This months' re-fight is a defending British army against the recently reformed French Armée du Nord. The setting is remarkably like Hougoumont tucked away in the Belgian countryside. The British are quite an elite/veteran force based upon a Guard Division, while the French are regular line/trained with a reserve of three guard battalions.
Once again, part of the aim of this fictitious battle is to try out some more house rules, this time around command casualties and subsequent replacement. So to start, the general displacement of the British army:
An overview of the British positions in the farmhouse:
The British left flank forming up.
The French meanwhile are advancing on the far side of the battlefield toward the defensive British positions. the battle starts slowly with a general advance and change of formation with minor artillery and musket firing. But once the French cavalry charge their mounted counterparts, all hell breaks loose in the centre.
As a counter-charge, the 'Scots Greys' return the favour:
while just to their right, British light infantry re-form and both sides clash in one almighty charge:
Overview of the intensity of the clash on the Allied left wing
The steady French advance saw a rash attack by a unit of Cuirassiers against a British line, who although caught out of square, managed to fire at extremely close range and not only hold them back after the initial volley but managed to chase them off. Wow, some great dice rolling saved the day for these chaps!
The same could not be said for the 'Scots Greys' who tried a similar charge against a French line unit. Unfortunately,the French passed a morale test and managed to form a square at the last moment and defeat the luckless cavalry and kill a commander!
Meanwhile, back at the farm, British reinforcements squeeze their way into the courtyard, ready to support from any direction.
This was just as well since the French were slowly pushing their way through the orchard creating an ever increasing casualty toll on the defenders. In response to the pressure, the British decided to fall back in good order to form a more even line of defence, but in the distance - the Old Guard now have sight of the prey!
Ten turns later and still the slug-fest continued on the left wing, a few units advance, a few units retreat and the French doggedly kept coming..
Another few turns see the middle ground open up for the Guard to advance into and not being units to waste an opportunity they quickly fill the space:
A last throw of the dice for the British cavalry ends in disaster for the Hussars and a show of bravado for the seriously weak, (after their mauling by a French square), 'Scots Greys', but bravado it was, they also routed in the next two turns
After a long battle, night began to draw in and both sides fought to a standstill,the farm remained in the hands of the British, the Allied left wing suffered serious loss and a weakening of morale. the battle for the orchard went entirely the way of the French. the final casualty list has not been worked out yet, but it would not make good reading.
Once again, part of the aim of this fictitious battle is to try out some more house rules, this time around command casualties and subsequent replacement. So to start, the general displacement of the British army:
An overview of the British positions in the farmhouse:
The British left flank forming up.
The French meanwhile are advancing on the far side of the battlefield toward the defensive British positions. the battle starts slowly with a general advance and change of formation with minor artillery and musket firing. But once the French cavalry charge their mounted counterparts, all hell breaks loose in the centre.
As a counter-charge, the 'Scots Greys' return the favour:
while just to their right, British light infantry re-form and both sides clash in one almighty charge:
Overview of the intensity of the clash on the Allied left wing
The steady French advance saw a rash attack by a unit of Cuirassiers against a British line, who although caught out of square, managed to fire at extremely close range and not only hold them back after the initial volley but managed to chase them off. Wow, some great dice rolling saved the day for these chaps!
The same could not be said for the 'Scots Greys' who tried a similar charge against a French line unit. Unfortunately,the French passed a morale test and managed to form a square at the last moment and defeat the luckless cavalry and kill a commander!
Meanwhile, back at the farm, British reinforcements squeeze their way into the courtyard, ready to support from any direction.
This was just as well since the French were slowly pushing their way through the orchard creating an ever increasing casualty toll on the defenders. In response to the pressure, the British decided to fall back in good order to form a more even line of defence, but in the distance - the Old Guard now have sight of the prey!
Ten turns later and still the slug-fest continued on the left wing, a few units advance, a few units retreat and the French doggedly kept coming..
Another few turns see the middle ground open up for the Guard to advance into and not being units to waste an opportunity they quickly fill the space:
A last throw of the dice for the British cavalry ends in disaster for the Hussars and a show of bravado for the seriously weak, (after their mauling by a French square), 'Scots Greys', but bravado it was, they also routed in the next two turns
After a long battle, night began to draw in and both sides fought to a standstill,the farm remained in the hands of the British, the Allied left wing suffered serious loss and a weakening of morale. the battle for the orchard went entirely the way of the French. the final casualty list has not been worked out yet, but it would not make good reading.
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