The weather model for the B & O WINTER command simulation is based on a randomly selected year. (I had no idea there would be so much rain until we got started.) Although there hasn't been the snow, hail, and extreme temperatures that plagued the Bath-Romney Expedition in January 1862 (temperatures in the simulation have been in the 40s), there has been a lot of rain. This has created almost impassable conditions on roads categorized as "tertiary" or "other." The conditions are different, but the effect is similar.
This could eventually present logistical challenges. Any units moving on "other" category roads on Day 1 (I cannot confirm or deny such movement) would have had severely impeded progress. On Day 2, there was virtually no movement at all as storms, heavy rain and flooding swept the campaign theatre. At the start of Day 3, it is still raining.
What does this mean? If columns are on the march, they are likely to be stuck outside of major towns. If supply trains are moving on tertiary or "other" quality roads, they are probably also stuck. The men are still eating rations and have consumed two days of rations already and are starting on a third. If there are marching columns out there, continued rain could pose a threat in terms of keeping the men fed, which would lead to a collapse of morale.
As a note, the turnpikes have been passable, even in the heavy rains. Thus their strategic importance.
Let's hope the rain goes away soon....
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