GTC #3: Replay of Grant Takes Command,
The Overland Campaign (Scenario 9)
This is the first non-solo replay for GCACW Replays. It was also my first FTF campaign game. I've played several scenarios FTF but never had the time (or space) to do a campaign. My opponent was Chris Withers who is a regular at the GCACW tournaments at WBC. Over the course of about 4 months, Chris and I got together at his place for the GTC campaign game. We were able to complete it in five play sessions, each of about 8 hours. I took the role of Grant and Chris played General Lee. We played in Chris' game room in the spring of 2004. The game took 5 play sessions and about 40 hours of playing time.
Session 1
May 4th
The campaign kicks off with mixed results for the Federals. The AoP marches directly for Germanna Ford with the free initiatives. Wilson and Torbert move in range of Sheridan and are activated a second time by Sheridan who rolls a 2!
Note: This move was later ruled illegal by GCACW designer Ed Beach. Union units can only activate once during the free Union initiatives. Fate must have known given the die roll.)
The Rebs win the next 8 initiatives and make good use of them. Hill's Corps strategic moves to Verdierville and later marches to Widow Tapp. Ewell's Corps moves up the Old Turnpike into Wilderness Tavern. Longstreet's divisions strategic march to the Verdierville area. The Union is able to move the II and VI corps again but the turn ends early on a double-1 initiative before a Union infantry unit can cross the Rapidan. The Union pontoons are placed at Culpeper Mine Ford and Billingsley Ford.
May 5th
It rains on May 5th. The Union wins the first initiative and the VI Corps secures the Billingsley ford bridge. Rebs decide not to press the Union in the rain so the entire VI ends up crossing the Rapidan with the II moving into supporting position near Richardsville. The V corps slogs through Shepard's Grove while the IX corps enters the map with some units headed towards Culpeper and the rest start moving through Fauquier county. The Rebs are content to rest in the rain. Longstreet moves up to Locust Grove and Ewell consolidates his position around Wilderness Tavern. Double-1s end the turn again but most units had moved enough in the rain.
May 6th and 7th
Grant orders a night march and successfully activates the II, V corps (with the help of the Night March random event). The units push eastward along the roads in between the Rappahannock and Rapidan rivers in an effort to flank the Confederate position and secure additional crossings (with Scott's Dam ford being the big prize since it is fordable during rain). The automatic Confederate initiative starts a long streak for the Rebs and they use it to solidify their line south of the Rapidan. Heth secures Scott's Dam ford, Ewell and two divisions refuse flanks and dig in at Wilderness Tavern. AP Hill's other two divisions take up positions in between Heth and Ewell forming a seven mile line of entrenched Rebel divisions one hex apart (so the ZoC's interlock) with a few of the divisions behind creeks. Unable to flank the Confederates, the II Corps crosses at Ely's Ford and the V at Embry's Ford. Despite the entrenchments, Grant orders that the line be assaulted. Hancock sends two divisions against Wilcox in the center in hopes of getting a D result to make the attacks the next day easier. His -1 attack is repulsed with no favorable outcome (-2 result of f/2D). Warren attempts a similar tactic with worse results (-3 attack due to failed grand assault die rolls and -7 result of -/4D). Grant calls off further attacks for the day.
May 7's random event is Union Command Paralysis (not surprising given the attacks the previous day)! The Rebs continue to dig along their line and Hancock's corps attempts another -1 attack against Wilcox (stacked with Lee and AP Hill above) with disastrous results (-6, -/3D). The V Corps makes the same assault and finally makes some progress (+0 result, D/1D; Wilcox's DV goes from 32 to 22 (16 MP under breastwork)). Warren presses his luck against Ewell's strong position but grand assault die rolls once again fail sending two divisions in alone to be slaughtered (-3 result, -/2D). In an effort to break-up the stalemate south of the Rapidan, Sheridan is ordered to pulls his cavalry back into Culpeper to threaten a crossing into Orange County. Stuart's cavalry and Reb infantry brigades hold the Rappahannock fords east of Scott's dam so there was little likelihood of a crossing there. Stuart reacts by sending his troopers back into the Wilderness.
May 7th Strategic Cycle
- LEADER RECOVERY: No leaders are ill, so no effect.
- STRATEGIC EVENT: Mosby’s Raiders. The Union has 28 manpower in Culpeper County and is able to replenish all ammo with ease. The Union depot in Brandy Station is downgraded from Complete to Build (potentially putting the AoP out of supply).
- REINFORCEMENTS: The Confederates receive reinforcements in both off-map theaters. In the Bermuda Hundred, the one brigade goes to Port Walthall Station the other to Petersburg.
- VALLEY:Sigel is passive so the Union does not move. Imboden stays in place in New Market.
- BERMUDA HUNDRED:Butler advances into PWS with 48 manpower and BJohnson’s brigade reinforces from Drewry’s Bluff. Hinks division attacks Petersburg. The combat dice go the Union's way as Hinks takes Petersburg! (-2 attack, +2 Dr/Da result). Butler's +4 attack vs. PWJ also is a Union victory and inflicts the first Confederate combat loss (+2 result 1Dr/3Da).
- DEPOTS:The Union depot in Brandy Station is upgraded to complete status ensuring that all Federal troops are in supply.
- SUPPLY AND AMMO:All units are in supply and fully provisioned.
- UNION COMMAND:Bulter goes passive in the BH, Sigel goes active in the Valley.
- VP'S:+3 for Port Walthall Junction, +10 for Petersburg. Current total of -14.
- END GAME DR:Not until May 31st.
May 8th
The Battle of the Wilderness continues in earnest on the 8th. For the third day in a row, Hancock's corps launches a pre-dawn assault, this time against Anderson's division with Barlow and Gibbon's fresh divisions. The assault is successful and pushes the Rebs back (+0 attack, +3 result 1Dr/2Fa). Barlow and Gibbon advance but are spent for the day. Next, Hancock leads a Grand Assault against Wilcox (just south of Warren's hex in the picture above and remember north is at the bottom of the page) in the center that is blunted (+0 attack, +1 result D/1D). With Wilcox now unable to move and in danger of being surrounded, Lee decides to voluntarily retreat opening up the center of the Confederate line.
Warren's V Corps surges forward to the Germanna Plank Road in between Ewell's position (Wilderness Tavern) and Early's position (Wilderness Church). Despite his strong position (17 manpower at fort-2), Ewell is in danger of being surrounded and suffering retreat losses so he pulls Rodes and Johnson's divisions out of Wilderness Tavern. A roll one pip short leaves the column strung out in the Wilderness south of the Plank Road (both divisions were trying to stack together). The Union win a series of initiatives that allow Sedgwick and Warren to set-up two massive grand assaults on each of Ewell's divisions. Rodes is attacked at 56:8 (+7 attack, +8 3DR*/1a) and Johnson at 36:9 (+3 attack, +5 2DR/1Ea). Longstreet, still on the Old Turnpike near Locust Grove moves to fill the breach left by Ewell's routed divisions but rolls only a 1. The VI corps is able to move twice in a row and Getty's division hits Field on the march at +0 (+3 1Dr/1Fa), driving him back and blocking Kershaw's division.
Wright advances a hex too far in an effort to keep putting pressure on Ewell's routed units. He is out of position and a string of Reb initiatives allows Lee, with Early and Ewell to set-up a flank attack that shatters Wright's division (+5 attack, +8 a/4DR* plus two retreat losses). Early then turns on Ricketts and pushes him back as well (+4 attack, +3 1Dr/Fa).
Sheridan then moves to harass Kershaw's flank but his division is able to escape and starts a long march around the Wilderness to the Confederate divisions near Shady Grove Church. In order to protect Getty's left flank, Sheridan sends DM Gregg's division to block Early which ends the day holding Trigg (the Brock Road intersection hex). Ferrero's division (beefed up to 18 manpower) crosses at Germanna ford and supports Getty's right, ending the day near Locust Grove. Stuart's cavalry moves to the Confederate left flank and digs. The battle of the Wilderness has left both armies exhausted. Union losses in the battle number 12,000 to only 3,500 for the Confederates. Two of the eight Reb divisions are in good order (organized) and two are demoralized. For the Union, 5 of the 15 divisions are in good order and one is demoralized.
