Saturday, 14 February 2026

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.


2 comments:

  1. Well it looks like it wasn't even a close run thing this time?

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  2. Wow, what a spectacle! So far in my games the French columns always come close, but can never seem to break through. You don't think this is because the rules were written by Brits do you? :) Actually, my games seem to mirror what actually happened so far, which has pleased me. Anytime I play the 1806 Prussians the French tend to come out on top!

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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 Wat...