Перед стенами Севастополя

'Before the walls of Sebastapol' for the non Roosian speakers amongst us! It will though require a good stretch of your imagination to bring this table to the Crimea. The Vauban walls will I hope stand in if you squint a tad! 

The Allies are risking a first assault on the walls, lead by the Guards Brigade supported by the Highland regiments. The Light Brigade are on hand to hopefully counter the indeterminate number of Roosian cavalry thought to be in the vicinity. Hopefully supporting their allies are a Division of French foot, comprising a Line Battalion and a Guard Light Battalion. The Allies have deployed as many heavy guns as they can to support their attack, even bringing the 64lb guns from HMS Pinafore ashore! On to the action then...

The walls of Sebastapol if you will bristle with Roosian guns and the glinting of many Bayonets catching the sun's rays...

Never mind the cossacks! Business is business after all, a few roubles to be made today.

The garrison of this section, a regiment of Jaegers, assembles awaiting its orders. One Battalion is already on its way.

Roosian gunners anxiously await the order to open fire!

The British army's encampment is a hive of activity. The Guards Brigade moves out smartly while gunners open fire on the distant walls.

The Heavy Mortar maned by the Royal Artillery is tasked with harassing the Roosian gunners.the 

The Jolly Jack Tars of HMS Pinafore prepare their 64lb guns hoping to batter down the walls.

The Rifle Brigade moves forward, hoping their fire will take a toll on the Roosian gunners.

The Roosian gunners don't seem over concerned by the fire though!

The Guards' Brigade make a splendid sight advancing with drums beating and colours bravely flying in the breeze.

The Roosian Commander, Grand Duke Byklovic, has sent forward the 4th Battalion to flanknthe Guards' advance.

Greek Volunteers and Cossack Scouts and artillery skirmish with elements of the Rifle Brigade and the Shore Party of HMS Pinafore. 

Roosian fire has disrupted the Guards' approach to the assault. Despite this, the Guards prepare to assault the walls!

No significant of the French yet, despite the assurances of D'Merde! They must hurry as the British assault faltering. 

The French! And just in time! A Brigade of Guard Lights hurls itself forward, the very embodiment of élan!

At last the heavy mortar of the Royal Artillery finds its range! Gun and gunners are blown to eternity, just as the Guards' assault goes in too.

The French are here in numbers now and advance boldly despite the rumours of Cossacks on their flank.

They press forward on the outnumbered Jaegers who are only too aware of their fellows fleeing past their flank!

Despite bold Roosian deployment the British assault has gained momentum. The guns are Disordered by constant bombardment and the defence falls on the Third Jaeger Battalion. 

The Guards raise their colours on the ramparts of Sebastopol! It was premature though to celebrate victory, as a determined counter charge bybthe Second Jaeger Battalion drove them back off the walls.

The walls of Sebastapol are back in the hands of the Roosians! Who are also deploying rapidly on the plain to counter the French. Those Cossacks are really needed though right now!

Despite the failure of the British assault, the French (out of shot) have driven off the Roosian Jaegers sent to block their attack on the gates. Confusion reigns in the Roosian Command and a hasty withdrawal hands the Allies are victory.

The elderly Lord Rawnsley with his Staff receive news of the victory from Captain Nolan.

We had a few problems with the scenario along the way,  mainly trying to combine the Black Powder rules for defending/attacking obstacles and buildings. We got it sorted in the end, though the French victory decided the outcome before a final assault was needed.

The 'Cossack Fear' rule worked well in delaying the French. Cossacks 'appeared' randomly on a Command roll of <7 but needed to pass a second roll in the subsequent Turn to charge any available enemy flank. This only happened once! The threat though did delay and confuse the French wonderfully!

It was all over in Turn 7, another really Gripping Black Powder game full of the unexpected.