General d'Armee

Having taken part in the play testing of these rules down at the Wargames Holiday Centre and then buying the rule book some time ago, I thought it was about time to have another crack at General d'Armee.

Therefore, the Billericay War Rooms were set up for a solo "refresher".

The rules have been produced by Reisswitz Press, which is a collaboration between Too Fat Lardies printing, ordering and distribution system and, in this case David Brown of General de Brigade fame. What's not to like - two great names in the hobby working together !

I elected to have a British v French game, both sides having cavalry on one flank - the British KGL Hussars.

The French have massed columns in the centre organised into four brigades (ten battalions in all)

The British were restricted to one RHA battery on high ground

Here you see the French advancing through fields towards the enemy guns

The British have four brigades of infantry (eight battalions)

The French, as the attackers, have a line battery on high ground

Under the watchful eye of the Commander-in-Chief

and a Horse battery on a second hill.

The left hand British brigade has to face this artillery !

The Brigade commander has his work cut out keeping them steady under fire.

Here we see the British C-in-C busy instructing ADCs

French skirmishers reach the last wall before having to cross into where they will receive canister fire

A reserve of Cuirassiers is kept back for use if a break through occurs.

Lanciers de Berg are tasked with facing off the KGL Hussars.

The British lines are ordered to advance to be able to fire

as the enemy columns come on

So far only one brigade has failed a command and "faltered" and the ADCs have mainly added impetus to assault fire by the artillery.

It feels right and the mechanisms introduced by David Brown innovative and quite different to General de Brigade. I think I am going to enjoy this little tussle !

Right, back to the rule book to answer some questions that have occurred to me ...

Garibaldi anyone ?

Today's club game was a Sharp Practice Garibaldi game put on by Steve Clarke and Allan Gaines with their figures and terrain.

Steve Clarke, Richard and I divided up the Garibaldi faction amongst us and Allan, Les and Mike had the Neapolitan regulars.

This scenario required Garibaldi to capture the supple dump bottom right of the picture, on the outskirts of this small town, guarded by Les's men.

And here are some of Les's troops in and around the town.

They are awaiting reinforcements under Allan and Mike.

These troops are to enter from the far side of the board.

As Les decides to move a group to guard the right of town.

Allan's men come on in column with light troops on their left flank

The first of Garibaldi's men appear on the road right of town.

and these chaps were under my command ...

The Neapolitans advance continues

Hello, what do we have here - Mike has a nasty looking cannon !

and it unlimbers ready to engage my newly arrived Garibaldi troops.

Les has one unit guarding the supplies dump.

and for now, they seem safe.

My red coated Garibaldians advance as quick as they can

Just as Mike's gun opens fire. Ouch that hurt !

Allan's formations deploy into line so they can concentrate more fire power.

Richard has these desperate looking banditos on the edge of town heading for the supply dump.

My red jackets and Richard's gendarmes in the field are now getting hit badly by both artillery and massed rifle fire.

My men fall back with excess shock just as Garibaldi arrives with our main force.

Richard's bandits exchange fire with Les's troops in town.

But they are outnumbered by the Neapolitan regulars.

Who charge whilst the bandits are unloaded.

A tough struggle ensues

but the bandits lose and are thrown back in disarray.

 Garibaldi now leads his men towards town past the beaten banditos.

He now heads for Les' s victorious Neapolitans.

Because of shock slowing them down, they fail to reach the enemy for hand to hand combat at first and receive fire again from Les's men in the supply dump.

Garibaldi exhorts his men to continue.

This time they get into combat and the Neapolitans are beaten back to the edge of town.

But whilst this was going on, the combined fire of Mike's gun and Allan's infantry had depleted the other Garibaldi units to such a point that their morale broke entirely.

Having hit "zero morale', our army broke and ran, so Garibaldi's own troops were compelled to join them in retreat too - even though they were within sight of the enemy supply dump - it was not to be.

The Neapolitan fire power had proved too much on this occasion.

A colourful looking game which entertained us all marvellously.

Better luck next time Garibaldi !