Under the Lily Banners Game

On Friday two of us played a game using the Under the Lily Banners rules sort of set in the 1690s. Eight battalions and French infantry, fourteen squadrons of horse, two squadrons of dragoons and two field guns took on eleven Bavarian infantry battalions ten squadrons of cavalry, two squadrons of dragoons and two field guns. I commanded the Bavarians and Nick the French.

The terrain featured a village on the French edge of the table that was the objective for the Bavarian attack. To the left (from the French perspective) of that was a river that was only able to be crossed at a ford. To the right and forward of the village was a large walled church on the edge of a large dense wood.

We both planned our deployment. I had to deploy one of my brigdaes on the banks of the river and then dice to see which bank they arrived on. Just my luck they arrived on the far bank, so figuring that the best they could do was hold up some of the French, I chose to place the brigade with three raw battalions and one drilled (plus a gun). If they were lost, they probably would not cause me too much grief.

I then chose to deploy a brigade of cavalry on the extreme left, then the guard infantry brigade, then the dragoons. Next was a gun, then the second cavalry brigade and then closing out the line near the river was the other infantry brigade.

Opposite me Nick placed a cavalry brigade facing my cavalry on my left (his right). Then to their left was an infantry brigade then a cavalry brigade. In front of them were the dragoons. In the village and the fields beside it was the second infantry brigade. Finally he posted a cavalry brigade across the river facing my infantry.

The initial deployment, from the French side

Initial deployment from the Bavarian side

Action  started  on the flanks. First, on the Bavarian left, the Maison du Roi charged the Bavarian cuirassiers, who countercharged. 

 But the French got the better of the action and the Cuirassiers routed.

The Maison du Roi squadron then pursued and scattered the cuirassiers. Squadron after squadron of cuirassiers then became victims of this attack until the second Maison squadron drove off the last of all four Bavarian squadrons.

The infantry on the left also engaged, opening a heavy musketry.

On the Bavarian right a squadron of French cavalry advanced threateningly, but a burst of roundshot quickly changed their minds.

A second squadron attempted to charge the only drilled battalion on this flank, but a close range volley held them at bay.

Things on the Bavarian left got progressively worse as the Maison du Roi piled into the flank of the Bavarian guard infantry. Luckily for me the Guard battalions fought back well and were able to fall back while the Maison squadrons exhausted themselves and eventually dissolved. But that didn’t stop a second French regiment from pitching in.

But help was at hand for the Bavarians as five squadrons from the center of the line approached. Soon the area was a mass of swirling horse flesh, but the left began to stabilise.

The French cavalry attack had been repulsed, but the Bavarian left was in tatters.

Here the game ended. A draw, with a French favour, since the Bavarians were not going to achieve their objective.

To finish out the post, here are a bunch of additional images, in no particular order, from the day.