Custer's penultimate last stand!!

Last night we had a fast and furious game.....................

The scenario and table layout,Brian was Gall leader of the Hunkpapa Sioux,Malcom was Crazy Horse leader of the Oglala Sioux,and Dave was White Elk leader of the Northern Cheyenne.Paul was "Terry" and Graham was "Custer"(2nd and 7th Cavalry)-a "walk in the hills"-NOT!!!

The "boys" looking very tense-there was no pre-game collaboration between Paul and Graham,but both came up with similar plans-to defend at first then attack when the Indians were weakened by rifle fire-they didn't know that I had given the Indians plus one onto their dice to represent the volume of shots the Indians could make compared to the single shot rifles of the Government troops(who had twice the range of the Indians!)

A fine defensive line formed by Custer's troopers-the attacking Sioux took alot of casualties coming in but they were not stopped!!!!

As Dave exposed himself(steady!) from behind the ridge,Paul deperately tried to form his lines-Dave had already moved his foot warriors into the woods,to out-flank the 2nd Cavalry's lines!

Malcom's Oglala Sioux now joined in the fun,putting both Cavalry commanders in a bit of bother,although they are still blazing away,hoping to stop the Indian attacks!

Top photo shows Paul's troops fending off Dave's Cheyenne,for a while!! Bottom photo shows Brian's Sioux about to charge into Custer's troopers,even though they had taken a right old pounding coming in!!

Malcom's Sioux are making a real difference now,putting Paul's troops in all kinds of difficulties,by attacking frontally and on the flank.

Custer's command has all but been wiped out,and the rest of the Sioux and Cheyenne are now concentrating on Terry-is this the end???

Now that's just being silly!!

This couldn't be called a "classic" game but it was fun and exciting-and that's what it's all about!

Roll on next week!

 

Battle of "Craggie Burn" 1746.

Last night we had a 100% turnout for this "entertaining" game set in the Jacobite era.

Everyone looking very solemn!-Paul and  Brian were the "English" commanders,whilst Malcom and Graham(now recovered from a bout of Corvid!) were the Scots commanders.-The farm was,of course, called "Old Macdonald's Farm,and had to be defended.

The "English" are on the move-however Brian is moving away from the support of Paul's troops,and presenting his right flank to Malcom!!-will Malcom take advantage of this tactical error???-well,NO!! but Graham was moving troops across the Burn in an attempt to out-flank Brian via the woods!!

There go Graham's out-flanking troops-will Brian deploy his artillery and thwart this attempt??

Well,NO!-a charge by Brian's dragoons,against a unit of volunteer gentlemen Scottish dragoons,resulted in him getting well and truly beaten(and bitten,by Graham's "slew" hounds),and forced to retire(it's good being retired!)-in the background,Malcom and Paul are having a good old "ding-dong" of a game,with neither side willing to give ground-cracking stuff!

This is Malcom's flank-his first attack was beaten off by well aimed volleys-his cavalry fought Paul's dragoons to a standstill,and it looked like Paul's flank was on the brink of collapse,however Malcom's cavalry morale broke,and he was forced to stand and reform!!

A general view of the table at coffee break-Graham was making mincemeat out of Brian's troops,until a string of very poor dice throws turned the tables,forcing a general withdrawal-how does this happen???-Brian's troops were all over the place,with no lines and officers dropping like rainfall.Malcom's clans have had their hour of glory too,but alas they were on the verge of collapse-all looked set for an "English" hard- won victory.

One final shot,showing a vain attempt by the Scots CinC to rally his clans-what can you say?-a very entertaining game which could have gone either way-well done lads,roll on next week,for a surprise game,using the same terrain(well almost!)

 

15mm Ancients-Germans vs Romans.

I have been having an interesting solo game,played over two nights(when I can snatch a few hours here and there!) Pitting Romans against Germans, who were behind a defensive barrier.

 Table layout and scenario.

All combatants in place and ready to go!

The Romans on the flanks are attempting to lure the Germans off their respective hills(to no avail!) whilst the Legion and its supporting auxiliaries advance slowly to contact.

Contact is made-no casualties on the Legion,from javelins etc. but the aux. troops did take a couple of hits.The Legion did well in the first round of melee(as would be expected!)-the German cavalry launched an attack on the aux. infantry on the Roman left,but then retired(its good being retired!) back onto their hill,leaving the Roman cavalry frustrated at not being able to catch them!

Top photo shows the German cavalry attacking the aux. infantry,bottom photo shows the Legion making in-roads against the defending Germans behind the barrier-things were not looking good for the defenders!!

This is the Roman right flank-the Germans defending the hill couldn't stand it any longer and charged down the hill onto the awaiting aux infantry-who took a right old "clattering",however things were going "swimmingly" for the Romans attacking the barrier......................

On the Roman left,the auxiliaries and cavalry are advancing,forcing the Germans to give way(notice I didn't say "retire")

The German defenders gave way,and the Romans took the barrier,driving the last of the defenders back(Germans looking as though they are about to attack the Romans in the flank,are actually casualties!!)-the game was over,and as always,a very enjoyable few hours.

On Sunday we will be playing a "Jacobite" game over this terrain/scenario.................

Could be fun!!-roll on next Sunday.

Kwaze's Kraal.

Last night saw Malcom,Dave,Brian,Paul and I in the heart of Zululand,playing a "typical" colonial game-fast and furious!!

Scenario and table layout-Malcom and Dave were the "burning" troops,so spent the first few moves in the kitchen,being fed info, from the HQ via heliograph...................

These are the messages,and mis-information given to Dave and Malcom!!

Surprise,surprise!!-as Malcom and Dave entered the garage to see where I had positioned their troops(as per their instructions!)-with Zulus arriving in overwhelming numbers-however,Brian was also in for a bit of a shock as he was commanding the Zulu right horn..................

Having no movement in the first move,he was shot to bits,and was not happy!!!! however when things did get under way..........................

The Zulu attack begins,and although the British fire power was devastating,they got closer and closer,until.......................

The camp was put under so much presure,that if it was a bunch of grapes it would have been turned into a glass of wine!!!-Dave and Malcom took all the attacks in their stride,and fought with tenacity,until......................

Success!!-Brian managed to win a melee and the Zulu regiment burst into the midst of the camp-hurrah!!-but it was to be a short lived success,as the Zulu regiment was decimated and wiped out-oh dear!!-Attacks from Paul and myself were all thwarted,and to cap it all Paul was beaten by a unit of NNC at the camp wall-oh the shame of it all!!

"Campus Intactus"-everywhere the Zulus are beaten or suffering from bad morale,or retiring(it's good being retired!)-Brian asked for a draw,but the British were having none of it!!!

A good ,cracking game-well done to us all-next Sunday we will be having a "Jacobite" game,looking forward to that.

 

Battle of Ballina, 23rd August 1798

 It’s been a while since I posted on the blog. In fact it’s been a while since I’ve written a full after action report. During lockdowns it seemed extra special to share more. Now there’s a hint of normality, I’m more inclined to take an occasional photo while concentrating on enjoying the game. 

Last night at the club down here in Leeds, chum Rick had requested a Sharp Practice game. Great set of “large skirmish” rules. Rick is just getting into SP and printing and painting Napoleonic French infantry. So I presented him with a taste of Napoleonic gaming, me style - Ireland 1798! 

Too late and too little (and possibly not in the best place!), the French landed at Killala in County Mayo on 22 August 1798. The next day General Humbert sent his second-in-command General Sarrazin on a reconnaissance in force to the neighbouring town of Ballina. With 160 infantry and 40 cavalry, Sarrazin found Crown troops waiting for him in a strong position about a mile north outside Ballina; 600 Yeomanry foot, 200 Yeomanry and regular cavalry and artillery! He sensibly returned to Killala! (Unless you read Gribayedoff’s 1890 account of the French invasion; he describes a battle! I suppose it was pre-Wiki!)

Rick was to take the role of Jean Sarrazin and was denied “discretion being the better part of valour…”, he must attack! The forces for the battle reflected what I know, but I balanced the points. Still a tall order to attack an equal enemy force in a defensive position.

The French have 2 companies of regular infantry, a group of skirmishers and a group of the 3rd Chasseurs à Cheval. 

The Crown forces under Colonel Sir Thomas Chapman comprise 3 companies of Yeomanry infantry, a troop each of Yeomanry cavalry and regular Carabineers, supported by a light artillery piece. I’ve deployed them in a strong, but not perfect position.  How will Rick go about reducing this force?!

It doesn’t start well! The French become strung out. The skirmishers are ordered forward.

The skirmishers have the audacity to cause a casualty and wound an officer!

Seeing the French in a state of confusion, the regular cavalry advance.

The left flank company of Yeomanry infantry also want a slice of the action and advance from the safety of their stonewall. Hmmm…

That attracts the attention of the second company of French. Here comes that slice of action, boys…!

The French column crashes into the Yeomanry, destroying half and the other half show a clean pair of heels. Left flank gone!

Maybe the heavy cavalry will see off this French rabble?

Meanwhile the artillery top right punishes the closely packed Frenchmen.

And after taking some musketry, in go the regular cavalry!

“Fisticuffs” in SP is very bloody; 5s are a kill and 6s are a kill and a Shock (morale effect).

My dice were more of a shocker…

The carabineers are forced back. 

(Rick managed 1 score of 6 so only just won.)

The lovely French 3rd Chasseurs à Cheval are my newest unit for the 1798 collection. There are unwritten rules for new units’ first time out.

The French (light) horsemen sense it’s their moment and charge the reduced and unsteady enemy (heavy) horsemen. Huzzah!

Mutual destruction is the outcome!

Well that’s made some space. Above you see the situation after the artillery and an advance from the right flank Yeomanry infantry have devastated the first company of French and the skirmishers. The tattered remains of the second French company have formed line. And what’s this?! The foolish Yeomanry horse have chosen to advance! There’s a game changer for all the wrong reasons.

In SP you track your Force Morale. It gets reduced by bad things happening. As things are bound to do in battle. When your Force Morale reaches zero, you’ve lost whatever the situation is on the table. Both our Force Morales are rapidly running out.

The Yeomanry are driven off! Silly Yeomanry. We didn’t have enough Shock tokens left to put on them. They were broken and my Force Morale was down to 1. Rick was down to 2 or 3…

And we’d run out of time darn it!

We called it a draw. The French were beaten up yes, but another reverse anywhere would have seen my Force Morale reduced to zero. Great stuff. Down to the wire, but we didn’t quite have time to get across the wire. Could have still gone either way. 

Other than the Chasseurs à Cheval (Eureka Miniatures) the figures are all Trent Miniatures (now available from Skytrex).

Thanks for reading.

All the best!

Chris