A Day of Battle!

 At last the stars aligned and Jon and I were able to meet in friendly conflict here in GHQ! That is to say his busy work schedule and my rather more relaxed retired life patterns found a window at last for a game. Jon has catholic wargames tastes and will happily play most games on offer here in GHQ, as will all the Irregulars naturally, but I know he likes big battle games the most. So, taking advantage of the terrain from last week's Early Renaissance game with suitable alterations, I laid out a French Revolutionary Wars game set in northern Italy where the Austrian general, von Bikleburger, was attempting to defend a road through a strategically important pass from General Le Blanc's Revolutionary French. As is the custom, an annotated photomontage to give a sense of the intense action. The rules in use of course, Black Powder 2 ~

Le Blanc deploys his Light Cavalry to cover his infantry attack in the centre. On the far right his Legére will contest the farm, the vineyards and the hamlet. His task is to force a passage through the foothills, defeating von Bikleburger's army if he can.

Von Bikleburger's centre is strongly defended by Austrian infantry, supported by a small Hanoverian brigade to his left and a strong Light cavalry brigade on his right. His heavy artillery is deployed to dominate the road leading through the pass.

Le Blanc sets his attack in motion. As the infantry march forward the Austrian artillery plays on them causing casualties,  weakening morale and causing Disorder. The French are not dismayed and press on with élan!

Von Bikleburger moves his infantry forward to bring fire on the enemy. The larger Austrian infantry regiments have increased firepower augmented by their light battalion guns.

"As any fool know" staff work is the bedrock of any army's success in a campaign. Le Blanc's staff officers are hard at work in the security of the walled farm.

Drums beating, bugles blaring, flags flying Le Blanc's infantry march forward determined to oust the enemy from the pass! Steely Hanoverian infantry ready themselves to deliver a volley!

On his right, von Bikleburger's leading Hussar squadrons charge their French counterparts defeating them in melee and driving them back. An inconclusive second round of combat ensues, with von Bikleburger's horse coming off worse and routing back towards their supports. While the French cavalry's immediate threat is nullified, they are not driven from the field.

Austrian Hussars fail to rally and flee the field in abject rout! If only their sweeping advance following up the initial victory had been favourable! C'est le guerre! 🎲🎲🎲🎲

At the midpoint the Austrian infantry are holding their own. Le Blanc's infantry are taking casualties, though much Austrian fire is desultory. The outcome is far from clear at this point.

Le Blanc's Light Cavalry shake themselves out and the lone Chasseur regiment surges forward threatening an exposed Austrian infantry regiment trying to flank the French infantry attack. They form square and deter the charge!

On von Bikleburger's left flank the fight for control of the vineyard and the small hamlet sees the French make steady progress amongst the vines while the Hanoverian infantry comfortably hold the hamlet.

In the centre fighting is now at close quarters with musket volleys crashing out all along the front and artillery roaring its support. The Austrians are holding, but their fire is proving ineffective at times!

Le Blanc's attack is faltering so he orders more men rushed to the fighting! The French march to the sound of the guns! Not forgetting the baggage of course!

On von Bikleburger's left one Hanoverian infantry regiment has broken under sustained French fire. A gap is exposed in the defenders' position leaving the road to the pass open!

The Austrian infantry square on their right is broken by close range artillery fire and flees in confusion. The tide of battle is turning it seems.

Determined to deny the pass to Le Blanc's forces, von Bikleburger pulls his remaining Hanoverian Line infantry back, conceding control of the hamlet. The situation there will soon worsen as the French Legére occupy the buildings 

In the centre Le Blanc's infantry attack has so far been held off by Austrian fire but losses are mounting steadily from French fire 

The forward Austrian infantry can take no more! Casualties have reached the tipping point and morale has collapsed. They flee in rout for the rear and safety!

Still von Bikleburger's infantry tenaciously hold the centre. They may yet save the day if the Hanoverians on the left can hold off the French envelopment.

The situation is precarious on the left but von Bikleburger is far from despondent. His centre is holding up well and his Light cavalry are still largely intact, detecting the French cavalry and threatening the infantry's flank.

As ever though in the heat of battle the situation can change suddenly. The Austrian Grenadiers are driven from the field in abject rout, isolating the Hanoverians on the left and opening up the road through the pass once more! 

In the centre intense French pressure finally tells and many Austrians flee for safety, their morale finally shattered despite a spirited defence!

In a last desperate throw, von Bikleburger's Light Cavalry moves to threaten the flank of the attacking French infantry but it proves too little too late, a minor hiccup in the advance of the French juggernaut!

Seeing all is lost, von Bikleburger orders his remaining forces to withdraw. The victory is Le Blanc's, but at a heavy cost. The road to safety through the pass is open to him and the enemy army is destroyed as a fighting force!  The cry bursts forth from his exhausted army, "Vive La France! Vive Le Republic!"

A splendid game we both agreed played out over almost 5 hours, with our customary break for lunch laid on by Sue. Next up here in GHQ should be a French and Indian War game giving the new and the rebased units a run out with Black Powder 2 utilizing some ideas from the  'A Dark and Bloody Ground' supplement.