Random dr= 4+5=9, Confederate Command Paralysis

Leaders transfers: Sedgwick to Ricketts, Tolbert to Custer, Grant and Warren to Wadsworth, and Ewell to Johnson.

Off map phase: Colquitt, Gracie and Hunton transfer to Drewry's Bluff.

County Control Phase: Spotsylvania is now Union controlled.

Attachment Phase: 22NY attaches to 13PA, 3NJ attaches to 2OH, Provisional Brigade attaches to Ferrero.

Pre turn: Stuart-save himself! Get F Lee out on right flank. Try to get in IX Corps way to prevent strategic movement. Ewell push VI Corps. Hill look for an opening. Longstreet might have to pull back behind the river.

Pre turn: I have 4 main goals for this turn. First is to have Sedgwick entrench and defend the Locust Grove area. Second, have Torbert trap Rosser against the Rapidan River. Third, move Burnside using strategic movement towards Fredericksburg or advance towards Germanna Ford using regular movement. Last is to defend Spotsylvania Court House while resting Hancock. The first two will depend on whether I get to move first, if so I'll risk having Sedgwick attacked in order to make sure Rosser is trapped. If Rosser escapes first I'll move Sedgwick first.

Positions at the start of May 6

Init roll: U5 C3 USA

Init #1: Activate Torbert (Devin, Custer, Merritt)
dr= 4+4+1=9
Torbert to Devin, f1 0812
Custer f1 0913 via 1013
Merritt f1 0914

Init roll: U6 C3 USA

Init #2: Activate Sedgwick (Getty, Ricketts, Wright)
Getty f1, Wright f1 build abatis
dr= 5+1=6
Ricketts extended dr= 4+1=5 f2 2412

Init roll: U5 C3 USA

Init #3: Activate Sedgwick (Getty, Ricketts, Wright)
Getty f2 and Wright f2 entrench to breastwork-build, Ricketts f3 builds an abatis

I feel happy about my current situation, unless Stuart or Ewell get a lucky combat roll I feel I'll be well on my way to accomplishing this turns goals.

Here is a prime example of the different nature of 1864 fighting.  Paul takes two of his three opening inits to dig in Sedgwick instead of moving out troops.  The Wilderness restricts movement to just a few key routes, making it well worth his while to dig in and defend against Ewell's II corps.

Init roll: U4 C4 CSA

Init #4: Rosser F2 builds an abatis

Init roll: C6 U3 CSA

Init #5: Activate WLee (1NC)
dr= 6+1+2-2=7
1NC extended march dr=6 KIA

Needed him to get up past Fredericksburg to slow down IX!

Moving Burnside's IX corps through Stafford County using strategic movement has become a favorite opening Union maneuver.  This and the  next few moves are all aimed at denying Paul this maneuver.

Init roll: C4 U3 CSA

Init #6: Activate FLee (Lomax, Wickham)
dr= 6+6+2-2=12
Lomax F1 3924, FLee/Wickham F1 4224

Don't want to lose them, I'll only go to the river.  I guess Burnsides coming!

Init roll: U5 C3 USA

Init #7: Activate Burnside (Willcox, Potter, Ferrero, IX Corps Art) for strategic movement
IX Corps Art f4 extended dr= 3+2=5 ok, Burnside, Willcox f4 extended dr= 2+2=4 ok 3812
Ferrero f4 extended dr= 3+2=5 ok 4011, Potter f4 extended dr= 2+2= 4 ok 3811

I make sure to move Burnside while I still can. He moves to f4 to guarantee the faster movement rate of strategic movement. I can move through Spotsylvania county using strategic movement next turn as long as I stay 8 hexes away from enemy units.

Another reason why Paul's early capture of Spotsylvania Court House is beneficial -- the county control that he gains from it permits him to use strategic movement in the county as long as he doesn't get too close to Confederate units.

Init roll: U6 C1 USA

Init #8: Activate Crawford
dr= 1 f1 1010

Init roll: C6 U1 CSA

Init #9: Stuart corps assaults Merritt
Rosser to f3
corps dr= 3 ok
modifiers: assault +1, ratio 1:2=-1, artillery NE (defender has 0), tactical 3-2 = +1 = +1 overall
U4 Dr Merritt f4 disorg loses 1 ammo, retreats to 1015
C5 Da Rosser f4 disorg loses 1 ammo, advances to 0914

It doesn't get me out of the trap - but it'll take him more moves to spring it now.

Another dumb mistake on my part, I should have had Torbert entrench before moving Crawford up.  Now I've got to waste inits making sure Rosser can't escape me.

Init roll: U6 C4 USA

Init #10: Activate Torbert (Devin)
dr= 4+2+1=7
extended dr= 3 ok, f2 0414

Init roll: C3 U1 CSA

Init #11: Activate Ewell (Johnson, Rodes, Early)
dr= 3+2-1=4
Ewell transfers to Early
Johnson f1
Davies declines to cavalry retreat
Johnson 2015
Ewell, Early f1 2117
Rodes extended dr=5 ok f2 2213

I'll try to slide Ewell around here-feel like I have a fishhook again!

Init roll: C3 U3 CSA

Init #12: Activate Ewell (Early)
dr= 5+2-1=6
Chapman cavalry retreat dr= 2/2 = -1 MP, f1 disorg retreats to 2615
Ewell, Early f2 2316

Not quite sure what Ewell is up to. Looks like he's headed for Parker's Store but I'll move Chapman near him. Moving from enemy ZOC to ZOC will stop an assault from him this turn.

Init roll: U6 C1 USA

Init #13: Activate Sheridan (Davies, Chapman)
dr= 4+3+2=9
Sheridan, Davies f1 2817
Chapman f2 2516

Init roll: U5 C3 USA

Init #14: Activate Sheridan (Davies, JI Gregg, )
dr= 1+2+2=5
Sheridan transfers to McIntosh
DM Gregg, JI Gregg extended dr= 3 ok f2 3117
Davies f2 3020
Sheridan, Wilson, McIntosh f1 3019

I start moving Sheridan south. I could possibly trap Longstreet between Hancock and the Ni River. He'll be forced to attack just to avoid retreat losses.

Init roll: U2 C2 CSA

Init #15: Activate Longstreet(Kershaw, Field)
dr= 4+2-1=5
Longstreet transfers to Kershaw
Longstreet/Kershaw F1 3021
Field F1 3422

Longstreet becomes aware of the trap so I'll try to attack F Lee while he still only a 1 combat value for both Lomax and Wickham.

Init roll: C6 U3 CSA

Init #16: Activate Ewell(Early, Johnson)
dr= 3+2-1=4
Ewell/Early F3 extended march dr=4 ok 2416
Johnson F2 2216

Init roll: U3 C1 USA

Init #17: Activate Sheridan (Davies, McIntosh, JI Gregg)
dr= 6+6+2=14
Gregg extended dr= 3 ok f3 3923
Sheridan, Wilson, McIntosh extended dr= 1 ok, f2 3823 via Spotsylvania CH
Davies f3 extended dr= 5 ok, 3823 via Spotsylvania CH

Init roll: C6 U1 CSA

Init #18: Ewell corps assaults Chapman
Early f4
Chapman cavalry retreat dr= 3, f3 disorg 3016
Ewell corps dr= 1 ok, Early/Ewell advance to 2516

Init roll: C5 U5 CSA

Init#19: Activate F Lee(Wickham)
dr= 6+3+2-2=9
Wickham extended march dr= 4 ok, f2 3825

I just realized that Sheridan could be trapped between Field and Lomax if Field moves east. Fortunately I could cav retreat if necessary. I'll corps assault Lomax if given a chance. I'm glad Wickham moved, still keeps him at a 1 combat value while Stuart is to the west.

Sheridan vs F Lee

Init roll: C1 U1 CSA
Grant dr= 3, day continues

Init #20: Activate Hill (Heth, Anderson, Wilcox)
dr= 3+2-1=4
Lee/Hill Heth F1 2818
Anderson F1 2618
Wilcox F1 2619

See if Hill can create some pressure.

Init roll: C3 U3 CSA

Init #21: Activate Hill (Anderson)
dr= 6+2-1=7
Anderson F2 2616

Init roll: C1 U1 CSA
Grant dr= 1, day continues

Init #22: Activate Hill (Anderson, Wilcox)
dr= 2+2-1=3
Anderson extended dr= 6, fail f3 disorg 2816
Wilcox f2 2616

Init roll: C1 U1 CSA
Grant dr= 6 fail
Lee rests!

Time is my enemy! I don't mind short days here!

Expletive deleted. I'm in trouble.

The early end to the turn does hurt the Union, but overall Paul's position at Spotsylvania Court House is favorable.  Despite the depot loss he is in fine shape overall -- Stuart should pay a heavy price for that depot raid and if he can hold off Longstreet and Hill he'll have established himself at Spotsylvania Court House very early.