HPS ACW tactics

[Havoc]

I could use some help here. I've played the TS GB games for some time and I now own HPS Gettysburg. I like many features of the game, but I find that the side that starts with local superiority is almost impossible to stop as the game system favors the attacker.

The Confederates seem to have a big advantage in large regiments that allow for more effective auto def fire, while the small Union regiments are largely ineffective as they fire piecemeal. As the Union player, I regularly have exchanges where the Reb inflicts 25-45 casualties with massed attacker fire, while my piecemeal response is 5-15.

My other issue is being unable to prevent "blitz" attacks, where my opponent pushes a gap in my line and exploits with cavalry and just chews through my guns.

I don't get the 'feel' of the ACW battle from this system. Does anyone know a good web page for battle tactics for this game? I'd like to play the game effectively without having it feel like I'm playing Guderian's panzer divisions in May 1941 (or the Russians in May for that matter).

[The_General]