CSA Washington @ BG-Level

[Gael]

Although not as skilled as some, I have won the Battle of Washington as CSA a number of times at the lowest level (COLONEL), and have now found a way that I can win on the BG-Level of difficulty.

After winning thru Cold Harbor on CSA BG-level, I was looking several times at losses at Washington as I just did not have enough infantry troops to last thru the 2nd day when the Feds come at you with the rest of their practically double my 80,000 beginning infantry. 

When re-starting CSA camp after Cold Harbor this time, I applied the 22,000 replacement Soldiers into as many artillery units as I could.  The thinking was similar to what Napoleon faced during 1813-1814 -- when the troop quality and numbers go down, one has to raise overall firepower by increasing your number of big guns, which is what I went for in lieu of filling out solely with infantry as I had been doing - one artillery battalion per division (as suggested by some in this forum).  This time I was creating divisions with 2-3 artillery battalions each.  Then, I raised the infantry numbers in each division with the remaining replacement troops.  4 corps - 4 divisions - 4, 3, or 2 brigades per division (generally 3 per division - 1800 infantry - 1600 - 1600).

I did gain the Grand Victory in this manner, with Fed numbers at 160,554 infantry and 812 guns, with losses of 109,306 infantry, 421 guns, and 11,515 missing.  CSA numbers started at 79,919 infantry, 805 guns, with losses of 42,160 infantry and 227 guns.  I do point out the immense satisfaction of attacking forts on the first day with enough artillery to force the defending infantry on the walls back away from their positions prior to sending in surrounding infantry.  (During my losses, I had to send in infantry to storm the forts, with the attendant losses rapidly building up.)  When playing defense on the second day, it was my large number of CSA cannons that enabled me to hold lines and fortifications.

             --Gael

ADDITIONAL INSIGHTS of CSA 2nd Day:

1.  Bought maximum available 24 lb howitzers and 20 lb Parrots before battle

2.  Tactic: NEVER allow Fort DeRussy, Fort Stevens, and the fort in the southeast to be 100% surrounded

3.  Place infantry brigades in forts on ground level ONLY.  Use the brigade's skirmisher unit on the wall to minimize casualties to artillery.  During a Federal storming assault, THEN bring your fresh infantry brigade onto the top of the wall.  In addition, aim your remaining brigades inside fort at the coming assault location and they will help rout the attacking force using their weapons.

4. For DeRussy, Fort Stevens, and the fort in the southeast, use 4-5 artillery battalions - in the artillery positions and on top of the rear walls.  Use the small howitzers with their short range as a unit in the center of the fort to help repel attackers.

5.  Place a 20 lb Parrot battalion on the rear wall of each of the three primary forts.  With their power and extreme range use them primarily in counter-battery to keep the Fed artillery at arm's-length and attrit them.  Placement in the rear tends to keep them from becoming primary targets of the AI.

Edited October 29, 2017 by Gael
additional insights

[LAVA]

Well done!

Successfully winning the campaign on BG level is no small achievement.

[Andre Bolkonsky]

There is more than one way to skin a cat .  .  .  . 

 

Well Done. 

[The Soldier]

How on god's green earth did you field 800 guns?  As the Confederates?  I mean, I can capture loads, and buying the rest is mighty expensive.  Let alone fitting 800 guns into 5 corps.

[Gael]

Thanks Lava, Andre, and The Soldier!

I really respect and appreciate your comments!!!

               --Gael

[Grimthaur]

Wow 805 guns? How did you manage that? Impressive! Did you plan this right from the start of the campaign, stockpiling from battle 1? Ill give your approach a shot once i reach washington

[James Cornelius]

I am in the final campaign of the CSA on BG right now for the first time (I have beaten the US campaign on MG, but that was tricky too in some places - though I take pride in never losing a battle once I got past the first two, which I found to be the most difficult due to the lack of troops).

 

On that topic, I found some battles which I anticipated to be difficult rather easy, and others which I assumed would be a cinch were bloody nightmares. I have not lost a battle yet, though Stones River was exceedingly costly (27000 lost against 31000 Federals) and I just barely won Cold Harbor (casualties were 18k on my side vs 39k Union, but I lost the left flank in the final phase and had to rush the Union held VP - which they foolishly left unguarded to throw four or five divisions at the one I had holding Shady Grove/Left Flank).

 

I am dreading the assault on Washington. Despite my losses at Cold Harbor, I was able to replenish back to three corps of 4 divisions (2000 man brigades, usually four of them with one artillery battery per division with the exception of one cavalry division) so I anticipate being able to field a good 80,000+ men to take DC. Perhaps I will make a 4th corps to increase my artillery footprint according to your suggestion.

[Gael]

Grimthaur,

Upon thinking about your question, I think the best response is that I have a strong desire to wipe out Yankee guns whenever I get an opportunity to go after them with skirmishers and/or cavalry.  Even during 1st Manassas I was going counter-battery at the Stone Bridge (I lived in Manassas for 5 years and drove and walked around both battlefields almost every weekend) and knocking out batteries there, and when I flanked them on the left I always go for the battery there.  After all those battles, there were many guns in inventory that I didn't have to "buy" during the Washington camp.

              --Gael

[James Cornelius]

18 hours ago, Gael said:

Grimthaur,

Upon thinking about your question, I think the best response is that I have a strong desire to wipe out Yankee guns whenever I get an opportunity to go after them with skirmishers and/or cavalry.  Even during 1st Manassas I was going counter-battery at the Stone Bridge (I lived in Manassas for 5 years and drove and walked around both battlefields almost every weekend) and knocking out batteries there, and when I flanked them on the left I always go for the battery there.  After all those battles, there were many guns in inventory that I didn't have to "buy" during the Washington camp.

              --Gael

I've found the same. I try to keep a couple brigades of cavalry for just that purpose - once the infantry is engaged I try to loop around behind and take out a few batteries of artillery.

 

I just completed the Washington battle on BG difficulty. While it was "edge of my seat" for the final phase I held my ground pretty well. I had four corps, but the fourth had only three divisions (the others had four). Each corps was a little different (the 3rd had a division of cavalry) but I definitely had a higher percentage of artillery than I normally would - two or three divisions had as many as three batteries, but some only had one. The initial assault was pretty easy, but withstanding the Army of the Potomac was much more difficult.

 

But, I found it to not really be any harder than taking Richmond on MG difficulty. I guess I'll have to try this on MG also!