Scourge of War Boards

A fantastic scenario Reb, one that continues to surprise all the way through.
Each time you think 'all is lost'. along come the AI support, just when and where you need them.
Also I managed a MV on the first run!
Cheers,

David(jolly)

A fantastic scenario Reb, one that continues to surprise all the way through.
Each time you think 'all is lost'. along come the AI support, just when and where you need them.
Also I managed a MV on the first run!

Cheers,

David(jolly)

First off, cool, glad this one entertained you thoroughly, or at least by the tone of your post it appears as so.
Second, darn it, you're not supposed to win the first round. You obviously found a flaw in my master plan to frustrate first-time attempts. Or...
Third, you're just getting better at kickin' butt.

Congrats and thanks for the kudos...

Yep, I was indeed entertained by this one Reb!
I do enjoy these smaller command scenarios - they can become epic as things unfold - you really do have to look after your men.

Please, please don't be tempted to make them any harder though.
My nerves could not take it!

Thanks for the entertainment,

David(jolly)

Update version 1.48 (June 3, 2020)

- Scenario GB2-01 added
- Edited the beginning time of all the Devil's Den scenarios. Approximately a half hour later, this is a more accurate time span adjustment for historic accuracy. This will not affect these scenarios play-ability wise.

GB2-01_July2-First Strike, Rose Farm & Stony Hill (U-Div)

Length of Play: 30 minutes

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. For the last few minutes we've watched as the gray lines to our south have pushed east, scattering our picket lines in their wake. And now, a gray wave is approaching our position. This doesn't bode well, for our ranks have been depleted as we've been called upon to send units to support more vulnerable areas of our corps' position. Reinforcements are promised, but will they arrive soon enough to save us from the Rebel tide about to submerge our ground, and us with it?

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

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

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
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

Division strength: 2979 troops and officers
________________________________________________________________

We begin this scenario series with a "...And the Cavalry Saved the Day" type battle. The "Cavalry" represented by Barnes's Division arriving just in the nick of time to "Save the Day", but with infantry.

One second left...
Not only do all objectives need to be maintained, but also depleted companies need to be spotted and removed from the action before routing. A close Major Victory by any standards, one more routed unit and this attempt would have been voided, then, another replay, and so on. All scenarios in this series will be announced and introduced with Major Victory posts. Due to the difficulty level of these scenarios, they won't be released until MV End Screens demonstrate they are winnable.

***Biographical Information***

Promoted to Major General on May 20 1863, Birney arrived at Gettysburg with 2 brigades and went into position along Cemetery Ridge, but was ordered to hold the front from the Peach Orchard to Little Round Top with too few men. This front was decimated and with General Sickles being wounded, Birney was put in command as the Peach Orchard was being overrun, soon to be replaced by Major General Winfield Hancock. Birney's health began to deteriorate in the summer of 1864 and he died on October 18th of that year.

Another great scenario Reb.
I was sure I was heading for another MV on the first attempt, alas, it was not to be !
I lost the left position early on for a few minutes. That and casualties eventually took it's toll. I'll start this one again.

David(jolly)

Another great scenario Reb.
I was sure I was heading for another MV on the first attempt, alas, it was not to be !
I lost the left position early on for a few minutes. That and casualties eventually took it's toll.

I'll start this one again.

David(jolly)

Since this scenario will be the first try for most newcomers checking out 'True Ground', your approval means a lot, much appreciated!

Yeah, this scenario feels easy until your objectives start turning off, then it's scramble time to fortify those weak areas. I don't think anyone can predict those areas on the initial run, making a second run almost a given. Although not in grog territory, the scoring is tight with this one, and any missed objective points are hard to make up.

Thanks for the Report

GB2-02_July2-Stony Hill II Enter Kershaw's Carolinians (C-Brig)

Length of Play: 40 minutes

Command: Brigadier General Joseph B. Kershaw, commanding Kershaw's Brigade

Situation: As we emerge from the safety of the wood line we see a battle in development. To our right most of our division is moving forward and so far has only dealt with skirmishers. To our left is a wall of enemy troops and artillery at the ready for battle, the artillery already finding our range. And to our front lies our objective, a stony hill still cloaked in smoke from a recent firefight. Hidden in the woods surrounding this stony hill the enemy awaits, and it's confident, for its already repulsed a Rebel strike.

Mission: Capture Stony Hill by securing all its objectives.

Gameplay: Objective points available total 2500. Make sure that officers under your command secure the objective points as 'friendlies' can activate and steal those points. You will gain some advantages if Sweitzer, guarding the Stony Hill Objective, is reduced to a grade of -300. Notification of these events will come via a Scout Message.

Forces Available:
Brig Gen Joseph B Kershaw, commanding Kershaw's Brigade, McLaws's Division, I Corps, Army of Northern Virginia under Lieutenant General James Longstreet

Kershaw's Brigade, Brig Gen 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

Brigade strength: 2190 troops and officers
________________________________________________________________

Historically set up, but the objectives don't require historical gameplay, that is, attacking the Union artillery line along Wheatfield Road. Instead, you'll need Kershaw's full brigade to expel the enemy at Stony Hill, because, Barnes won't withdraw his division early as per historical events. Still, you can force Sweitzer's brigade to withdraw once Sweitzer's grade is reduced to -300 (FailCheck command).

The Devil's Den fight concluded as this Stony Hill fight was underway. This conclusion was not depicted in this scenario because of performance concerns. Still, you'll receive support from Benning and Robertson's brigades if the Sweitzer FailCheck triggers.

One second left...
This one went down to the wire, got the final points from the last objective with 20 seconds left.
A satisfying Major Victory, definitely felt I earned it.
Since this play I made some minor changes and have learned how to kick butt with this scenario. My last run yesterday was a MV jewel, boasting of a 3941 landslide win...Finally got to Winslow's guns.

***Historical Information***

At Gettysburg...
Sometime after 5:00 p.m. of July 2, 1863 the soldiers of Kershaw's Brigade leaped a stone wall and headed toward their destiny. The brigade soon split with the left wing (8th, 3rd Battalion and 2nd) turning left in an unsuccessful attempt to silence the cannon along the Wheatfield Road. The 3rd and 7th continued straight across the Rose Farm to the Stony Hill. Shortly after the fighting began for a second time at Stony Hill, General Barnes withdrew his two brigades from the fight. A highly controversial decision, as it resulted in the remaining Federal troops having to retreat or be overwhelmed, thus conceding Stoney Hill to the Confederates.

Soon after, a Federal counterattack by General John Caldwell's division forced the 3rd and 7th back as well as the 15th which had come up on the far right. The timely arrival of General Wofford's Brigade on the Wheatfield Road picked up the 2nd and possibly some of the 8th as they advanced all the way to the base of Little Round Top. Some of Wofford's men actually went up the slope before another Union counter thrust pushed them back to the Rose Farm. It had been a phenomenal day for the South Carolinians.

General James Longstreet described the actions of his corps of which Kershaw's Brigade belonged as the best four hours of fighting during the war. The brigade suffered 650 casualties, their longest casualty list of the war including Colonel William DeSaussure of the 15th South Carolina.

Very close on the second try - about 20 seconds away from a coveted MV
David(jolly)

My first attempt on this scenario was a mere 'victory', but I thought I'd got it figured for the second attempt. Sweep right and sweep up the VP's. That seemed to go very well until the 'final' objective. With about 10 mins to go I was all set, The enemy was retreating and I was holding the objective.
Alas the enemy then did an unexpected about turn and came back at me, taking back the objective and driving me out, which killed the score somewhat!
Exciting stuff!

David(jolly)