'Road to Brussels' - SoN 1815 campaign, game 5 (finale) - Petit-St-Jean Farm

The grand final battle, with 5 brigades aside, 1,200 points in a Waterloo(ish)-style battle. Not a historical re-fight, just 'inspired-by'... or 'in the style of'... adapted a bit by the previous campaign games and model collections ( we know allied Germans aren't a thing, but getting the models out on the table is part of the fun, so today, they are!).

The allied British-Prussian forces were deployed on the slightly higher ground. Their five brigades were; General Bond's British division, of Flemming's infantry brigade (1 vet (highland), 1 light and 2 line battalions, with a 9 pdr battery and green-jacketed skirmisher support) placed on their right-centre, and Prices' light cavalry (2 hussars, 1 light dragoon, plus a horse battery) on their left, with a small 'scouting' brigade of Prussian landwehr cavalry (2 landwehr cavalry), also on the right (in front as the screen). In reserve, marching up and being rolled for arriving from Turn 1 (the campaign system had determined this), was General von Fuch's Prussians, his big-old infantry brigade (6 infantry/landwehr battalions and a foot battery) in the centre, and a mixed cavalry brigade (1 dragoon, 1 hussar and 1 uhlan, with a horse battery), arriving on their right. Army Breakpoint, after campaign modifiers for previous wins/losses etc. was 35, with 3 Command Points to spend.

The Emperor's 'finest' of the Armee de Nord consisted of; General Doubert's Division, seeing their first action of this campaign (at last!), with attached Ferri's light cavalry (1 hussar, 2 chasseurs and a horse battery) on their right. Vignal's infantry (3 line and two 6 pdr batteries) in the centre, but forward deployed to quickly contest the 'petit' farm. Wirtz' German allied infantry brigade (1 jaeger, 3 reserves infantry and 6 pdr battery) in lines on the left. The randomly rolled 'special circumstance' had this brigade forced marching to the field, so each battalion started with 1 point of Disruption, for the fatigue (out of breath Germans). Behind them, in reserve and rolling to arrive from Turn 3, was General Cheyrou's division, after hard fighting in the 4 previous games this was a battered, but well-experienced division, consisting of du Plessis' infantry brigade (2 vet, 2 line battalions and a 8 pdr battery) and Le Tallac's infantry brigade (2 vet and 1 line battalion and a 8 pdr battery). Army Breakpoint, after campaign modifiers for previous wins/losses etc. was, err, 35 too (including -3 for the very PO'd Cheyrou's men, fed-up of being the vanguard of this army all the time), with 2 Command Points to spend.

The Anglo-Prussians chose the 'steady advance' battle plan, whilst the cautious French chose to 'defend', although I had no intention of just sitting back, it would be more 'hold and counter' (and try to take that farm and hold it). The French thus started with the 'hold the line' objective. Still, as per the whole campaign, the Allies had more cavalry, but they can be stopped (and those Prussian cavalry regiments had been weakened in the previous games).  

The table set, it's time to dance...

First deployment and moves. The light cavalry face-off as both sides advance on le Ferme Petit St Jean in the centre. There would be an initial light cavalry sparring on the flank...

The cannonade began, exchanging long range fire and inflicting the first hits, as the British hussars came forward, through the landwehr lancers, and the French line cavalry advanced to match them. French gunners found the hussars range and inflicted some punishing hits, but as yet, neither committed to a charge.

In the centre, both the British infantry and French moved up, the French 'at the quick' to get to the farm house first, the British behind their thick skirmish line of light infantry, all sides deploying skirmishers which started to harassing trade fire. The veteran highlanders moved to oppose the French at the farm, along the road, pipes wailing. On the French left, the German allies just held in place and awaited the enemy's arrival.

Landwehr lancers screen the British hussars. The British would move through and take the lead. The landwehr just acting as their 'reserve at needs-must'.

Ferri's cavalry line up, chasseurs and hussars, with allied German light cavalry as their reserve unit just behind. Can either side win the coming cavalry fight?

Vignal's columns in the centre, to advance through the corn to take Petit-St-Jean. 

The British took the initiative in the cavalry face-off, with a 'fierce cavalry charge' from hussars, which was met by a chasseur counter-charge, they were driven off though, and the hussars swiftly followed-up with another charge, the beaten chasseurs withdrew to rally and regroup, having lost a few men. The British had scored a small first win on the flank, until more accurate cannonballs and skirmish fire from the farm buildings broke their second hussar regiment. Their hussar attack sudden looked out-matched, 1 regiment vs 3, and so swiftly pulled back. Stalemate for now. Should the French push the slight advantage and try to get after those too bold hussars? That would obviously bring the Prussian lancers into play, and it would just be 3 vs 3 again, only landwehr militiamen, but still, it wasn't enough for a decisive action here. The light cavalry on this flank would be satisfied with screening eachother off... and so it remained for the rest of the battle. Their little prologue was complete. No big cavalry melee today.

Things heated up, a lot, at the farm, as volleys were traded and both sides skirmishers did a lot of damage. The British 9 pdr battery on the ridge weighed in with highly accurate fire, and the French 6 pdrs got hot too. One French column had now occupied the farm, but the supporting one on the road was pounded by British muskets and cannons and broke... the red-coats pressed harder, and skirmishers, including riflemen (so green-coats too), saw the line battalion holding the farm thrown out and also rout/surrender. Soon, the highlanders had moved in and taking the farmhouse themselves. The French, holding a 'take a strong point' objective, could not claim it! Thwarted again (for now). Vignal's brigade had taken a severe beating and the last battalion withdrew to rally, their race run for today.

British hussars get aggressive and taunt the French cavalry to come and fight... they answer with accurate cannon fire, blasting one hussar regiment into a rout...

The French have taken the farm... with heavy skirmish fire as the British light infantry and veteran highlanders try to drive them out. The highlanders prepare to assault, bagpipes playing (in my mind).

Extended skirmish line of British Queen's Own light infantry lead the way forwards, down the slope, in the centre. 

The British assault the farm, the highlanders taking it as the French run or surrender. It is in British hands. Scotland's Glory!

Vignal's brigade is almost gone... the British light infantry and rifles about to break the isolated battery too. Farm secured.

British 9 pdr foot battery, way back on the ridge (so 3 orders to fire!), but still doing excellent destructive work all game. 5+ to-hit, no problem for the Woolich gunners!

Behind this fight at the farm, the Prussian had arrived, aided by a senior officer appearing with the British HQ (Gneisenau). Their cavalry galloped on at full speed, columns of march 'at the the quick', and the infantry did the same (but slower). That looked like a lot of troops, no French reserves had arrived yet. This gave the Allies extra action cards for the next turn, it would be a tough one for the French to endure. Their attack on the farm defeated, the French would just hang tough and rally, awaiting aid from Cheyrou's veteran division to aid them.

Prussian cavalry arrives on the Allied right, at the gallop, thundering forwards (horse battery too), to threaten the 'soft' southern German lines. We'll see... 

The Prussians are here! Marching columns at the quick "Schnell! Schnell!". They rush up in the centre to contest the farm too, and meet the incoming French attack. General Gneisenau urges them on.

Allied southern German lines, just hold here. Reservists will have to rely on the jaegers for backbone, but the battle for the farm means the British don't press their attack, much to the reservist's relief. It won't stay quiet.

The extra cards allow the Prussians to move up quickly, and the turn passes without too much terminal damage to the French (phew!), except the loss of a 6 pdr battery to British musket volleys. Then, their own reserves arrived, Cheyrou's two brigades of infantry marched on in columns, deploying their gun batteries and du Plessis' men began the advance to retake that farm. This time, with tough veterans leading. The arrival of reserves also meant the French could claim their 'hold the line' objective. On VPs, it was the Allies just ahead, on 12 needing 35. The French were at 11.

Last reserve, Le Tallac's veterans, they won't have much to do today, which makes a change from being in the thick of it all campaign.

The full field, mid-game... last reserve French infantry just deploying in their right-centre, but out of the battle's action. No more action on the French right after the first skirmishing, just keeping a wary eye on the enemy cavalry.

The second fight for Petit St Jean began, the French guns opening an intense cannonade on it and smashing the highanders, as four batteries concentrated fire. The highlanders broke (bagpipes silenced!), and the farm was suddenly empty again. The veteran French columns advanced 'at the quick' and along the road, and charged into the British light infantry, throwing them back in a heavy loss, skirmish fire added to the damage and Flemming's brigade had to urgently rally.

The Prussian cavalry, well-drilled, changed formation as they threaten the French left, the so far spared resevists were about to get into the action, with the red-coat's Nottingham battalion moving up as well. But, a well timed 'whithering volley' from the jaegers and reserves sent the Prussians hussars into full retreat to rally, and smashed the Nottingham column... not such 'soft southerns' these Germans. When the Prussians dragoons were 'stalled', pausing having just seen the impressive firepower, the attack dwindled out. Win for the German allies. 

The French pressed on and retook the farm. But the Prussian uhlan, spared the musket-death, made a surprise long charge and hammered into the German jaegers line, lances causing devastating losses. The jaegers fled back, but amazingly rallied, just saving themselves, but leaving just 2 stands from 6. The uhlan then paid, as reservist volleys and 6 pdr guns cut through them... and they also rode off to regroup, having lost men and horses - carnage in the wheat field. End Phase, and the French could finally claim their 'take a strong point' objective, and on VPs, they now had a narrow lead, 23-21.

German jaeger firing line, a very stiff volley sends the Nottingham regiment into disorder and confusion, they fall back to rally. Not so 'soft'! The Prussian cavalry are now here though... and their horse battery is deployed and beginning turns of galling fire into their fellow Germans,

du Plessis' grognard brigade storm the farm, attacking either side of the road. The British are sent reeling back at bayonet point. Flemming brigade is in complete disarray and needs to rally. The highlanders break... the Nottinghamshire battalion is in disorder, as are the Queen's Own light infantry. 

Into the denuemont, as the battle basically raged around the farm and along the road. The French had seen off the British infantry, they would now play little further part, but the Prussian infantry had arrived in force and deployed, to take over the front lines. The French charged again, and beat back the fusilier battalion, but they rallied and counter-charged to push the disordered French away. Two more line battalions moved up and they charged in too, a messy brawl... and it was close, the French were the better troops, but the Prussians had more men. Amidst the bayoneting and skirmish fire, both used cards to keep rallying (all costing VPs), but the French hung tough in the farm and kept it. No clear victor, but the VPs were mounting fast on both tallies.

The Prussians counter-attack in turn, fusiliers into the melee on the road, driving back a French column, before being broken by musket and cannon fire, another battalion consumed in the crucible.

On the French left, this is perhaps were it was finally decided. The Prussian hussars and dragoons had regrouped and returned to menace the southern Germans again, they formed square, as sensible troops must, and hoped the Prussians would not get a 'fierce cavalry charge' special event card to attack them. But those Prussian guns were hitting them hard, and the intimidation from dragoons and lancers, of the imminent charge, saw one square crumble into disorder.

The dragoons saw their chance, and used the 'ride them down!' event to attack, sabres out, they stormed into the disorganised men and cut them down. The square shattered and broke, the poor reservist routed in a bloody massacre. 

Adding up VPs, we knew it was close. The French had scored 33, so not quiet there. The Allies had 35, exactly what they needed. The dragoon's heroics had just turned it for them. 'A damn close run thing', and an epic fight. So close, so tense and exciting, proper drama at the end in repeated close melees around the farm and then the German square falling apart under cannon fire to be charged and routed. One helluva scrap... 

I'm obvously biased, but the SoN rules really shone, and created a story of a battle that feels like those in history books. The initial light cavalry skirmishing, which just petered out, two French assault on the farm which changed hands, the French cannons just blasting the highlanders to bits in preparation for the second assault was a highlight (for me, not the highlanders), my weak reserves desparately trying to hang-on at the end... heavy (well, medium) cavalry breaking a square... what more does a Napoleonic game need? One for the ages this, and a great end to the mini-campaign. The Anglo-Prussians allies sneaked it, again - but who cares when the games are such fun? 5 hours of top fun... many, many tough decisions, mistakes made, good dice and bad (notably, I rolled 3 1s trying to get a senior officer on the board and for reserves arriving, which cost me my command point re-rolls).

The Prussian dragoons, having stalled but now recovered, 'ride them down!' and shattered a German square with their sabres... the final act of the game, a suitable end. 'Soft' southerns slaughtered by 'true' Prussians...

One plus point, despite it being a big game with lots of troops, losses were at some realistic level. The Allies lost, 1 British hussar regiment, 1 veteran (highland) infantry battalion, 1 Prussian fusilier battalion, and had serious losses across their Queen's Own light infantry and the Nottingahmshire lads. 

The French lost, 2 line infantry battalions, 1 6 pdr battery, 1 allied German reservist battalion (the square massacre). Serious losses in the German jaegers, a veteran battalion (on the road) and 2 more line battalions. 

- No Imperial Guard, or Cuirassiers, required... more fun with just the line French troops...