tˌiːˌɛsˈɛs, wɪð ˌoʊvɚ wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd kˈaʊntɚz, ɪz klˈæsᵻfˌaɪd æz ˈeɪ "mˈɔnstɚ" wˈɔːɹɡeɪm; æz wˈʌn ʌvðə lˈɑːɹdʒɪst bˈoːɹd ɡˈeɪmz ˈɛvɚ pɹədˈuːst, ɪɾ ˈɔfən tˈeɪks lˈɔŋɡɚ tə plˈeɪ ðɐn ðɪ ˈæktʃuːəl θɹˈiːdˈeɪ bˈæɾəl ʌv dʒuːlˈaɪ wˈʌn θɹˈiː, wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti θɹˈiː.
TSS, with over 1000 counters, is classified as a "monster" wargame; as one of the largest board games ever produced, it often takes longer to play than the actual 3-day battle of July 1–3, 1863.