Waterloo - D'Erlon's Attack Part 4

 The Allied line is still holding against the massed French columns 

13th Light Infantry about to come face to face with the 42nd Black Watch

Targets are limited for the French guns now that the columns are climbing the opposite slope  

No headway at La Haye Sainte orchard

Quiot's and Donzelot's Divisions as seen from the Grand Battery

Kennington artillery

19th Line blasted by canister

Ney looks on as his soldiers doggedly continue their siege of LHS

Here come Somerset's brigade to take on Delort's weakened cuirassierss

5th KGL wisely remain in square for the time being 

55th now face the guns 
 

Charge!

                                        

5th KGL have now reinforced LHS as the cavalry prepare for their almighty clash   

Multiple melees now taking place across the whole line

The battery in front of the 92nd has lost half it's capacity but continues to wreak havoc

Ney has gone back to personally request Napoleon to send in the Guard (refused!)

Things definitely looking shaky for the French as 95th rifles rally and repulse 105th

Somerset's chaps have successfuly forced the cuirassiers back

95th move back into the sand pit

Kempt and Pack's brigades remain rock solid...no need for the Union Brigade to intervene.

At the top of the picture Marcognet's men make a concerted effort to break Best's lines but fail.

Jaquinot's 7th Hussars and 3rd Chasseurs move across to take on the British cavalry.

There are now multiple French columns broken or staggered so the order is given to commit the Guard to attack the centre (at the third time of asking!)

But it's too late....the fresh French cavalry have been beaten off and the infantry has lost half it's strength so withdraw. 

Sacre Bleu....lost again!!

The whole game took 22 moves. The French were very unlucky in the melee results taking multiple hits and often failing to rally. Had the Guard been committed earlier it might just have prolongued proceedings. Always one for the spectacle I was disappointed that the Union Brigade didn't make an appearance or for that matter, Jacquinot's lancers. So.........I decided to do it all over again but with D'Erlon's Corps much better represented. I'll post that game very soon.

Waterloo - D'Erlons 1 Corp Attack Part 3

 We're just under half way through this battle. The French columns have lost some of their formation pattern but advance steadily while the allied line looks strong despite the heavy losses of Perponcher's Division. 

The French guns continue to pound the allied lines causing damage to their opposing batteries.

While the guns blaze away the 5th & 10th Cuirassiers have been ordered to counter the emerging threat to the French left.

Any chance you could read this despatch Sire?!

The far left guns of the Grand Battery

Pack's Brigade in readiness

The rockets continue to prove ineffective (but they look impressive)

The columns to the left of D'Erlon's Corps are making better headway.

The Cuirassiers wheel round to the West of LHS

8th KGL form square ready to receive

7th Belgian have finally broken after another artillery hit so KGL guns have clear field of fire to engage with canister and slow the lead columns

Most of Quiot's battalions are now taking casualties, slowing their progress

Eight of the twelve French line battalions are Hinton Hunt figures. The rest are Kenningtons.  

The cuirassiers prepare to attack the KGL square (why didn't their commander ask for some guns to support them?)

Over on the right the 21st Line look to be the first to make contact with Best's brigade.

On the left the defenders of LHS continue to put up a stubborn defence

Here come the 21st (these were my first Kennington French figures)

the view from Pack's brigade

and to their right Kempt's troops

5th Cuirassiers attack the square and are beaten off

In the foreground 105th close on the 95th rifles

The lack of cohesion in the French columns can be seen

21st go for a head on clash rather than forming a firing line

Osterode Landwehr (represented by HH 1st Nassau) win the melee against the 21st Line

5th Cuirassiers take up the challenge of breaking the KGL square   

Somerset's Household Cavalry advance to rescue the KGL 

                                        

I live in hope that one day the dice will favour the cavalry 

105th take on the 95th

Next post: the conclusion