"When they were up...

...they were up." Back in action in GHQ this week and a Wars of the French Revolution game was our preferred choice. 

The French are defending the important town of Peendevord which dominates the supply lines for their Army of the North. General Brune is charged with defence of the town at all hazards.

The Allied army is seeking to capture both the town and it's considerable military stores while also handing out a defeat to Brune's defending army.

Leading the force is the Grand Old Duke of York, assisted or otherwise by Lord Rawnsley and his ADC Lieutenant Colonel Bykleigh.

The British infantry in their centre advance raggedly supported by the amalgamation of small emigré Hussar units. The Royal Artillery battery opens fire in their support.

The French response is equally understated and sluggish, with several elements not receiving their orders it seems.

As the battle unfolds the French and British cavalry on the flank clash without any clear outcome, while in the centre the British infantry press forward with more determination. Hanoverians now appear to reinforce the centre!

French Hussards support the attacks of their heavy compatriots while lines of attacking British infantry can be seen in the distance as the attack is pressed home.

In the centre the forward French Demi Brigade is disrupted by intense musketry, opening up a gap in their lines. On the British right two infantry Brigades threaten the French position.

French infantry surge forward in a charge to halt the British advance. Suffering heavily from closing fire they come off worst in the ensuing melee!

The 2me Hussards are attacked by the Hompesch Mounted Rifles while the 11me are engaged by the 10th Light Dragoons.

In the centre the British and Hanoverian infantry press home the attack as French lines stagger under the impact!

On the French right the 8me Cavalry rout the Scots Grey's but retire with their right flank threatened by the Life Guards.

French artillery has proved largely ineffective in supporting the repeated attacks initiated by both their Light and the Heavy cavalry. Despite repeated charges and some successes neither has been able to blunt the British threat.

On the French left resistance is beginning to crumble as the infantry falls back under ever increasing pressure. Guns left isolated are overwhelmed and lost!

The French centre finally breaks as panic stricken troops flee for their lives!

The French Heavy Cavalry Brigade is spent and retires in the face of their British opponents.

The battle reaches its decisive conclusion when the French Light Infantry defending Peendevord flee broken, leaving the town gates open to the British Foot Guards and Highlanders who enter triumphantly!

As ever with Black Powder 2 rules the fortunes of war ebbed and flowed, ever changing the shape of battle. Although the French cavalry were determined they just could not break their British opposite numbers. The British and Hanoverian infantry in the centre, with no real threat to their flank, were thus able to press home their numerical superiority. The French defended doggedly, but in the end were simply overwhelmed by firepower and the point of the bayonet!