LA ROTHIERE, 1814 with SOLDIERS OF NAPOLEON, GAME 4

It has been a while getting to this. Other stuff, games, work, summer hols, etc... but finally, game 4's AAR. We've already played game 5.

The Austrians and Bavarians are launching an attack on the French left wing at Morvilliers. The French must hold on and prevent a breakthrough. The French force is two infantry brigades with 2 small, weak cavalry brigades behind (dragoons and light cav). The Allied force is 3 infantry brigades (1 Austrian, 2 Bavarian, here with stand-ins from Wurttemberg - which is close, and more Austrians), and 2 cavalry brigades behind (light cav and a mixed one of dragoons and hussars - an oddity, but how they had it on the day). The Allies had the steady advance order to breakthrough enemy lines, and the French defend... to hold the line.

The Allied main attack was to be in the centre and their left, but with the Austrians first launching a holding attack on the right, to get the French busy there, then hitting on the other side to breakthrough. This 'sort of' worked to start with, but the French in the buidlngs were tough and skirmishing well, and the attack in the centre was soon in trouble, and countered attacked by charging marine infantry yelling 'Vive L'Empereur!'. The Allied best hope was on the left, passed the church, but the French light cavalry arrived here to block the route and threaten the infantry columns. When their hussars boldly came forwards, they met a furious fusillade though, and broke (we don't have much luck with hussars)... it seemed the time to strike was now... but the infantry dithered and waited for the their own light cavalry to move up behind and clear the French chasseurs first, enduring cannon fire as they did so. It had reached a bit of a stalemate.

That was broken by the arrival of French dragoons on their left, to rush up and threaten the Austrans, in fact, quickly smashing one Austrain column into ruins and forcing the others into squares. To counter this, the Austrian reserve dragoons and hussars galloped up, and the hussars charged and defeated the lead dragoons heavily. Payback!. There was fighting all along the board, cannon fire, skirmsh fire, volleys and cavalry charges and both sides had taken damage. On VPs it was close, French maybe just ahead. Theywere aided when 'Boney' himself turned up himself to make sure the line would hold at Morvilliers.

Into the final, and it would be settled by the cavalry, dragoon on dragoons as the Austrians charged in. They won but needed a more decisive victory to claw back the VPs and snatch the win. It wasn't to be. In the end the French had just edged it and the Allied breakpoint was met, with the French having just 3 VPs left. So close, but a valiant and desperate defensive effort from the French. Napoleon's presences on the field might have been just enough to swing it! Great game, loads of action, all 5 brigades in the thick of it at some time or the other, swinging back and forth.

After 4 games from the 5 planned at La Rothiere, the French have a slight advantage and are currently just winning La Rothiere by 1 VP. The finale, game 5, might well change that. That's coming soon, as the Young Guard counter-attack at La Rothiere village in the evening gloom...

Pics of the action...

 

The French line up to defend Mortiers village, the Austrians and 'stand-in' Bavarians ready to go... to start with, an all infantry affair. 

Austrian column's on the Allied right, for a 'demonstration' attack

The French columns and battery facing them, just need to hold the line.

The skirmishers out front stall the Austrian columns, but their not looking to press to close quarters anyway, just pin the French in place, keep them nice and busy. 

To the Allied left rear, light cavalry gallop on, in columns of march.

The centre, 'Bavarians' embroiled with more skirmishers and veteran infantry holding the buildings.

French dragoons gallop on behind their right, sent by the Emperor himself.

Vive L'Empereur!'. The biggest boss turns up to make sure the left flank doesn't cave.

The Austrian hussars storm forward to meet the dragoons, who have just sabred to pieces a Austrian battalion, other all form square - quick!

The left flank try to get forwards but encounter the French light cavalry. Their own moves up to counter them, can they win the battle here?  Err - no.

A finally cavalry clash, dragoons to dragoons... a marginal Austrian win, but not decisively so.