Strategy and Tactics - Decision to Engage, Part I

Players need to make a decision for each Contact Report received: Attack, Withdraw, or Maintain Position.  This moves the player from the realm of grand campaign strategy to the boots of the officer sighting an enemy unit on the field. The information provided is very limited, consisting of a location on the map and a screenshot (or screenshots) of enemy forces visible to the officer. How does the player make a decision to Attack, Withdraw, or Maintain Position?

1. Previous Intelligence: The player may know what unit is in the area due to previous contact. Knowledge of the unit and the simulation order of battle will give the player information on the unit's armament and quality. A visible flag may also give information based on the order of battle. For example, there is only one Georgia regiment in the Confederate order of battle and only one Illinois regiment in the Federal order of battle. Sighting one of those flags will identify the unit.
2. Strategic Importance: Holding a location, or screening another unit's movement may be of sufficient importance for the player to maintain position rather than withdraw, even against uncertain odds.
3. Screenshot Interpretation: In the TC2M game, one sprite (representation of a soldier) is equal to about 10 men. Counting the number of men visible and multiplying it by 10 will give the player an estimated enemy strength for visible units.
4. Availability of Other Units: A player may have other units at nearby localities (or even at the same locality), which could be used to re-enforce the position if necessary and influence a decision to maintain position.

Now let's look at the example Contact Reports from Simulation Rules: Contact Report, Part I and Simulation Rules: Contact Report, Part II. In these examples, we saw two contact reports (one Confederate and one Federal) for a contact between Captain J. Q. Winfield and his detachment of two companies of Ashby's Cavalry and Captain Henry Rizer and his detachment of two companies of the Third Maryland Potomac Home Brigade. Assuming no previous contact, how might the players interpret their contact reports and decide to attack, withdraw, or maintain their position.

1. Previous Intelligence:  Capt. Rizer sees enemy cavalry. Even without any previous contact, he knows that this must be part of Ashby's Cavalry. By looking at the simulation order of battle, the player knows that Ashby's Cavalry is of higher quality than the green Third Maryland Potomac Home Brigade. The Third Maryland is unlikely to want to attack unless the odds are very favorable.

Capt. Winfield is only able to identify a Federal infantry unit. There are no flags. He has no idea who they could be. The Confederate player knows that there are many green Federal infantry units on the field, but there are also units such as the Seventh Indiana that are already veterans of McClellan's West Virginia campaign the previous year. Without knowing the quality of troops to his front, the Confederate player may be reluctant to attack unless the odds are favorable.


2. Strategic Importance: The Federals are guarding the railroad at Green Spring Depot. If they withdraw, Capt. Winfield's unit may be in a position to destroy the depot. This would eliminate rail access to Green Spring for the rest of the simulation. The Federal player is unlikely to want to withdraw. 

Captain Winfield would like to destroy the railroad if possible. He is also unlikely to withdraw unless faced by unfavorable odds.

3. Screenshot Interpretation: When the Federal player looks at the screenshot, he can see roughly 14 - 15 horsemen. This would give a strength of approximately 140 - 150 men, known to be of higher quality than his own detachment of 156 men. The Confederate player can see 16 - 17 infantrymen, giving a strength of approximately 160 men of unknown quality and armament. The sides are relatively evenly matched by strength. Neither has a significant defensive advantage.

4. Availability of Other Units: In this example, there is another company of the Third Maryland Potomac Home Brigade (Company E) located at Old Town and not visible to the Confederates. And two other companies (A&B) of the same regiment at Patterson Creek Depot.  There are no other Confederate units in the vicinity.


Based on what they know, possible orders from the players could be:

Confederate: Maintain Position
These keeps the detachment close to the railroad to observe any enemy movement.

Federal: Maintain Position and Re-enforce with Company E, Third Potomac Home Brigade
This keeps the unit in a position to guard the railroad, while strengthening its position.

Given the combination of these two orders, the units would continue to observe each other from a distance, until Company E of the Third Maryland Potomac Home Brigade arrives. When it does, fresh contact reports would be sent out, because Captain Winfield's detachment is sighting a new unit on the field.