039/040 - Chickamauga (Historic)
More About This Scenario
The Battle of Chickamauga is the "star" of the WDS Chickamauga title and one of the largest scenarios with over 110,000 men on the map. These armies start in close proximity to each other and the battle will be bloody and vicious right from the start.
Since the scenario was released it has been recorded a total of 81 times in the Department of Records. This includes both scenario 039 and scenario 040 which are the Historical Chickamauga scenarios with or without weather effects. Of those 86 battles there have been 16 Draws, 42 Confederate victories, and 23 Union victories as of August 2022.
What makes the Historical Chickamauga scenario so appealing?
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The Bigger... the Better! Many members simply love the large battles.
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Historical gaming is always popular. People love to refight the larger battles of the war.
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It is a unique battle with part of the Army of Northern Virginia taking part in the battle.
Based on the outcomes of the scenario we must conclude that the scenario is, if anything, titled in the Confederates favor. We have won over half of the battles fought here while the Federals have won just 28%.
What can account for this? Does something in the scenario's setup benefit the Confederates which can be exploited?
Let’s dive into the numbers a bit here and see if we can determine what is going on - and how to keep it going on!
Analyzing the Numbers
The statistics are all stunningly good for the Confederate Army. It is seldom we have a numerical advantage in any game - let alone a "major" one. With 29 more regiments we have nearly an entire division's worth of extra regiments to use against the Federals.
The Federals will have 93 very steady units of between 200 and 399 men on the battlefield. These units are ideally sized for any number of purposes. They are easy to stack up and mass together, but also easy to spread out and hold hexes in a single line. In short, the Federals have a very dangerous army of mid-sized units, all consistent in size and quality.
While your Rebel army might be bigger, you have an abundance of small units and a preponderance of large units (600+). The men in these larger units account for 7% of your total force. While those big units pack a mighty wallop, they also gain fatigue at the same rate as smaller units. I'd probably rather have an army of reliable mid-sized units rather than one with a lot of small regiments and a handful of extra-large units.
Two-thirds of the Confederate units at Chickamauga are rated as "High Quality." The Federals have just under a third of their units rated as "High Quality." Neither side has any "Low Quality" troops (E or F). This means that both armies are solidly built though the Confederates have an edge in overall quality.
Beware the 21st Ohio in this scenario. If you identify them on the map, you should pour everything you have into them to decrease their numbers and raise their fatigue. They are armed with Repeaters and are very dangerous.
Cavalry Problems
One of the biggest thrills about this battle is the opportunity to command Nathan Bedford Forrest and his Cavalry Corps. Unfortunately, the wooded terrain severely limits the usefulness of cavalry at Chickamauga. Although there are more Confederate cavalry regiments on the field than Federal ones, there are not all that many roads or trails for them to use.
The "A" rated troopers of Wilder's Lightning Brigade completely tip the scale in the Federal army's favor in terms of useful cavalry at Chickamauga. And for one of the very few times in any scenario or game, the Federals have an overall higher ranked cavalry force than do the Confederates.
Watch out for the extremely well-armed Federal cavalry at Chickamauga! If you didn't already need another reason to exclusively target enemy cavalry every chance you get - here is another. The Federals have far superior weaponry at Chickamauga. The one and only silver lining is that in order to use their weapons they must dismount - thus subtracting 25% from their total number.
The presence of Forrest at Chickamauga is about the only real "advantage" the Confederates have at Chickamauga with their cavalry. The horrible terrain and the lack of roads and trails make any numerical superiority a moot point. The far superior weaponry of the Union cavalry make them a force to be reckoned with at Chickamauga. Whether against infantry, cavalry, or even artillery, the Union horsemen are a very serious threat.
The Big Guns
The Federals have a lot of guns and plenty of ammunition. What else is new? But despite having 60 additional guns the Yanks have just 7 additional batteries. This means their batteries will be on the larger size. The only positive spin to that is that if you can capture a battery of enemy guns then you will likely gain more points than if they capture one of yours.
Did you know?
McLaws is absent during the Battle of Chickamauga. This leaves his crack division (Kershaw and Humphreys) in a perpetually "detached" status. This will hurt their ability to stay on the firing line and recover from disruptions and routs.
Wagons and Leaders
More ammo is always better - especially in a scenario guaranteed to have plenty of small arms combat like Chickamauga. With just ten wagons apiece, if you can capture or even fire upon an enemy wagon, you should do so. They can't fight without ammo!
In theory, having two Confederate "armies" on the field of battle is beneficial as your command and control will be easier because of the smaller army sizes. At Chickamauga, the Confederates, technically, have two armies on the field under Bragg and Longstreet. But because of the fact that Longstreet arrives late (leaving his "army" without a commander on day one) and the very confusing nature of the Confederate Order of Battle, I have to give the organization advantage to the Yankees in this one.
The Scenario Setup
The Battle of Chickamauga scenario is one of the more confusing in all of the WDS Civil War titles (in my opinion). To start with, the map is enormous! Why the designers chose to use the large Chattanooga/Chickamauga map is a mystery to me. Both armies start at the bottom corner of the map and 99% of the action will take place there. If there were any objectives on the northern half of the map for the Rebels to gain, then it might make more sense to use such a large map. But there are no objectives in the north and no reason to worry about any part of the map aside from the southeastern portion of it. The overhead map is located on the bottom left below.
The most important part of the map, and that part which will see 99% of the action, is shown on the bottom right. The starting locations are marked on the map for both armies. Concentrate on this part of the map and ignore the rest.
The Battlefield Map
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The (real) Battlefield Map
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Below is a very detailed outline of the reinforcements, releases and numbers of the two armies. The graphs below this can be clicked on to be expanded.
Numerous things can be learned by studying the charts above.
1) The Confederates are at a disadvantage in numbers on September 19 until midday. Even after then the numbers stay relatively even.
2) The Confederates will enjoy a greater dominance in numbers on day two of the battle. This is especially so up until the release of the Federal Reserve Corps at midday.
3) The majority of both armies begin the battle on the field. But both also have many FIXED units which are released during the first few hours of gametime. This can cause both sides a number of headaches as they struggle to gain momentum while waiting for nearby forces to finally be released. By early on the second day of battle the two armies are at full strength.
This setup is tricky. I have often felt Chickamauga's setup to be the trickiest and most complicated of all the major battles in the WDS library. This reflects the confused nature of the fighting and the historical dispositions of the two armies which clashed in September of 1863 along Chickamauga Creek.
Note:
If you want to disturb your opponent while playing this scenario, simply note the time and use this sheet for reference. Then subtract their casualties from the numbers above and tell them EXACTLY how many men they have on the field. Be sure to subtract 25 men for every cannon destroyed. This will surely puzzle them and may give you a bit of a psychological edge.
Personal Conclusion
Moderate Rebel Advantage
In my opinion, the Yankees have more advantages in the Chickamauga setup than the Confederates do. They arrive and release faster, have more guns, better cavalry, and superior weaponry. So, how in the world are we dominating in this scenario (winning over 50% of the games played and losing just 28%)?
Easy. Think about it for a moment to see if you know why.
Ready?
Infantry. In the wooded fields around Chickamauga the artillery and cavalry are severely limited in what they can do. It doesn't matter at all that the Yanks have bigger and better guns if they can never find a clear field of fire to utilize them. And having excellent cavalry is worthless in this scenario except when they are dismounted and fighting like infantry. Admittedly, the Union cavalry, armed with repeaters, are very dangerous. But the Federals in this Club rely on one thing to give their armies backbone - artillery! If you take away their favorite weapons you de-fang them and they are fighting with one hand tied behind their back. Most Yankee members can't adjust to fighting a more "Confederate" type of battle where you must rely on your infantry to carry the day. For us, it's just business as usual.
Tactical Tips
1) Use the Forests
The battlefield is covered in forest hexes. This will reduce both your movement and your visibility. But it will do the same to the Yankees. In standup battles occurring in wooded areas the Confederates will have an advantage because of our higher quality infantry. Don't be foolish though and launch a sustained attack on a wooded ridgeline or where the enemy has breastworks, this will negate all your advantages and you will be fighting at a marked disadvantage. Use the trees as cover to keep maneuvering around the set enemy positions and hit them where they are less prepared or not expecting it. Our muskets (good at close range fighting) will even make our infantry more deadly in such contests.
2) Kill Cavalry
This should be your main concern each turn. If you can fire at the enemy cavalry, then use everything you can to hit them. Whether or not they are Wilder's Brigade doesn't even matter, just kill their cavalry. Once Wilder's Brigade is located stay on top of them and try to track their movements. If you can wear out Wilder's men then the Yankees will be without their biggest weapon on the battlefield. Also, killing cavalrymen earns you twice the number of points as killing infantrymen.
3) Control Viniard Field
Viniard Field is one of the key fields on the battlefield for numerous reasons. Take a look at it below.
The Lafayette Road is the main artery running north-south on the Chickamauga Battlefield. By controlling the movement on this road you can force the Federals to use the less handy Dry Valley Road to the west to move north and south. You will also secure your own north-south roads, the Alexander and Jay's Mill roads, by holding onto Viniard Field. Even if you can just get artillery set up in the tree line on the east side of the field you will greatly hamper, if not stop, any Union movement along the road. Controlling this area is the key to the center of the battlefield.
Final Thoughts
The Battle of Chickamauga is not for everyone. It is a "set-piece" battle in which your forces are already on the board and committed even before you begin. If you enjoy games of maneuver and speed - this is not for you. And that's okay. It's not my favorite either. But it is still a fun battle to play if you really want to have a bloody brawl of a battle. This battle is a meat-grinder and should be entered into as such. Roll up your sleeves and prepare for war in this one.