'True Ground SR1' - Scenarios & OOBs

GB2-29btn_July2-Hood Attacks, On To The Union Left (C-Div)

Length of Play: 1 hour

Command: Hood's Division

Situation: After countermarching all morning, you have finally reached the staging area for your assault on the Federal left. There should be an open path around their flank.

Mission: Sweep around the left of the Federal line.

Gameplay: The last fifteen minutes (17:15), the three Major objectives will turn gold and award 65 points per minute each once activated.

Forces Available:
Major General John B. Hood, commanding Hood's Division, Army of Northern Virginia

Law's Brigade, Col. James L. Sheffield
4th Alabama, Lieut. Col. L. H. Scruggs
15th Alabama, Col. William C. Oates
44th Alabama, Col. William F. Perry
47th Alabama, Col. Michael J. Bulger
48th Alabama, Capt. Thomas J. Eubanks

Robertson's Brigade, Brig. Gen. Jerome B. Robertson
3d Arkansas, Col. Van H. Manning
1st Texas, Lieut. Col. P. A. Work
4th Texas, Col. J. C. G. Key
5th Texas, Col. R. M. Powell

Anderson's Brigade, Brig. Gen. George T. Anderson
7th Georgia, Col. W. W. White
8th Georgia, Col. John R. Towers
9th Georgia, Lieut. Col. John C. Mounger
11th Georgia, Col. F. H. Little
59th Georgia, Col. Jack Brown

Benning's Brigade, Brig. Gen. Henry L. Benning
2d Georgia, Lieut. Col. William T. Harris
15th Georgia, Col. D. M. DuBose
17th Georgia, Col. W. C. Hodges
20th Georgia, Col. John A. Jones

Hood's Division Artillery
Branch (North Carolina) Artillery, Capt. A. C. Latham
German (South Carolina) Artillery, Capt. William K. Bachman
Palmetto (South Carolina) Light Artillery, Capt. Hugh R. Garden
Rowan (North Carolina) Artillery, Capt. James Reilly

Division strength: 7227 troops and officers, 19 Guns
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A Revision of the Revision, Consider this as the Grognard Edition of 'GB2-28btn'
- As the new name for this scenario denotes, John Bell Hood is now in command.
- As hinted in Gameplay (explained above), securing all three primary objectives, Devil's Den, Little Round Top, and The Wheatfield, is now necessary to achieve a Major Victory.

With one second left, the game will pause displaying the Variant played. For posting, select 'ME' just before this pause to show your final stats - score, strength, and casualty counts. Then screenshot (key F4) at the 'one second pause' to verify your 'end battle' stats along with the variant played. Also, note that the variant window is center-top. This is placed so an appropriate screenshot view of the battle's end can be shown unobscured by the variant window.


Achieved this Major Victory late night before last after suffering a Defeat just a couple of hours before, playing the same variant as posted. Haven't tested all the other variants yet, but can almost guarantee their Grognard leanings.



***Biographical Information***

John Bell Hood
After the outbreak of the Civil War, Hood resigned his commission in the United States Army and enlisted in the Confederate Army, receiving a commission as a lieutenant. Hood rose rapidly, and on March 7, 1862 he was promoted to Brigadier General in command of the renowned Texas Brigade. The Texas Brigade's heroics saved the Confederate left flank at Antietam in September 1862, after which Hood would be promoted to Major General. Hood was severely wounded at Gettysburg, losing use of his left arm. After recovering, Hood was assigned to the Army of Tennessee. On September 18, 1863, he rejoined his division for the Battle of Chickamauga. Hood's forces broke through the Federal battle line, which led to the rout of the Yankees. During the battle Hood received wounds that resulted in the amputation of his right leg. In September, 1863 Hood was recommended for promotion to lieutenant general for his decisive role in the Confederate victory at Chickamauga.

Jolly wrote: I keep failing miserably on this one!
This is my third attempt - I lose out on the final objective which I can eventually hold, but with 2 mins left on the objective, it times out. Argghhh.

I probably would not have got an MV, but the scenario actually runs for 45 mins, instead of the 50 mins listed. I playing away there thinking I've still got over 5 mins to go, and then it's curtains). Haha

David(jolly)

The AI's being tough on ya with this one, but I know you'll figure it out. Again, it's about timing, took me a while to figure it out too, with a series of defeats. With three objectives, all held by the enemy, it's quite a challenge. Hands down, this scenario is my favorite of the 'Caldwell brigade series' scenarios. It demands constant immersion, or you're toast.

Can't figure out your statement that "the scenario actually runs for 45 mins, instead of the 50 mins listed" . I've double checked all the timing related files and can find no irregularities. The game begins at 17:40 and ends at 18:30...50 minutes by military time standards, and my calculator, although I did manage to do the math in my head, if just barely.

Thanks for the Report!

GB2-30btn_July2-Those 'Damned Red Flags' Cometh (U-Div)

Length of Play: 1 hour

Command: Major General David B. Birney's 1st Division

Situation: The half hour Rebel cannonade has ceased and as predicted, the Rebel assault has begun. Reinforcements are promised, but will they arrive soon enough to save us from that Rebel tide headed by those "Damned Red Flags"?

Mission: Defend and hold your position

Gameplay:
The last fifteen minutes (17:15), the four Major objectives will turn gold and award 50 points per minute each once activated.

Forces Available:
Major General David B. Birney, commanding the First Division, III Corps, Army of the Potomac, under Major General Daniel E Sickles

Second Brigade, Brig General John H. Ward
20th Indiana Regiment, Colonel John Wheeler
3rd Maine Regiment, Colonel Moses Lakeman
4th Maine Regiment, Colonel Elijah Walker
86th New York Regiment, Lt. Colonel Benjamin Higgins
124th New York Regiment, Colonel Augustus Ellis
99th Pennsylvania Regiment, Major John Moore
2nd U.S. Sharpshooters, Major Homer Stoughton

Third Brigade, Colonel Phillippe de Trobriand
17th Maine Regiment, Lt. Colonel Charles Merrill
3rd Michigan Regiment, Colonel Byron Pierce
5th Michigan Regiment, Lt. Colonel John Pulford
40th New York Regiment, Colonel Thomas Egan

Attached from:
Second Division / Third Corps, Brig Gen Andrew A Humphreys

Third Brigade, Colonel George C Burling
5th New Jersey Regiment, Colonel William J. Sewell
6th New Jersey Regiment, Colonel Gershom Mott
8th New Jersey Regiment, Colonel John Ramsey
115th Pennsylvania Regiment, Major John Dunne

Attached from:
First Division / Fifth Corps, Brig Gen James Barnes

First Brigade, Colonel William S Tilton
18th Massachusetts Regiment, Colonel Joseph Hayes
22nd Massachusetts Regiment, Lt. Colonel Thomas Sherwin Jr.
1st Michigan Regiment, Colonel Ira C. Abbott
118th Pennsylvania Regiment, Colonel James Gwyn

Second Brigade, Colonel Jacob B Sweitzer
32nd Massachusetts Regiment, Colonel George Lincoln Prescott
4th Michigan Regiment, Colonel Harrison H. Jeffords
62nd Pennsylvania Regiment, Lt. Colonel James C. Hull

Third Brigade, Colonel Strong Vincent
83rd Pennsylvania Regiment, Colonel Orpheus S. Woodward
16th Michigan Regiment, Lt Colonel Norval Welch
20th Maine Regiment, Colonel Joshua Chamberlain
44th New York Regiment, Colonel James Rice

Attached from:
Second Division / Fifth Corps, Brig General Romeyn B Ayres

Third Brigade, Brig General Stephen H. Weed
140th Pennsylvania Regiment, Colonel Richard P. Roberts
146th New York Regiment, Colonel Kenner Garrard
91st Pennsylvania Regiment, Lt. Colonel Joseph Sinex
155th Pennsylvania Regiment, Lt. Colonel John Cain

Captain Charles E Hazlett, Battery D - 5th U.S. Artillery
Captain George B Winslow, Battery D - 1st New York Artillery
Captain James E Smith, 4th Battery - New York Artillery

Division strength: 8605 troops and officers, 18 guns
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Consider this scenario as the Union response to the Rebel 'On To The Roundtops' versions. This scenario moves the Confederate assault historically but its last 15 minutes demands an ahistorical approach by the Federals to regain any lost ground, as represented by the four Major objectives.

A Head's Up...
Move the 3rd Maine (Ward's brigade) regiment from the Peach Orchard to the Wheatfield, or a place of your choosing. If left there they will be totally destroyed by Rebel cannon. This was an oversight by me as they shouldn't have been assigned to Birney's division although they are in Ward's brigade. I just discovered this oversight after this last play so won't change the files since I still got a major victory even though their destruction cost me -200 points. So, consider them a bonus, if you remember to move them to safety.

One second left...
All objectives secured. However, the LRT and Wheatfield objectives are severly pressured and might have fallen in the next few minutes...Saved by the bell!


Being my first and only Major Victory after three nights of test playing, this scenario demanded quite a bit of troop management for success. It should provide for an immersive challenge on a large scale.






And Jolly, thanks for the 'text error' find on the Brooke's scenario...Fixed with this update.

Jolly wrote: I've at last managed to get a MV on this scenario on my forth attempt.
Whew! Twas a hard nut to crack.
I found that that you have to be aggressive, pushing all the time to reach the third and final objective, and then try and hold it with around 10 mins left on the clock.

I missed an extra 100 points by 2 seconds, so not too shoddy!

David(jolly)

"Not too shoddy" at all! An excellent win, at least by my expectations. Your timing for holding the last objective was just off by 2 seconds from being perfect...but you know that.

Congrats!

GB2-31btn_July2-A Ridge Too Far, On to Cemetery Ridge (C-Div)

Length of Play: 2 1/2 hours

Command: Hood's Division, McLaw's Division (3 brigades)

Situation: After countermarching all morning, you have finally reached the staging area for your assault on the Federal left. There should be an open path around their flank.

Mission: Sweep around the left of the Federal line.

Gameplay: When Hood's score reaches 9500 points, the Cemetery Ridge South objective will appear at the crest of the ridge. A message will notify of this event. Union brigades that retreated from this battle historically will withdraw from the fight automatically when their score reaches -300 (FailGrade).

Forces Available:
Major General John B. Hood, commanding Hood's Division, Army of Northern Virginia

Law's Brigade, Col. James L. Sheffield
4th Alabama, Lieut. Col. L. H. Scruggs
15th Alabama, Col. William C. Oates
44th Alabama, Col. William F. Perry
47th Alabama, Col. Michael J. Bulger
48th Alabama, Capt. Thomas J. Eubanks

Robertson's Brigade, Brig. Gen. Jerome B. Robertson
3rd Arkansas, Col. Van H. Manning
1st Texas, Lieut. Col. P. A. Work
4th Texas, Col. J. C. G. Key
5th Texas, Col. R. M. Powell

Anderson's Brigade, Brig. Gen. George T. Anderson
7th Georgia, Col. W. W. White
8th Georgia, Col. John R. Towers
9th Georgia, Lieut. Col. John C. Mounger
11th Georgia, Col. F. H. Little
59th Georgia, Col. Jack Brown

Benning's Brigade, Brig. Gen. Henry L. Benning
2nd Georgia, Lieut. Col. William T. Harris
15th Georgia, Col. D. M. DuBose
17th Georgia, Col. W. C. Hodges
20th Georgia, Col. John A. Jones

Attached brigades from McLaw's Division:
Kershaw's Brigade, Brig General Joseph B Kershaw
2nd SC 'Palmetto' Regiment, Colonel John D. Kennedy
3rd South Carolina Regiment, Colonel Daniel C. Mooney
7th South Carolina Regiment, Colonel David Wyatt Aiken
8th South Carolina Regiment, Colonel John W. Henagan
15th South Carolina Regiment, Colonel William DeSaussure
3rd SC Battalion 'James' Regiment, Lt Colonel William G. Rice

Semmes' Brigade, Colonel Goode Bryan
10th Georgia Regiment, Colonel John B. Weems
50th Georgia Regiment, Colonel William R. Manning
51st Georgia Regiment, Colonel Edward Ball
53rd Georgia Regiment, Colonel James P. Simms

Wofford's Brigade, Brig General William T. Wofford
16th Georgia Regiment, Colonel Goode Bryan
18th Georgia Regiment, Lt Colonel Solon Ruff
24th Georgia Regiment, Colonel Robert McMillan
Cobb's Georgia Legion Regiment, Lt Colonel Luther Glenn
Phillips Georgia Legion Regiment, Lt Colonel Elihu S. Barclay
3rd GA Sharpshooter Battalion, Lt Colonel Nathan Hutchins

Hood's Division Artillery, Major Mathias W. Henry
Branch (North Carolina) Artillery, Capt. A. C. Latham
German (South Carolina) Artillery, Capt. William K. Bachman
Palmetto (South Carolina) Light Artillery, Capt. Hugh R. Garden
Rowan (North Carolina) Artillery, Capt. James Reilly

McLaw's Division Artillery, Colonel Henry C. Cabell
Battery A - 1st North Carolina Artillery, Capt Basil C Manly
Pulaski Georgia Artillery, Capt John C. Fraser
1st Richmond Virginia Howitzers, Capt Edward S McCarthy
Troup Georgia Artillery, Capt Henry H. Carleton

Division strength: 12608 troops and officers, 31 Guns
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Ever since designing Scenario 26 I've had this scenario in the back of my mind. I even had the name set as 'Beyond the Wheatfield'. Now its come to fruition, albeit with a more descriptive title.


One second left...
Drats, the objective was between activations and its readout for the next objective wasn't up yet, so a blank objective. Anyway, with the final objective, Cemetery Ridge South, 15 one minute objectives worth 100 points each display a countdown, then two back to back 10 minute objectives worth 2000 points are eventually available.
Situation:
Although the Rebels have gained the ground from the Little Round Top to Cemetery Ridge South, they're still dealing with remnants of McCandless's brigade, especially with the 13th Pennsylvania to the north. This regiment is equipped with the dreaded Sharps Rifles. But the real threat is yet to come, for Sedgwick's 10000 plus corps has now completely arrived and is forming up below the ridge in preparation to attack from the east. The first to arrive, Devin's brigade is already advancing up the eastern slope of the ridge.
Conclusion:
With the right strategy and tactics, this scenario demonstrates that the Cemetery Ridge South and Little Round Top ground could have been gained and held, at least until Sedgwick's Corps entered the picture.


This was my second Major Victory after testing and tweaking for almost two weeks. Although 14000 was reached with the first MV, I consider this MV more respectable due to having 1000 less casualties than the first MV. Regardless, both Major Victories were a handful!