Yesterday we played a large Napoleonic game. A Russo-Prussian force of 32 battalions, four cavalry regiments and eight batteries was charged with securing control of a crossroads at the centre of the table. Opposing us was a stronger Franco-Bavarian force of at least 35 battalions (10 of which were guard) 13 cavalry regiments and nine batteries.
The terrain was very constrictive, with a river crossable at only two fords and a bridge cutting off about a quarter of the table. A village and a wood at the opposite end closed out that flank but a large walled farm the centre effectively divided the table in two and seriously constricted the area in which large bodies could be manoeuvred.
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| The battlefield before the armies arrived |
The Russians took the right flank and the Prussians the left. Opposite us the Bavarians held the left, opposite the Russians, the Guard held the centre and a combined Franco-Wurtemberg force held their right.
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| The initial deployments from the Russian end of the table. |
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| The reverse view with the armies in motion |
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| The Guard brigades deploy opposite the walled farm |
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| The Bavarians on the move: in the foreground they are preparing to cross the river, and further away are facing the Russians |
The Prussian Jägers moved quickly to secure the walled farm while the artillery of both sides sought to soften up the infantry.
Then the Russian grenadiers began their advance.
Then the line brigades stepped off.
The Prussians were quickly into the thick of it.
The Emperor seemed indifferent
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But his generals were nervous under his eye.
And with good reason, for here come the Russian Cuirassiers
They slammed into the flank of the Guard lights who had driven off a battalion of Russian grenadiers
The Bavarians put up a wall of bayonets, but struggled to make headway,
The Guard lancers and Russian Cuirassiers were quickly embroiled in an extended melee.
Meanwhile the Guard infantry found themselves in an awkward position, their front divided by the walled farm
Their commander desperately tried to maintain order
Despite huge pressure the Prussian lines held
The fighting raged along the length of the table.
In the end the sun set with a slight advantage to the Russo-Prussians.
Photo credits: me and John L.
A veritable extravaganza. Was it approaching a conclusion when you called it, or could the French/Bavarians have fought back and evened things up?
ReplyDeleteI think the Russo-Prussians were holding out better than the Franco-Bavarians The Bavarians were in a bad way…two brigades were close to breaking, but most if the Russians coming up to face them were raw. The Russian grenadiers were in pretty good shape but getting around that bloody walled farm was not easy. The Prussians were doing really well because the gap they were defending was narrow and the French had a worse job than my Russians getting around the farm. What really balanced it fir the French was their massive advantage in cavalry - almost 4:1
DeleteLooks like it was a pretty good game, what happened at the Russian end of the table?!😝
ReplyDeleteWell the Russians had a pretty hard fight, but a few more cavalry would have made it more interesting.
DeleteA very, very impressive game there Mark! Good to see the Russo-Prussians with a slight edge at the end of the game.
ReplyDeleteThanks Steve. It certainly was an impressive sight.
DeleteLots of great photos. Hope everyone had fun.
ReplyDeleteThanks Joe. Yes all enjoyed the game.
DeleteImpressive "grand" game always good to get lots of figures on a table when you can. Looked like fun, congrats all.
ReplyDeleteThanks Tony. Indeed it was great to see a good number if troops on the table…nice to see a significant force of the Guard about too.
DeleteWow, what a splendid game - quality hobby time.
ReplyDeleteThat is a great way to put it Norm…quality time for sure.
DeleteExcellent report.
ReplyDeleteThanks Stuart.
DeleteWhat a cracking looking game Mark...
ReplyDeleteAll the best Aly
Thanks Aly. I think if we had had another turn we might have seen much of the Bavarian force disappear which would have taken the pressure off my raw troops that I was keeping well to the rear.
DeleteThat is an extravaganza. not overselling it all. very nice to see a table like that. 😀
ReplyDeleteSounds like something that should of been an ALL DAY game.
Not quite all day. We set up about 10:00 AM, started playing about 11:00 and finished around 4:30. It was a good thing that half the armies were plastic otherwise the table might have been a mass of splintered wood from the weight of lead!
DeleteSplendid looking big battalions game!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Thanks Iain. It was nice to see some armies that don’t get out of the boxes often enough.
DeleteSo jealous of your table and room size, makes my 6x4 look tiny... sighs. The battle must have been so good to play and view (eye candy!).
ReplyDeleteWe are very lucky to have access to such a large table…then again when we have ten players we definitely need it.
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