A bit of a thumping, and no mistake...

At the last minute Jon had to cancel our last Wednesday evening game a couple of weeks ago now, a big disappointment for both of us. Rather than clear away the Wars of the French Revolution game I’d planned, using Black Powder as the rules and pitting early Revolutionary French against Austrians, Phil agreed we’d simply play it on our regular Monday slot. Now in its turn that was almost two weeks ago now! Some family trauma has delayed any hobby activity since, but now things are back on an even keel I have time to share some pictures of the game.
The game saw both sides battling for control of a strategic bridge crossing an otherwise unfordable river. Phil commanded the Austrians and I took the French for this game. As is usual a few photos to try and capture the flavour of the game as it ebbed and flowed over six turns ~

The opening move: French Infantry head en mass for the bridge while their

cavalry are hesitant. The Austrian cavalry moves slowly forward under fire

from the French Horse Artillery battery.

French Infantry drive off one Austrian infantry regiment and another attacks

the Grenadiers in the flank. How I lost that melee I will never know!

French Dragoons rout after charging a square and suffering heavily from

Closing and Passing Fire!

The French have been driven back across the bridge. Shaken and Disordered

they loose the Melee!

"FollowMe!"Austrian Cuirassiers charge the French Horse Artillery battery

and, of course, over run them and sabre the gunners!

Austrian Chasseurs charge the French Hussar brigade with the by now almost

inevitable outcome! 

Their Sweeping Advance carries them into the supporting regiment with a

sadly similar outcome!! On their flank the Cuirassiers charge into the French

Heavy Cavalry.

One rout becomes...

...two routs! The French left flank is turned and with Three Broken Brigades

the French Army cannot advance so victory is to the Austrians.

The victorious Austrian commander surveys the field of battle! The victory

was overwhelming in the end, the Austrians not even loosing one unit!

We hope we shall manage to fit in a game on Monday, but that is very much dependant on events beyond our immediate control. If we can we plan a second Italian Wars game to test out our mash up rules I've mentioned before. In the meantime, its back to Landsknecht pikemen whenever I get a free moment or two!