009/010 - Perryville Meeting Engagement
More About This Scenario
Perryville Meeting Engagement scenario 009/010 is statistically the most popular scenario from the WDS Chickamauga title. As of August 2022, this scenario is the most played scenario from the Chickamauga title.
What can account for the popularity of Scenario 009/010: Perryville Meeting Engagement?
1) Traditionally most members in the Club prefer Meeting Engagement style battles as they offer more flexibility of movement for both sides.
2) The scenario description states that the battle will take place between two equal sides with no victory point hexes. Members enjoy the idea of a fair fight, and the absence of Victory Hexes means neither side is required to attack or defend unless they choose to.
3) The scenarios length is just 35 turns which makes it ideal for a “quick play.”
Does the scenario really offer both sides a fair chance or does the scenario lean one way or the other a little more?
Let’s dive into the numbers a bit here and see if we can determine whether the scenario really is fair and whether one side or the other actually has an advantage.
Analyzing the Numbers
The Federals have 4,087 more infantrymen than do the Confederates. But they also have 16 fewer regiments on the field of battle. This equates to an entire division of fewer units to move. This is also expressed by the fact that the Federals have 17 brigades to the Confederates 21 brigades on the field of battle. The Federals do have larger regiments, but they have fewer of them overall. You can also see the Confederates have five times as many high-quality ('A' and 'B' rated) infantrymen as do the Federals.
The Federals have an advantage in that they have more rifled muskets. But this advantage can be negated based on how the Confederate player plays the game and uses the terrain. At a range of one the Musket is superior to the Rifled Musket. From the Confederate standpoint, keep your men in the woods or aggressively up against the enemy at all times. If you try to fight a standup battle from 2 or more hexes away then your will be at a large disadvantage.
Although we are outnumbered and outgunned, I still believe the Confederates have the advantage in infantry. The difference in total manpower is not great enough to cause any real concern. While the Federals have 4,087 more infantrymen – 800 of these are E-rated men. These odds are nothing we can’t overcome. We also have 16 more regiments on the field of battle and a higher overall quality rating.
Mounted Forces
The dominance of the Confederate cavalry at Perryville is easily shown to the left. The Confederates have far more high-quality troopers than do the Federals. And while the Yanks may have superior weaponry range, the thing about cavalry is that it is most effective when it is mounted. If the Yanks want to dismount their cavalrymen, then I say, “good!” Their firepower is reduced by 25% because of horse-holders and with our 2-1 superiority in overall mounted units there is a good chance we can ride around and isolate the flat-footed dismounted Yanks.
Artillery Situation
The artillery stats are very interesting. To begin with the Federals have their usual advantage in total guns. In this case they have 19 additional cannons with which to work. They also have seven additional batteries than do the Confederates. But then things begin to swing to the Confederacy's advantage. The available ammo for each side is practically identical - unlike almost all other battles where the Federals have a seemingly unlimited supply. Also, the Confederates actually have more powerful artillery pieces on average than do the Federals!
Do the Federals really have an advantage here? They have nineteen more guns and seven more batteries. But the Confederates have more artillery ammunition and more powerful guns overall. I am proclaiming neither side has much of an advantage here.
Did You Know?
Bragg’s inability to control Kirby Smith—a situation created both by Richmond’s departmental system and Jefferson Davis’s fondness for Kirby Smith—seriously undermined the Confederate effort in Kentucky. His chief goals were to maintain independent command while becoming the heroic liberator of Kentucky, going so far as to refer to himself as “Moses.” Accordingly he made agreements with Bragg only to break them, undermined Bragg in letters to Davis, exaggerated Federal strength at Cumberland Gap in order to justify his independent march into Kentucky, went in the opposite direction when Bragg asked him to move toward his army once he entered Kentucky, and ducked Bragg’s requests for supplies. And there was nothing Bragg could do about it until the two armies united. Ultimately, Kirby Smith was not at Perryville when Bragg needed him, and that sealed the failure of the campaign. - Kenneth Noe, Historian
Two Commands are Better
The Confederates benefit from being divided into two armies. This means that Bragg and Smith can more easily support their own units since they each have just a small army. This will increase the ease with which the Confederates can exert command and control. Because the Federal army is all under Buell, it will make it more difficult for them to have his presence felt in the Command Test at the start of each turn with a dispersed army.
The Scenario Setup
The battlefield of Perryville is a perfect square at 84 hexes by 84 hexes (7,056 hexes). This small map size means that you could march across the map, either north to south or east to west, in just seven turns (assuming you had a perfectly straight road). This will force the action upon the players within the first few turns as you both jockey for positioning. The Confederates arrive from four map locations in the east and from the northeast. The Federals arrive from three locations from the west and southwest. These are all marked on the map below.
This scenario follows the traditional Meeting Engagement script in that the two sides arrive on the board from their respective corners and in like numbers. Below is a very detailed outline of the reinforcements and numbers of the two armies.
Numerous things can be learned by studying the chart above.
1) The Confederates concentrate fast than do the Federals and will have an early advantage in the battle.
2) The Federals will continue to receive reinforcements for an additional hour after the last Confederates arrive.
3) Both armies are fully on the field by turn 13.
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
Slight Rebel Advantage
Overall, I like the setup more from the Confederate perspective than the Union one. The Confederates have far superior interior lines than do the Federals (despite the inevitable traffic jam of converging units in Perryville) and the Confederates will be able to shift forces north and south easier than the Federals will. The Confederate units are also all funneled together allowing for a quick massing of forces west of Perryville.
The Confederates dominate this battle on paper. They are relatively even in total strength with the Federals and have a clear advantage in cavalry. While the Federals have minor manpower advantages in infantry and artillery, this is offset by the higher Confederate infantry quality and the better overall Confederate artillery on the field. Even the setup, geography, and arrival times favor the Confederates - slightly.
On paper it would seem that this battle favors the Confederate side. Not because they necessarily dominate in any one category but because they are "finally" fighting an enemy army that is their own size and on fair ground. This can be a very rare thing in the games we play.
But the Confederates have won this battle just 39% of the time, achieved a draw in 17% of the games, and lost 43% of the time. That doesn't seem to make sense. What's going on? [Note: this data comes from the Department of Records in 2022]
The Big Question
If the Confederates "dominate" on paper, then why have they lost more often than they have won at Perryville?
Let's consider a few things and then return to that question.
First, take a look at the Victory Dialog box.
As you can see the scenario begins with neither side having any advantage in terms of points. Whichever side can reach 250 points will begin to have a victory.
What does 250 points really mean in terms of losses?
625 Infantrymen = 250 Points
313 Cavalrymen = 250 Points
10 Cannons = 250 Points
Basic math will show you that a cavalryman's loss is worth twice as many points as an infantryman's loss. That is extremely important.
Why?
Because cavalry, by its very nature of speed, is almost always the first Confederate units to be engaged at Perryville. The map is smaller than a usual "big battle" map and the Confederate cavalrymen are the first to arrive on the battlefield. During the first Confederate turn the cavalry brigades of Joseph Wheeler and John Wharton arrive (3,425 men) and will rush to the east looking for the oncoming Federal forces.
And that's fine. That's what they should be doing. But that's ALL they should be doing. If you dismount your cavalrymen and begin to fight their infantry in a standup battle than you are giving the enemy three great advantages. First, your losses count twice as much as theirs do in the points column. Second, by the act of dismounting your numbers are reduced by a quarter for firepower purposes (horse-holders being used). Lastly, by dismounting you allow the enemy to more comfortably fight the battle as they no longer have to worry about what your cavalry is doing where they can't see them. They know exactly where your cavalry is - being shot at right in front of them!
An intelligent opponent will welcome the opportunity to fight your cavalry anywhere on the battlefield you wish to dismount them and trade blows. They know they will gain points with every turn played.
Another thing to consider is the fact that of the 38,631 non-artillery forces in the Confederate armies, 5,000 (13%) are cavalrymen. For the Federals the percentage is just 7.6%. This overabundance of available cavalry can lead the Confederate player into the dangerous mentality of feeling they "have" to use their cavalrymen more aggressively than they might otherwise use them. This can cause players to take unusual risks and higher strategic gambles than they would normally make in other games.
If your gamble works out, and you succeed in your plans, then that is excellent! But if you fail in your plans then the losses, in terms of victory points, can be crippling.
Why have the Confederates lost more often at Perryville? It likely all comes down to cavalry usage.
Cavalry is a double-edged sword which can win or lose you a battle quicker than any other branch. Incorrect cavalry usage can cost anyone a game in a hurry. The Confederates in this battle need to avoid the major mistake of treating their 5,000 cavalrymen like an extra infantry division and throwing them into the front lines.
You need to use your cavalrymen in one of two ways at Perryville:
1) Use them as a reserve Strike Force sheltered behind your front lines and ready to ride out, encircle, melee, and capture an enemy attack once it begins to falter. With infantry on hand in close support, the combined arms of your army can obliterate an enemy infantry brigade easily once they are isolated and trapped. Cavalry is perfect for this!
2) Use your cavalry to force the Federals to divert their forces all over the field of battle. Because the Federals have fewer cavalry units they will have no choice but to divert infantry units to the task which will increase your chances of success elsewhere on the field of battle with your own infantry.
Three Tips
1) Spread the battle out.
There are 119 movable Confederate infantry and cavalry units and just 94 Union infantry and cavalry units on the map. These 25 extra units amount to a full division's worth of extra units to maneuver and pressure the Union army. There are three main roads with which to advance on the Federals and open up new fronts. These are along the Mackville Pike, Springfield Pike, and the Lebanon Pike. By moving along these three roads you will force the Federals to defend each road which will reduce the number of units they have for offensive purposes and keep the initiative on your side. Because the Federals are more apt to rout, they will always need to defend with at least an equal number of units to your own force or risk being routed and driven back. Because the Confederates have about 27% more units to move than the Federals, they can spread out the enemy defenses while still maintaining enough of a concentrated offensive force to attack and defeat the Federals offensively along at least one line.
2) Go for the "Instant Victory."
The Federals have three units on the map which, if just any one is captured, will almost certainly win you the battle without much more effort. These units are pictured below along with the point totals for capturing or destroying them.
520.8 Points
398.4 Points
557.6 Points
Capturing or destroying one of these three units will change the battle in numerous ways. But most importantly it will do two things. First, it will likely give you a victory status. Second, it will force the enemy to attack you in order to attempt to regain the lost points offensively. Fighting defensively on ground of your own choosing against an enemy who has no other options is a recipe for success in my book.
These three units are usually pounding down the Lebanon Pike early in the battle to reach the southern outskirts of Perryville. If you can use Wharton's and/or Wheeler's cavalrymen to engage, isolate, and capture just one of these units, the battle might be decided in the first five turns. If you see these units - attack.
3) Don't be afraid to be the Defender in this one.
Maybe your offensive plans didn't quite work out. Or, maybe, you don't enjoy attacking at Perryville. No problem. The ground north and west of Perryville is a defender's dream. By utilizing the ridges, hills, and woods, you can easily hide your infantry where the enemy must march right up against them in order to engage them. With our muskets being superior at short range this is an advantage for us. The Confederates also enjoy far superior interior lines which will allow you to quickly reinforce any sector of your line from another. There are few battlefields I enjoy defending at more than Perryville.
Final Thoughts
This battle is a ton of fun - win or lose. Your goal should be to keep the Union player on the defensive by spreading out the action as much as possible across the battlefield. Your advantage in overall units on the map will cause the Federals numerous problems as they can't possibly defend everywhere against a much larger enemy cavalry force and superior Confederate infantry. Cracks will eventually begin to open up and these should be exploited.
Avoid attacking into the teeth of the Union army. Use your numbers to pin them in place and then use your cavalry to look for a flank to move around. Keep up the pressure and you will wear them down.
Good luck!