Franco-Prussian Game

My Franco-Prussian project is the longest single wargames project I have ever undertaken. Almost five years ago to the day I received the first delivery of Prussian infantry. My objective from the outset was to create, unit for unit, the French 2nd Corps and the Prussian VII Corps, with a cavalry division for each. There has been some scope creep with the addition of a Bavarian infantry division and two brigades of French cuirassiers, but while they were an expansion, they really  just balanced out the armies bringing the number of units up to more or less equal. 

Yet the project is still not complete.  I still need to add two regiments of French dragoons to finish of the 2nd Corps cavalry division, but the figures have not been released yet. Also required are a few Bavarian generals, a regiment of Bavarian light cavalry. Four sets of Bavarian artillery are received but not yet painted.

While parts of these armies have seen some limited table time, Sunday was the first time they have been out in their entirety. I wanted the game to bevan encounter action, but all too often we pick sides then move on to the table from one edge with the opposing force on the other side. Because we play so frequently we know each other's strengths and weaknesses and this can lead to targeting individuals to exploit a weakness. So I wanted to mix things up a little. Before the game I decided who would command what, but didn't tell them. Each turn a new command would arrive for each side and I would draw a name randomly. At this point players would discover if they were French, Prussian or Bavarian. They would then roll die to determine which of the four roads on their side of the table they would arrive on.

The game began with only a cavalry brigade from each side in the table. Two French cuirassiers and half a regiment of lancers faced off against a Prussian brigade of a regiment each of dragoons, cuirassiers and uhlans. 

The Prussian uhlans  took the chance and charged the French lancers.

The French troopers came out on top.

Next to arrive was the Bavarian division, followed by French division, almost opposite each other.

Soon two more divisions on each side arrived.

And the French reserve artillery

The cavalry of each side got out of the way.

The glittering staff looked on as the battle raged.

It was a hard slog. The Bavarian left held out against a heavy French artillery bombardment, but in the end gave way.

More and more Prussian guns came into line.

And they took their toll. The French centre collapsed. 

The battle was coming to an end.

In the end the Prussians took the day.

Five hours of intense gaming with ten players was fun, but phew, was I exhausted. Not until around four hours later, after a generous pork fillet and a bottle of Pinot Noir did I recover.

Thanks to John L for most of the photos ( I was too involved to take many).