Le Pont a Lembeek

This week’s game in GHQ between Phil and me was a Black Powder War of the French Revolution game, with Phil, as De Rawnslie, leading the Revolutionary French army and yours truly,  as von Bikkelberg, leading the Austro-Hanoverian defenders of Lembeek and its strategic bridge over the River Semme. The Austrians win if they deny the bridge to the French, the French if they have one Brigade over the river by the end of Turn 8. Either side can win of course by defeating the enemy on the field of battle.

Austrian cavalry hold the right flank, protecting a small 

Brigade of Hanoverian infantry and a Battery of 12ld guns.

The French have all their cavalry deployed on their left flank.

Two Brigades of Heavy Cavalry and one of Light.

The French right is held by a Demi Brigade of Light Infantry,

supported by two Batteries of 12ld guns. The centre is held by

two Demi Brigades of Line Infantry each of one Old Army 

Battalion and two newly raised volunteers who must check

their status on first fired on or being in action.

"Follow Me!" To compensate for my inferiority in cavalry I 

used this order quite a lot. I had mixed results I have to say!

Austrian Dragoons, Curassiers and Chasseurs surge forward

to halt the French attack.

The French advance on the Bridge supported by the Horse

Artillery on their left flank. The French cavalry seems reluctant

to advance to the attack!

Austrian infantry prepare to defend the Bridge as the French

advance on them. The Horse Artillery has deployed to support

the French attack.

Austrian Dragoons and Chasseurs surge past their Curassiers

and supporting Light Artillery.

The Austrian heavy guns are direted to fire in support of the

Hanoverian Infantry Brigade.

A view from the Austro-Hanoverian lines shows the ominous

numbers of French surging forward.

The Austrian infantry is under attach across the river and by

the Bridge. Time to show what they are made of!

Fighting is fierce around the bridge, with both sides having

some success.

After several gallant but indecisive charges and subsequent

melees, the Austrian cavalry is battered and weakened.

Despite a spirited and very gallant defence, numbers begin to

tell in the French's favour. The 8th cavalry move forward to

finish off their Austrian opposite number.

At the end of Turn 7 the French have two Broken Brigades,

but the Austrians have three. The French are over the bridge

and the Austrians cannot drive them back. Its all up for von

Bikkelberg I'm afraid, the Austrians concede the field to the 

French.

Black Powder never disappoints we've found in delivering a game in which fortunes swing first one way and then the other. The game was on a knife edge throughout and could have gone either way a number of times. The Austrian cavalry performed heroically, but were ultimately defeated by weight of numbers. French Command rolls were often indifferent, but their fighting was overwhelming in far too many instances for their opponents. Despite the result being disappointing for me, I thought this was an excellent game and thoroughly enjoyed it, as did Phil.