084 - Siege of Atlanta
Why Should You Play This Scenario?
Don't you want to save Atlanta from Sherman's bummers? Really, this scenario is pretty interesting despite it's almost wholly stationary strategy for the Confederates. A poor Union commander could really end up in a world of trouble while a skilled Union commander could make your life miserable. This is a good scenario to test out your abilities at playing defense and learning how to maximize every advantage you can against an enemy of overwhelming size and strength - if you go out into the open to fight them that is.
With nearly 25,000 extra infantrymen and almost 100 additional regiments, the Union infantry is a very powerful force here.
Infantry Summary
While the Confederates enjoy a qualitative advantage, the Federals can overcome this with their much larger infantry force. The Federal infantry is also not poorly rated at all. Only 3% of their force is classified as low-quality.
Advantage
Both sides have an abundance of cavalry in this battle. But because of the nature of the terrain, and the battle setup itself, the Federals will benefit much more from their mounted arm than we will.
Cavalry Summary
While the Yankees have more men and larger units, the Rebels have better quality and more units. But Rifles versus Carbines, Spencer, and Repeaters just isn't fair.
Advantage
Both armies have strong artillery forces in this battle with plenty of full-sized batteries in action.
Artillery Summary
The Yankees have nearly fifty additional cannons and 2,000 extra rounds of ammunition. And they will need them all because of the Confederate defenses. So long as the Rebels stay behind their fortifications they can match the Federals gun for gun here. Just watch out for any open fields.
No Advantage
Both sides have more than enough ammunition to fight from beginning to end in this matchup.
No Advantage
Both sides will struggle with command and leadership as the numbers for both are low here on average.
No Advantage
Setup
All of Sherman's armies are coming at you in this scenario. With over 90,000 men in three armies, Sherman is not pulling any punches. HIs army arrives from the north starting on turn one and keeps coming for the next 24 hours. Below is a graph of the arrival numbers in this scenario.
As you can see above, the Union army (starting in the northeast with the Army of the Cumberland) arrives rapidly in the early morning. By mid-morning they already outnumber you and continue to grow in strength through the day as the Army of the Tennessee arrives followed by the Army of the Ohio.
The map has a ton of roads which will make movement extremely easy for the Federals north and west of Atlanta. Moving to the east of Atlanta is more challenging as they must skirt the Rebel embankments a little closer, but they can still scoot around fairly easy. But the action is most likely to take place north and west of Atlanta.
The Confederates are fully deployed in Atlanta and man miles of embankments around the city (embankments are outlined in black below). These lines are very strong and can be improved by adding breastworks to them. And direct Federal attack will be extremely costly. Just 400 men in a hex with a modifier of 50% during a melee will fight like 600 men. Given that a 2 to 1 ratio of attackers to defenders to have a roughly 50% chance of success is necessary, the Yanks won't have enough strength to push you out of the embankments without some luck, some routs, or successive waves of attacks.
The Confederates cannot be isolated in Atlanta due to a supply source in the city. No need to worry about that.
Setup Summary
The Confederate setup is pretty dull. Unless you are an extremely adventurous person then you will likely stick to your defenses and force the Yankees to attack you if they want to win this scenario.
But I'd rather be bored and playing defensively than have to figure out a way to successfully assault our strong fortifications.
Advantage
This scenario is intimidating for both sides. The Yanks have a massive army which can hold its own against anything the Rebels throw against it. Their cavalry force is well-armed and large, their guns are quality, and their numbers staggering. The Confederate army is nothing to balk at either. With over 60,000 men, Johnston has a large army of mainly veteran soldiers behind established lines.
Something has to give.
This scenario will be won be won or lost according to how skilled your Union opponent is. If he knows modifiers, tactics, and strategy, then you are likely in for a hell of a battle. If he is simply a Burnside-esque commander, then it will be over rather quickly as a frontal attack should be easy to repulse.
A smart Federal commander will pin you in place at numerous points and keep significant threats pointed at Atlanta from a few different directions. He will not waste time bombarding your lines and will be more apt to bring the guns up close where possible and/or move them just behind the front lines to exploit any breakthrough and to keep the door open once they have breached your lines.
If the enemy successfully gets into the Atlanta defenses, then it will be an epic battle with massive casualties (think Lord of the Rings). You should obviously avoid this outcome if at all possible. Keep back a force to counterattack and close any gaps before they can be widened. Once the enemy is through though, throw away the scabbard and charge!
Three Tips
1) Breastworks... Everywhere!
It will take the Yankees a long time to prepare their attack. Don't waste time. Build lines of breastworks all over the place. If you have a hunch the enemy will attack a certain part of the line, then build numerous walls of breastworks to stop them.
2) Proctor's Creek can trap you.
Proctor's Creek runs right through your defenses. While I don't advise abandoning these lines, I also wouldn't recommend being turned out of them with your back to a creek and rushing to escape over a single road! This is your weakest part of the line. Note its existence, figure out a plan, and adjust accordingly. Don't be caught unawares by a Union attack here to isolate and bag a chunk of your force against the creek.
3) Horse Artillery Can Help You.
It's not a bad idea to mass your Horse Artillery in Atlanta and use them to rush to any breakthrough to provide rapid and powerful artillery support. Using this as a mobile emergency force can give the edge when every turn counts.
Final Thoughts
The Battle of Atlanta! Have fun. But also treat this one for what it is - a defensive battle. Don't get too cute here and grind the Yankee army down as the battle progresses.