Straight after the siege of the Monastery game I re-used the terrain but exchanged the Monastery for a Chateau (another Paper Boys model recently completed). I was keen to use some figures yet to grace the table and some which had not featured very often.
Objectives for both sides were to occupy the Chateau and see off any opposition. (note: as options developed for individual units I determined a course of action by a dice roll).
Forces taking part:
French & Allies (All Hinton Hunt) 1st Line, 95th Line, Saxon Prinz Friedrich August Regt, Marines of the Guard, Mamelukes, 1st Hussars, 6th Hussars, 3rd Line Chasseurs. 2 x batteries foot artillery (Kennington)
British & Allies 23rd Fusiliers (Hinton Hunt) 28th Foot, 51st Foot, 60th Rifles (all Kennington) Prussian 1st Koningen Dragoons (Newline), 11th Light Dragoons, 23rd Light Dragoons (Hinton Hunt) 2 x batteries KGL foot artillery (Hinton Hunt)
My random deployment method was used i.e. a 12 sided dice to determine the turn a unit entered and a 6 sided dice to decide the starting point along the table edge. Usually I do all the deployment dice throwing before the game starts. This time I threw the dice at the start of each turn to introduce an element of surprise.
 |
| Same terrain, different building! |
 |
| The first to the field, 3rd Line Chasseurs a Cheval and 6th Hussars |
 |
| ......and from the right, 28th Foot |
 |
| ......together with 60th Rifles |
The Hussars and Chasseurs decide (after a dice roll) to stick together and move forward. The British infantry also move towards the chateau.
 |
| The Marines of the Guard appear |
 |
| ....along with the 95th. |
 |
| The French cavalry move within sight of the 28th Foot as the 60th reach the foot of the hill. |
 |
| The first French battery arrives |
 |
| ....as do the 23rd Royal Welch Fuzileers |
 |
| The 28th successfully form square as the cavalry move into the attack |
 |
| The 60th move unopposed towards the Chateau grounds |
 |
| The Chasseurs unwisely take on the square and are inevitably beaten off with heavy losses. The hussars following on behind fare no better |
 |
| The 60th move across the grounds to defend against the advancing columns |
 |
| The 60th have taken casualties from artillery fire and now face the Marines & 95th Line. The 23rd are ready to support the 60th. |
 |
| The weakend 60th struggle to hold back the full strength Marines and the 95th Line |
 |
| The Marines break the 60th and now face the 23rd |
 |
| The 28th find themselves unable to move without being threatened by cavalry |
 |
| At the rear of the chateau the French cavalry attempt to rally. In the foreground the Saxons move steadily onwards. |
 |
| The 23rd have been forced out of the Chateau grounds after an extended melee |
 |
| 28th have formed a hasty square after being attacked again by the chasseurs who are beaten off yet again and break |
 |
| 23rd rally and have another go |
 |
| The Marines win the melee and the 23rd break |
 |
| The Saxons aim to secure the entrance to the approach road |
 |
| The Chateau grounds have been secured |
Things are looking good for the French and their allies but some British troops have yet to arrive and may prove troublesome. The conclusion to the game will be in the next post.
I’m hoping the 23rd will rally and have their revenge! I’m sure I’ve seen that chateau somewhere before…
ReplyDeleteStand by for some disappointment! Having resisted having bearskins on British troops I succumbed when they came up on ebay a few years ago. They are now among my favourites. They were at the wrong end of some very favourable dice rolls for the Marines in this game. (You'll see them again in a different guise in the not too distant future).
ReplyDeleteA cracking little encounter - I love the fact that the cavalry actually charged the square, something that doesn't happen much in non-solo games. While unsurprisingly the square was untroubled, it has stopped the 28th from intervening in the fight for the chateau. I like this, because I reckon cavalry charges were often about pinning the opposition rather than destroying it.
ReplyDeleteJust one thing though, I don't think cavalry would rout from a failed charge on a square. They know they're safe as soon as they give up trying; they may be pretty wrecked but not not routing IMO.
Thanks Rob. Unless I've pre-determined in my mind what cavalry are going to do against squares I usually throw a dice to decide whether to attack or not. Most attacks are thrown off of course. I take your point about routing, I find with shako rules they usually have the opportunity to have a couple of goes before their morale rating is exhausted. I live in the hope that a square will one day break!
ReplyDelete