This is a long post with many issues. Consider yourself warned.
I have long resented the confederate ammo shortage of the Battle of Gettysburg in both TalonSoft and HPS formats. I found that often I am running out of wagons and artillery ammo on the 2nd day with many units at low ammo and firing only on defensive phase, making the 3rd day a walkover for a competent yank.
It did not happen historically.
Accordingly, I have gone over several games' scenarios for supply considerations and decided that the confederates are grossly shortchanged, and so somewhat are the yankees.
One account has that doctrine infantry division trains should be able to resupply all units' small arms ammo twice. That means that every wagon unit should be able to carry 200% what their division's manpower would require should they run out, not just low. I regard that as a goal, not a law, and that battle conditions would vary considerably in actual supply. There were also corps and army supply wagons to replenish divisional trains which I decided to leave out portrayal for the time being.
Accordingly, I tallied up the manpower for both sides in HPS 007, The Battle of Gettysburg, 158 turns. The table is pasted below.
I like that scenario because of the large map which gives more maneuver room with fewer opportunities to anchor a flank against a map edge for units on defense.
I have been designing a modification that should considerably redress the ammo imbalance while also benefiting the union troops.
By counting the manpower available, you will see that the ANV is not only 23,000 fewer, but that it is a third lower in small arms ammunition for its lesser numbers. What a handicap!
On the table of the OOB, each unit has the scenario manpower with divisions divided by 10, rounding up, to define supply factors necessary to resupply all its units before casualties. ie
Under "supplies" you will find the game's wagon assigned supply factors (SFs).
"Short/1X resupply" defines how many SFs are short.
"Added Supply" shows where you may expect to find added 300 SFs wagons and in the vicinity of which division.
HPS 007 Battle of Gettysburg 3 days, 158 turns
ANV Robt E Lee 73,300 men Supplies Short/1X supply AddedSupply
I Corps- Longstreet 20,587 men
McLaws 7091/710 400 310 300
Pickett 5712/572 400 172 300
Hood 7744/775 400 375 300
II Corps- Ewell 20,523
Early 5716/572 400 172 300
Rodes 8241/825 400 425 300
Johnson 6566/657 400 257 300
III Corps- A. P. Hill 22,034
Heth 7765/777 400 377 300
Anderson 7392/740 400 340 300
Pender 6847/685 400 285 300
ANV Cav Div-Stuart9801/981 400 481 300
AoP Gordon B Meade 95,416
I Corps- Reynolds 12,078
Wadsworth 3925/393 300 093
Robinson- 3100/310 300 010
Doubleday 4975/498 300 198 300
II Corps- Hancock 12,474
Caldwell 3825/383 300 083
Gibbon 4200/420 300 120
Hays 4250/425 300 125 300
III Corps- Sickles 11,855
Birney 5975/598 300 298 300
Humphreys 5850/585 300 285 300
V Corps Sykes 11,825
Barnes 4250/425 300 125
Ayres 4575/458 300 158 300
Crawford 3125/313 300 013
VI Corps Sedgewick 13,346
Wright 4475/448 300 148
Howe 3750/375 300 075
Newton 5000/500 300 200 300
XI Corps Howard 9541
Barlow 2800/280 300 <020>
v. Steinwehr 3125/312 300 012
Schurz 3375/338 300 038
XII Corps Slocum 7995
Williams 3675/368 300 068
Geary 4150/415 300 115 300
Cavalry Corps Pleasanton 11,996
Buford 4425/443 300 143
Gregg 2977/298 300 <002>
Kilpatrick 3975/398 300 098
Provost Guard 1275/128 128
Well, the table did not paste well. If it does not post accordingly, I shall post my e-mail address that anyone can e-mail me and I will attach the table on the response. It looks as though with a minimal effort that you should be able to figure out the numbers against the column categories.
I left the wagon supply factors at a 100%(+) resupply level because of the 1/24th probability of running low on ammo for a firing small arms unit. Cavalry divisions' SFs are halved(+), reflecting that they were not expected to engage in prolonged combat and their ammo supply was reduced. The modifications may be adequate for a reasonable approximation of the supply availability, while including the corps and army trains. I predict that the rebels' supplies will still run realistically low if a game goes 3 full days.
I have also modified victory points hexes on the HPS 007 map that if the yank adopts a fall back strategy, relinquishing Gettysburg and vicinity to wait for the 3rd day while amassing reinforcements to launch a grand offensive, then an aggressive rebel can drive east against Newark, or southward to menace Baltimore and Washington DC.
If the confederate commander can capture and hold York and vicinity, Littlestown, Taneytown, or Emmitsville and vicinity, to the end of the scenario, he will be able to abandon Gettysburg and Cashtown areas for more victory points than they provide and attain a higher degree of victory.
Had the ANV not piled up against Cemetery Ridge, the capture of Taneytown would have threatened Baltimore and Washington DC, with the option still available to go after Newark, and "mod" VPs are accordingly awarded. There is no good reason for the ANV to stand, fortify, and hold Gettysburg and Cemetery Ridge if the AoP has been badly wounded. The offensive should continue!
The modified scenario map with added supply units can also be attached for those interested.
Of course, all this needs playtesting. I will support anyone interested and appreciate feedback.
I have written a narrative that explains somewhat the reasoning on my modifications which I can attach. Basically, Washington DC is the most valuable prize and the menace of its loss by capture by the ANV is most valuable in VPs, by capture of Taneytown. This 3 day scenario does not afford enough time and map area to move close to the threatened cities.
BG Ross McDaniel
2nd Bde, 3rd Div, III Corps, AoG, CSA
rossmcdaniel@sbcglobal.net
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