The Battle of Andover – The Game

The sequence I’m using for playing these solo games is firstly, the defender deploys and writes his battle orders (battle orders include general intention, notes on tactics and timing of events) and secondly, the attacker gets to see the enemy deployments on the map and then writes his own orders. This gives the attacker a slight advantage over the defender to represent reconnaissance of the position to be attacked. The VP locations are always in the centre of the table to keep the action moving but this is something I may refine if I were to attempt another campaign.

For this game Rob was the attacker and having seen my deployment he cleverly chose to mass his artillery on the right (not on the hill where I expected it) and ordered the two British battalions to advance and protect either end of the gun line, in square if needed. For my part, I ordered Murat to hold the cavalry back until turn 5 in the hope that I could draw the enemy forward towards my own guns and then smash him with a spectacular cavalry charge – how wrong could I be?

The action commenced on the French right flank where both sides made a spirited advance with the intention of taking the VP location there.

The Brunswick infantry pressed forward in column while the Nassau Grenadiers, Brunswick Hussars and the 49th Foot provided support.

The Brunswickers and the Grenadiers collided in a clash of bayonets following a mutual charge. The Brunswickers got the worst of it (although only just) and became disordered.

Following a second round of melee they then routed. Meanwhile the 45th line and the Nassau Grenadiers became locked in a musketry duel.

Seeing that the French were moving up their lancers, Stapleton Cotton moved forward and declared a charge.

As a result the lancers retreated in disorder and finding they had no target, the Hussars decided to charge the Guard horse battery instead. This is always a tricky manoeuvre but the guns rolled low when they fired and the Hussars rolled high for morale  - scratch one battery!  

The situation at the end of turn 4

Meanwhile Murat's cavalry had sat for four turns under the fire of the allied guns. The Carabineers with their fancy red helmet combs seemed to attract most of the shot and being reduced to just 3 figures were now removed from play.

As the Brunswickers ran away the French deployed a strong line to conform with their orders to take and hold the VP location.

Finally Murat got his dwindling cavalry force forward to support the infantry but they were still taking casualties from the merciless artillery fire and now also from the Rifles to their front.

The DK Cuirassier/Dragoons made a charge at the Brunswick Hussars that sent them packing to the rear.

However, this just meant that the French troopers were exposed to a cruel close-range volley from the square of the 49th foot. Next turn the Rifles reduced them to 4 figures and another unit bit the dust.

In a final throw of the dice (literally) the 5th Lancers charged at the shaken Nassauers but they too came crashing down from their sadles.

The situation at the end of play (turn 8). It was another win for the British with an 11 to 7 VP score line.

The victory really went to these guys!

And finally the British spin on events.

After three lost games in a row, things are looking bad for the French whose forces are suffering from attrition. However, each of Wellington’s Divisions have now seen action whereas I still have the Old Guard and Davout’s command intact. Crucially though, the French cavalry has been virtually destroyed with only two out of the original six units surviving.