Lord Winter
02-16-2007, 02:03
Rules are the same as red flood the option with the most votes wins. Players may also put forth there own proposals.
Chapter One: A Crossroad
9:00 AM, May 13th, 1863
The War Between the States has entered its second year and is still strongly raging throughout the divided country. Led by Robert E. Lee the Army of North Virginia has went from victory to victory, establishing their superiority over there Union counterparts.
But the war is far from won, at each battle The Army of North Virginia has taken loses that the Confederacy can barley afford over the long term. Furthermore the command structure of the army has been damaged with the death of one of it’s most trusted generals Stonewall Jackson. To add to matters the army’s supplies are almost gone and the devastated country side of Virginia can’t support the army for very long unless if something else is done.
But the army’s problems are small when compared to the situation on the Western Front. Constant defeats have dampened the chances for an confederate victory. Now the situation is nearing disaster as General Ulysses S. Grant threatens to take Vicksburg, whose fall would split the Confederacy in half.
President Davis has asked Lee to meet with him in Richmond and help to determine a new strategy for both the Army of North Virginia and the Confederate army as a whole. In preparation the Lee has called Lt. General James Longstreet, to meet with him.
“Good day General Lee, How may I help you?,” Longstreet asks.
“Good day to you to General” Lee greeted, before getting directly down to business. “As you know we have won almost every battle against the federals. But out of all of those has one helped to bring the end to this monstrous war?”
“No, Longstreet replied, “all that the victories have done is forced the Yankees to retreat across the river to lick there wounds.”
“Exactly, the problem is, we can not follow up our victories and turn it into something useful that can actually end this bloodshed. If we could draw the Hooker out of his fortified lines and into territory were we could easily attack them and threaten Washington they would either be forced to give battle again or lose a city.”
“How do you propose we do this?” Longstreet asked somewhat skeptical, “Are you proposing another invasion of the North? The Army of the Potomac outnumbers us. To even attempt to offset this advantage we would have to draw reinforcements from every army. If I understand this correctly you are proposing that we pull man out of a already rapidly deteriorating situation where there most needed and put it on the most successful front where there probably the least needed?”
“Really are they the least needed?” ,Lee questioned with a hint of Scorn in his voice. “You weren’t here at Chancellorsville. If you were, you would know as well as I do that we almost lost. If Hooker didn’t halt the advance and if Jackson’s flank attack didn’t rout half the Union army, we could be having this talk in a Richmond that is under siege. What would you propose instead? Have Johnston attack an army that’s both numerically superior but has also shown that it is better commanded?”
“No, I’m not that crazy, that would be suicide. As you know I’ve been advocating an invasion of Kentucky by General Brag or General Johnston. With a threat to the north’s own territory Grant would be forced to move away from Vicksburg and pursue the army in the north.”
“ May I ask, with all due respect, how do you propose Johnson goes about defeating the union army then? Once again I point to the superiority the union has achieved in that theater.” Lee asked, slightly amused.
“On that same line of questioning, I why would you think of invading the union in the face of superior numbers?”, Longstreet fired back.
“Surly the risk are worth it:, Lee explained “ First of all if we gain a victory on northern soil it would swell the ranks of the already rapidly growing dove faction in the U.S. That and perhaps British intervention brought on from the victory would be enough to force Lincoln to seek peace?”
From the conversation went in a circle with both men not giving any ground on there points finally Lee broke the stalemate.
“Enough!, we have other matters to attend to; Matters other then arguing all day. Let us discuss our immediate problem the command and supply of the army. My staff estimates that the supplies you brought in will last three months. Do you agree with this?”
“As far as I can tell yes this is right. After that god knows what we’ll do. Our supply line at best can only bring in enough to support a couple divisions. On top of that the Yankees had no trouble raiding it at Chancellorsville.”
Lee sighed out of frustration: “Sometimes I that this army has been abandoned. Could the government in Richmond not help expand the rail lines and draw supplies from other parts of the confederacy?” Lee jotted down a quick note for the coming meeting.
Also general I need to find a replacement for the second corps commander and a commander for the new third corps. I’ve been leaning towards Ewell and Hill for the post. What do you think of them?”
“There both good commanders, Jackson relied heavily on Ewell and Hill’s attack was the only thing that adverted disaster at Antietam. It also seems like Ewell has the support of the second corps due to that rumor going around that Jackson chose him as his successor.” Longstreet replied. “Do you have any other candidates”?
“Yes, if needed the next choices would be either John Hood or Richard Anderson, both are good offensive commanders who have served well in the past.
Longstreet nodded in agreement.
“I believe that is all James, We will talk again soon”
“Always a pleasure Robert I’m sure we will. With that he left the tent.
1. Future Confederate Offensives, what recommendation will you make?
A. The situation in the west is clearly beyond saving, but perhaps a victory in the north could offset this, by driving down union morale and perhaps bringing foreign intervention. Have the Army of North Virginia invade the north.
B. C. Filter all possible reinforcements to Johnston in the west and order him to attempt to break the siege of Vicksburg.
C. Follow Longstreet's Plan and have Bragg or Johnson (chose one) launch an invasion of the north, hopefuly drawing Grant away from Vicksburg.
D. Other
2. Your new Corps commanders, (chose two)
A. Ewell
B. A.P. Hill
C. Hood
D. Anderson
E. Other
3. Supplies: you have enough supplies for a couple months but once those are out your forces will need more.
A. Ask Davis to divert more funds to the army of North Virginia. This would hurt the other confederate armies and the all ready strained economy.
B. Invade the north and live off the land in connection with option 1a.
C. Send out a division or two every couple months to collect supplies from the local ares.
Chapter One: A Crossroad
9:00 AM, May 13th, 1863
The War Between the States has entered its second year and is still strongly raging throughout the divided country. Led by Robert E. Lee the Army of North Virginia has went from victory to victory, establishing their superiority over there Union counterparts.
But the war is far from won, at each battle The Army of North Virginia has taken loses that the Confederacy can barley afford over the long term. Furthermore the command structure of the army has been damaged with the death of one of it’s most trusted generals Stonewall Jackson. To add to matters the army’s supplies are almost gone and the devastated country side of Virginia can’t support the army for very long unless if something else is done.
But the army’s problems are small when compared to the situation on the Western Front. Constant defeats have dampened the chances for an confederate victory. Now the situation is nearing disaster as General Ulysses S. Grant threatens to take Vicksburg, whose fall would split the Confederacy in half.
President Davis has asked Lee to meet with him in Richmond and help to determine a new strategy for both the Army of North Virginia and the Confederate army as a whole. In preparation the Lee has called Lt. General James Longstreet, to meet with him.
“Good day General Lee, How may I help you?,” Longstreet asks.
“Good day to you to General” Lee greeted, before getting directly down to business. “As you know we have won almost every battle against the federals. But out of all of those has one helped to bring the end to this monstrous war?”
“No, Longstreet replied, “all that the victories have done is forced the Yankees to retreat across the river to lick there wounds.”
“Exactly, the problem is, we can not follow up our victories and turn it into something useful that can actually end this bloodshed. If we could draw the Hooker out of his fortified lines and into territory were we could easily attack them and threaten Washington they would either be forced to give battle again or lose a city.”
“How do you propose we do this?” Longstreet asked somewhat skeptical, “Are you proposing another invasion of the North? The Army of the Potomac outnumbers us. To even attempt to offset this advantage we would have to draw reinforcements from every army. If I understand this correctly you are proposing that we pull man out of a already rapidly deteriorating situation where there most needed and put it on the most successful front where there probably the least needed?”
“Really are they the least needed?” ,Lee questioned with a hint of Scorn in his voice. “You weren’t here at Chancellorsville. If you were, you would know as well as I do that we almost lost. If Hooker didn’t halt the advance and if Jackson’s flank attack didn’t rout half the Union army, we could be having this talk in a Richmond that is under siege. What would you propose instead? Have Johnston attack an army that’s both numerically superior but has also shown that it is better commanded?”
“No, I’m not that crazy, that would be suicide. As you know I’ve been advocating an invasion of Kentucky by General Brag or General Johnston. With a threat to the north’s own territory Grant would be forced to move away from Vicksburg and pursue the army in the north.”
“ May I ask, with all due respect, how do you propose Johnson goes about defeating the union army then? Once again I point to the superiority the union has achieved in that theater.” Lee asked, slightly amused.
“On that same line of questioning, I why would you think of invading the union in the face of superior numbers?”, Longstreet fired back.
“Surly the risk are worth it:, Lee explained “ First of all if we gain a victory on northern soil it would swell the ranks of the already rapidly growing dove faction in the U.S. That and perhaps British intervention brought on from the victory would be enough to force Lincoln to seek peace?”
From the conversation went in a circle with both men not giving any ground on there points finally Lee broke the stalemate.
“Enough!, we have other matters to attend to; Matters other then arguing all day. Let us discuss our immediate problem the command and supply of the army. My staff estimates that the supplies you brought in will last three months. Do you agree with this?”
“As far as I can tell yes this is right. After that god knows what we’ll do. Our supply line at best can only bring in enough to support a couple divisions. On top of that the Yankees had no trouble raiding it at Chancellorsville.”
Lee sighed out of frustration: “Sometimes I that this army has been abandoned. Could the government in Richmond not help expand the rail lines and draw supplies from other parts of the confederacy?” Lee jotted down a quick note for the coming meeting.
Also general I need to find a replacement for the second corps commander and a commander for the new third corps. I’ve been leaning towards Ewell and Hill for the post. What do you think of them?”
“There both good commanders, Jackson relied heavily on Ewell and Hill’s attack was the only thing that adverted disaster at Antietam. It also seems like Ewell has the support of the second corps due to that rumor going around that Jackson chose him as his successor.” Longstreet replied. “Do you have any other candidates”?
“Yes, if needed the next choices would be either John Hood or Richard Anderson, both are good offensive commanders who have served well in the past.
Longstreet nodded in agreement.
“I believe that is all James, We will talk again soon”
“Always a pleasure Robert I’m sure we will. With that he left the tent.
1. Future Confederate Offensives, what recommendation will you make?
A. The situation in the west is clearly beyond saving, but perhaps a victory in the north could offset this, by driving down union morale and perhaps bringing foreign intervention. Have the Army of North Virginia invade the north.
B. C. Filter all possible reinforcements to Johnston in the west and order him to attempt to break the siege of Vicksburg.
C. Follow Longstreet's Plan and have Bragg or Johnson (chose one) launch an invasion of the north, hopefuly drawing Grant away from Vicksburg.
D. Other
2. Your new Corps commanders, (chose two)
A. Ewell
B. A.P. Hill
C. Hood
D. Anderson
E. Other
3. Supplies: you have enough supplies for a couple months but once those are out your forces will need more.
A. Ask Davis to divert more funds to the army of North Virginia. This would hurt the other confederate armies and the all ready strained economy.
B. Invade the north and live off the land in connection with option 1a.
C. Send out a division or two every couple months to collect supplies from the local ares.