American Civil War Game Club (ACWGC)
Dispatches & Messages to the Front
Last Update: January 29, 2021
Messages from 2021
"Lee's Old War Horse" by Mort Künstler
January 9, 2021
Final Greetings & Thanks from the Chief of the Armies of the CSA
Officers of the Confederate States of America (CSA) Armies,
I wanted to take a moment to send one final message & update for last year.
I am more than delighted to note the election of General David W. 'Dee Dubya' Mallory as the new Chief of the Armies (CoA)! General Mallory held the post years ago and is the perfect officer to hold the command again! I look forward to seeing the great things that Dee Dubya will accomplish and happy to have him at the head of our fine forces!
This past year had a lot of great new officers join and return to the CSA & the Club! Gaming activity was very high and a significant amount of games were played. Some of this is no doubt in part to the events going on globally in real life but a lot of it has been the energy & activity that has come with various plans and initiatives. The Club's Recruitment Staff that has actively brought in a lot of the new officers, tournaments that were played made for activity from new & veteran officers a like and also from reorganization plans & command appointments being completed with increased interaction between various command levels. The Union Army also had a lot of new officers and some command changes that have not only benefitted them but also our side!
Multiple command changes and additions helped spur us towards what was a benchmark year. Starting with Major General Ed Blackburn's appointment as Division Commander of 4th (Early's) Division, II (Jackson's) Corps, Army of Northern Virginia (ANV) to provide a division for new officers to be initially placed in and have a veteran commander, Ed, help them become further involved in the games & the Club. Commandant of the Vicksburg Military Institute (VMI) General Nick Kunz advocated & supported the idea along with others. From here everything else started to come together.
The reorganization plans of the Army of Northern Virginia (ANV) were completed and General Nick Kunz did a fantastic job at contacting every ANV officer and talking to each of them about the plan as well as working with the officer to see where they wanted to be placed. The plan was to have I (Longstreet's) Corps & II (Jackson's) Corps for members who have generally been active gaming, while the III (Swamp Legion) Reserve Corps would be for officers who are active by mustering, but not gaming at the moment. This way the ANV can provide a place for all types of gamers.
Nick also worked extensively on finding several new Division and Corps Commanders. Lieutenant General Charles Schmidt was picked to command I (Longstreet's) Corps and Lieutenant General Gerald Jensen was selected to lead II (Jackson's) Corps. Nick has also been appointed the ANV's Chief of Staff and has done an incredible job working with the current commanders in the ANV to continue improved communications with officers under their commands as well as the reconstitution of monthly mustering. All this while continuing his stellar service to VMI & the Club at large.
The Army of Tennessee (AoT) under the leadership of General Cameron McOmish and General Mallory made some command changes as well and continued the great path that it has been on. Tournament participation by AoT officers is always high and this year's tournaments were not exception. The Pemberton Get's Help (PGH) Tournament had two of only three victories for the CSA come from the AoT! Colonel Thomas Wayne of 3rd (Breckinridge’s) Division, I (Hardee's) Corps and new officer Colonel Ray Struder of 2nd (Armstrong’s) Cavalry Division, Forrest's Cavalry Corps both scored victories over their opponents. (The ANV's Brigadier General Alan Sparks had the third victory) Likewise other AoT officers who are always present in the tournaments, such as Lieutenant General Owen Evans & Brigadier General Justin Kowal, were present in this year's tournaments. Also, Colonel Blake Strickler returned to the AoT this year and not only assumed command as Division Commander of 1st (Buckner’s) Division, II (Stewart's) Corps, but he has also been appointed Deputy Commandant of the Vicksburg Military Institute (VMI) helping to train new officers & create many useful guides for CSA Officers within the Southern Raider's Tavern of the War College section, in the CSA Forums. Finally General McOmish continued to provide his extensive expertise & support as CSA Cabinet Secretary with his reelection last October.
The Club also saw the election of a new President! Union Army Officer Major General Walt Dortch was elected to succed General Ernie Sands as the 7th Club President.
Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge again the Club's loss of the great General John Dragan, who's passing we as a Club mourned this past September. He will forever be remembered & missed. (Special Thanks to General Jim Garner, who has served as Interim CSA Cabinet Secretary in the seat John held since 2015)
The last two months I'm happy to say we were able to finally issue more Chief of the Armies (CoA) Discretionary Points as well as CSA National Medals & Awards to the majority of CSA Officers! The below are links to the Awards posts in the Mason Dixon Tavern for each division.
Army of Northern Virginia (ANV)
Battlefield Honors for ANV Commanders
I (Longstreeet's) Corps:
1st (McLaws') Division
2nd (Pickett's) Division
3rd (Hood's Texas) Division
4th (Stuart's Cavalry) Division
II (Jackson's) Corps:
1st (Jackson's) Division
2nd (Hill's Light) Division
3rd (D. H. Hill's) Division
4th (Early's) Division
III (Swamp Legion) Reserve Corps:
1st (Mahone's) Division
2nd (Heth's) Division
3rd (Wilcox's) Division
Army of Tennessee (AoT):
Battlefield Honors for AoT Commanders
I (Hardee's) Corps:
1st (Cleburne's) Division
2nd (Cheatham’s) Division
3rd (Breckinridge’s) Division
II (Stewart's) Corps:
1st (Buckner’s) Division
2nd (Hébert's) Division "Gator Alley"
3rd (Hindman’s) Division
Forrest's Cavalry Corps:
1st (Wheeler’s) Cavalry Division
2nd (Armstrong’s) Cavalry Division
3rd (Morgan’s) Cavalry Division
This past year saw a lot of posts made for promotions:
April 2020 (Line Officer)
April 2020 (General Officer)
July 2020 (General Officer) I
July 2020 (General Officer) II
July 2020 (Line Officer)
August 2020 (Line Officer)
September 2020 (Line Officer)
September 2020 (General Officer)
October 2020 (Line Officer) I
October 2020 (Line Officer) II
November 2020 (Line Officer) I
November 2020 (Line Officer) II
November 2020 (Line Officer) III
December 2020 (Line Officer) I
December 2020 (Line Officer) II
In December Cam submitted a request for certain awards for officers in the Army of Tennessee (AoT). The forum posts below highlight the officers who have received awards:
P.G.T. Beauregard Medal of Recognition for Several Army of Tennessee (AoT) Officers
Joseph E. Johnston Medal of Recognition for Several Army of Tennessee (AoT) Officers
Order of the Purple Eagle Medal Recognition for Several Army of Tennessee (AoT) Officers
Combat Honors for Several AoT Officers
Two great Tournaments were held this year and CSA Officers have been awarded for their participation & victories in each:
Pemberton Gets Help Tournament (PGH) Tournament Award - CSA Officer Participation
Pemberton Gets Help Tournament (PGH) Tournament Award for Victory by CSA Officers
Clash of Titans (CoT) Tournament Award - CSA Officer Participation
Clash of Titans Tournament Award for Victory by CSA Officers
There were multiple posts in the Mason Dixon Tavern made about Command Appointments & Changes:
Ceremonial Parade of Honor for Outgoing Commanders in the Army of Northern Virginia (ANV)
Appointment of Command for Gerald Jensen - II (Jackson's) Corps, Army of Northern Virginia (ANV)
Appointment of Command for Josef Seidl - 4th (Stuart's Cavalry) Division, I (Longstreeet's) Corps, Army of Northern Virginia (ANV)
Retirement Honors for Major General Larry Mills
New Army of Tennessee (AoT) Appointments of Command
The Promotions & Awards Register has all of these awards posted to it as well.
Finally several posts were made in Remembrance of General John Dragan:
Forum Notice
General Bob Weir's Forum Notice
General Jim Garner's Post
General David Danner & General Derald Rigg's Memorial Post
John's Retired Official Records
The CSA as a whole registered or ended roughly 927 games [394 (ANV), 475 (AoT) & 58 (Command - Nick Kunz & Myself)] in the Department of Records (DoR) last year. This is an incredible amount of gaming and amongst the highest in a while. Since I started tracking these stats from August 2015 until the end of 2020, the totals for each are:
1,051 - Army of Northern Virginia (ANV)
1,459 - Army of Tennessee (AoT)
136 - Command
For a Combined Total of 2,646
This is all possible because of you! I've enjoyed nothing more than being able to watch and post promotion notices, awards, honors, etc. for all who have earned them!
It has been a great privilege to be able to lead the Confederate side of the Club for all these years! None of the great work would've been accomplished without all the outstanding leaders I have had the honor to serve with while CoA. Likewise our esteemed colleagues on the Union side of the Club have been a wonderful help for a lot of our accomplishments as well. It takes both sides to make the Club! I also want to acknowledge all those I've served with on the Cabinet over the years & the tasks we accomplished. Thank you as well to the new generation of officers stepping up to serve the Club!
Finally, I wish to extend my deepest gratitude & thanks to each and every one of you! Whether you are a CSA Officer or a Union Officer, our Club would be nowhere without y'all!
I have great excitement for the new energy & direction the CSA & the Club will be heading! I look forward to seeing all of the great victories, stories & fun that I hope you all will continue to share! Onward to new heights!
General Scott Ludwig
Commanding Officer & Chief of the Armies (CoA) of the Confederate States of America (CSA) 2014-2021
Copyright 2014-present