A Brienne Obsession

Steve C fervently believes he can win this game with his French army. So, yesterday we reconvened to fight this out for the THIRD time as on the previous two occasions Blucher with the Russians had won.

Steve had set out the terrain and placed the initial French forces on the table

Our Russian advanced forces were then deployed around the chateau and the small village of Brienne -le-Chateau. I took the lead units, Mike the reinforcements arriving later.

The French need to capture the larger Vieille Brienne village which is centre table at at the confluence of several roads. Allied cavalry and infantry are arriving to protect this. 

Napoleon arrives with his entourage

French horse artillery has dashed forward to fire on Russian lines

as Napoleon supervises the deployment of infantry - rudely interrupted by a charge of Russian hussars !

This had the effect of forcing French infantry into square thus delaying their advance 

The French brigades are hemmed in because of this and unable to deploy to attack

French light infantry have pushed on in the hope of scaring off the Russian artillery - they have to dice if enemy get within 12" of them. A 1 on a D6 means they have to limber up and retire.

 

Here we see the pesky Russian hussar brigade poised to charge in their strange formation

Ney arrives with the Young Guard and they are told to press on up the road to Brienne

and here come more Imperial Guard troops

 French light cavalry has tried to charge a Russian gun but taken fire and disordered

Exasperated, Napoleon sends the Horse Grenadiers and Dragoons of the Guard to tackle the Russian hussars

Russian Jagers advance from the woods and chase off the enemy horse artillery - French cavalry draw their sabres ready to charge !

The Russian infantry have backed off from Brienne le Chateau but in good order

The longer they can hold, the more chance of these reinforcements reaching the front to join the fight

The Russian hussar brigade has broken from combat. Fortunately, a fresh infantry brigade has arrived to plug the gap.

French infantry charge in the gap between Brienne le Chateau and the woods where the Chateau stands

French infantry launch attacks in the centre too but Russian resistance is stubborn

Big infantry brigade combats continue - it will all be settled here !

French Young Guard have charged through the gap between village and chateau - Marshal Ney with them !

If they can punch through here, the rest of the French army can follow up

but at this point, fresh Russian cavalry charge - and catch a Young Guard battalion before they can form square - disastrous for infantry, even Guard !

they break and the cavalry continue a sweeping advance onto the next battalion which is also unprepared 

Those remaining battalions that have formed square are then battered by Russian artillery. The attack has failed.

This occurred as daylight faded on the battlefield.

The Russians were holding and Napoleon could see that there was no way to break through and capture old Brienne. The French would have to withdraw.

So it was not third time lucky for Steve and the French - hopefully, we can put this particular battle to bed once and for all now !!!