Austro-Prussians v Franco-Bavarians

Steve and Inan had the Austro-Prussian army, Graham and I the Franco-Bavarian one. Steve and Graham had diced earlier for terrain and unit arrivals.

First on, parts of an Austrian brigade, Jagers and light cavalry to the fore

No sign of the French or Bavarians yet

The Austrians press on and more units appear

Now a Bavarian force arrives. Line infantry in columns left of centre whilst on the right wing a battalion of light infantry supported by light cavalry

The light infantry line the edge of the woods

muskets at the ready

the enemy cavalry realise they are now in musket range !

but the Bavarians make no effort to advance any further

a lot more Austrian infantry arrive in the centre

over on the French right, a light cavalry brigade arrives

and heads straight for the enemy heavy cavalry that have just trotted onto the field

Austrian lines march towards the centre

with nothing before them

Spoke too soon ! Now a big French battery has unlimbered on the hilltop

with limbers and wagons out of sight

They will play their guns over the Austrian lines

On our left, the Bavarian light cavalry remain in reserve

The French cavalry have hit the Austrian cuirassiers

a French infantry brigade now arrives between the guns and the cavalry

the Bavarians have just one gun with their infantry

the Austrian lines feel the impact of that big artillery battery

Orders for the infantry, Sir ?

the French gunners are warming to their work

Attack the centre !

the French cavalry have beaten the Austrian cuirassiers

and now pursue

but now a nasty surprise for the Franco-Bavarians - a big Prussian force arrives, opposite the Bavarian brigade

the battered Austrian cuirassiers are engaged again 

as the French infantry move up towards the Austrian infantry 

Hopefully in time, another French infantry brigade arrives behind the Bavarians to even up the numbers

The newly arrived French infantry sweep past the Bavrians and head towards the Prussian infantry

awaiting them, the Prussian Guard supported by Landwehr

the French crash into the Prussians

and send one Guard unit reeling but the line holds

but now it goes horribly wrong for the French

a battalion breaks and its supports have to test and several of them run too

the Bavarians are rushed forward to plug the gap

Graham has pushed forward his French infantry brigade in the centre

the Bavarians desperately try to hold the Prussians backed up by Austrian support

even the Bavarian light cavalry are brought up to provide support

they stubbornly fight for every inch of ground

with the French cavalry gone, Austrian infantry are trying to hold both the centre and the left flank as the French columns appear

the victorious French cavalry now charge an Austrian square

Both sides have lost a brigade and losses are such that neither side is able to exploit an advantage.

The game was declared a draw but for the second game running, I had seen a French infantry brigade under my command melt away !