GCACW Beginner’s Tutorial
Lesson 2 Replay, South Mountain
Set-up Scenario 1 from Here Come the Rebels. If you don't own HCR, Scenario 1 (Salem Church) from Stonewall's Last Battle is a good alternative.
Random Events Phase
There are no random events in this scenario.
Leader Transfer Phase
The Union does not make any transfers. The Confederates transfer Longstreet from Hagerstown to Boonsboro (2930) which is exactly 10 hexes away.
Action Cycle
Reno activates his entire corps (march dr=3 +1[Union Leader] = 4 movement points). Reno transfers to Wilcox.
- Cox (F1; 3513) to 3213 (expending 3MPs). 5VA cavalry retreats (dr=6 +3[mountain] -1[small] = 8/2 = 4 movement points lost; disorg, F1 and retreats to 2910). Cox loses his remaining movement point and stops in 3213.
- Wilcox (F1; 3714) to 3412.
- Sturgis (F1; 3814) to 3413.
- Rodman (F1; 4115) to 3714.
- Initiative 2
- Union
Reno actives his entire corps (march dr=4 +1 = 5).
- Sturgis (F2; 3413) to 3212 via 3213 (expends 4 MPs including a stacking penalty of 1 MP for moving through Cox).
- Wilcox (F2; 3412 with Reno) marches in place and makes a prepared attack on Colquitt (3312): +2[ratio(7:2)] +1[tac] +1[type] +0[arty] +1[flank] -1[creek] = +4/+1 D/1D. Colquitt disorg/F3; Wilcox to 6MV/disorg/F4. VP to -1.
- Rodman (F2; 3714) to 3412, expending 4 MPs, makes hasty attack on Colquitt (3312): drm = +5[ratio(6:1)] +1[tac] -1[type] -1[arty(2-1)], dr=even so it drm applies) +1[flank] -1[creek] = +5/+6 1DR/a. Colquitt retreats to 2910, to 1MV/disorg/demoralized-1/F4; Rodman advances with Reno to 3312, F2. VP to +0. Note that the artillery modifier required a die roll to determine due to the rough terrain. Even though Reno started the activation attached to Wilcox, Rodman can still use Reno's tactical rating in his attack because Rodman was in Reno's hex. In addition, Reno can advance with Rodman. Colquitt should have voluntarily retreated after Wilcox's failed attack.
- Cox (F2; 3213) to 3312.
- Initiative 3
- Confederate
Longstreet activates Rodes and DH Hill (march dr=3 +2 = 5).
- DH Hill (F1;3111) to 3211
- Rodes (F1;2910) to 3112 with Longstreet
- Initiative 4
- Confederate
DR Jones (F1; 2502) marches (dr=5 +1 = 6) to 2707.
- Initiative 5
- Union
Reno actives Cox (march dr=4 +1 = 5). Cox (F3; 3312; extended march dr=1 +1[Union] = 2 ne) to 3311 (must stop in DH Hill's ZoC).
- Initiative 6
- Union
Reno actives Cox, Sturgis, Rodman (march dr=3+1=4). Reno transfers to Sturgis.
- Cox (F4; 3311; extended march dr=4 +1[Union] +1[F4] = 6 Disorg) to 3110. Cox disorganizes and is thus unable to force march into Zittlestown.
- Rodman (F3; 3312; extended march dr=3 +1 = 4 ne) makes prepared attack vs. DH Hill and Garland in 3211: +0[ratio(6:6)] -1[tac] +1[type] +2[flank] -2[mountain] = +0/-2 1D/f. DH Hill to F2, Garland to F1. Rodman to 5MV/disorg/F4. VP to -1. Rodman was hoping to inflict a D in case Sturgis fails his extended dr which would keep the attack on DH Hill a 1:1 for Sturgis (5:4). All 6 hexes around DH Hill are "covered" with 3210 (impassable) and 3112 (Longstreet) backing out to make the flank a +2.
- Sturgis (F3; 3212, extended march dr=5 +1[Union] = 6 Disorg) makes prepared attack vs. DH Hill's stack: -1[ratio(5:6)] +0[tac] +1[type] +2[flank] -1[mountain] = +1/+0 D/1D. Sturgis to 6MV/disorg/F4. DH Hill and Garland disorg/F4. VP to -2.
- Initiative 7
- Union
Hooker activates his corps (march dr=6 +1 = 7).
- Meade (F1; 4214) to 3610 with Hooker.
- Hatch (F1; 4315) to 3711.
- Ricketts (F1; 4415) to 3712.
- Initiative 8
- Confederate
Hood (F1; 2501) marches (dr=3 +1 = 4) to 2704.
- Initiative 9
- Union
Hooker activates his corps (march dr=2 +1 = 3).
- Meade (F2; 3610) to 3408 with Hooker.
- Hatch (F2; 3711) to 3509.
- Ricketts (F2; 3712) to 3510.
- Initiative 10
- Confederate
DR Jones (F2;2707) marches (dr=4+1=5) to 3009.
- Initiative 11
- Union
Hooker activates his corps (march dr=2 +1 = 3).
- Meade (F3; 3408, extended march dr=3 +1 = 4 ne) to 3109 with Hooker. Prepared attack vs. DR Jones(3009): -1[ratio(9:10)] +1[type] -1[arty(3:4)] = -1/-1 F/1D. DR Jones to F4, voluntary retreat to Boonsboro(2910); Meade to 8MV/disorg/F4. VP to -3,
- Hatch (F3; 3509, extended march dr=5 +1 = 6 D) to 3110. Hatch pays a +3 MP penalty since Cox is in 3110 with a CV=4.
- Ricketts (F3; 3510, extended march dr=4 +1 = 5 ne; force march dr=2, Ricketts to 8MV, disorg, gains 2 MP for total of 9) to 3111 via 3110, expending all 9 movement points. Zittlestown in Union control, VP to +1.
- Initiative 12
- Confederate
Hood marches (F2; 2704) marches (dr=3 +1 = 4) to 2807.
- Initiative 13
- Union
Hooker activates Hatch (dr=5 +1 = 6). Hooker transfers to Hatch. Hatch (F4; 3110) marches (extended march dr=5 +1[Union] +1[F4] = 7, 2; Hatch to 8MV, disorg) to 3111.
- Initiative 14
- Confederate
Evans (F1; 2401) marches (dr=1 +1 = 2) to 2602.
- Initiative 15
- Confederate
Evans (F2; 2602) marches (dr=6 +1 = 7) to 2807.
- Initiative 16
- Confederate
Evans (F3;2807, extended march dr=3 ne) marches (dr=6 +1 = 7) to 3010.
- Initiative 17
- Confederate
Hood (F3; 2807) marches (dr=6 +1 = 7, extended=5 ne) to 3010.
- Initiative 18
- Union
8IL (F1; 3414) marches (2dr=7) to 3311, cutting off DH Hill's path of retreat.
- Initiative 19
- Confederate
The Confederates pass. Longstreet would like to attack Hooker to bring Ricketts to F4 but he can't without taking a loss which would give the Union a marginal win. It all comes down to DH Hill's last stand.
Hooker assaults DH Hill (3211) with Ricketts (F4; 3111). Assault dr=1, Ricketts charges ahead: +0[ratio(5:4)] +0[tac] +1[type] +2[flank(4 covered, 2 back out)] -1[mountain] = +2/+5 2DR/Ea. Rodes eliminated by the combat result. DH Hill retreats to 3117 via 3212 losing 3MV as he retreats through Reno(Sturgis). DH Hill to 1MV/disorg/dmorize-1/F4. Ricketts advances but Hooker remains with Hatch. VP to +9.
The Confederates concede a Decisive Union Victory. It is possible that Longstreet can attack Hooker in Zittlestown (getting +0 attack). If successful, the victory level can be reduced but a Rebel victory is not on the horizon. Probably the key moment in the game was Meade's attack on DR Jones. This low odds attack neutralized Longstreet's best unit for the rest of the game. The drawback of transferring Longstreet to the front at the start of the turn was really seen in this game as it took a long time for the Rebels near Haggerstown to reach the front and Longstreet was not really needed to stop Reno.