GAINES' MILL (VERY LOW CASUALTIES) - Ultimate General: Civil War version .92 - CSA Campaign #11

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Some facts about the battle -
#1: Gaines' Mill was Robert E. Lee's first major victory of the Civil War
On June 1, 1862, Joseph E. Johnston, commanding the Army of Northern Virginia, at the Battle of Seven Pines, was seriously wounded. With the Army of the Potomac at his Richmond doorstep, Confederate President Jefferson Davis appointed Robert E. Lee to become the new commander of the largest Confederate army in the East. While Lee had a sterling pre-war reputation, his 1861 defeat at the Battle of Cheat Mountain and his focus on building fortifications around Richmond, led many to believe that Lee's best days were behind him. But at Gaines' Mill, Lee would quickly move dispel any doubts as to his energy and determination. His bloody victory at Gaines' Mill would be the first of many for Robert E. Lee and his aggressive tactics in the Seven Days would force McClellan's army away from the Confederate capital.
#2: The Confederate assault at Gaines' Mill, by many estimates, was the largest of the Civil War
At the Battle of Gaines' Mill, Robert E. Lee's soldiers had made a number of attacks against Porter's lines. At 7pm, with additional Confederate forces now in position, Lee unleashed upwards of 32,000 men - sixteen brigades - in a powerful assault against the Federal lines. While not the most organized affair, this assault was likely the largest of the Civil War. By comparison, more famous assaults such as Pickett's Charge, with its roughly 12,500 men, and Hood's attack at Franklin, with its 20,000, are far smaller in size than Lee's 7 p.m. Gaines' Mill attack.
#3: By late June 1862, Gaines' Mill was the second bloodiest battle in American history
When one considers combat casualties (killed, wounded, or missing), the Battle of Gaines' Mill, at its conclusion, was the second bloodiest battle in American history. Only the Battle of Shiloh (April 6-7, 1862) was bloodier than Gaines' Mill. The 15,500 casualties suffered at Gaines' Mill is comparable to the suffering found at Cold Harbor, Chattanooga, and Fredericksburg.
Fact #4: Gaines' Mill is one of those rare battles where Confederate forces significantly outnumber Federal forces
It has become almost axiomatic to believe that the Union forces greatly outnumbered the Confederate forces at most major Civil War battles. But at Gaines' Mill the opposite was true. Robert E. Lee was able to amass 60,000 to 65,000 Confederate soldiers at Gaines' Mill. Union forces, under the command of Fitz John Porter, numbered roughly 34,000 at the battle.
#5: Led by John Bell Hood, the famed Texas Brigade achieved its first great feat of combat arms at Gaines' Mill
Considered by many to be the toughest fighting brigade in the Army of Northern Virginia, the Texas Brigade (comprised of the 1st TX, 4th TX, 5th TX, 18th GA, and Hampton's South Carolina Legion at Gaines' Mill) led the charge that broke the Union line atop the Watt House plateau. It was this determined charge that helped seal the Confederate victory at Gaines' Mill.
#6: Seven different Union soldiers, including Gen. Daniel Butterfield, were awarded the Medal of Honor at Gaines' Mill
The determined Union defense at the Battle of Gaines' Mill produced seven different Medals of Honor for soldiers who fought on June 27, 1862. Among the seven are Charles Hopkins, who would live until 1934, Ernest von Vegesack, a Swede who would later become a member of the Swedish Parliament, John Henry Moffitt, who would later become a US Congressman from New York, and Brig. Gen. Dan Butterfield, who would later compose the famous bugle call, "Taps."
#8: Gaines' Mill represents the first instance when observation balloons from both sides flew at the same time
The Union army employed a number of observation balloons during the 1862 Peninsula Campaign. At Gaines' Mill, one of the more famous and active balloon camps was set up next to Dr. Gaines house. Four miles away from the battlefield, the Confederates also employed one of their balloons. The Gazelle had been brought forward from Richmond by train and was providing the Confederates with intelligence on Union movements. As such Gaines' Mill is the first instance where observation balloons were being used by both sides and the same time - a notable moment in American aeronautical history.

[@ashleyhyatt6319]

I'm struggling not to just buy this game now. The practical voice says wait for the October sale, but I'd also like to help the dev out with more cash. The way you go over some of the history is excellent! Really tempted to watch the Ken Burn's documentary again for another good lesson.

[@TheHistoryGuy]

Ashley Hyatt I flew to Denver a few weeks ago and watched a few episodes on the way. Love that documentary! It was one of the things that first excited me about history.

[@brianbarrett6879]

H.G. Your flank attack and your attack on the Boatswain woods timing was perfect. The Brigades you circled around Mc Ghee hill. coming up behind and capturing the victory point, ended up behind the Union right. You crushed those Union troops quickly. I think that was the key to your low casualties . The last time i played this battle I did the same plan as you, but I got into a slug fest with the troops at the foot of Mc Ghee hill. By the time I realised I could capture the hill from the rear i took 4,600 casualties A small mistake cost a lot more. dead. Nice execution H.G.

[@TheHistoryGuy]

+Brian Barrett the timing is the trickiest part. Go too early and you get unnecessary casualties. Too late and you.lose.

[@andrewdiemer2643]

Seven Pines was the battle where Johnston was wounded. Lee took over and stared the 7 days campaign. And yeah I'm with you dude. Only way to appreciate it all is to walk the land managed to visit most of the eastern theater battlefields. Only ones I'm missing are some small ones in the Appalachians like Saltville or some of the cav raid ones like Staunton River. What are your favorites? I mean other than the obvious Gettysburg and Antietam? I loved some of the smaller ones in VA like North Anna, Cedar Mountain, New Market, Winchester. Unfortunately I live in NC which means the only "big one" I have is Bentonville. Its cool to see someone else who enjoys getting out to these places!

[@TheHistoryGuy]

Saltville is one I very much want to visit. I had two ancestors who fought there with the 40th Kentucky Mounted Infantry. One of them, my 4th great grandfather John C. Bailey was in the same company with his son Wiley who was killed at Clinch Mountain during the Saltville raid. I've been to Gettysburg, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Petersburg, Gaines' Mill/Cold Harbor, and Manassas in the east, and Franklin, Kennesaw Mountain and the battlefields around Atlanta in the west. I someday hope to follow in the footsteps of my ancestor Samuel Hughes who was with the 20th Ohio at Shiloh, Vicksburg, Atlanta, etc. from 1861-1864.

[@andrewdiemer2643]

Nice! Ive been lucky enough to be able to get to a lot. Gettysburg, Antietam Vicksburg, Fort Macon, Five Forks, Petersburg, Malvern Hill, Gaines Mill, Cold Harbor, Beaver Dam Creek, Fredericksburg, The Wilderness, Chancellorsville, Monocacy, Averasboro, Chattanooga, Chickamauga, Stones River, Olustee, Fort Clinch, The South Mountain Battles, Harpers Ferry, Trevillian Station, Mannassas, Saliors Creek, New Market Cedar Creek, Balls Bluff, Fort Stevens, Bristoe Station, Chantilly, Aldie, Kelly's Ford, Cedar Mountain, Brandy Station, Winchester, North Anna, New Bern, Bentonville and Fort Fisher. And those are just the civil war ones :-) Thanks to a birth defect I ended up having to have a pacemaker and two artificial heart valves put in at the age of 25 plus an amputation because of a clot during all the nonsense. So in late 2015 in between rehab and being able to hold a job again I sort of went nuts and visited as many as physically and financially possible lol

[@Daslaer]

I used to live in Tennessee and I've walked the Shiloh battlefield. It really is humbling to walk that ground and see all the trees and undergrowth and just imagining charging the Hornet's Nest under heavy fire. Puts a whole new perspective on everything

[@Daslaer]

I had an entire Division of Cav for this battle. The first part of it I managed to capture 2 of the 3 skirms and then I flanked the edge of the right and charged the enemy from behind, killing the arty and capturing most of the guys in the trenches. Then I used the rest of my 1st Corps to hold that line while the 2nd Corps lead elements attacked from the rear and I ended up pushing the Yankees into the swamp where I massacred them, captured something like 6,000 men and killed another 10,000

[@TheHistoryGuy]

Nice!

[@Daslaer]

The History Guy can you give me your email? I have some pictures from my battle of Sharpsburg I think you'll want to see

[@ravensplaya5130]

So I finished the Union campaign, and after Gettysburg the confederates stop receiving butt tons of troops and supplies, and my destruction of their army at chickamauga starts to show, I barely captured any CS richmonds and no fayettesvilles. By the Battle of Richmond their main rifle was the pattern 1853 and I slaughtered them at Richmond. They couldn't hold the forts because I had overwhelming men. I think when you play the Union you should play on hard difficulty so the confederates more of a challenge at Richmond and Gettysburg. In conclusion I know for a fact the new scaling is very accurate for the Union in the case that the confederates hurt in the long run. For the confederates I don't know yet but I think they should get a morale buff or something

[@TheHistoryGuy]

RavensPlaya thanks for the info. I'm actually in the middle of Richmond on my easy Union Campaign now. Will probably wait until version 1.0 to play them again.

[@MrBNutzer]

You pay the prize if you dont engage enough that the Union's army grow in numbers after a big battle. I fought Stones River two times. First turn i killed 24'000 Union soldiers but couldn't believe i had the same number of casualites as Antietam, over 17'000. So i tried it again. Lost around 14'000 but killed only 16'000 Union soldiers the 2nd time and exactly about those 8000 soldiers the Union army was growing for the Battle of Chancellorsville. You can reduce that number in the little battles again and as more you kill there or let surrender them the number is reducing for the major battle. But as compensation it seems to me they get better trained (captured reports). Next fight for me is now Chancellorsville. Their training level is acctually at 36 - 41% and the armory at 52 - 57 % Some notes for Stones River: Didn't touch the Union troops at Wilkinson Pike but was able to put all their units in the south into a pocket and routed them all out. Around that the time was running out for this first day of the Battle of Stones River. The interessting part about that is, you can go on with the fight and decide yourself when you want to finish. I moved all my troops in the south into a position to attack the both Pikes you need to win, then i pushed the Union troops out of Wilkinson Pike. You'll get your complet 3rd corps as well. So it seems to me Stones River is a major battle you can finish at the first day if you want no matter how long it takes. I remarqued as well two weeks before when i played the campaign as Union, at Stones River after the first day i had only 1500 soldiers lost and killled over 6000 Confederates. After new year to take the Pikes, my number of causalties was climbing to 5000 before the first shoot has been fallen. No explanations, no battle you could fight, they just gave me arbitraily 3500 more causalties. That made me angry. Now in this campaign as Confederate my reconnaissance wasn't at Stones River at four points to see the inflicting casualties in a battle. So watch out if this happend the same way as Confederate. You allready can see it!

[@valeriewilson8124]

I have a ancestor that was wounded and taken prisinor and died a POW at Libbey jail.. Name was Nathan Bunnell.

[@TheGerudan]

*doesn't lose men in the battle* *still skills medicine* But yeah, very smart way to play that. I went through he other flank and encircled almost the whole Union army while losing a lot more myself as well. You way seems to be the smart way to win this. And yeah, the AI will gain tons of troops all the time. I don't even see the point of the system at the moment. Later the Union gets like 100+k after some of the larger battles like Cold Harbor, so no matter how many casualties you inflict, they will always have enough.

[@stevejohnson1718]

well malvern hill can turn into a bloodbath real quick so medicine is a good choice. i personally go with training, organization to get to 2500 men brigades and medicine. dabble in economy and politics

[@TheGerudan]

It was just a little joke. ;) Yeah, Medicine is okay, I still would push for Politics first and Medicine second though.

[@cyberpimp29]

Low casualties you say...

[@johnpayne498]

nice. :)