The Battle of Hipstadt

Time for a larger game in GHQ and what better than a run out for my SYW collection? A fictional game centred on the struggle for the strategically important town of Hipstadt between the British and the French. The objective is to control the town by the end of turn 10 ,a very taxing game both size and time wise for me at least! I hope the pictures will, as ever, convey the sense of the action without burdening the reader with unnecessary cut and thrust detail ~

In the first two turns the French miserably fail almost all of

their Command rolls! Merde!!!!

As a consequence, much of the French cavalry on their left

wing and the Guard Infantry brigade are distant from the 

action developing around Hipstadt.

Mind you, the British are not much more active in the first two

turns! As the French commander I felt quite uneasy after two

turns, despite the lack of movement on both sides.

British  Grenadiers seize part of the town in the face of a

hesitant French infantry Brigade shielded by Light Infantry

skirmishers.

The French right wing, cavalry of the Guard and Cuirassiers du

Roi. A magnificent spectacle, but can they fight you ask?

As the action unfolds the French press forward in the centre 

and on the right while the British hesitate.

Alas, the French cavalry are having the worst of things against

their English opponents. The Gendarmes are routed and their

supports hit by a Sweeping Advance!

They too are routed and the General leading them is killed,

leaving the cuirassiers high and dry! Mon Dieu!!!!

Both Guard cavalry regiments fail our in house Rally from 

Route phase and so are dispersed. The leaderless Cuirassiers

are attacked by the Horse Grenadiers supporting the Horse

Guards.

With the French right wing destroyed the Horse Guards sweep

the artillery from the hill, forcing the Comte Du Merde to take

refuge with the stalled infantry before Hipstadt.

The British have seized all of the town by this stage. This will

be a tough task now for the French, especially with the

British cavalry free behind their right flank and centre.

The British just cannot be dislodged from Hipstadt! The

French position looks grim to say the least, with both of the

cavalry Brigade commanders now dead!

And in Turn 9 it is all over, with Du Merde conceding the field

and saving as much of his army as is possible! Lord Rawnsley

surveys the victorious British, satisfied with a victory well

won!

As ever here in GHQ we used Black Powder for the rules finding them to our taste, although we have added a Rally From Route phase, largely as our table is only 6' x 6'6" and we have smaller armies in consequence than the creators of the rules have in their games. The routed unit is moves 12/18" to its rear and is allowed a chance to Rally at a -2. If it passes then it Rallies on the spot, if it fails then it Routes another 18" and is allowed a second chance to Rally at -1. If it fails a second time then it is dispersed. Of course, if it is contacted in either Rout by the enemy it is destroyed! It works for us, but may not be to the taste of others; that's always the way with wargamers and rules I've found!
Next week's Monday game here in GHQ will be on a Wednesday! You'll see why when you pop back next week!