To get the Bank Holiday Weekend off to a good start, I hosted a game at mine today.
Mike and Steve brought their Prussians, Graham some Dutch Nassauers, I provided the French.
We chose sides - Steve and Graham had the French, Mike and I the Prussians plus Nassauers and Ted, who has not played before, watched !
The battlefield was 10' x 8' split into two sections each 10' x 4' with a central walkway. This the view along the left hand board with the Nassau Brigade around the farm, a Prussian infantry brigade can be seen beyond them. Landwehr have been tasked with protecting the village at the far end.
Over the other side, Steve has an infantry brigade coming down the far road supported by an artillery battery.
These very gunners
Graham has a Cuirassier brigade crossing the wheat field right of centre, adjacent to his infantry brigade marching down the right hand road
The Prussians have deployed two artillery batteries on the hill in the centre of their position (the commander in chief is bathed in sun light !)
Graham also has a battery supporting his troops.
The Nassauers have a battery supporting them on the road. One battalion has crossed the road and is heading for the walled orchard.
The other two battalions of the brigade are still near the farm.
Mike is trying to get his infantry to advance into a wheat field - but they are not keen !
Graham's column steadily marches towards the Nassau position.
Another French cavalry brigade arrives - Light Cavalry this time under Steve's control.
Graham's infantry leave the road to deploy into attack columns
The Prussian gunners on the road open fire on them.
The Prussian cavalry has declared a charge against the Cuirassiers who elect to counter charge.
A stirring sight !
At the far end of our Prussian position, Landwehr advance to occupy a walled field
The Prussian cavalry have won the melee and the Cuirassiers have retreated
minus one unit which was broken
Mike elects not to follow up as one unit of Lancers is shaken.
As the French light cavalry move into cannon range, the Prussian guns hit the foremost unit and disorder them.
Steve has now advanced his infantry and shaken them out into attack columns, supported by fire from his battery.
An attack against the Landwehr position is looming !
Here they come ! But one unit is disordered by closing fire.
More Lanwehr advance to provide support.
Graham has advanced his guns alongside the infantry massing for an attack against the Nassau brigade - but one infantry battalion has become disordered from enemy fire.
The Cuirassiers are still receiving fire from the fields and a disorder is the result.
Graham is not finding it easy to mount an attack due to the Nassau fire supported by artillery
The one time they reach the wall, they are thrown back by the men in green.
who have now been supported by another battalion moving up in support.
The Prussian and French heavy cavalry are at it again !
The Prussian guns fire over their heads trying to break up French infantry attacks.
At last, French infantry have got to grips with the Prussian Landwehr
Graham's attacks on the Nassau brigade falter and his brigade becomes broken due to their casualties and disorder.
The Nassauers held firm throughout.
The French light cavalry broke due to excess casualties from artillery fire
The one bright spot for the French was at the far end of the battlefield where they are getting the better of the Landwehr
It takes some time
but eventually the Prussians buckle
one unit is destroyed
but with all the French cavalry broken as well as Graham's infantry brigade, this flank alone cannot save the day - the French infantry are ordered to disengage and withdraw.
Game play was interrupted at lunch time for a trip to The Nag's Head for a pie and a pint, so all in all a good way to spend a sunny May day !
Looks very nice, beautiful pictures...even if a French defeat is not a good result for me! Great report...
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