Friday 30 October 2020

The Battle of Windmill Hill

1813 Somewhere in Central Europe - the Allied army under Blucher is moving relentlessly west in an effort to bring the French to battle. Demonstrating his usual brilliance, Napoleon has stolen a march to intercept and surprise them. The two armies collide at Windmill Hill.

This is an encounter battle with the Divisions of each army arriving in succession and being ordered and deployed as they come onto the table. The game will last for 14 turns and the side with the most victory points at the end of that turn will be the winner.

This is a sketch map of the battle area (only sketched because I'm lacking the skills to make a digital one but I can get away with this by calling it Old School). The table is my standard 6' x 4'.


Victory points will be awarded as follows:

Possession of the Windmill - 5 VP's
Possession of the Village - 3 VP's
Possession of the Oak Tree - 3 VP's
For each enemy infantry or cavalry unit either removed from play or currently routing - 1 VP
For each enemy general of Division killed - 1 VP

The Russian Advance Guard is commanded by General Bulow (I must get around to painting up a Russian General).

The French Advance Guard is coming in from the south and heading straight for Windmill Hill. Lasalle is in command.

The Russians are heading southwest towards the Village. The Pavlograd Hussars are tasked with protecting the flank of the advancing infantry columns.

The French reach the southern base of Windmill Hill. The Lancer/chasseurs are facing off against the Pavlograd's to their front.

The Pavlograd's charge but the sneaky French (clearly students of Parthian warfare) retire out of range. The 105th ligne form square and give the troopers a stinging volley.

The Lancer/chasseurs calmly await the moment to counter-charge.

But as they charge forward the 105th deliver another devastating volley that reduces the Pavlograd's to 4 figures and removes them from play. Why does it always happen to the shiny new units?

Meanwhile the Russian infantry are nearing the Village.

This is a play-by-email game with Matthew (aka Wellington Man) taking the part of The Empereur and myself that of old Marshal Vorwarts. We have just finished playing turn 3 and reinforcements are about to arrive.

22 comments:

Wellington Man said...

I really wasn't expecting that, Ian!
Come to think of it, those greatcoated Russians are quite new too, aren't they.....

Stryker said...

Good point Matthew, but so are the 1st Grenadiers of the Guard!

Rob said...

Shame on Matthew for showing such disrespect to the debut of the Pavlograds - the dice Gods will surely turn on him now. And as for evading from Russian cavalry... I dare say Lasalle is even now seeking out the Mess Webley to do the right thing.
Down with the tyrant!

Stryker said...

Rob, I couldn't possibly comment!

The Good Soldier Svjek said...

May pinch your map - always on the lookout for new scenarios .

Wellington Man said...

I couldn't help it, Rob. It was a Pavlovian respnse!

Stryker said...

By all means do Good Soldier!

WSTKS-FM Worldwide said...

Eager to see how this plays out.

Best Regards,

Stokes

Stryker said...

Me too Stokes, it has been gripping so far!

James Fisher said...

Looks absolutely marvellous Ian! I join you in looking forward to more.
Regards, James

Stryker said...

Thanks James!

KEV. Robertson. said...

Splendid Armies you have there IAN- lots of good work you've put into them- Cheers. KEV.

Stryker said...

Thanks Kev, the number of troops does seem to grow somewhat over time!

Paul Liddle said...

Top class Stryker, looking forward to the rest.
Regards,
Paul.

Aly Morrison said...

A smashing looking game Ian...

And there is more to come...Hurrah!

All the best. Aly

Mark Dudley said...

Sounds fun. Are you going to post on how you are playing this by email.

Matt said...

This brings home the size of your collection, truly impressive.

Stryker said...

Thanks Aly, yes much more!

Stryker said...

Mark, I'll put something about it in the next post!

Stryker said...

Matt, there are still a lot more troops to come on!

Ross Mac rmacfa@gmail.com said...

Splendid! Extra points for the sketch map.

Stryker said...

Thanks Ross, much easier for me than any drawing package.