With Mrs C away for a few days, Steve had invited his old Uni friend, Tony, to come and enjoy the delights of the Essex Riviera and a game or two of Black Powder, something new to Tony who has not really had a chance to war-game regularly for many years.
To add some tone and sobriety to the occasion, I decided to gate crash the whole affair (!)
Here Tony surveys the battlefield Mr C has created for the occasion. The French (Steve) will be attacking from the right of the river. Tony has a few British troops in place left of the river and I have British reinforcements arriving from the far end at a later time (subject to the whims of the dice Gods)
First on, a French light cavalry brigade which sweeps up the road towards the bridge
Tony's force (good old MiniFigs individually based, as we used to) endeavour to make a stand on the river line
He has some heavy cavalry guarding the right flank beyond the village which the Rifles have been tasked with holding.
The French cavalry continue their sweep across the bridge and then turn to cross the fields, threatening to turn the left flank of Tony's command
British Guardsmen on the hill wisely adopt square just in case
Now a French infantry brigade marches on accompanied by field artillery
Tony has one heavy cavalry unit out on the left flank which is faced with an enemy brigade consisting of four regiments - not good odds !
Three, including lancers charge leaving one unit in reserve, watching out for any more British troops arriving down the far road.
Tony's artillery fired at extreme range and managed to hit one of the French infantry columns causing some disorder. Good shooting !
The French infantry are ordered to head for the river and attack Tony's infantry on the other side
The Guards watch as the French cavalry hurtle past below heading for the Dragoon Guards
and would you believe it, the British cavalry bloody their noses !
even with their nasty pointy lances
A French Chasseur unit has been disordered by Briitsh fire helping to break up their attack
The lancers take two casualties, losing the melee
Those old MiniFigs haven't forgotten how to fight !
With the French cavalry pushed back, the cavalry commander urges a second unit to hurry up and support their friends
Turn 5 - the head of my first brigade marches onto the table
Tony's men ave been holding off the attentions of the French infantry and causing some damage too
but there's still plenty more where they came from
and sure enough, a second strong brigade of French infantry march on and are sent off towards the bridge
I've managed to push on two infantry brigades over on our left (one British, the other a mix of Brunswickers and Portuguese) and they rapidly spread out covering much of the left side of the battlefield
Recklessly, the British brigade advances in line towards the flanks of the French light cavalry
The French threaten to charge so the lead British battalion has to form square
Tony's men continue to frustrate the French attempts to cross the river
My Brunswick columns march right across the fields
At last Steve has got a regiment across the river - but it was the result of a blunder and they get shot to bits !
The British battalions behind the square shake out into lines ready to move on once the enemy cavalry go away
The Brunswickers have brought on a battery of guns which adds to the musket fire
the French light cavalry are in some disarray and now threatened by the advancing Dragoon Guards
Steve tries to keep his infantry under control on the river line despite the fire they are receiving. Their attacks are stalled for now.
The Rifles and supports have not been attacked in any numbers as yet
The French have withdrawn their light cavalry in face of the two enveloping British brigades
Steve orders his fresh infantry brigade across the bridge to tackle this new threat
Both sides are pounding each other with cannon and muskets fire in the centre
The third British infantry brigade arrives on the left flank
and they are ordered towards the centre of the British position which has been battered for hours
Steve has rolled another blunder - the Irish Regiment has charged ahead alone towards a ready and waiting Brunswick Brigade !
Slowly but surely, the British are squeezing the French into a shrinking perimeter - unless their infantry can break the stranglehold
The Irishmen actually held on longer than expected but eventually retire disordered
The momentum continues for the British - a light cavalry brigade with guns trots onto the battlefield
Tony's troops in the centre begin to give way for my fresh troops to replace them in the battle line
but before he can extricate them all, a French heavy cavalry brigade has come from nowhere and charges across the river !
but they hold ! The French have to retire hurt
The Portuguese are now engaged with Steve's fresh infantry brigade
and more French infantry arrive to try and turn things around
but we are not finished - my heavy cavalry arrive and dash along the road to support the village which is coming under attack now
British guns are now being dragged up the hill as the British infantry consolidate the defence of the centre
Brunswick Hussars and Lancers await their orders
British infantry advance and fire at the wavering French infantry
Despite all his efforts, Steve is unable to build up a head of steam in the centre to break through the river line
The British guns make it to the top of the hill, next go they deploy to fire
Still nothing for the Brunswick cavalry to do
but their gunners are moving up on the left of the hill
My "Heavies" arrive behind the village
and ordered into line, just in case
but Tony's "Heavies" are already across the river as the Rifles and other infantry are ordered to attack too
The French find themselves hemmed in and unable to manoeuvre
and now the guns torment them
at this point, Steve concedes. His cavalry will attempt to screen a withdrawal from the field
Smiles all round as we agree to retire to The Chequers for dinner
Happy Days !!!
Nice looking game as ever!
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