General Litton's Blind Scenarios

Here are descriptions of some of the blind scenarios. Some have no explanation as doing so would compromise the blindness of the scenario. For those without an explanation, details specific to one side can be sent directly to any interested commander.

"About Face!"Oct. 10, 1862
BGN-AN, 40 turns, your choice standard OOB or scout OOB, your choice with or without targets. This scenario assumes that for his first invasion of the North, Robert E. Lee has moved thru the Shenandoah valley and crossed the Potomac at Williamsport, MD. After capturing Hagerstown, he plans to move Southeast "liberating Maryland from Northern control" until he reaches the capitol area. In an effort to keep Lee in check, McClellan has split the Army of the Potomac, with part of it shadowing Lee from the South, and the other maintaining a defensive buffer between the Rebs and the capitol.

"Ashby Gap"
BGN-SM, 27 turns, your choice standard OOB or scouts OOB.

"Come Hell or High Water"
BGN-AN, 90 turns, standard OOB.

"Crisscross," June 4, 1863
BGBR-FBR, 45 turns, requires altered OOB, pdt & bmp files.

After the devastating Union defeat at Fredericksburg, Dec. 1862, Burnside decides to pull the Union army back to Alexandria, VA to lick its wounds. Burnside is soon replaced by Hooker as commander of the AOP. But contrary to his past reputation, Hooker is very cautious about thrusting the badly beaten AOP into battle so soon. Four months pass and the AOP sees no action.

By May 1863, RE Lee sees an opening. Lee had long hoped for another opportunity to invade the North. With Union forces in the East so close to the capitol now, he feels this would be the perfect time to launch an attack that would pressure the Federal government. Lee's plan is to take a major portion of his army North in a feint toward Washington, cause the Federals to entrench in front of their capitol, at which point he will disengage, cross the Potomac, capture Frederick, MD and thrust again toward Washington. His idea his to keep moving and probing around the capitol, disrupting supply/communications lines, until the Federals get nervous enough to sue for peace. He also hopes that a demonstration of such control of Union soil will bring much needed recognition of the confederacy. By mid-May Lee's plan is approved and the ANV is ready to march.

Meanwhile, Lincoln, exasperated with Hooker, has replaced him with Grant. While George Meade has been placed in command of the defensive forces around Washington. Grant has designs of his own on Richmond. Realizing that all efforts to reach the Rebel capitol from the North and East have failed, he decides to attack it from the West. His plan is to transport the AoO East where it will move on Richmond, attacking from Lynchburg. At the same time, he will move a portion of the AoP by ship down the York River to attack from the East. The remainder of the AoP under Meade will advance from Washington. Surely he thinks the confederates will not be able to stop every advance.

So by the end of May, Lee is moving North as Union forces float down the Potomac River. By the time Lee reaches Centreville, he receives word of federal forces massed in Western Virginia, as well as troop movements down river. And he realizes he must put his invasion plans aside and deal with this threat. But will he be able to react in time? For now Meade with the remainder of the AoP has gone on the offensive in an effort to delay or entrap Lee.

"Destiny," November 24, 1862
BGC-MB, 90 turns, standard OOB, your choice with or without target.

After Perryville, Bragg has made his way into Tennessee. While Rosecrans has moved into Nashville. In mid November, Rosecrans decides it is time to find and destroy Bragg. Meanwhile Bragg has reports that Rosecrans's forces are divided between Nashville and Franklin. He also hopes to deal a severe blow to the Yankee army while it is displaced. Soon both armies are destined to clash.

"Face the Facts"
BGS-PG, 43 turns, standard OOB.

It is October 19th 1862 and a large force of Union cavalry moving North along the banks of the Illinois River has just spotted a small Reb scouting party just up the riverbank. The much larger Union force gives chase.

"The Battle of Frederick," March 17, 1863
BGG-GB, 60 turns, requires altered (scouts) OOB & target. For this scenario, the town (Gettysburg) represents the city of Frederick Maryland.

In March of 1863 the Union has a weary eye on Lee who (without Longstreet) is quickly moving his forces into Northern Virginia. On March 15th Lee's forces cross the Potomac at Brunswick Maryland, and move toward the city of Frederick. Not sure of Lee's intent, the Union leaders are nervous at his move, and with good reason. Located at the city is a Union supply depot crucial to the Northern war effort. There are also other key factories in that area. Although Hooker is caught off guard by the speed with which Lee has moved, he is able to get a sizeable force to that region in hopes of checking Lee's advance.

"Going No Where," September 7, 1863
BGC-CH, 56 turns, standard oob, your choice with or without target.

Late August of 1863 sees Bragg withdraw his Rebel army into Chattanooga and begin digging in there on the South side of the Tennessee River. For the moment Bragg feels safe. He holds Missionary Ridge behind the town which gives him a commanding field of fire up and down the river, and across it to the opposite bank. From here he will draw the line, keep his supply lines to Atlanta open, and counter the Union's next moves.

Rosecrans has advanced his army across Tennessee and puts himself directly across from Chattanooga, on the North side of the river. Now the region on the river's North bank is mountainous, thickly forested, and inhospitable. Certainly Bragg would not attempt to cross the river to do battle there. Even worse, the North riverbank is easy pickings for the Rebel batteries on Missionary Ridge. Old "Rosie" remembers Burnside's debacle at Fredericksburg and concludes that any attack across the river will be costly. And after a few days he comes to realize that Bragg has no plans of leaving town.

So Rosecrans devises a plan to get at Bragg. He leaves part of his army at the river in front of Bragg, while he marches the rest of the AoC West some 15 miles to cross the river at Haletown. From there he plans to go East and come up behind Bragg from the South. While he is marching East, the steamers which ferried his men across at Haletown will sail upriver to just out of range of the Rebel guns. Once the attack from the South starts, Rosencrans hopes that the rebels will divert their assets in that direction so that the steamboats can then ferry the remainder of the AoC across the river at Browns Landing, where they can capture the town, and/or hit the Rebels from the opposite direction.

"The Grass is Greener," June 1, 1863
BGG-GB, turns 27 or 31, your choice standard or altered OOBs, your choice with or without target.

By May 1863 things are looking good for the Confederates in the West. All Union offensives there have been repulsed or failed miserably. After Chancellorsville, Lee hopes that one more devastating blow may cause the Northern politicians to sue for peace with the South. And he theorizes that now would be the time since the Yanks were licking their wounds.

While the yanks are stalemated in the West, Lee decides to transfer 3 Corps there to the East. The plan Lee devises is to send Longstreet with a sizeable force, North into Southern Pennsylvania. He knows the Federals will move their forces to counter that offensive. Lee will then take his enlarged army, shadow those movements until he reaches Frederick Maryland. If he can maneuver the Union army between them, Longstreet will turn so they can squeeze it like a vise with Longstreet to the North and Lee South, between the Union army and the capitol. And if the opportunity presents itself, Lee can turn to threaten Washington. At which moment he hopes the nervous politicians will discuss peace.

By June 1, 1863 Longstreet has crossed just inside the Pennsylvania border. And as hoped, the Yanks have moved in pursuit.

"Heavy-Weights," July 10, 1863
BGG-GB, 90 turns, requires altered OOB, your choice with or without target.

This scenario assumes that after the Union debacle at Fredericksburg, there were no major engagements between the forces in the East. In the East the Union armies sought to lick their wounds and make changes to their military structure that would better prepare them for future offensives. Meanwhile the Confederates were glad to have a reprieve from the stubborn Northerners. By late Spring of 1863 both Armies are well rested, trained, supplied and ready for a scrap. Lee takes the initiative launching an offensive campaign into the North. By early July the two heavy-weight fighters are stepping into the ring.

"July 20, 1862"
BGBR-SBR, 45 turns, standard or altered OOBs.

"March 12, 1862"
BGS-SL, 42 turns, standard OOB.

"Paybacks are Hell," November 20, 1864
BGG-GB, 26 turns, standard oob, your choice with or without target.

To understand what precipitates this meeting, we must go back to October 19th of this same year. Phil Sheridan soundly defeating the Confederates at Cedar Creek has ended Confederate pressence in the Shenandoah Valley. During September & October Sheridan has carried out a scortched earth policy throughout the "breadbasket of the Confederacy". Fields, farms, and industry from one end of the valley to the other are laid to ruin. Of this accomplishment, Sheridan boasts to Grant, "the valley,...ninety-two miles, will have but little in it for man or beast."

Southerners, incensed at this act of barbarity, demand retaliation. To which, in late October, Ewell is ordered to march a considerable force North, cross the Potomac and move through Maryland and lower Pennsylvania, destroying anything he can. On Nov. 6 Ewell crosses into Maryland near Brunswick. From there he leaves a path of destruction.. setting fire to every town & village they pass thru. Emmittsburg, Thurmont, Walkersville... Why the night they burned Frederick to the ground the glow in the sky was seen as far away as Washington DC. In the conflagration, panic ensues and many citizens of central and Northern Maryland flee toward refuge in Washington.

The politicians in Washington are rife with anger. For while Sheridan was distracted tending to his rampage in the valley, and Grant busy trying to corner Lee, no one bothered to keep Ewell in check. Hastily, the Federals move to put an end to the Rebel terror.

"Rock the Boats!" March 9, 1862
BGS-SL, 43 turns, requires altered OOB & target.

Early 1862 and Confederate resistance along the Tennessee River is stubborn. Some of Johnston & Beauregard's success in fending off the Union campaigns there can be attributed to the naval support they have received on the River. While the Union army and navy continuously try to pound their way down river, they are met time and again by a seemingly never ending armada of Rebel ironclad gunboats. Gen. Henry Halleck soon realizes that in order to make any headway, he must stop the pipeline supplying these ships. Union intelligence determines that the Stephens Boat Works accounts for 7 of every ten ironclads the Rebels have on the Tennessee river. He is told that this shipyard is located on a tributary of the river, the Dill Branch. That becomes his number one target.

In late February, Halleck orders Gen Buell to press the Confederate forces South of Nashville so as to keep them preoccupied. While Buell has the Rebel's attention, Grant is to move West and then try to sneak around the Rebels to destroy the shipyard. He also hopes that this maneuver will put Johnston in jeopardy of being surrounded.

"Treasure Hunt," September 14, 1863
BGC-CH, 61 turns, standard OOB, requires target hexes.

Sept 1863 and Rosencrans has moved his army into Northwest Georgia with his sights set on Atlanta. In anticipation of his operations there he has begun to stockpile materials and supplies at a makeshift depot there (Carlin Depot). Ahead of Rosencrans are some factories crucial to the Confederate war effort, an iron works (Pegram Foundry), a munitions factory (Davidson Co.), and a key bridge (Forrest-Scott Bridge) which both factories need in order to get their finished goods to Atlanta and the Rebel army. Rosencrans intends to push his army Southeast to Atlanta, destroying these sites plus any others, including the Rebel army, lying in his path.

"Tug of War," May 21, 1861
BGBR-FBR, 43 turns, standard OOB, target required.

Events after the firing on Ft Sumter have moved quickly. Both sides have assembled fighting forces and are eager to flex their muscle. For the Union, the federal government wants to act swiftly to suppress the rebellion. While the South insists that the Union recognize its sovereignty and respect its borders.

Within days of Ft Sumter, the Union has begun to move men and war materials into Northern Virginia. As a result, the Yankees have established a supply depot near Groveton, as well as taken over construction of the Unfinished RR which they will use to transport goods in & out of Northern Virginia. These actions have enflamed the newly forming Confederate government. Not only do they consider this an insult to the sovereignty of their new nation. They also realize there are some important industries in that area which they would rather benefit from, rather than have them assist the Union war effort.

So the "tug of war" over the riches of northern Virginia begins.

"Three Bridges," June 2, 1863
BGG-GB, 30 turns, standard OOB, target optional.

Three Bridges, June 2, 1863 (BGG-GB, 30 turns, std oob) was designed for & used in the AOS/ANV Fall 2004 tournament. The idea behind this scenario is for each side to try and occupy 3 bridge hexes AT games end. However, the combatants can choose to play this game as casualty score only and ignore the bridge hex points. Scout size cavalry units are utilized in this scenario without need for a modified oob.

"Strangers in the Night," June 15, 1863
BGBR-FBR, 47 turns, altered OOB. This is purely a meeting scenario with victory/defeat determined by casualties only as there are no objective hexes or targets.

For the past two weeks, cavalry corps of both the ANV and the AOP have been playing "cat & mouse" with each other throughout Northern Virginia. For various reasons, fatigue, logistics, terrain, etc., niether side has seen fit yet to commit forces to battle. On the evening of June 15th scouts from both armies will have the opportunity to cross paths again. Now you must decide... should you search & destroy, or, duck & cover?