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Fighting around the famous Dunker Church
gets hotter.
Battle of Antietam.
At the Second battle of Bull Run the Confederate
Army of Northern Virginia inflicted a severe defeat
on the Union army. Gen Lee decided to follow this up
with an invasion of Maryland.
The Union army meanwhile had Gen. McClellan
placed at its head by Lincoln, and it was now called
the Army of the Potomac.
After Lee had captured Harper's Ferry,
the two armies met either side of Antietam Creek, near
Sharpsburg. The stage was set for the Battle of Antietam.
This was due to the infamous losing of
his battle plans with "three cigars" which
ended up in McClellan's hands. Howevere, he proved too
cautious to make use of the information. Gen Lee had
also decided to leave Maryland, but wanted to leave
with another battlefield victory.
The Battle of Antietam was to be
the bloodiest of the civil war. Even though the Union
outnumbered the Confederates three to one, they were
unable to gain the upper hand. This was due to McCellan
committing his forces piecemeal, and also because the
Confederates had chosen some very strong defensive ground.
Many were to die that day at the famous "sunken
road" of Antietam.
The next day Gen. Lee withdrew in good
order across the Potomac. The battle was indecisive
for both sides and was a proving ground for the battles
yet to come.
TIPS
This is one of the trickiest battles for
Line of Muskets, mainly because the South is so grossly
outnumbered in terms of men. However, the South actually
has a slight advantage in artillery in the early stages
of the battle. This is the key to Confederate victory.
Start the battle off by concentrating
your fire on the Union batteries. If you can reduce
them it will help you later.
With your troops along the trench line
in front of Dunker Church wood, it is better to pull
then back into the woods so the Union artillery cannot
see them. Then you wait.
Also put your artillery in support of
your infantry. When the Union come through the woods
you should be able to open up on them with canister,
and start hurting them.
At Burnside Bridge a common mistake is
to sit right up against the river. This allows the Union
player to shoot holes in you, and then come across when
you are dead. Sit three hexes back. When the Union player
sends his brigades across in march column, then counter-attack.
This works well.
At the Sunken Road, be prepared to withdraw
back to the Stone Wall. Let the Union come across the
Sunken Road and then have many batteries shoot at him.
The biggest mistake for the Union player
is to get impatient and send in your Corps one at a
time (this is what McClellan did historically and lost
him a great opportunity to destroy the Army of Northern
Virginia). Wait a bit. Soften up the defenders with
your artillery. Get your Corps together, and then attack.
Make sure you take some artillery with you as you go.
And don't forget Snavely Ford. You can
cross it in one hex wide formation. For example, a unit
in Supported Line that occupies only one hex. This is
a lot less painful than going across Burnside Bridge
in March Column.
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