I tried to steer clear of the tactics found in the Civil War Generals II Guide. A few of the very important ones I repeated.
Civil War Generals II Strategies 
1. Be aggressive. In many battles, an aggressive strategy can be very profitable. Pushing the enemy back and capturing their victory hexes is the best way to win a battle. Of course, there are some battles where being aggressive can and will get you killed. For instance, don't make the mistake of Robert E. Lee by throwing your troops against a formidable enemy position, unless you heavily outnumber your oppponent. Even while outnumbered, an aggressive strategy can succeed, but be careful.
2. Don't get carried away. Just as an aggressive strategy can be successful, so can a defense. When facing overwhelming odds, or when you have control of a very strong position, a defensive strategy is a no-brainer. Though I personally prefer to go on the offensive, there are times when I use a defensive strategy.
3. Barrage and destroy. When in battle, try to use your artillery to hammer away at an individual brigade. With enough shots, you can take the unit out of action for several turns. This is especially effective against a high firepower brigade. The artillery can chip away at that formidable firepower rating, then send in the infantry for an easy attack. With luck, you'll push the brigade back and have it out of your hair for quite some time.
4. Attack often and repeatedly. If most of your units seem to have a slightly lower firepower rating than your enemy's, and you don't have much artillery support, you still have one other option for an aggressive strategy. Hit slightly stronger units with several of your brigades. It is usually a good idea (use the strength of the opposing unit as an indicator) to make a couple of the last attacks charges. WARNING: This tactic will NOT work if your units are very weak in comparison to your enemy.
5. Surround and eliminate. When the opportunity presents itself, try surrounding an enemy brigade. With a little luck, you will force it to surrender, thus completely eliminating the unit for the remainder of the game. This tactic is most effective in the early part of a battle, so that you won't have to deal with that unit for the rest of the battle. Employing this tactic toward the end of a battle will still reap some rewards, but will be pointless as far as eliminating units is concerned.
6. Admit defeat. Usually, the outcome of a battle will be evident when it is only half over. If it is apparent that you will lose, don't go crazy trying to pull off a victory. In this case, use a conservative strategy, and try to keep as much of your army intact as possible. NOTE: Sometimes, go-for-broke tactics can win battles, but are usually not a good idea. Use your judgment.
7. Deprive the enemy of the high ground. Whenever you get the opportunity, take control of the high ground. This way, you can force your enemy to attack your entrenched line uphill OR force your enemy to defend a weaker position which you can overrun.
8. Know when to have a rest. As the book suggests, let your units rest every once a while. Don't overfight or overmarch your troops. Keep their morale up, or you will find yourself in a very precarious position in battle.
9. Flank the enemy. When attacking, try to hit one of your enemy's flanks. Use some of your units to maneuver around the flanks. Cavalry is best, as they move fastest, but infantry will be just as successful. Once you have flanked the enemy, you will be able to coordinate rear-attacks, which are extremely effective and deadly. A good flanking maneuver will encircle the entire flank.
10. Make careful movements. When moving, be very careful, especially in heavily wooded areas. Enemy cavalry could be just yards away, ready to charge your marching unit. Try to put cavalry units in the lead of your larger columns of infantry while you march through unknown terrain. Also, do not over-maneuver your forces, especially when they have little experience. Lastly, NEVER move at night unless the outcome of the battle heavily depends on it. Moving at night is one of the worst blows to the morale and health of your units. Don't do it.
11. Predict your enemy's movements. Try to guess what your opponent will try next, and prepare yourself. If you think he/she will attack a specific position, reinforce it. If it looks like he/she is preparing to retreat, make an attack. Be weary of feints, however. It's not very fun to reinforce a position you think is likely to be attacked while your enemy plows through your line some place else. Believe me, it is not cool.
12. Have a strategy. Before beginning a battle, get a plan worked out in your mind for how you will defeat your enemy. It is ok to change this plan if the course of the battle makes it necessary, but you still need a plan from the moment the battle begins. Without a good idea of what you are doing, an intelligent enemy (like a human) can take advantage of your lack of organization and easily defeat you.
Need help on a specific battle?? Feel free to email me at the address below. Be sure to include the battle name as well as what side you are playing in the message.
© 1997 jeverman@aone.com
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