Monday Napoleonics - Another Loss

 

Prussian Brigade
Headquarters
General Staff	1	xCommand Element	100	100
Brigade Commander	1	xPrussian Staff	50	50
				150
Half Brigade
Commander	1	xPrussian Staff	50	50
Hussars	9	xVeteran light cavalry	12	108	2	18
Foot Battery	12	xTrained Gunners	5	60
	4	xLight Medium Guns	25	100
Musketeer Battalion	10	xTrained Line Infantry	4	40
	2	xSkirmish	5	10
Musketeer Battalion	10	xTrained Line Infantry	4	40
	2	xSkirmish	5	10
Musketeer Battalion	10	xTrained Line Infantry	4	40
	2	xSkirmish	5	10
Musketeer Battalion	10	xTrained Line Infantry	4	40
	2	xSkirmish	5	10
Musketeer Battalion	10	xTrained Line Infantry	4	40
	2	xSkirmish	5	10
Musketeer Battalion	10	xTrained Line Infantry	4	40
	2	xSkirmish	5	10
				618
Half Brigade
Commander	1	xPrussian Staff	50	50
Line Lancers	7	xRaw lancers	8	56	1	7
Landwere Battalion	12	xRaw	3	36
Landwere Battalion	12	xRaw	3	36
Landwere Battalion	12	xRaw	3	36
				214
Half Brigade
Commander	1	xPrussian Staff	50	50
Hussars	9	xVeteran light cavalry	12	108	2	18
Foot Battery	12	xTrained Gunners	5	60
	4	xLight Medium Guns	25	100
Musketeer Battalion	10	xTrained Line Infantry	4	40
	2	xSkirmish	5	10
Musketeer Battalion	10	xTrained Line Infantry	4	40
	2	xSkirmish	5	10
Musketeer Battalion	10	xTrained Line Infantry	4	40
	2	xSkirmish	5	10
Musketeer Battalion	10	xTrained Line Infantry	4	40
	2	xSkirmish	5	10
Musketeer Battalion	10	xTrained Line Infantry	4	40
	2	xSkirmish	5	10
Musketeer Battalion	10	xTrained Line Infantry	4	40
	2	xSkirmish	5	10
				618
		Points Spent		1600
		Scouting Value		43

FRENCH
Commander
Composite Howitzer Battery (2 light medium howitzers)

1st Infantry Brigade
Commander
Artillery (3 light medium guns)
Light battalion
Four line battalions

2nd Infantry Brigade
Commander
Artillery (3 light medium guns)
Light battalion
Four line battalions

Light Cavalry Brigade
Commander
Hussar Regiment
Chassuer Regiment

Heavy Cavalry Brigade
Commander
Carabinier Regiment
Cuirassier Regiment

Two games scheduled for this week.  Monday night for a change.  Another tweek of the list and still no joy.  So another loss.  Andrew will provide a french take on the battle which I will post as soon as is possible.

So here's the battle in pictures.

Italics are Andrews input into this report.

To face the reworked Prussian organisation I turned up with the same list as last time. More of apathy on my part (they were conveniently packed) than any great confidence in the French force structure. Despite taking less cavalry this time around, the Prussians managed to muster enough to lights horse to out scout us. (Again! Damned Huns.) I have to deploy first once more. Terrain gave me secure flanks with a farm on my left and a wooded ridge on my right. My generous opponent also threw in a small knoll in the centre with a less than subtle hint it would provide a vantage point for my general to observe my impending demise. Naturally I chose instead to deploy a howitzer battery there to take advantage of overhead fire, with infantry formations and remaining artillery filling out the front line. Light cavalry brigade provided some depth with the heavy cavalry brigade kept if table in reserve. The revamped Prussians had three Brigades with integral artillery and cavalry. All were missing their Grenadier Battalion and the weaker third Landwehr Brigade lacking artillery, but otherwise looking by the book.

1. Advancing on the left.  Staggered advance for the right.

His left flank advances in two not so subtle Regimental columns with battalions abreast, cavalry left and artillery covering the right. Didn't waste anytime crossing the low ridge separating us so clearly not planning on defending the flank. Tempting spot to launch my cavalry reserve as long as he commits to attacking those to his front.

2. As seen above, staggered approach.  Landwhere occupy farm.

On the other flank another advance. The line brigade adopts a chequer board formation while the Landwehr take possession of a farm. Not sure yet if the Landwehr are transiting through this Saxon B&B on their way to attack my left, but previous behaviour would suggest they will be long stay tenants.

3. 1st turn side shot of Prussian advance.

Contemplating options. My reserves will not arrive for another few turns so I could sit back and wait or close the gap and try to make him commit all along the front. I used to be a decisive player but now I'm not so sure.

4. Trying a staggered approach.  Seemed like a good idea.

Formation textbook but so activity from the Fusiliers. Intelligence surmises there is no distinction between Fusiliers and Musketeers, confirmed by my spies. Ok, confirmed by me asking.

5. Prussian left advance over the ridge.  Staggered approach reforms.

Don't want to discourage his confident advance. We decide to move forward.

6. Column forms a line!  Landwhere lancers cross the bridge.
Hussars wait in rear for an opportunity to attack.

So much for the chequer board. Back to big columns on this side. Landwehr infantry take up a lease option while their cavalry work up the courage to come out from behind the building. Last time they were smashed by artillery fire before contributing to anything but the casualty report.

7. french lights form line, battalion charge the line, only to see the 
french scarper off to safety.

Push a square forward on my right to block his cavalry while we shake out into attack formation - skirmishes forward.

8. Another charge of line to chase the french lights away.  A couple
of failed charges in the usual way. 

Similarly in the other flank we have skirmishes out. Left hand battalion takes heavy artillery casualties and leaving another battalion as Landwehr watching, flank guarding garrison in my farm means I am short of infantry. Happily he comes on cautiously one battalion at a time. Think I could have been part of the pavement if the whole Prussian steamroller has kept going. 

9. Prussian Hussars hoping to catch the french in column.

My hussars cross a saddle in the wooded ridge to try and distract his hussars. Don't want to be pinned in square as his infantry attack.

10. Landwhere hold the farm.  Lancers wait for an opportunity.

Landwehr still cowering away from the action. Probably still a bit gun shy, but they will have to come out eventually.

11. Bad news in the form of the french reserve.  Outcome dire.

Good news in the form of the French reserve. Outcome: impending doom for Prussian light cavalry facing two regiments of Cuirassiers.

12. Engagement, counter charges.  

Piecemeal stacks held off. My hussars leave their Prussian counterparts to their fate and hurry back to support the infantry.

13. Prussian difficulties only just starting.

Better send in the Chasseurs. My three battalions are outnumbered two to one here and more Hussars and Landwehr cavalry are lurking around.

14. Lots of nothing.

Holding off Prussian attacks but taking a few casualties.

15. More negative results.

 Same on this side. It's like watching the Wallabies. Pressure mounting and hoping the opposition makes a mistake.

16. Hussars thrown into the fray.  Little hope of success, but it
was all that could be done.

At least I can point to a quick success here. Rather than delay the hussars go right in. Suckers!

17. More failure to charge, or advance.

Holding on by fingernails.

18. Prussian cavalry flee in terror.  Fail to suck the currassiers
as they move to slow to keep up.

Where'd they go? I'm sure there were hussars here a second ago.

19. Had a successful shooting phase only to result in the gap
allowing the french to press a charge home.

As the casualties mount the gaps appear. Fortunately my Hussars arrive to save the day (assuming we don't get shot to pieces going in).

20.  Nope, nothing happening here either.

Thinking about charging his guns with my Chasseurs but nervous about the two cavalry regiments he has loitering over there. Think I telegraphed it by check-measuring the distance. Hopefully he thinks I'm bluffing.

21. The Landwhere Lancers came out from behind the farm,
lasted all of no time as the french artillery accounted for 4
casualties in one turn.  Though they did manage to just suffer a
halt order.

The Landwehr cavalry set up to cover the guns with a countercharge but disappear in a pink mist (metaphorically speaking) when my guns throw two sixes.

22. french cavalry dominate the left flank.

Heavy cavalry lumber forwards with nothing but open infantry flanks as far as the eye can see. 

23. 2 Battalions gone from the french cavalry charge.  One Prussian
battalion succeeded in a charge and chased the french off and
continued in pursuit (better that than cavalry in the flank).

The Hussars persuade two battalions to fall back at pace. Not looking good for the Prussians on this side.

24. The french cavalry chase off the artillery crew (again - see other
battle from last week).

A charge is enough to encourage the gunners to fall back, 'sans cannon' as we say in Monty Pythonesque Holy Grail accents. We naughty French fellows taunt you a second time etc.

All in all the result belies a very close game. A bit more push from the infantry assaults could easily have seen my latecomer cavalry wandering around the battlefield wondering where everyone else had gone. Don't think my opponent has quite figured out how to close out a game yet. Blucher had the same challenge.

Sigh, it does get depressing to not win a game.  However as part of my therapy it has been suggested that I play anyway, if only for the human interaction.  One day, one day.....