Maryland Campaign /3
GCACW double blind: ANV Orders
General Orders to ANV:
The situation is dire. We are outmanned and outgunned 2:1. But we will not be outsmarted.
Our overall plan Gentlemen is to fight a retrograde action, while accumulating supply and VPs where possible. We must deny Little Mac both time and space where possible.
Our First defensive line is the Monocacy River, our
Second defensive line, the Mountain passes from Catocin Switch [3522-3622] to Fairview [3814-3815].
The Third defensive line of defense is South Mountain from Turners Gap to Weverton, then the Fourth and final line would be back to the Antietam Creek-Sharpsburg. From there Gents, Southward as a consolidated army.
In each instance where possible at each defensive line breastworks or better should be constructed at key blocking locations to multiply your defensive benefits.
Offensive opportunities are outlined in each of Jackson and Longstreet’s Orders below:
I will be in Frederick until the 13th subject to enemy action, then begin moving along the National Road towards our defensive lines in between Middleton and Boonsboro to facilitate communication.
CORPS ORDERS:
Stuart.
ORDERS-
Use 12th VA to monitor the Goresville-Leesburg corridor, paying special attention to White’s Ford, and those two Ferrys. Alert AHQ & Gen. Jackson if a single Corps or more crosses the South fork of the Potomac.
Use F.Lee to monitor the Baltimore Ohio RR, destroying what you can, and screen Longstreet’s rapid advance upon Windsor [See Longstreet’s Orders].
Consider sending 7VA on a railway station destruction run along the Potomac [for vps], and an early scouting of the Harpers Ferry area.
The balance of your forces should be used to delay and monitor the movements of the Union Corps. Avoid direct engagement unless you can be confident of overwhelming force.
Jackson
ORDERS-
It is imperative my dear friend that County Frederick (West) be held for as long as possible. [keeping 2 Str [detach] pts in Frederick and a total of 12 in the county.
To that end, please use JR Jones & Lawton to defend the two bridges with breast works and even fortifications if time permits at 4415 & 4317 [Frederick Junction].
A.P Hill should drift southward to cover the various fords, and choose the best location to hold based on Stuarts reporting on enemy advance lines. Do not put your men in a pitched battle to do this.
Press your boys hard. They can do great things.
Based on the fall-back lines outlined above in my General Order, you must, dear Jackson, time the eventual abandonment of Frederick smartly [3VP a turn, more the better ideally 4 or even 5,6 turns.]
Then proceed to delay the enemy along the defensive lines until you find an opportunity for yourself to break away.
Consider sending ASAP to Harpers Ferry, A.P. Hill you must capture Harpers Ferry [10VP], and resupply there!
Once Harpers Ferry is cleared, rejoin the main army in Sharpsburg, unless the damn Yankees are threatening Charlestown. Then do your best to slow them down and let us know, so as to allow us to join you.
Longstreet
ORDERS-
Old Pete, it is with you I place a great burden. Three burdens in fact.
Objective 1.
Send D.R. Jones to take Windsor (5806, Union Depot)) in a lightning forced march strike! Garrison it with 2 Strength. Avoid fighting or being cut off, and resupply in Windsor on the 13th. If forced to abandon it, destroy the rail station prior to leaving.
Then moving on the double back towards the Monocacy River staying in Frederick East County for the VPs for as long as possible near Jug Bridge (4509) is a nice escape route. (Remember, you just need to keep those SPs in the same County, only 2 SPs in the same hex). We need to hold it 5 days or more!
From there, use your judgement but perhaps have them meet up with you in Boonsboro/Sharpsberg and or join in the defensive line where it makes the most sense?
Objective 2.
McLaws has a similar challenge, and we need his men to move very fast to Hagerstown. Capture the depot, resupply and recover from the forced march, garrison Hagerstown [with 2 SP] and move South to Sharpsburg.
Washington County is worth 1 VP a turn, plus the 5 VP for the Depot you will resupply at on the 13th. Note the rail stations as targets of opportunity.
Objective 3.
The third and longest leg is for Anderson & Evens. Race them to Martinsberg, capture the depot, destroy what you can along the way, then fade back to either Sharpsburg or Charlestown as needs be. If he finds that Harpers Ferry has not fallen yet, he should consider aiding the effort.
Hood should be allocated as you see fit to the above orders. It’s a huge task.
Avoid direct contact and fighting if you can, and meet me in Sharpsburg as we seek to potentially isolate a Corp or 2 and put some hurt on these Blue Jackets.
I will be in Frederick until the 13th subject to Enemy movement then begin moving towards our defensive lines on the National Road between Middleton and Boonsboro to facilitate communication.