Last night we had a large and spectacular Napoleonic game,but it all fell rather flat in the playing of it!!
Richard and I were the French,with Paul and Graham commanding the Russians.I hadn't done my usual scenario and map,so maybe that's why the game lacked direction-who knows?
Richard was in charge of the left flank,and the Guard,facing Paul-the Russian batteries were three guns big,and they played a most devastating role in the game-we might have to look at their effectiveness!!-Richard did his best but Napoleonics is not his "forte",however he managed to hold the flank until almost the last move-well done to him.
This is my flank(French right) facing the town of Fekov-I had ordered my cavalry to avoid an early melee,but Graham instigated a charge,to which I had to counter!-I always feel that early cavalry engagements are messy affairs,and at 50:50 the chances are that you could lose the game in the first couple of moves and expose the flank-which is what happened!!
A view of the whole table,neither side wishing to take any chances,although my plan was to attack the town on move number 2-Brian ,who was sitting this game out,looks comfortable!
The cavalry battle is not going the Russian's way-time for me to launch my infantry!!
Here they come!!-although suffering casualties from the battery placed in front of the town,I managed to capture it and wipe it out-hurrah!In the background Richard has advanced his Guard to the river bank-I don't know why,but he did!!-this exposed his flank to gun fire from Paul's supporting battery and did massive damage.
This shows the tactical error! however,Richard managed to hold the flank until the last move.
My infantry are attacking Fekov town,but the Russian tactic of sitting back and letting the artillery do the work,has worked(although it made for a "dull" game) and my casualties are growing,and the ensuing melee is a one-sided affair,to say the least!!
My ill-fated attack is shown here-I am soon to be forced into square by the dragoons appearing on the left -woe is me!!-however a well aimed shot from my artillery saw the dragoons off in grand style-hurrah!!
Now here's a tactic you don't see very often-Richard is advancing his cavalry,in column,against infantry squares,with a gun battery in his rear,and another to his front(out of camera shot)-this will forever be known as "Richard's Ride of Death!!"-looks like the end,but at least we tried!!
"La Guarde" is being overwhelmed,and out-flanked-looks like the end alright-but what of my brave troops??
Well,they have been "dubbed" the "Fekov Harriers" and are fleeing for their lives-the end!!
Roll on Thursday!!
The Russians army was 100% old Mini-figs,the French army was a mix of mainly Irregular Miniatures,with a smattering of Greenwood and Ball,Hinchcliffe and a regiment of Perry plastic Guard figures.
After last night,I'm getting a little worried about Brian-it's nothing I can really put my finger on,but he sort of looks at me in a strange,almost "lustful" way-see if you can spot what I mean..........
Well,last night we had a Napoleonic game set in Spain,pitting an Allied army,against a French army,this is the scenario....
Brian and Graham were the French commanders,whilst Paul and I were the Allied commanders.
This shows the table before any movement-note the "Teddy Bear Fur" corn fields-Brian spent a lot of time "stroking" the Fur!!-cause for concern or what?????
Brian begins the first of many attacks on the Spanish-held hill/convent,with the hill being defended by infantry and a gun,all of his attacks were doomed to failure!!
O.M.G!! now can you see what I mean by a "Lustful" look??-as Paul begins to shoot his infantry and I begin to attack with my Spanish cavalry,Brian advances against the village and open ground-this is going to be tight!
As the battle rages in the centre,Brian and Graham put in another attack against the hill and village-you're all doomed,laddy,you're all doomed!!!!
Paul has sent reinforcements to the hill,as Brian puts in yet another attack!!!
Yet another one!!!-will they never learn??-In the background,to the right,Graham is moving ever closer to my Portuguese troops,who have retired(it's good being retired!!) behind the stream,he did well to manoeuvre his troops into a position where his gun and infantry shot my troops to pieces-but they still hung on-hurrah!!
In this shot Graham is looking for heavenly inspiration!!(or hair on Brian's head!) whilst "Lusty" is looking grim!-however back at the table,the whole battle is raging,and Graham's troops are driving mine backwards-that gun is particularly well placed!!
My flank is lost,but the hill is still in allied hands,the village is being held by a handful of French who can not stand a determined assault,and Brian's cavalry are being "swamped" by Spanish and British cavalry-the battle is ours(I think!)
This was an interesting and complex game,both sides facing problems,but very well played by all.
Roll on Thursday-Paul wants a Carthaginian game,but I need to get my new Saxon army(probably disguised as a Spanish 11th century army) onto the table-we'll see!!
For some incomprehensible reason,Paul has bet me £10 that I can't get through this blog without mentioning the word Onion!!-is the man mad?
Napoleonic games should be full of Dash,Sweeping movement,Colour and Knife- edge tension,well last night's game contained all of these...........
Dave commanded the left and centre of the Russians,Paul took the right,whilst I commanded the Austrians and Prussians,all was set for a great game.
Dave opened the proceedings with a massive attack,by his Grenadier Brigade,against the Farm and hedges,bravely defended by the Austrians-he was also manoeuvering around my right flank,with Infantry,horse artillery and cavalry-he meant business!!
To counter Dave's flank moves,I sent my Austrian cavalry and a regiment of infantry to block the road-this resulted in a cavalry melee,and forced my infantry into square.
It must be said that my cavalry did not cover themselves in "glory"(this is wargame speak,for getting Hammered!!)
Dave's attack on the Farm continues and,despite heavy losses,his perseverence eventually paid off-to the right of the photo,my gun battery was proving to be a real thorn in the side to the attackers,and Dave sent a regiment to capture it-which they did in grand style-woe is me!!!
To the far left,you can see Paul's troops preparing to advance,however I sent all of my cavalry to stop this move,which worked-hurrah!!
"Inactivity" is not in Paul's nature,and he sent his cavalry to counter mine,resulting in a grand melee,which swung both ways for a long time,however it did stall his infantry advance-another hurrah!!(Dave looks too relaxed!!)
Pressure is mounting in the centre,as Dave piles more and more troops into the assault on the Farm-he is also attacking my,now denuded- of- cavalry,flank with some success!!
Dave unselfishly sent his Cossaks to help Paul,and they swung the melee in the Russian's favour,driving my cavalry back-however my infantry line is standing firm,and Paul couldn't take full advantage of the win-a sort of minor hurrah!
This is the straw that broke the camel's back-Dave's magnificent out-flanking move,sealing the fate of the Austrians!!The Prussians could just about beat a retreat with the infantry,but with the Farm taken and the crossroads under severe threat,I was well and truly beaten-well done lads,a great game.
Bloody Hell!! look at the size of that Onion-oh bugger,I've just lost the bet!!!!!
Roll on Sunday,we'll be going through the game we are putting on at Falkirk on the 9th.
Due to a special request from Paul this morning,I am posting details of tonight's game early..
There you go,scenario and table lay-out,just for Paul!!
Last night two (maybe three!) rare things happened,one, we fought a Napoleonic Battle,two, we re-fought an actual battle (maybe three,I think I won!!)
The battle we fought was Soult (Paul) against Wellington(me) in Northern Spain,and what a "cracker" of a battle it was.
Here is the scenario and table before any movement-I had decided to attack with my "weak" right flank,bolstered with some good British infantry and cavalry and a R.H.A. battery,and hold everywhere else.
Paul had decided to contest the hill facing my right flank,and attack in the centre once the hill was being contested.-The area around the main town of Sorauren was going to be the least fought over section-we thought!!
My Spanish troops advance to take on the French,I am massing my cavalry to attack Paul's cavalry,supported by RHA-the infantry assault went very well indeed,and the French,after a good long struggle were driven back-hurrah!!
This gives a good impression of Paul's first attack on my ridge-it was,as the French would say "formidable!" but I managed to get the two flank regiments to fire on the flanks of the attacking columns,as well as fire from the front,and the result was fairly predictable-the French retired-but Paul is made of stern stuff,and re-commenced the attack with another brigade,supported by "laser guided" artillery,this attack put my ridge in a spot of bother,to say the least......
This shot shows my flank regiments pouring fire into Paul's first attack-in the background you can see the "Titanic" struggle for the far hill.
There is an ominous gap in my line between my right and centre-I hope Paul hasn't noticed it(!!!)
Meanwhile,on my far right,the Spanish are getting up close and personal with the French defenders-I moved the Spanish horse battery onto the flank of the French and this caused them to retire,however Paul then attacked my cavalry with his,and the fight for the important gap started-it hung on a knife edge with both of us gaining then losing ground-wonderful stuff!!
This was so crucial to the whole battle-if Paul won he would drive a wedge between my right and centre,if I won I would be able to threaten the left of his centre,and roll up his entire line!
As the battle for the flank goes on,my stoic British infantry calmly await the mounting attack developing in the centre-by this time my troops had been weakened by artillery and musket fire,and I was far from confident of beating this new attack-I needed to gain myself some time,so I sent my left flank cavalry forward to try and stop the French advance.-This move worked,but only provoked Paul to send his cavalry forward to meet the threat!!
In this photo the French have decided to abandon the hill to the Spanish,but now Paul has moved two gun batteries onto their flank-they didn't like that and were forced to retire when they were hit several times!!-the cavalry battle is still on-going but we have both lost a regiment-I can't take much more of the strain-I'll have to have a lie down somewhere!!
The French are going for the gap in my defences!In the background,Paul's Hussars have advanced towards the town,and have been severely mauled by my Portuguese infantry,who fired on their flank,and caused them to "break"-however Paul put his cavalry commander forward,to lead them,and they regained their composure and advanced to beat my cavalry-woe is me!!-My central line is at breaking point,but I had a reserve regiment of Portuguese,they advanced,fired on the French,and the gap was saved-hurrah!!!
Final photo,the French,under their most able commander,Paul,have failed to take the ridge,but I have also failed to beat them emphatically,so,as in the actual battle,a draw was the final result-but what a game!!
I don't mention,enough,the figures we use in our battles-the majority of the figures in this battle are from Irregular Miniatures,and I must have had them for at least 12 years,and have fought countless battles with them.
My source for this battle was.......
If you get a chance,buy a copy!!
Roll on Sunday-Dave will be joining us and I am setting up an English Civil War game between him and Paul.
Last night saw 7 of us start a very unusual Napoleonic game,a look at the scenario will explain!
We drew lots,and Graham was Hill,Paul was Ackland leaving Richard as Wellington,whilst Dave was Munro(clan leader),Michael was Soult,and Brian was Grouchy-I was the "umpire" and believe me trying to control 6 experienced blokes around a wargames table is not easy!!
This is a shot of the table,before any movement-each player was given a note telling them what they commanded and little bits of info. on the troops they had-for example,Munro(Dave) couldn't move his troops until move 3-because Munro was having his breakfast in the castle!!
After a five minute discussion,both side drew up a battle plan,and the game started-this shows move number 1,with Hill deploying to protect the stream crossing against the majority of the Clans.
The British battle plan called for Hill to guard the crossing places,but he got carried away and actually crossed the stream just as the Clans arrived,and a mass brawl erupted!!-The Scots Greys were told in their note,that the Clans could not stand up to a charge-so we all expected the Clan in front of them to get Slaughtered-however the Greys decided to charge the approaching Hussars instead!Meanwhile things were moving along nicely across the whole of the board,with lots of movement,especially from Michael,who had decided to move the 3 Clans under his control,across the board to the centre-excellent stuff!
A "pensive-looking" French team-Paul has moved a number of his troops around the far flank-can Michael react in time?? Richard has got his troops into a good position,and is awaiting the French onslaught.
The out-flanking move is shown here,Michael did manage to get his infantry into square and his Hussars to move against the threat-however Paul's "demonic" dice throwing tipped the scales in his favour,and eventually the flank was won-but not without a good show from the French!!
Munro has devastated Hill's incursion over the stream-the Rifles have been seen off,the 92nd have been beaten in melee,and the Scots Greys have been forced to retire out of the game.
The central position is being fiercely contested,and it it needed was a forceful push from Brian's command-would he do something dynamic??
We'll have to wait to find out..........
The battle raged on in the centre and right flank-this was intense stuff-come on Brian!!
Oh!! he's formed square on top of the hill!!-well I suppose from that position he can get a nice view of the rest of the battlefield!!!!
Paul's nice little out-flanking manoeuvre is now complete,and the Clans under Munro are exhausted,it looks like the end for the French "adventure".
This is a shot of Michael's troops in all kinds of "bother" and the rear of Brian's troops about to be "compromised"-well done to all who took part-it's difficult when an unusual game like this is played,it requires a bit of give and take,and acceptance that unusual things and situations will arise.
Roll on Thursday,Brian and I will be playing in the morning,but,as Paul is flying off to Crete tomorrow,we probably won't be playing at night(?)
