Comunque eravamo 8 giocatori (4 per parte). Questo era il briefing nordista:
Situation
It is 4 pm on 29th September 1864.
After heavy fighting in recent weeks,
Richard Taylor's Confederate corps is resting and refitting. The troops are believed to have been
dispersed to take advantage of supply and accommodation in nearby farms.
Your Union corps landed from the
Mississippi 36 hours ago, about 15 miles to the N of the map, and you have
since marched SW. You have not
encountered any Rebel patrols, so believe that your movement has not been
detected.
Taylor's corps is believed to consist of a
Louisiana infantry division under Mouton, a Texas infantry division under
Walker, plus a cavalry division under Wharton.
It's strength is uncertain, but is thought to be weak, after recent
fighting.
Your objective is to defeat Taylor, and in
particular to seize his supply base and hospitals in the SE portion of the map. Speed would be good, as otherwise Taylor may
be reinforced. Dusk is at 6 pm, or
shortly thereafter.
A J
Smith's Corps summary OOB
Mower's 1st Division
|
2 infantry brigades, 2 batteries
|
3,019 men
|
Emory's 2nd Division
|
3 infantry brigades, 2 batteries
|
4,064 men
|
Landram's 3rd Division
|
2 infantry brigades, 1 cavalry brigade, 2 batteries
|
5,133 men
|
A
note on cavalry
Cavalry in this theatre is trained and
equipped to fight as infantry. It has
actually become reasonably good at this, and can normally stand its ground
against infantry for some time. The
Confederate cavalry is somewhat more effective in this role than the Union
cavalry. Conversely, it will be
difficult to get cavalry to charge anything other than guns or wagons, as most
of the men have not been issued with sabres.
Mentre questo era il nostro (sudisti ovviamente):
Situation
It is 4 pm on 29th September 1864.
After
heavy fighting in recent weeks, Richard Taylor's Confederate corps is resting
and refitting. The 3 divisions have been
dispersed to take advantage of supply and accommodation in nearby farms.
Today is General Taylor's birthday, and his
divisional commanders have gathered at his HQ to celebrate, and present him
with a ceremonial crumpet baked in his honour by the good ladies of Western
Louisiana.
However festivities are rudely interrupted
by the arrival of a courier from Taylor's superior, with the news that A J
Smith's Union corps landed from the Mississippi 36 hours ago, about 15 miles to
the N of Wharton's Division. Its
strength and composition is uncertain, but is thought to outnumber us. Intelligence suggests that its objective is
probably our supply base and hospitals in the SE portion of the map.
Taylor immediately telegraphed for
reinforcements, and a strong division of 7,500 men is marching to us overnight
and should arrive by morning. It is only
necessary that we hold for a couple of hours until dusk at 6 pm, or shortly
thereafter.
Taylor's
Corps summary OOB
Mouton's Division
|
2 infantry brigades, 2 batteries
|
2,881 men
|
Walker's Division
|
2 infantry brigades, 1 battery
|
2,966 men
|
Wharton's Cavalry Division
|
2 cavalry brigades, 1 battery
|
2,165 men
|
A
note on cavalry
Cavalry in this theatre is trained and
equipped to fight as infantry. It has
actually become reasonably good at this, and can normally stand its ground
against infantry for some time. The
Confederate cavalry is somewhat more effective in this role than the Union
cavalry. Conversely, it will be
difficult to get cavalry to charge anything other than guns or wagons, as most
of the men have not been issued with sabres.
Come si può capire la situazione alla partenza per noi sembrava davvero diversa dalla realtà per cui puntavo a farci concentrare alla fattoria Rummel per poi muoverci nella direzione corretta. Invece Berthier si è trovato subito nella situazione peggiore, praticamente con il nemico addosso e pronto ad accerchiarlo. Abilmente si è svincolato mentre io cercavo di montare un attacco diversivo: purtroppo causa problemi tecnici con il mio corriere Martin ha continuato verso Rummel invece di andare più a sud per cui è perso tempo, mentre la cavalleria che doveva eseguire un attacco diversivo, ha preso troppo alla lettera la parola "attacco alla spalle" attaccando la coda dell'esercito invece che le spalle delle truppe marcianti contro Berto, anche se l'azione ha fermato un'intera divisione nemica.
Comunque Berto è riuscito ha formare una linea di difesa meridionale e alla fine Martin ha ingaggiato il fianco nemico infliggendo dei danni seri e imprevisti al nemico che non si aspettava un contrattacco. Mentre io cercavo di richiamare la cavalleria il prima possibile.
Alla fine è apparso evidente che la loro manovra puntava a sfruttare la superiorità numerica e il fatto di avere la cavalleria a sud per bypassare la nostra linea e raggiunger l'obbiettivo, ed in effetti alla fine ci sono riusciti con la cavalleria, nonostante la nostra marcia disperata all'indietro per bloccare tutte le loro puntate. Alla fine ci siamo raggruppati e con una marcia sul fianco della cavalleria siamo comunque riusciti a mantenere la via di uscita verso la mappa sgombra anche se con severe perdite.
Alla fine nonostante la sconfitta è stata davvero una battaglia divertente e molto manovrata, una di quelle che ti fanno apprezzare il gioco.
