LAVA

I did. The Yanks lost 40,000 to my 10,000 at 2nd Bull Run and their army size based on Intelligence service is now 45-50K. Was there ever a doubt? I'll post the video later tonight.

So here is the problem going into 2nd Bull Run: I have 19,000 men and 16,000 recruits. Enemy forces are believed to be at 60-65,000 men. I can raise my army up to full strength (35,000 troops) by spending my reputation on money, however, by doing that my reputation will be in the toilet. After 2nd Bull Run you have the Antietam campaign where the USA can have up to 145,000 troops and they will bring them to the battle. Some folks simply walk away from that battle and take the loss, but a loss there is something like -45 reputation. For me that would be the end of the war. I've noted that many folks at this point in the campaign are facing an estimated 110,000 Yankees. And even though I am facing 65,000 men, they are sure to grow by at least 30,000 by the time I get to Antietam bringing them up to 95,000... given of course, that I don't lick them badly at 2nd Bull Run. So this is a huge point in the Campaign. Do I spend my reputation and try to change history by winning at Antietam or do I back away to live and fight another day and take the hit in reputation?

Wiping out the enemy is key in Legendary, IMO. If you don't their army will grow in size as will their experience and armament. Every time you fight a battle and some part of the enemy survives the engagement, they gain in experience and I do believe even the folks that shatter return to their recruit pool and bring their experience with them. I have played and won the Battle of Manassas Depot. Since Cedar Mountain I have not touched my army except to buy my reputation points. At present, I believe, my army has 13,000+ men and around 19,000 recruits. I have set-up my army twice now for 2nd Manassas but haven't played it yet and I plan to redo it yet again. I have been able to get pretty much every single recruit into my army but have not done so to my satisfaction. Hopefully soon I will have them prepared for battle and given my style, if they offer me the opportunity I will try to crush at least some portion of the Yankee army.

Nicely fought! You know you have them in the palm of your hands when you surround them in open terrain. Sometimes that means you have to "push" them a bit in the right direction but you definitely don't want to have them retreat into a forested area where they will tear you apart trying to polish them off.

Well done, mate! It's a really difficult battle and heavy losses... just the way it goes at Malvern Hill.

True enough... I have worn my men ragged. Promised a brutal campaign. After the depot mission I will probably have to use my Reputation to buy money. I have the troops... I just can't arm them all.

I seek to once again annihilate the Yankee army and the battle turns into a blood bath. Though I capture 1 brigade and 4 supply wagons, at least 4 brigades escape as I inflict 32,040 casualties and 104 guns on the Blue Bellies, but lose 12,467 men and 10 guns in the process. My bloodiest battle to date. I wipe out the Union Army at Cedar Mountain causing them 22,716 casualties and 48 guns to my 6,849 losses and 03 guns. My army is pretty tattered though and I am woefully short on cash.

I have finished playing Malvern Hill and Cedar Mountain and will publish the videos tomorrow. Here are my stats up to this point: Battle CSA Losses# USA Losses# USA Missing+ Potomac Fort 2,466/05 5,337/11 846 Newport News 1,652/02 4,925/00 0 1st Bull Run* 7,500/12 23,909/42 2,957 Ambush Convoy 283/00 1,870/00 308 Stay Alert 4,085/00 14,769/27 1,419 Shiloh* 9,471/05 28,449/62 0 1st Winchester 3,759/01 12,151/24 553 Cross Keys 3,690/01 15,149/00 0 Port Republic 2,769/00 11,451/50 1,069 Gaines Mill* 5,626/02 13,063/64 237 Malvern Hill* 12,467/10 32,040/104 1,190 Cedar Mountain 6,849/03 22,716/48 120 Totals 60,617/41 185,829/440 8,699 K/D Ratio: 3.06 # = men/guns + = included in loss numbers * = Grand Battle Once again I tried to wipe out the Union army in a Grand Battle, this time at Malvern Hill. Perhaps, I need to be a bit less aggressive...

You can also heal combat losses with "medicine." That means if you take 5,000 men of losses and have 10% Medicine, when you return to camp you will only have 4,500 actually missing, as 500 were returned to your brigades. There is an added bonus here as the folks that return to their brigades also bring the weapon they were carrying with them.

Nice well controlled battle. Great result!

Well... one of the few times I didn't wipe out the Yankee Army. I didn't play it very well and kept throwing my people into impossible positions trying to keep up the pressure. You can do a lot better than that.

At Gaines Mill I nearly wipe out the Yankee army, but run out of time. The Blue Bellies suffer 13,063 casualties and 64 guns to my 5,626 losses and 2 guns. Had I pushed a little harder I could have completely destroyed their army. An opportunity lost... damnit!

At Port Republic I demolish the Union Army. There casualties are 11,451 men and 50 guns to my 2,769 losses. I lose 2 valuable commanders though.... In this video I prepare my army for Gaines Mill in the Camp. The video is designed to give viewers an idea of how I view the campaign, prepare my troops to fight future battles. It gets a bit long at the end as I have to decide whether to buy an officer using my reputation... but I needed time to think, so sorry for the long delay.

At Cross Keys the Yankees outnumber me 2 to 1 and keep a sustained attack on my defensive position. The Blue Bellies receive 15,149 casualties to my 3,690 losses and 1 gun. Not only were we heavily outnumbered but the Yank army consists of all 2 star brigades. Cross Keys: I need to take back the initiative here or I'm going to get rolled soon...

Well done! Capturing their supplies with your General was both ballsy and hilarious! I finished my game this evening too. Losses about the same, but you killed a bunch of guns where I didn't. I played the game really safe.

Well done! A whole division routing into your rear is a real pain. You handed it well. Notice at time 26:00... you have been pushing them hard and they are falling back to the top right corner. You then move up the right side and push them away from the corner. It is really splitting of hairs here, but if you had slid your whole line to the left and upwards you would have trapped them in the corner and the finally whip out would have come quicker. But hey, you are consistently kicking my butt by winning battles with fewer casualties, so... what do I know.

He took it for the team. I left him there knowing he would eventually rout, but had I not, my right flank which was out in the wind would have been put in danger.

Beauregard Rivers wipes out the Yankee army, causing them 12,151 casualties and 24 guns while my army suffers 3,759 losses and 1 gun at 1st Winchester. As I approach Gaines Mill, having 2 cavalry brigades already, I'm thinking about creating a cavalry division... we'll see.

Col Kelly's videos are priceless, though they are a bit outdated due to the changes in the AI minding its flanks better... but still definitely is the Gold Standard. Another thing I like about your videos is that you don't stop play to issue orders. There isn't any gaming AI that can stand up to a good human. Being able to respond to surprises and think in advance is, IMO, one of the hallmarks of a really good player.

Your Stay Alert battle is probably the best battle of that scenario I have ever seen. Very well executed! As for Reputation and buying weapons... I am constantly buying weapons. So far I have bought at least 3 types of rifles and 12 pound Parrots. My reputation is consistently so low at times I end up with a -1 morale penalty. Because of this I think, I push so hard on medicine, because it not only returns me men, but those really expensive weapons that in general I could afford. So you are going to school me in using snipers, eh? Can't wait to see.

Interesting. I think I have pretty much about the same army set-up and total of troops, though I have lost more troops. At the present I believe I have 3 Politics and 5 Medicine. Which, I believe, goes to show, that if you fight tactically sound battles there are different ways to skin a cat. You're videos, BTW, are inspiring and show you have a superior knowledge of the game and very nice technique in maneuvering your troops. Unlike myself who knows what I want to do, but has more difficulty in execution. I blame it on my advanced age. Looking forward to more videos.

I'd be interested in seeing your videos. I don't think you need commentary really. You can put the relevant information in the description of the video. I'd still post them.

At Shiloh, I pierce the Union Center, take Pittsburgh Landing and crush the Yankee right flank. The Blue Bellies suffer 28,449 casualties and lose 62 guns to my 9,471 losses and 5 guns. Try as hard as I might, none of the Yankees surrender... but I deliver a heavy blow nonetheless.

Thanks, Contact. Practice, practice, practice! Here is the scenario Stay Alert. A bit of a chaotic start but I gain the upper hand and wipe out the Union Army inflicting 14,769 casualties and 27 guns to my losses of 4,085 men. I manage to capture a cavalry brigade, an infantry brigade and 2 (empty) supply wagons. On to Shiloh!

Fought the scenario "Stay Alert" tonight and will post the video tomorrow. Here is a summary of my results so far: Battle CSA Losses# USA Losses # USA Missing+ Potomac Fort 2,466/05 5,337/11 846 Newport News 1,652/02 4,925/00 0 1st Bull Run* 7,500/12 23,909/42 2,957 Ambush Convoy 283/00 1,870/00 308 Stay Alert 4,085/00 14,769/27 1,419 Totals 15,986/19 50,810/80 5,530 K/D Ratio: 3.18 # = men/guns + = included in loss numbers * = Grand Battle