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Confederate artillery opens up on the
Hornet's Nest, in one more attempt to take the famous
sunken road.
The Battle of Shiloh was the follow
on of Gen. Grant's victories at Fort Henry and Donelson,
Gen. Halleck, the theatre commander, ordered Gen. Grant
and his Army of Tennessee to Pittsburg landing and Gen.
Buell's Army of Ohio to Savannah. The plan called for
these two armies to combine against Gen. Johnston and
his Army of Mississippi now stationed in Corinth.
Gen. Johnston had no intention of waiting
and decided to attack. Very early on the morning of
the 6th of April Gen. Grant's army was attacked while
many troops were still in their tents. Throughout the
day they were forced back to Pittsburg Landing. A stiff
defence was organized at the Hornet's Nest, a convenient
sunken road.
That day Gen. Johnston was killed by a
bullet that hit him in his leg (he bled to death). If
he had not been killed it is very likely that the Confederates
would have won the Battle of Shiloh and the civil
war have taken a very different path.
TIPS
This is perhaps the biggest "cat
and mouse" battle Tower Games has. Both sides have
roughly the same number of men and artillery. However,
the South is in battle formation and concentrated whereas
the North is not (some units were attacked while still
in bed).
The Battle of Shiloh is surprisingly
simple. The Confederates must attack from turn one,
and not let up. Any units in charge range must be given
Charge orders. If you contact isolated Union brigades
before they get together you have an excellent chance
of destroying them and giving yourself the advantage
in numbers.
As the Union player you have to do the
opposite and withdraw (run away) from the Confederates
while bringing up your forces from the rear. Your objective
is to form a solid line of defence. Be careful though.
The Confederate player may try to send some units around
your flank. One option for you is to keep a brigade
far out on one or both flanks. Then you might flank
the flanker.
A disadvantage for the Confedearte player
is that your brigades and corps are inter-mingled, which
is exactly how they were historically (it made for a
very messy battle). It's very tempting to spend a couple
of turns getting your forces organised; DON'T DO THIS.
You will allow the Union player time to withdraw and
form a solid line. Sort out your men as you go. You
must attack from turn one.
It is also tempting to form field columns
and march around the flanks of the Union player. Again
this costs time and allows the Union player to concentrate
his forces. Plus if you send too many brigades on a
flank march it will greatly weaken your centre, which
can have disastrous results. Sending one or two brigades
on a flank march is fine, but just be careful you don't
send your whole army that way.
The Union player can, and most likely
will, defend the Hornet's Nest. Of course the Confederate
player knows this, and so will most likely attack the
flanks. So keep a reserve back of at least one division.
When you know where the Confederate player is going,
throw them in.
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of Shiloh. All rights reserved.
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