BCH

Fourth attempt at Chickamauga.. CSA units made a beeline to the 'hidden' Union units.. the only survivors of that phase were the 3 Union Cavalry brigades which were further north on the map. One of the issues that I note with Chickamauga is that despite having a 6 in Logistics (30% extra ammo), the initial Union forces are usually out of ammo with a minute to go (or sooner) in the first phase. The Union units coming in for phase 2 of the first day do not seem to be in any better shape in regards to ammunition. Once the batteries run out of ammo, game over.. Off to find a better hiding place

Third attempt at Chickamauga.. Pretty much a disaster. The Union forces trying to defend the southern most crossings ended up surrounded. Intel at that point showed 29,967 CSA vs 9,031 Union (not deducting casualties, odds were about the same though). Increasing recon to 5 did help with the vanishing CSA skirmishers; most were spotted and stayed spotted if they were in range. Back to the drawing board...

Went back to a save right after Bayou Fourche I put the career point into recon to bring it up to 5.. Let's see if it allows me to spot those skirmishers sooner.

I see Chickamauga on MG level is a 'fun' battle Frankly, I do not see a counter to all the hidden CSA skirmishers on the second day; bad enough that the Union was out numbered way over 4:1 on the first day. Even my 2* skirmishers with the Marksmanship perk is not able to reliably spot them. Since the Union is coming in 3-4 brigades at a time from the western map edge; those 3* brigades are being reduced to almost half strength without them firing a shot. It seem obvious to me, that this map was originally designed to 'encourage' the detachment of skirmishers from brigades to probe the woods for enemy.. Now with only one skirmisher brigade per division, even my skirmishers are being slaughtered, because they are always flanked when they probe ahead of the Union line. If they stay back at the Union line, they suffer the same fate as Union Infantry.. shot down by hidden CSA units. I am open to suggestions.. but I suspect this might well be the end of the Union campaign for me on MG lvl

Beyond weird now... After battle report showed: Union vs. CSA Inf 9,750 vs. 16,305 Cav 0?* vs. 3,255 Art 2,190/88 guns 2,526/102 Losses Inf. 2,454 vs. 11,997 Cav 0?* vs. 1,081 Art 71/1 vs. 1993/77 Missing 0 vs. 533 ?* I went into battle with a 850 man cavalry unit armed with carbines; fortunately they did survive with only a loss of 96 men, I have no idea of why they are missing in the final report. The key to winning this battle was that the CSA AI pushed almost all their batteries forward of their defensive positions to fire on the Union brigades across the river. Two 3* 20pdr Parrots, one 3* 14pdr James, and one 2* 10 pdr Parrot eliminated the CSA batteries. One of the 20 pdrs and the 10 pdr Parrott had 90 degree enfilade fire on the CSA batteries. Five 3* Union infantry brigades pushed CSA skirmishers north and back across the river; these five brigades were supported by two 3* Union batteries of Napoleons. The Union mounted infantry screened the left flank of those brigades; and captured a full supply wagon and 500+ CSA skirmishers. After the CSA northern most defenses fell; it was simply a slow push to take the objective. still a strange map

Indeed.. I discovered it while doing some genealogy research on my fathers side.. I found newspaper articles (long articles to boot) mentioning "ZZZZZZ Reunion" year after year "ZZZZZZ" was my grandmother's maiden name. I kept wondering why the reunion was worth mentioning year after year in the newspaper. I finally found an article that referenced the civil war veteran; it was never a topic of conversation when I was growing up.. but the Spanish American War, WWI and WWII had all occurred in between, by the time I might have been interested as a youngster the Civil War was a footnote (Especially because WWI and II were recent memory to family members).

add it to your bucket list for when you get to this side of the pond.. Gettysburg did not end the American Civil War; but after the battle was over, it was obvious that the Confederacy would ultimately fail. Since discovering rather recently that I had a relative that served in the 143rd PA Vol. Inf. Regiment, I have been doing research on the regiment's history. I will be trying to visit all the battlefields and camp locations in which they were located; and I will be mapping their travel routes. Gettysburg was their first engaged battle; they were assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 1st Corps. They were positioned at McPhersons Farm on July 1st and were the last regiment to withdraw back to Cemetery Ridge; most of their losses occurred on July 1st, total losses for the 3 days were estimated at " 253 killed, wounded, or missing out of 465 engaged". The regiment went on to fight in such major battles as the Wilderness, Petersburg. My relative survived the war and was promoted to Corporal toward the end of the war for 'gallantry at Gettysburg', (important because it greatly increased the military pension)(what specifically he did for that at Gettysburg I have not yet discovered). I did discover from newspaper accounts that he apparently drank heavily from time to time in his later years; after reading about the specifics of the battles in which he was engaged, I fully understand why.

Bayou Fourche is exceedingly weird... I decided to restart it from a save at the very beginning of the battle, (right after that initial alignment of your forces). The game was paused, I mapped out movement for those first in Union forces.. this included a cavalry unit on the left flank in the open area before the forest. I hit the resume play icon, zoomed in to micro manage my skirmishers armed with JFBs, zoomed out and my cavalry had disappeared.. no longer even listed in the Corp bar at the bottom of the screen. I loaded the save again (only on my first cup of coffee.. might have only imagined the cavalry); but there they were. Off to work.. I will try it again later today.

That is the polite way to say it...

Bayou Fourche is just a totally strange map.. I am trying to figure out how a CSA skirmisher unit can hit my battery when they are out in shot range of that battery (20pdr Parrotts to boot). Does elevation increase range that much?

I have lost some because they were right next to a map edge.. but never one in the middle of the map

Strange occurrence at Bayou Fourche.. I lost a brigade that was damaged but intact when the the timer ran out. (a Union victory) It was missing in the after battle camp; the only difference between it and the other Union brigades is that it was in one of the fortified positions around the VP. I went back to a save before the battle ended.. it is there, and not taking any fire. Any thoughts? I will replay the battle because the brigade was a 2* that was close to becoming a 3*; I just found it to be rather strange.

Those annoying stealthy enemy skirmishers.. I will grudgingly accept the stealth while they are located in heavy woods.. although after shooting black powder muzzleloaders since around 1967, I have to say in regards to black powder firearms.. stealthy they are not. Even my 1888 Enfield (the famed Martini-Henry) as a black powder cartridge firearm produces a prodigious amount of smoke when fired. But having these enemy skirmishers simply disappear in open ground within in range of a rifle brigade is a bit much. They were even disappearing from my 2* skirmisher unit armed with JFBrowns. At the very least they should stay visible somewhat longer after they fire.

Lee heads back south, Meade is slow to pursue; the inhabitants of Gettysburg will deal with the carnage for months; and vultures numbering in the thousands will annually roost on the Round Tops... Game battle statistics: Union vs. CSA Inf. 33,615 vs. 89,058 Cav 1,831 vs. 1,709 Art 6,685/270 guns vs. 6,902/282 guns Losses Inf. 14,001 vs. 66,650 Cav 974 vs. 1,141 Art 1,709 /59 vs. 5,257/209 Missing 123 vs. 991 Not sure why I continue to be blessed with such scaling; but again I overcame the odds. The final phase of the battle played out like its historical counterpart; CSA brigades did cross The Angle only to be driven back by Union batteries and a flanking maneuver by the Union left flank. CSA batteries however, were not a factor; most had been destroyed in the Day 1 & 2 phases I Corp Ist division's 5 brigades are all 3* 2nd division's 5 brigades have three 3* & two 2* 3rd division's 5 brigades have two 3* & three 2* On to Bayou Fourche.. Footnote: My wife and I once walked from the start of Pickett's Charge to the Copse of Trees at the Union line; she kept asking me "Why would you cross all this open ground into cannon fire and then volley fire by infantry?" . I still do not have an answer.. If you have the opportunity to get to Gettysburg.. make the same walk, your perspective of the battle will most likely change from what you read in a history book. We also had the opportunity to attend the annual reenactment on the 150th anniversary of the battle (held on farm land outside of Gettysburg, similar terrain and all that..). They had the largest assemblage of Civil War cannon (some from the period, the rest functional reproductions) for the reenactment since the battle itself; if I remember correctly it was 110 guns (brochure is still around somewhere). To demonstrate the artillery duel prior to Pickett's Charge; the batteries (dressed both in North and South uniforms) would all go to one side of the reenactment battle field and fire several rounds and then they would limber up and go to the opposite side of the field and repeat. This gave the spectators a very realistic view of what 100 or so cannons look like when firing in a line. The distance was approximately the same as the actual battle; these guns were only firing 1/4 to 1/3 charges but as a spectator you could feel the concussion wave all the way across the battlefield. If I can locate the photos of the event, I will post a few. (will also be able to confirm if it was the 150th or another close to that)> It was in 2007, making it the 144th anniversary; my wife has reminded me we did not want to deal with the crowds that were anticipated for the 150th

Thoughts on carbines, for future consideration. The current range is appropriate; but puts a unit (unless mounted) at a distinct disadvantage when engaging a brigade armed with other than muskets. Increasing the rate of fire would bring a bit of parity and align the weapon with its historical counter part.

All three VPs must be held..

Report from Culps Hill Battered Rebel brigades made desultory attacks on Culps Hill proper and were driven off or destroyed by the Union forces. Only two Rebel batteries were spotted at the base of the hill east of Culps Hill. After Union forces drove back the skirmishers on that hill, the Rebel batteries were destroyed by the Union long range guns and a flanking maneuver by two Union brigades. This left the Union totally in control of this eastern hill side with three batteries in support of the brigades there. Having control of both Culps Hill and the eastern hillside turned the area between into a Valley of Death for some late arriving Rebel cavalry units which tried to ride down the valley to flank Culps Hill. With the Culps Hill flank securely in possession of Union forces, the Union attention turns to their front where there is an expectations of a Confederate attack on the middle of the line. Note: I am in very good condition for the next phase of this battle; I am facing somewhat more CSA forces than I would have liked. That is attributed to the fact that Pender's Division never initiated an attack late on day 2 of the battle. One of the good aspects of the game.. AI is a bit unpredictable. The brigades in Pender's Division will be full strength, but the Union has not lost a single battery in this battle, and all are present on the field. Not much is left of CSA forces in the vicinity of Culps Hill; this will allow me to leave a toke force there and move the rest of the Union forces from that area to reinforce the middle. In the area of the Round Tops, CSA forces have been significantly weaken by the first day of battle. After dealing with whatever CSA forces still remain on that flank, the Union forces on the Round Tops will be able to reposition somewhat to provide enfilading fire on CSA units pushing toward the middle of the Union line. But as I said.. AI can be a bit unpredictable.

great report Contact..

The Union held. Now for Culps Hill defense

First attempt with my revised II Corp was not successful, held Little Round Top much longer, but attrition forced the Union to withdraw.. reinforcements were ineffective. Conclusion: trying to hold Little Round Top in the historical manner does not work.. so.. I put a token defense on Little Round Top and put everyone else north of it.. the attrition is now reversed.. One surprise.. CSA has CSA entrenchments only immediately south of Little Round Top.. either never noted them when playing CSA or never sent units that way. more to follow

My current Army Organization pre-Gettysburg looks like this: I Corp - 6 Divisions- 30 brigades total II Corp - 6 Divisions - 30 brigades total III Corp - 4 Divisions - 20 brigades total My prior organization: I Corp 6/30 II Corp 6/30 III Corp 5/25 2nd day deployment at Gettysburg is now 17 brigades to start the day, which is the same for my first attempt. The difference is that now I have 10 Inf brigades 1,000 to 1,500 in size to start as compared to 7 Inf brigades in the prior attempt. I also have 7 batteries as compared to only 5 batteries. III Corp comes in as the final reinforcements for day 2 phase 1; and these divisions are beefed up in numbers as well. I believe the first reinforcements come from the Corp which starts.. I will need to check when they arrive. This is a much better defensive deployment for the Union.. I will find out shortly if it is enough to hold through phase 1 of Day 2. Cheers.. going to pour myself ae wee dram and start

Day 1 at Gettysburg with 30 brigades available in the select Corp for that day; First 4 divisions (20 brigades) will show up in three sets of reinforcements.

3* this morning.. 2* last night. On my first play through at Gettysburg I just directed my Cavalry unit on a straight line back through my lines.. the charging CSA brigade obliged by doing a 180 and continued charging into the focused fire of all the Union batteries. The results were predictable.

MG level mechanics/coding questions: CSA brigades (some) seem to have the ability to charge half way across the map with no apparent detriment to their condition (they are just as apt to do again almost immediately after stopping). On my day 1 at Gettysburg over coffee this morning.. a CSA brigade began a charge against my 800 man cavalry brigade 99% cond/moral which was at twice their rifle range. almost caught the cavalry unit toward the NW corner of the map.. Had I not tricked AI into going through the swamp they would have. Is this a feature of MG level. or the current mod?

The deployments are 30/30/30 with the last being labeled 3rd day reserves; although about 2+ or perhaps 3 divisions from the 'reserves' show up to support, in my case, II Corp in holding the VPs for the start of the 2nd day battle. I definitely do not get a full II Corp at the beginning of day 2; partial II Corp and partial III Corp. Day 1 is all I Corp, but again I do not believe I received the full 30 brigades.. I will check my saves tonight.