A Postscript to the Battle of Rolla on Logistics

 

Above : Civil War Wagon Supply Train (see site footer) 

I have come back to the strategic table and map to update one or two items before plunging into the moves for week 2 of 1861. It occurred to me that I had not settled on supply issues relating to combat. In the Boardgame War Between the States any force engaged in combat may need to expend supply points present actually on the map (so in a freestanding dump made by supply train, a supply train itself or a depot). 

The tables for supply point expenditure in combat cross reference both the size of the force and the intensity of the battle to determine how many supply points a force will need. I am not using the board game combat but fighting on the tabletop.  On that basis I have decided to create my own combat supply table using an average amount of expenditure of 0 to 3 points based on the size of the force (1-10 points, 11-30, 31-100 and 101 +). 

The tricky consideration is what detriment to apply if a force is "out of supply". These need to be simple and workable.  My proto-rules are as follows :

(1) An artillery battery or battalion will have supply to fight for D6 turns which can be ticked off on the roster. This will also apply to "designated guns". I will roll during the first turn that an Artillery unit fires and add a tick box to the roster. 

(2) Infantry will have D6 turns similary in which they can fire normally after which time they will not be able to apply the stationary bonus. Again I will roll on the first turn a unit fires

(3) For multi day battles the brigade will have a 50 % chance only of receiving D3 replenishment on each new day. 

On this basis I have re-rolled for combat supply for the battle of Rolla. Lyons (deceased) force needed supply. I have deducted the rail transport points for moving the supply train with 2 points (3) to their forces original jumping off point and have deducted a point. This avoids the issue of Lyons needing to have used a command to move the supply. I have decided that a supply train that moves with an on map commander can be included in the campaign game command span for the ** rating along with other units. So a divisional commander can command a division, a brigade and a supply train. If a supply train moves independently it will need a separate command. 

As well as the adjusting the rail points for the union and the location of the St Louis supply train I have allowed both side to review positions and to consider if they need to create a sensible depots. 

A G2 has been removed in Fort Monroe to create 10 point depot sucking up two floating points that are there without a depot. Depot number "8" has been placed on the board.

It seems crazy to use infantry rather than garrison points to create a depot but I think it is needed and the points can soon be replaced. 

The union will create a further depot at Harpers Ferry to support the 10,000 infantry stationed there. I will reduce both counters to I4 and place 10 supply points on the map.  There doesn't seem to be a corresponding way to set up a depot in Winchester for the confederates.