Back in the groove after our early summer recess Phil and I met up across the tabletop battlefield here in GHQ once more. We had agreed on a Wars of the French Revolution game using Black Powder Mk2 rules as is our usual go to now. As we are a bit rusty after a three week hiatus I set up a simple encounter battle between an Allied force of British, Hanoverian and Emigré units and the Revolutionary French hordes! The game length is set at 12 Turns as is our usual limit. Now, enough introduction, down into the action via the expected annotated photomontage ~
A view along the French lines as their army enters the table: Light Cavalry in the foreground; infantry Demi-Brigades in the centre and far right; Heavy Cavalry behind the right flank in the distance.
The leading French Demi-Brigades step off in Ordre Mixte, combining the fire power of the line with the shock impact of the column.
The French HQ makes its plans for a comprehensive defeat of the Allies before them. {Tent by Grand Manor, figures by Perry Miniatures and Boot Hill.}
French Heavy Artillery stands ready to soften up the Allied lines facing the French army as it deploys for the attack!
Looking along the Allied line: Heavy Cavalry in the foreground; two Brigades of British Infantry; a Hanoverian Brigade of Line and Light Infantry; a Light Cavalry Brigade of Emigré units on the army's far left wing.
Emigré Light Cavalry occupy the far left of the Allied line, hopefully a deterant to the French right which looks very strong as it deploys.
The Grand Old Duke of York urges the Hanoverian Infantry Brigade forward, without much success it must be said in the early game turns! {Figures from Trent Miniatures, Wargames Foundry, Castings Room Miniatures, Front Rank.}
The leading French Demi-Brigade advances, screened by a cloud of skirmishers and closely supported by Dragoons and Heavy Cavalry. {Figures by Trent Miniatures, Eureka Miniatures, Wargames Foundry and Casting Room Miniatures.}
The Heavy Cavalry and Dragoons in close support of the French infantry played a leading role in disrupting the Allied left wing as it struggled to engage the French infantry assault.
On the French left the Light Cavalry Brigade, supported by two batteries of Horse Artillery, advances with élan creating the long ridge dominating the Allied right wing where the Heavy Cavalry has proved sluggish in deployment.
First blood though to the Life Guards who smash into over enthusiastic Hussars and Rout them in short order!
Hanoverian Light Infantry braces itself for the inevitable French attack, throwing forward a screen of skirmishers to harass the French advance. As French Dragoons try to work around the Allied flank they are met by a reckless charge of the Hompesch Mounted Rifles!
Buoyed by their early success against the French Hussars the Life Guards sweep forward to attack the second line of the Lights. Victory here would seriously compromise the French left, but their casualties are already mounting after two rounds of melee.
Back on the Allied left wing the first crisis is passed. A combination of steady fire and the cold steel of the bayonet sees one column of the French Demi-Brigade thrown back in rout! The over confident Dragoons are also forced to retreat. The Allies have a breathing space on this flank but need supports.
The French renew the attack on the Allied left. The Hanoverian Light Infantry are Shaken by the violence of the assault but their morale is high and they fight on dogedly. Not so the Mounted Rifles who are routed by the supporting line of French Dragoons!
Despite dispatching the second line of Hussars the Life Guards are blown and a determined charge by the French Chasseurs sees them routed in short order. The advancing British infantry sensibly forms square for defence against the new threat.
Back on the Allied left the heroic Hanoverian Light Infantry defeat the remaining parts of the Demi-Brigade after a gruelling and drawn out melee. {They passed numerous Morale Checks despite losses!}
Meanwhile on the Allied right the situation changes yet again. Despite shaky morale the British Heavy Cavalry, the Kings Dragoon Guards and Scots Greys, see off the Chasseurs in short order. French élan it seems is no match for British grit!
In the centre of the line the British squares support one another to decisively repel attacks from both French Heavy Cavalry and infantry Demi-Brigades!
Suddenly the morale of the French army collapses as losses see three of its six brigades Broken. Phil is forced to concede defeat and order the remnants of his army to retire. The Allies are victorious but too exhausted to follow up their victory; the French escape to fight another day!
