, the cluded in the terms, but allowed by utter demolition of the railroad system men had had enough. Personal loyalty Grant anyway, men who owned horses of South Carolina, and the utter de kept Lee's veterans with him but they were permitted to take them home for struction of the enemy's arsenals at knew the Confederacy was finished. use on their farms. Such terms made it Columbia, Cheraw and Fayetteville." At One qf Longstreet's veterans put it much easier for other commanders to Goldsboro, on 23rd March, he paused rather well: surrender over the next few weeks. to rest his army and see the railroad to "My ·shoes are gone; my clothes are al Such a promising start was shattered the coast repaired. At the end of the most. gone. I'm weary, I'm sick, I'm. five days later by a bullet, fired at Ford'~ month he visited Grant at Petersburg to hungry, My family·has been killed or Theatre in Washington by one John· plan the final movements. scattered, and may now be wandering Wilkes Booth, which took the life of Inside the ·Richmond fortifications, helpless and unprotected. I would die; Abraham Lincoin.. Lincoln was proba Lee's army had been slowly.starving, yes, I would die·willingly because I love bly the one man in America with the with rations down to a pint of cornmeal my country. But if this war is ever over, insight, the moral courage and the po per day and sometimes "a piece of I'll be damned if I ever love another litical strength to deal with all the prob bacon large enough to grease your country!" lems of a post-war reconstruction. palate." Morale plummeted and be By the time they reached the Appomat Edmund Ruffin, the man who fired the tween 15th February and 18th March, tox Court House, Grant had succeeded first shot at Fort Sumpter, refused to almost eight percent of the army de in pushing men in front of the retreat live under the "perfidious, malignant serted. Grant did little throughout the ing army and Lee knew the end had and vile Yankee race" and put a bullet siege, except to extend his line south come. On 9th April, down to 12,500 through his brain. Few went to these ward, stretching Lee's already thin men, he surrendered. lengths but many shared his feelings. resources. The negro was emancipated but there On 25th March, Lee attempted a were no powerful persons to look after breakout at Fort Stedman but, despite RECONSTRUCTION his interests and many ended-up some initial penetration, the debili share-cropping on their old planta tated and outnumbered attackers were Grant's terms to Lee were generous and tions. Even in the north, most regarded soon driven off with heavy losses. It is a set the pattern for further surrenders the negro as an inferior species of reflection on the relative states of the by other Confederate armies. The criti- humanity. In the south, prejudice was 47 worse. In 1866, the first Ku Klux Klan occurred. You can quote me on that Is there any way to pick up garrison meeting was held .and it grew rapidly, statement anytime you like. troops once landed? Sometimes the .appointing General Nathan Bedford Take care and keep in touch. opposing armies fold up much easier Forrest as "Grand Wizard". Apart from than expected and one is left with too Richard Mataka its sheer nastiness it was used as a many garrison troops, unnecessarily political tool by conservative leaders to Staten Island, NY. eating up the already limited RPs on drive a wedge between white and black. USA conquered worlds. There seems to be In 1868 Grant was elected President. no way out. Shouldn't you be able to build transports up to the number of He was a classic example of the "Peter Dear Sirs, Principle" in action - a man promoted garrison armies? One can build all completely beyond his level of compe I recently purchased Reachfor the Stars other classes of ships. tence. As a general he had engineered for the Mac. I had owned the first edi It would be nice if the Full Map could be northern victory. As a President he was tion for the Apple II several years ago. scrolled. I can picture the wrap-around lost. and unscrupulous subordinates Wow, what an improveme~tl Especially but it would be easier to judge distance took over. The administration was shot the Advanced Scenario. Absolutely if one could scroll the map around. fantastic. I became a fan of SSG early through with corruption and the weak It would seem to be better if there was ened south was exploited to the full. on. I guess that's obvious since I bought your first game. I had most of Roger an interlock between the end tum Overall, the war had cost over 600,000 Keating's SSI games already, so I natu button and the end production button. lives and had wounded another rally was interested in your company When I first started I often finished 400,000. Two million men had served from the start. production only to hit the wrong but- in the armed forces. Uncounted mil . ton. An "Are you sure?" window could lions of dollars had been spent on tlfese The first RFfS was good. Carriers at appear only if one pushed the end turn armies and further uncounted millions War blew Carrier Force out of the water. button 'Yithout first ending production. of dollars worth of property had been Then eve:ryone had to have a strategic bombing game like Europe Ablaze. As great as this game is, the handbook destroyed. A complete way of life in the is a little weak. I'm glad I had played the southern states had vanished utterly. ~ell, as much as I love SSI's offerings, I d like to see SSG beat them at some game before. I guess it's hard to write What could be shown on the other side for the novice when you've been around of the balance sheet? thing else. MORE MAC WAR GAMES! IIIII! the game for years. There is no mention Slaves, of course, had gained even if in of the overpopulation problem in the I've written and called them repeatedly many cases the initial gains were small. basic game except on the Errata sheet, about Mac software, but they don't Military expertise, for those who count and then it really only refers to the think it sells ve:ry well. But their best such to be a gain, had leapt forward advanced game. One likely wouldn't stuff isn't available. Computer Ambush with new tactics and weapons, al even find this comment until you had and North Atlantic '86 are fine, but though it would be twenty years before played the basic game several times. they're no Kampfgruppe. Also their Mac the armies of Europe caught up. The There is no explanation of what the conversions are not as easy to use as a main result, however, was that which effects may be. Riots are mentioned but Mac program should be. Yours is about for Lincoln had been the driving force no potential causes. ~e best conversion I've seen for taking all along - the Union had been pre advantage of the Mac interface. Plus Thanks for listening, and thanks in served and has not since been seriously they won't advertise in MacUser and advance for your answers to my ques challenged. It is notable that docu Mac World. I wonder why the sales tions. Keep up the great work. ments after the war tend to replace the suffer. Let's see some strategic simula Barty C. McCaslin phrase "The United States are" with tions up there with Falcon, Flight "The United States is". Falmouth ME, Simulator, Hardball, etc. USA For the common soldier, caught up in Almost all Mac owners I know used to the whirlwind, perhaps the most im have Apples, so we're the same people portant thing was that the war was that bought them before. From what Gentlemen, over. As one veteran put it "I've killed as the Designer's Notes say you are going Please sign me up for a one-year sub many of them as they have of me. I'm to be more intelligent. I hope so. I'll buy going home." + scription to Run 5with the disks. I have everything you can put out. I owned enclosed a check for $65. I have an your first three games, but have never Apple lie. player your land battle games. I'm sure How about a scenario of Custer's Last the same quality is there, though. More Continued from p.29 Stand or the Alamo. Maybe too blood conversions, quick! thirsty for general consumption. Oh well, enough stroking. I have a few I am really enjoying your games. Please questions about RFTS and minor com honestly say that SSG designs and keep up the good work! publishes the best historical simula plaints about the manual. David Schell tions available in the market today. Do PDBs assume your tech level in the They are state of the art and excellent advanced game as in the basic game? Is McLean, Virginia. representations of the battles as they tech level III still the maximum? USA 48 of Montezuma A Battle History of t e United States Marine Co s Fight the battles of Mexico City, Belleau Wood, lwo Jima, Okinawa- The Shuri Line, Okinawa The Last Redoubt, Pusan Perimeter, Inchon and Hue with the elite fighting men of the US Marines. Halls of Montezuma uses the Battlefront Game System with a number of enhancements. These include: night capable units, brittle units, new reports structure, new graphics, improved movement and regimental integrity, and enhanced AI routines. The battles are accompanied by detailed historical articles and players notes. Be the architect of victory with the complete wargame construction set Warplan™ and the total graphics editor Warpaint™. Alter any scenario or create new games with Warplan. Change the appearance and color of any game icon with Warpaint. Fight with the best in Halls of Montezuma from SSG. How to purchase. Visit your retailer or call Electronic Arts 800.. 245 .. 4525 (inCA call 800.. 562.. 1112) for VISA or Mastercard orders or write to Electronic Arts, P.O. Box 7530, San Mateo, CA 94403.
Decisive Battles of he American Civil War Vol. 1 Bull Run to Chancellorsville First Bull Run, Shiloh, Second Bull Run, Antietam, Federicksburg, Chancellorsville. Six crucial battles spanning the first half of The American CiYil War are recreated in SSG's DecisiYe Battles System. DecisiYe Battles is SSG's new grand tactical simulation, suitable for battles of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The many aspects of warfare arc integrated into an easy to usc system that takes ten minutes to learn. Like Grant at Shiloh and Lee at Antietam, you command an entire army. Your Corps, Divisions and Brigades dq~end upon your direction in battles ting up to four days. The American Civil War faithfully reflects the nditions and command structures of the time. On a pre-radio battlefield, ur command abilities will be stretched to the limit. Take control of your battlgfield with SSG's comprehensive wargamc construction set Warplan ll\l and the revolutionary graphics editor Warpain(f'!\l. Total command can be yours with The American Civil War from SSG. How to purchase. Visit your retailer or call Electronic Arts 800-245-4525 (inCA call800-562-1112) for VISA or Mastercard orders or \Vrite to Electronic Arts, P.O. Box 7530, San Mateo, CA 94403.