Cavalry Action @ Wagram, scenario 9 with Soldiers of Napoleon

On to game 9, with just 1 more to go in our Wagram series. This scenario was set on the far French right (Austrian left) flank of the battle, as the Austrians dispatched all their cavalry reserve around the flank and were intercepted by the French cavalry, waiting in position for just such a move. There followed a big all-in cavalry brawl, with the Austrians initially getting the upper hand against French light cavalry, only for the French dragoons to arrive and swing the battle, then more Austrians dragoons to come in, and well, it got messy. The French eventually prevailed though, as was their habit.

In our game, we both had all cavalry forces, two French light cavalry brigades of hussars and chasseurs (and few horse batteries) against an Austrian light brigade and a mixed brigade of hussars, dragoons and one cuirassier regiment. Both sides had more dragoons in reserve. This stretched our cavalry collections to breaking point, but we borrowed a few units from other nation’s hussars (the Austrians got a Spanish regiment) and some cuirassiers would have to proxy for dragoons.

In our game, this battle was a swirling mess of combats, charges and counter-charges, the guns did little and both commanders found it hard to break the others, because cavalry unit quality is so good, rallying them is easier (plenty of cards) and small brigade sizes made for no real Orders stress… generally, you can do everything you want to. So, repeat melees were the order of the day, as we both found one melee win wasn’t going to achieve very much (but nap us +1 VP).

The battle developed on both flanks, first the Austrians heavies pounding across the fields with glee towards French hussars and chasseurs and on the other flank, his hussar rushing up, eyeing an artillery battery they could quickly overrun, but being thwarted with a ‘fierce cavalry charge’ from Austrian hussars in response, that saw them win the first fight of the day… and it began…

My plan was to try and quickly hammer his left with my heavier right, before he could get his reserves in. I moved ‘at the quick’ and closed in. A handy ‘Reserves Redeploying’ event allowed me to get my reserve dragoons in sooner, as well as my Corps commander arriving too, getting me a bonus orders card. The French were up against it, on card plays alone. Pressure on, my cuirassiers met his hussar and drove them off, but they easily rallied. As the supporting dragoons closed in, a sudden bold chasseurs flank charge from behind the barn saw them wheel away to rally and regroup. Cannons added to the damage. The centre was all quiet, a bit of manoeuvring, but as yet neither player committed to much here.

The fight continued on both flanks, charge and counter-charge, I won, he won… no major breakthroughs. But his left was being pushed back, maybe off the table edge if I could get home another charge and win the melee. Behind the right, I used a lo of orders to get my arriving reserve dragoons across the table, and a ‘well drilled’ card saw them break from rapid line of march into line of attack, very slick. By now, the Austrians had a lead in with the VPs and the French were in need of their reserve dragoons, under Pully and Grouchy. Neither yet showed up… Grouchy has that reputation…

The French were fending off the Austrians and rallying to keep in the fight. Another fierce cavalry charge saw his hard-pushed hussar win a melee and drive my cuirassiers away, their third engagement so far (in the end they met 5 times before the hussars were pushed off the table).

On my far left, my hussars had pushed up and another round of indecisive melees left us both trying to rally and failing to get back into good order. A note here on dice rolling; we both used our re-rolls early, me to get my reserves and to press a few charges. The French to get off a few charges and in rallying for good order. Now, at the mercy of our dice, the number of failed attempts to charge, or repeated failed attempts to get back in good order defied all odds. We passed 3+ rolls about 1 in 5 times… hussars are now notoriously unreliable. This extended the game by a few turns, because we could get things done! So frustrating, but about equal on both sides. Some dice need burning…

In the centre my big hussar regiment made their moved and raced for his guns, only to be intercepted by chasseurs, who they fought off, and then, in the confusion, the chasseurs were ‘stalled’. Unable to move. The French guns at their mercy, my ‘glorious’ hussars then failed to charge 3 times and just stood about being hit by canister shells and a carbine volley, and then fell back to rally… useless fops! By the time they rallied, half of them were dead!

That opportunity squandered, it came down to the fight on my right. The fresh dragoons made their first charge and fought off the chasseurs, who had but up a remarkable fight. There was a swirling melee of chasseurs, hussars, cuirassiers and dragoons, which the Austrians won, but not by much.

Now, the first French dragoons arrived in his centre. Had the tables turned? Last chance for me to get this done before they intervened. By fortune, lacking cards, the French needed to rally and just didn’t have the order to get those dragoons moving quickly into the fray, I did have the cards to press home, got 5 charges off, finally rolling above about a 2… and in doing so achieved the ‘Grand Assault’ objective. This turn, the heroic defensive efforts of the French finally succumbed to the pressure. Hussars broke, and the VPs earned scored a solid win to the Austrians. 14 VPs to the French, 30 to the Austrians. A rare win… hurrah for the hussars (no boo to the hussars, huzzah to the cuirassiers and dragoons).

The action cards, at least early on, had been kind to me. The reserve redeploying early meant I had another brigade and the senior office arriving gave me +2 cards over the French, and its tough to play against that mismatch for long. Also, French dragoons are lazy gits, failing multiple times to show-up, in the end, it was too late. Still, it helps with the campaign, with 1 game to play, the scores on the doors are now France 10 - Austria 5… I can make it respectable with a final win in game 10, next week.
 

Attack and counter-attack, most of the fighting would be on the left and right flanks, the centre, covered by the artillery, was largely spurned until the end.

Austria's finest, the cuirassiers lead the gallop on my far right.

The French left, facing the heavies, hussars put up a helluva fight.

Hussars vs hussar, a fierce charge sees off the first French foray forwards. Then both retire a rally.

Chevau-leger, lurking behind the copse, my last reserve of desperation.

After a first clash of sabres, the cuirassiers and the hussars both rally, both want to get back in good order before the other. Behind, the ill-fated dragoons pass the barn.

Charge! This turned into a mess under counter-charges. Never got those guns. Dragoons driven off.

Hussar! Ready to ride across the centre, take those guns. Epic fail...

The French chasseurs intercept the glorious hussar charge and save the guns.

Cuirassiers keep up the pressure on the right, and plunge forwards into the hussars again, and again!

The hussars are back on the table edge now. Bold brigade commander is out front, danger means nothing... until you fail an 'At Risk' test. Costly.

Horse battery, still alive, canister loaded. Hussars to blast.

The French left, regrouped after a couple of rally cards. All under control here.

My hussars retreat from the fray, and the chevau-leger are called forward to replace them. Mission not accomplished here. Very poor performance...

Pully's dragoons... here come the (bigger) cavalry.

All in on the right, one big melee. Green dice are disruption, red are at risk tests required. Boldly into the fray for both command stands... the Austrians prevail... makes a nice change.