Napoleonic Game

Sunday’s regular game was a Napoleonic bash. We did not have much of a scenario behind it other than a German confederation of Prussians and Bavarians, supported (some might say guided) by a small French contingent were faced off against a horde of Russians and Austrians. The control of a couple of roads were the stated objects that were largely ignored by both sides who were determined to just scrap it out.

 

I commanded a Prussian force of nine battalions, two batteries and two cavalry regiments. The latter were the two new regiments I painted in November, getting their first outing. 

I was faced against the Austrians, while the two Bavarian brigades to my left were opposing the Russians.

There was a lovely hill just to my immediate left and the right of one of the Bavarian brigades and this became the position for an artillery mass of five batteries from where the fire could be directed in two directions. I placed my cavalry on the reverse slope of a short ridge on my right while the infantry massed to their left. 

After a brief artillery exchange I set the infantry in motion. I was quickly engaged and attacked two battalions of Austrian jagers.

The Austrians opened fire and scored seven hits on one of the attacking battalions. I rolled for saves needing 5 or 6 and here is the result!

The Jagers were quickly despatched, but before the successful battalions could be pushed on further, the Austrians counter attacked drove them back.

 

The second line came up shortly and after some initial success were repulsed. Things were looking shaky for me, but thankfully the French drove in the Austrian left and with the pressure relieved I was able to rally my units. The Austrians faded from my front.

 

To my left the Bavarians held strongly against a solid Russian force, very well supported by artillery. One of the Russian commands lost a general early and were hamstring as a result. When a valiant charge by the Bavarian chevaux legere drove off two Russian batteries (thanks to dreadful dice luck on the behalf of the Russian gunners) that Russian wing was eventually pushed back out of the action.

 

The other Russian force made a valiant effort. Its artillery was particularly devastating to the Bavarian right. A small wood at the end of the rides proved difficult for the Bavarians to get around, but once they managed to form up their musketry began to tell and the Russians were cut to pieces. 

 

After lunch Russian reinforcements arrived, but failed to make any impact, the Bavarians pushed forward were driving the Russians back and when the Bavarian dragoons caught a battalion of Pavlovski grenadiers in the flank, routed them and then broke through onto another battalion, an end was called.

Astute readers will note that in the image above there are three battalions of Pavlovski and know that there were only ever two battalions of this famous regiment. Our dear departed friend, who originally owned this collection, did not know this fact and bought five full battalions, all of which were engaged in this game. It always provides a bit of humour in our group.