Player Resources Fixed

The Campaign Maps pdf file and manual for the simulation have been updated and are ready for download on the player resources page.

The manual updates included mostly grammatical corrections and correcting the number of localities listed. There is one rule update: Cavalry Rations and Foraging. Cavalry companies will be able to forage. This gives them a lot of room to roam.

Nevermind... New Campaign Map

After having posted links to a new campaign map resource set (maps, locality guide, etc.), I sat down to plan my next map making. In the process, I decided to take Hardy County out of the campaign. I had been keeping it in because I already had a nice map of Moorefield. But... that meant adding a lot more maps and a lot of map work. So... Hardy County is out. (Maybe it will be an expansion of the simulation at some point.)  I will add Blues Gap into the campaign theatre, just east of Cacapon Bridge.

Here is what is looks like as of this evening:

New Page Format

I have changed the page tab format at the top of the blog.  The "Player Resources" page now includes links to the latest version of the manual (rules), campaign map information, orders of battle, and locality maps.

Once the first simulation starts, I will add a "Scoreboard" page that will post the most recent scores.

Higginsville Map completed

The Higginsville Map is done. Before I move on to the next map (Spring Gap), I will be doing some clean up of map files, fix some broken links, revise the rules / manual and revise the order of battle.

Here is a look at Higginsville from a test today:

Supportable Garrison Rule Change

One of the features of THE WINTER WAR command simulation is the supportable garrison. This is the number of men that a locality can support over night. It assumes that (as long as there is no enemy presence), men will be sent out to forage from local farms, barns and mills. In the simulation, if the number of men spending the night at a locality is under the maximum supportable garrison, there rations consumed that day are replenished. If the number of men spending the night exceeds a locality's maximum supportable garrison, they will consume one day's ration. 

The way to reduce problems with commissary supply is to disperse units and only concentrate for major battles.

In the next revision of the simulation rules, the maximum supportable garrison will be increased by 1,000 men for each locality. This means that the largest brigade in the field can bivouac at any locality (even with a battery of artillery) and forage for its supplies if no enemy is present.

Changing the OOB

I have been looking at the orders of battle and will be making some changes to the Federal order of battle. Originally, I had put newly arriving regiments from Ohio (29th, 62nd, 66th, and 67th) as unassigned. I have decided to assign them to their historical brigades for the period. 

I am also looking at the 3rd Maryland Potomac Home Brigade. There are indications (Dyer's Compendium and others) that the unit was assigned to Lander's Division in January 1862, but I have not been able to identify the brigade to which it was assigned. I will keep it as an unassigned unit. It also appears that the unit was still formation and was only at battalion strength during the period and that field officers had not yet been assigned. It will likely appear as a battalion under command of a captain for the simulation.

Back at it

Over the weekend I started the Higginsville Map.  The first step is taking a US Geological survey and filling in the topo lines in different colors of grayscale. That is how the map program reads height.  I completed from 700 feet to just under 900 feet at 20 foot intervals. This was primarily in the section of the map that will be around the Little Cacapon River.

I also started going back to work on some of my research. I had lost my earlier notes and started reconstructing the field and company officers for regiments for January 1862 wherever roster are available.

Ready to Get Back to Work.

I just finished Port_Treverton_1, a map for another simulation that had two long bridges that took some time to complete.  Now I am ready to get back to preparation for THE WINTER WAR simulation. I expect to start on Higginsville before the end of this month and my hope is to finish Higginsville, Spring Gap, Turkey Ridge, and Short Gap by the end of June.

Still on Hold

I am still working on a Port Treverton map for another command simulation series that is taking place. Once I am finished that, I will get started on Higginsville for THE WINTER WAR. The way things look though, it may be a while before it gets started. There are two more simulations in the Sickles vs. Ewell series that is taking place and another community member is preparing a Pea Ridge Campaign simulation. THE WINTER WAR may not take place until winter 2016.