From: Nicholas Hills <nhills@actonline.com.au>
Subject:      COMP: American Civil War: From Sumter to Appomatox

The game that Nicholas Palmer and Tim Mesarch were refering to may be
American Civil War: From Sumter to Appomatox, published in its third
incarnation by Interactive Magic.  The box that I am holding has a
sticker on it proudly proclaiming:

        "...the only strategic Civil War game worth buying."
        - Computer Gaming World

IMO, this is a game with great strengths and great weaknesses.

Strengths are:

Good political subsystem
Production module
Naval subsystem covers Mississippi River as well as coastal/sea
Excellent leadership module.  Options for initially hidden leader
attributes; historical, slightly random or completely random leadership
values.  Leaders are rated for aggression, inspiration, initiative and
combat ability.  Some values change as leaders gain experience, others
are fixed parts of their personality.  McClelland comes across not as a
total duffer; rather he is someone who can train troops and rally a
broken army, but will take a looong time to capture Richmond.
Can be played hotseat or e-mail among two humans.

Weaknesses are:

Clumsy interface at several points.
AI is not very good.  I recommend the human player takes the Union, as
the computer is better looking after the strategic defense.  Be sure to
choose a mild or large advantage for the computer player on the setup
screen.
I dislike having to set objectives for my armies, then having to order
the subordinate divisions and corps to the same location myself.
Even with the patch the game is buggy.  I understand the designer has
written a second patch which is presently being tested by Interactive
magic.

Most reviewers either love or hate this game.  A good, balanced review
by Alan Dunkin can be found at:

        http://www.ogr.com/reviews/acw.shtml

Nich