|
5th Corps tries to hold off AP Hill's
division.
In the month of June, 1862, the Army of
the Potomac was entrenched outside Richmond and Robert
E Lee took command of the Army of Northern Virginia.
Gen Lee decided the best way to push McClellan
away from Richmond was to sieze the initiative. He ordered
Gen. JEB Stuart to reconnoitre the enemy's positions.
Stuart reported that the 5th Corps, under the command
of Gen. Porter, was on the extreme right of the Union
line.
Gen. Lee decided to attack it. He also
brought the Corps of Gen. Jackson from the valley.
The outcome of The Battle of Gaines's
Mill was a tactical victory for the Union but an
enormous strategic victory for the South. Gen. McClellan
became convinced he was desperately outnumbered (where
the reverse was true) and ordered the evacuation of
the Peninsular. Thus the first real attempt to capture
Richmond and end the civil war came to a close.
TIPS
The Battle of Gaines's Mill is
a bit like the reverse of Antietam (except with more
forces). For the Confederate player to win he must crush
the Union troops. In order to do this attacking the
Union's right with Jackson presents the best opportunity.
However, don't do it with brigades alone. Make sure
you bring up your batteries, concentrate on one Confederate
brigade, shoot holes in it, and then attack it.
Also, moving around the Union's right
flank will stretch your opponent thin. He must cover
you. Then an opening in the line will appear somewhere.
Regards the trenches, these can be taken
but be aware of the huge amount of artillery there.
It works better to step to the right and attack over
the crest line to the east of the trenches, and thus
flank it. Sometimes AP Hill can take a horrible amount
of casualties attacking the trenches directly.
Of course Longstreet attacking the Union's
left helps this situation.
For the Union player, you have to keep
a constant line of defence presented to the Confederate
player. Instantly moving McCall's division to your extreme
right is a good idea. Otherwise the Confederate player
tends to waltz down your right flank.
The best defence is to form Supported
Line and pull back onto Turkey Hill. Keeping your units
in Battle Line can mean there is not enough room for
them to deploy, and they will keep tripping over each
other. Plus only one rank is not deep enough to hold
off any charges.
This, of course, means giving up the trenches
at an appropriate time. It is far better to withdraw
from them than be slaughtered there, because eventually
the Confederates will get around your flanks. As to
when to pull out, that is the tricky part.
copyright www.towergames.com. Battle
of Gaines's Mill. All rights reserved.
|
