Artillery Horses

[garyknowz]

One of the reasons artillery was kept out of range of musketry was the risk of losing its artillery horses, thus disabling the battery and making it highly vulnerable to being overrun. It’s also a key reason why infantry support was critical to artillery when enemy infantry was nearby, (isolated gun emplacements were high prices for infantry and, especially cavalry units). The auto retreat function does provide some element of historical accuracy in this regard. However, many players override this feature and rush guns forward as a sort of 19th century WMD.

That isn’t to say officers didn’t use isolated artillery from time to time in the face of the enemy. But it used only in dire circumstances, and with looming knowledge that they’d likely lose the guns. Many desperate sacrificial stands and were performed by heroic men to save their cause and comrades.

Anyhow, I was wondering if there has been any consideration given to implementing a horse quotient in order to increase realism as to how Civil War era artillery was used, and to dissuade folks from employing such ahistorical, gamey tactics in battle? Just something that signifies a battery's decreased mobility for the duration of the battle upon losing a good share of it's horses. Thanks.

Cheers!
Gary K.