Afternoon of June 16th, and the French are advancing, attacking at Ligny and Quatre Bras. Between the two battlefields, General Cheyrou division has pushed aside the Prussian outpost (see game 1) and reached the Namur road. They advance through the small village of Marbais and find a British (Anglo-Allied) force blocking the road and protecting Wellington's flank at Quatre Bras. Cheyrou instructions are to attack and advance to aid Ney's struggle for the crossroads, 3-4 miles ahead. General Bond's instructions from Duke Wellington are to hold the road, stop them, and drive them back.
In our 3 brigade game, the forces are; Cheyrou's division of 2 good infantry brigades, with light cavalry riding to assist from reserve. General Bond commands a strong line infantry brigade, a German landwehr brigade and also has light cavalry moving up from reserve. With the terrain randomly generated and the main Namur road placed, on the far French right (British left), we deployed and set too the action...
 |
The overview of the action, veteran French infantry press hard along the road to take the farm and then the hill (with windmill) held by the German landwehr. In the centre, the British infantry move up, to take the high ground, whilst their cavalry try around the flank, the British being very swift and aggressive, flying on from reserve at the gallop – hussar!
|
The British made a swift advance to take the high ground in the centre, as their skirmishers deployed to form a thick screen. They claimed the objective (lucky to get the right card on Turn 1), and the French advance hadn't started, in fact, any thought of taking that hill was abandoned, it was only a diversion anyway. The main French thrust was directly up the road, and it sped along, to the large farm, where skirmisher fire and a militia panic card saw the poor landwehr, sent to occupy it, break and run. The farm was seized, the French just needed that objective card now for the VPs (for the second battle in a row, it never came, - good grief!). Still the advance could press on, and a second landwehr battalion, sent to counter-attack down from the windmill, as facing heavy fire, and it too fell back in disorder. The push up the road was going well, and the sustained accurate artillery fire around the windmill was hurting another battalion of redcoats, they needed to rally to stand, but the grim-faced French veterans were coming! German return cannon fire took its toll too, but the French resolve remained strong after a quick rally.
Meanwhile, the British light cavalry arrived, under Brigadier Price, and galloped hard into the open (and empty) ground on their right, deploying their horse guns as well. The British gallop carried them quickly to threaten the French flank, were a battalion formed square to stop the hussars, but was under cannon fire and skirmish (with added rifles) fire. It was shot into disorder, and the hussars launched a charge to try and break them. The ragged French fought well, but the hussars sabred them up badly, and a rally saw heavy losses leaving just a couple of stands on the field. The French left was in deep danger of collapsing, when, chasseurs to rescue, the French cavalry arrived to move up and threaten the now disordered British hussars. They fell back to rally and the two light cavalry lines now just eyed each other.
Back on the French right, and the farm and road. The French advanced in columns up the hill, and the disordered and wavering/panicking landwehr when into full retreat. Their guns were limbered up and the infantry formed columns of march (just as another battalion broke under artillery hits) and then marched away at the quick. The windmill was abandoned and the French, seeing a chance (and holding a 'break through enemy lines' objective) marched on. One battalion made it off the far table edge along the road and second just behind, when a 'stalled' event halted them. Just checking to see if they should push on, whilst stood 1" from the enemy table edge and a big VP gain for the objective denied.
Back in the centre, the British fire was hot and the French's last 2 battalions were push back by it, and forced to rally. More skirmish fire saw a second battalion break regardless.
On VPs earned, that was just enough for the British to claim a win. Somehow, they had sneaked over the line, with the French so close to completing an objective and doing likewise... a very close call. The 'Stalled' event had saved the British position. General de Division Cheyrou sent a order to recall his lead infantry, the road behind was in danger from the British and couldn't be held. General Bond had done his job, but a damned close run thing.
Great fight. So close, really good narrative-feeling action. The French had pushed up the road, off the far edge, hammering the German landwehr en route. In the centre, the British had their hill and would not give it up, and had cut the French infantry to ribbons. On the French left, the light cavalry had cancelled eachother out (a bit of skirmishing with one chasseurs regiment charging winning a melee by not much proved inconsequential). But the objectives had been crucial. The Britsh gettin 'take the high ground' early, and the French denied at least 3. First, no take a stronghold for the farm captured. Second, no hold the line when the chasseurs arrived, because 1 British Hussar stand was in the deployment zone. Third, te 'Stalled' event deny the 'Breakthrough enemy lines' by the French infantry... them's the breaks, but if some of them pay out, the result is different. Still, it all makes for a great game...
The action...
 |
Flemming's infantry brigade, move out for the central hill.
|
 |
Du Plessis' infantry advance through/around Marbais, to push directly up the road. Go straight at 'em!
|
 |
Du Plessis' supporting guns (and caisson) cause havoc in the landwehr's lines.
|
 |
Von Kleb's landwehr, even if they just look like more redcoats. 'Hold this hill and windmill'. They had already had a few deserters before reaching the field (a campaign event).
|
 |
The French reach the large farm halfway up the road, and fighting begins, the veteran voltiguers rooting out the Germans from the big barn. They panicked and broke.
|
 |
The British crest the hill, led by a swarm of their skirmishers and extra green-jackets. Two French attack columns haven't yet got going.
|
 |
Du Plessis' men thrust on up the road, and the Germans are melting away in panic.
|
 |
Voltiguers rush to meet the heavy skirmish fire screening that hill, along with a line of light infantry.
|
 |
Swift British Hussars swing round and force the French to form a square, which is also under 9 pdr cannon fire, combined arms at work.
|
 |
The French take the farm as more landwehr break and run. On, for that windmill.
|
 |
The Germans morale is wavering, but their guns keep banging away. This hill won't hold! Von Kleb decides on retreat. Run way!
|
 |
General Bond intercepts the retreating Germans to admonish Kleb, but he only saved what he could from certain destruction on French bayonets. Still, the road behind them is open.
|
 |
The French chasseurs arrive to face down the British hussars and light dragoons. Stalemate, and wary watching duty, will either try and charge? The odds don't favour either side by much.
|
