Back to Black

Things have been a bit slow on the hobby front here in GHQ since the last entry. Seasonal stuff, compounded by a back back strain, has left little enthusiasm for painting or gaming. Finally on Monday I felt I might manage the rigours of rolling dice and moving little chaps about in GHQ and Paul obliged by turning up for a rerun of our Peninsular War battle but using Black Powder as the rules. Moreover he took all the pictures which follow. I hope you enjoy our efforts ~

British Light Dragoons from my Foundry War of 1812-15 collection and Trent Miniatures from my FRW collection.

Paul's French Brigade of Front Rank, Victrix and Perry Miniatures screened by some Trent Miniatures FRW Light Infantry.

French Hussards and Dragoons from Trent Miniatures.

British Rifles from my War of 1812-15 screen the Line Infantry advancing to meet the Frenchies!

Trent Miniatures Napoleon and ADC acting as a Brigade Command stand.

French HQ & Baggage Train, various manufacturers but mostly Perry Miniatures.

Foundry British infantry brigade lead by Highlanders from my Pendawar collection.

Paul's French Chasseurs à Cheval clash with my Front Rank King's Dragoon Guards. Plastics v metal, no surprise then at the outcome...

Massed cavalry on the flank dominated much of the battle. The British Heavy Cavalry took the brunt of the early action leaving the Lights to rampage against the French centre.

And here it is, the French centre deploying into Line to bring firepower to bear in support of the Attack Columns out of shot.

The Chasseurs reform and clash with the Scots Greys. More metal v plaaastic...

While the second regiment of Chasseurs clash with the Dragoons!

In the centre the British infantry prepare to fire on the advancing French.

Undeterred by slight losses the French charge home against the British line!

The British break and flee for the rear pdq! 

The French triumph is halted as they form square in response to the threat from the British Light Cavalry. While the artillery in support teaters on the brink of breaking!

The French drive off the British Rifles and prepare to assault the Highlanders!

Masses of British infantry are so far uncommitted to action.

"Follow Me!" The Light Brigade Commander leads his men in a daring charge between the French squares to assault the French artillery on the high ground behind their centre. (We got the firing from the squares wrong with hindsight which might have altered the outcome of the melee!) The cavalry failed to charge home as a result of fire!

On the French right massed columns advanced on the British left. Was this too late to turn the battle for the French?

Back in the centre firefights between the opposing lines sees casualties and disorder mount steadily. Who will break first we wondered?

The British centre still looks secure despite the loss of two battalions. One more reverse though and it will be Broken...

And there it goes as another battalion breaks and flees past the C-in-C!

The Light Cavalry also breaks and it's commander pays the ultimate price, struck down by a French musket ball!

With three of it's five Brigades Broken the British army yields the field to it's French opponents. 

Brief Victory earlier in the conflict with the Scots Greys seeing of the French Chasseurs!

The Light Dragoons charged the Disordered French square! Appalling dice plus the +3 for the outcome of infantry in square v cavalry sees them driven off and broke the brigade!

General De Gornalé received the news of his victory!

The French advance to claim the field! Vivé L'Empereur!

All up for General Bykleigh in Turn 6! Early successes on the right fell away as the Dice Gods deserted to the French! I am inspired by these game to consider a small Spanish force next year, once the Crimean War figures are finished of course!

Meanwhile...

...we are back in the Peninsular War here in GHQ. Phil and I decided to have a rerun of our Proxy Peninsular War game to continue our attempts to get to grips with Soldiers of Napoleon, and hopefully to encourage Phil in progressing his French force of course. In this battle I will once again take command of the British forces while Phil will continue to command the French invaders. As is my wont, a photomontage to show the game unfolding ~

The French cavalry Brigades are massed on their right flank supporting the battery of 8lb guns and the flank of the centre infantry Brigade.

The two infantry Brigades in the French centre and left advance in columns screened by Light Infantry in Extended Line formation. A further French artillery battery supports the attack.

The British centre advanced rather more cautiously than the left flank Brigade. The cards I had dealt myself in Turns 1 & 2 were far from auspicious.

British cavalry mass on their right flank, the Light Cavalry leading the way. (I'm hoping they can repeat the heroics of the previous game!)

The British left and centre finally seem to get their act together and move forward to menace the French Lights.

The left flank infantry Brigade has managed to advance in tandem with the centre, urged on by the Division Commander's presence perhaps?

The battery of French 8lb guns are low on ammunition (a useful card that!) I hoped that might give my Light Cavalry the edge as the French outnumber them somewhat.

The infantry of the French right flank Brigade begin to shake out into line...

...as do their companions of the centre Brigade. Sadly for Phil attempts to Rally off Points of Disruption are using up cards unsuccessfully and slowing his overall progress.

Taking advantage of the Initiative and the 'Ammunition Low" status of the French battery the Light Dragoons sweep forward on the stuttering French infantry. Phil's dice oblige when he rerolls his hits and registers none!

The French centre has stalled! The Lights attempt unsuccessfully to Rally By Withdrawal while the infantry suddenly threatened by the Light Dragoons form square. The Light Dragoons play a Charge card on the square but despite a dice advantage are driven back in Disorder. The supporting regiment in their Brigade fares equally poorly and is trounced by the Chasseurs! Despite this Victory Points are mounting more rapidly for the British!

The French centre has collapsed! Things are looking bleak for their cause. Phil sensibly calls a halt in Turn 6 seeing little he can do to stem the British advance now. As time had almost run out on us and the British were ahead 14 Victory Points to the French's 7, we called it a win for the British. 

There should be one final run through on 30/11/23 when Paul visits to try his hand at the French command, though with modified forces based on a better grasp of the system which has evolved over the previous run outs. Now though, it's back to the 9th (East) Norfolk Foot for the Crimean War project.

A Sharp Engagement at Apoderada

Another run out with Soldiers of Napoleon was on the cards for this week's game between Phil and me here in GHQ. Rather than rerun a Wars of the French Revolution game I opted to see if I could proxy a British army for the 'Peninsular War'. The French of course would have to be from my Wars of the French Revolution collection, but the British I assembled from the Pendawar, War of 1812-15, and Wars of the French Revolution collections. The French mustered four brigades: two of infantry with accompanying 12lb and 8lb gun batteries; a Light Cavalry brigade of Chasseurs and Hussards; a Heavy Cavalry brigade of Dragoons. The British mustered four full strength Brigades and one half strength: three of infantry, two accompanied by 9lb Foot Artillery batteries; a Light Cavalry brigade of Light Dragoons; a Heavy Cavalry brigade of three regiments. As we are still at the learning stage - well we are both the wrong side of 21 - we are more interested in the mechanics and card nuances than a result but I can reveal that we actually did play this through to a proper conclusion in the time we had to play, a first after four games! As is usual now, an annotated photomontage to hopefully give the loyal readers a sense of how the battle unfolded ~

The French left hand infantry brigade advanced screened by Light Infantry and accompanied by  battery of 8lb guns - ignore the howitzer model and imagine the flags please!

The French right hand infantry brigade advanced more slowly, as its fellow screened by Light Infantry and accompanied by a battery of 12lb guns. The Dragoons are held at the rear for now at least.

The French HQ is a hive of activity!

The British have concentrated all their cavalry on their right flank, the Light Dragoons in advance of the Heavy Cavalry. The centre and left are held by the regular sized infantry brigades, with the half strength brigade held in reserve for now.

The British advance their centre throwing out a skirmish screen from the Light Companies. On the left the 95th advance in Extended Line while the rest of the brigade holds its position.

The Light cavalry clash to open the action. Both Light Dragoons and Chasseurs are Disordered by the combat but the French are thrown back.

Despite Disorder the Light Dragoons renew the charge against the Chasseurs...

...who are destroyed! First Victory Points to the British! Hurrah etc!!!

The 2nd Hussards renew the fight for the French, charging the Disordered Light Dragoons. Despite the Disorder the Hussards are thrown back too. Perhaps the Heavies will not be needed on this flank?

Ominously though the French infantry begin to fire, inflicting Disruption on the Light Dragoons and the infantry. In response the leading British regiment is looking for a barn door it might hit!

Losses causing Disruption seem to have broken the nerve of the British commander in the centre as his advance halts.

Meanwhile on the right the gallant Light Dragoons are Broken, their 13 points of Disruption defying any point in Rallying. British losses are beginning to tell and Victory Points building for the French.

French musketry and artillery fire are proving decisive in swinging the outcome their way. 

Finally the French exceed the required Victory Points, by some margin I have to say, as the British faced a combination of poor card choices and even poorer Dice score when failing several consecutive Rally tests!

There will be another 'Peninsular War' run out on the 30th with Paul, all being well, when we shall have some of his pukka French figures on show! Oh, and of course he will take the pictures!