This is my learning game of the GCACW series. The scenario is relatively small, with no more than 10 units for each side. Despite some experience with wargames in general, it was still not an easy system for me to grasp. I have made a record of the moves, die rolls, etc for the benefit of others who may want to learn this game.
Each unit in the game has several states (manpower level, disorganisation, fatigue, demoralisation and exhaustation). To simplify, the presentation, I have adopted the following nomenclature:
Unit Name [MPD/F#/d#/E]
For example:
On the shoulders of the Union player lies the attack. He starts poised to attack Confederate positions south of Fredericksberg, and gets victory points for capture of Tabernacle Church(8), Salem Church(5), Snowden(2), Smithfield(2), Hamilton's Crossing(2) and Fredericksberg(2). In addition, he gets one VP for each point of Confederate MP lost in combat, and loses one for each of his so lost. To win, he needs 9 or more victory points.
Union forces consist of 4 divisions of Sedgwick's VI Corps plus Gibbon's division (II Corps) for a total of 53MP points. In addition, Sedgwick can influence the performance of divisions from his corps, but has no influence over Brooks' division.
Confederate side has Early and McLaws divisions, broken down into component brigades for a total of 37MP points. Out of these, 13 points from McLaw's division starts in the Confederate rear, and already at fatigue level 2. Furthermore, to be able to activate McLaw's division, the Confederates need to spend an impulse to warn him (do nothing else for that impulse). To balance things, Early's division starts entrenched, so it is a more even fight than it looks.
The Union player has an unlimited number of consecutive impulses to position his troops before the main attack. This ends as soon as a Union unit crosses north of the Rappannock River or a Confederate unit is attacked.
I intend to pull both Howe and Gibbon brigades into Fredericksberg in anticipation of a strong attack against 18MS. This hex is key to the Union attack as it allows subsequent Union movement unimpeded by Confederate ZOC. I will leave 3MPs from Gibbon and leave them north of Fredericksberg to avoid a flanking attack by the Union. In addition, this force will provide a +1 flanking bonus for a subsequent attack into Snowden. On the Union left, I will leave Brooks in position. Notice that he pins the bulk of Ewell's division and ensures that it takes Ewell at least a good two impulses to maneuver into position to impede the Confederate attacks towards Salem Church. Here, he also threatens 4VPs (Smithfield and Hamilton's Crossing), and the Confederate is obliged to leave at least one brigade to screen him. It is of course possible to pull him into Fredericksberg as well, but that move requires 2 levels of disruption, as well as disorganisation of the brigade. I prefer to leave him as a threat-in-being.
On to the game!
Impulse 1 - Union (Automatic)
Activate Gibbon (4326) to Fredericksberg (4327)
Gibbon[5/F1/d0/-]
Sub-1[3/F0/d0/-]
Union VP = +2 (Fredericksberg)
Impulse 2 - Union (Automatic)
Activate Howe (4428) to Fredericksberg (4327)
Howe[13/F1/d0/-]
Union VP = +2 (Fredericksberg)
Impulse 3 - Union (Automatic)
Assault with Sedgwick, Howe[13/F2/d0/-] and Newton[18/F1/d0/-] against 18MS
Assault dr = 1 (+2 for attacking units =3, which is not more than Sedgwick's Command Rating of 7, so assault succeeds.)
Impulse 4 - Union (Initiative U4:C3)
Activate Leader Sedgwick, Howe[13/F3/d0/-] and Newton[18/F2/d0/-], Movement dr=3 [MP=3+1=4]
Howe[12/F3/d0/-] (Extended March dr = 4; NE) Move to Salem Church (4028)
Newton[18/F2/d0/-] (with Sedgwick) prepared assault on Hays at Snowden(4227)
Impulse 5 - Confederate (Initiative U3:C6)
Wilcox[3/F1/d0/-] to (4127)
Union VP = +2(Fredericksberg) +2(Snowden) +5(Salem Church) +4(Confederate MP Loss) -1(Union MP Loss) = +12
Impulse 6 - Confederate (Initiative U1:C3)
Activate Leader Early, Hoke[4/F1/d0/-], Gordon[4/F1/d0/-](4530), Movement dr=5 [MP=5+2=7]
Impulse 7 - Confederate (Initiative U1:C4)
Warn McLaws
Impulse 8 - Union (Initiative U6:C5)
Activate Sedgwick, Newton[18/F3/d0/-] (Extended March dr=1, NE), Movement dr=3 [MP=3+1=4]
Sedgewick/Newton[18/F3/d0/-] normal attack on Wilcox at (4127) (2MP)
Impulse 9 - Confederate (Initiative U1:C4)
Activate Mclaws, Movement dr=4 (MP=4+1=5)
McLaws[13/F3/d0/-] (Extended March dr=3, NE) to (3928) (3MP)
McLaws[13/F3/d0/-] launch normal attack on Howe [12/F3/d0/-]
Impulse 10 - Confederate (Initiative U5:C5)
Activate Early with Hoke and Gordon, Movement dr=3 (MP=5)
Impulse 11 - Union (Initiative U3:C1)
{The Union has 2 choices, either to attack Early with Newton, hoping to put both units out of action, or reinforce Snowden and hold Newton for counterattack after Early attacks Snowden.}
Activate Sub-1, Movement dr=3 (MP=3)
Sub-1[3/F1/d0/-] to (4227)
Impulse 12 - Union (Initiative U5:C4)
{No help for it now, as still down on VP.}
Activate Brooks, Movement dr=4, (MP=4+1=5)
Brooks[14/F1/d0/-] launches prepared attack on Smith[4/F0/d0/-] at Smithfield(4530)
Impulse 13 - Union (Initiative U3:C2)
Pass
Confederate-Pass.
{Confederates cannot attack Snowden as the counterattack will be devastating due to flanking.}
Game ends. Confederate marginal victory.