Napoleon beats Wellington !

 

Well, we assembled the big 25/28mm battalions for a Christmas special, a sort of Waterloo game with much of my British and French collection on show

 

here's the massed French army deploying to attack

here's the British left flank anchored on a farm defended by Dutch Nassauers

 

skirmishers out front and defence lines in depth

the French start to move

 

and battle commences with artillery fire at long range

 

 

Two divisions of infantry in column march towards the enemy

 

with a third division following behind

 

The Imperial Guard infantry and Red Lancers wait in reserve

 

Wellington has decided to put all his cavalry over on the left behind the farm house

his gunners pour fire on the advancing French columns

 

Over on the French left, Carabiniers advance threateningly towards the Scots in front of the farm adjacent to the woods with French horse artillery in support

 

most of the French columns reach the British lines despite their fire power

and melees ensue

the Nassauers fire at the passing French infantry

 

some of the French recoil

 

and one squadron of British light dragoons try and take advantage of this

 

the first British defence lines crumble and the columns carry on again

one British infantry unit steps up onto the high ground in front of where they had been hidden

 

two squadrons of French chasseurs a cheval attack them, drive them from the hillock and send them back through the ranks of the Brunswickers behind the stream 

 

 

This time, the Chasseurs fail to penetrate the enemy line and withdraw

 

but French grenadiers succeed here and a hole opens up in the British centre

other French infantry push on in the direction of the allied cavalry

 

the British light cavalry form up and threaten the French right

 

the French lancers of the line are spurred forwards to counter this

melee ensues

but the British emerge the victors leaving the French right wide open

 

just as the Imperial Guard infantry march onto the centre of the battlefield

 

Napoleon and his staff watch their right anxiously

 

but with French infantry exploiting the gaps in the British centre, and with the RHA either retreating or over run

 

a Scottish battalion in reserve tries to make a stand

whilst their remaining comrades on the right prepare to be pounded by the French horse artillery

 

a final charge breaks their resistance and the day belongs to Napoleon

 

The Guard infantry were not needed after all.

 

This game took the best part of twelve hours (12 noon until midnight) apart from a short break for lunch, using the old In The Grand Manner rules, so Steve Clarke and I were both shattered at the end - but it was worth it ! 

 

Next up, a 15mm Napoleonic game at Raph's on 2nd January using Shako rules, then a game at Steve Clarke's on 3rd (probably a Wild West one) and then Sunday 5th is the Essex Warriors' AGM.