Thursday 18 July 2013

The Russian are Coming! (part 3)

While the cavalry battle was in full swing on the western flank the Emperor had been advancing in earnest against the Russian right flank. The 45th ligne and the 4th Swiss were leading followed closely by the 8th Polish regiment. Behind them in support came the columns of the combined grenadier battalion and the Austrian 51st Gabriel Spleny regiment. This whole force was screened by clouds of French skirmishers. The Russians meanwhile stayed rooted to the spot preferring to let the French take the initiative.

The view from behind the Russian lines (left centre) at the start of turn 4. French columns are advancing past the churchyard in the distance whilst Prussian Jagers take pot shots at the Russian gunners (foreground).

The Swiss quickly took possession of the churchyard where they deployed along the hedge gaining one vital victory point in the process (each of the major terrain features on the table was worth one VP to whoever occupied them). Meanwhile the French skirmishers were beginning to make their presence felt as they came within range of the Russian gunners and infantry.

The 4th Swiss infantry regiment have occupied the churchyard while the 8th Polish regiment continue to advance and start to take casualties.

The Swiss peek over the churchyard hedge hoping that it will protect them from the Russian guns on the other side!

Soon the French columns started to come under canister fire from the two Russian batteries opposite the churchyard. The men marched determinedly on into this storm of iron with the 8th Polish infantry taking the brunt of their fire losing many casualties including the brave Prince Poniatowski.

The 45th ligne advance in column on the extreme left of the French army covered by skirmishers from the elite 10th legere.

A solid wall of Russians await the advancing French - unfortunately we never got to find out what would have happened if the two lines met.

By the end of turn 6 the French attack was about to close on the Russian line whilst on the opposite flank the Russian Lancers were now bearing down on the French guns and infantry forcing two battalions into square. The battle still hung in the balance but we had run out of playing time. A quick count of VP’s yielded 3 for the French and 2 for the Russians – a technical (but not very convincing) victory for the Emperor.

Russian lancers start to roll up the French right flank by taking out the Austrian field artillery. Behind them the British Guards have been forced into square.

 Stapleton-Cotton leads the combined Hussar squadrons forward against the Russian right flank.

My thanks to Roy for a very enjoyable game and also for going to so much trouble to rebased his Russian army specifically for play with my Muskets & Marshals rules. It was great to have so many nicely painted Hinton Hunt figures on the table - in excess of 600 - something that may not have been seen for quite a few years!

The table at the end of turn 6 - game over. Click on the image to zoom in and take a close look!

As a result of the game I have made a few tiny rule tweaks to Muskets & Marshals – the full rules are available for download here.

12 comments:

WSTKS-FM Worldwide said...

A glorious display! Like something one might have seen in Battle Magazine many years ago. Well done.

Best Regards,

Stokes

Rafael Pardo said...

It seems like a good performance of the Russian Lancers!
Thanks for sharing
Rafa

Steve-the-Wargamer said...

I'm with Stokes, that is a cracking looking table.. very nice looking indeed, and to cap it all it sounds like it was a good game as well

lewisgunner said...

yes Rafa, the lancer colonel who led the attack will be promoted. i should have advanced to dispute the churchyard, but preferred to pull the french in to get the maximum impact from the left flank attack. Napoleon delayed me brilliantly with a quiche and then homemade cake and coffee so there was not enough time to crush the French army (or to see if my right wing could hold up long enough)

Skirmishers were very effective, though , not so wonderful when charged by the Jagers in the wood as the French dice curse returned at that point.

Ian Apoleon as we shall call him lost two cavalry regts , an infantry battalion and two gun batteries. I don't recall the Russians losing anything! A few more victories for France like that and we will be in Paris shouting 'Bistro, Bistro' at their waiters and not tipping very much!
That will hrt them.
Roy

Stryker said...

Thanks for the comments chaps - it was a very entertaining and visually satisfying game.

Roy - You may not have lost a unit but this would have changed if the infantry lines had got to grips! As for your Jagers - very unsporting charging my Voltigeurs and as for those lancers...

Anonymous said...

Just think - if you had the French Imperial Guard to send in on the last couple of moves!

Stryker said...

Matt - yes I have been thinking precisely that! Sadly not a single man of them is painted yet.

James Fisher said...

Beautiful stuff Ian. Some great photos and your figures look fabulous.

As Heinz-Ulrich said, reminiscent of the best of wargames in the 70s and 80s, although I suspect an order of magnitude more figures than most of them had!

Stryker said...

Thanks James.

All in all I guess I can finally say that my boyhood dream has been realised!

Although, it would be nice to have a few more units...

tidders2 said...

A vintage delight - great game

-- Allan

'Lee. said...

Wonderful looking game Ian, and great fun to read. The sight of 600 HH figures is indeed most inspiring.

Stryker said...

Hi Lee - yes, it was quite a sight and a good game as well...