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Brunswick Horse Artillery make ready to help support the allied left flank |
For those of you who may be unaware, Napoleonic wargaming is one of my great hobby passions.
We had the recent opportunity to get together with an old wargaming mate in Phil and see if we can start to get the wonderful and subtle tactical nuances of General D'Armee to become second nature to us. The rules from Dave Brown are a wonderful extension of his General De Brigade rules which have been our rules of choice for more years than I care to remember. An added bonus of using any of Dr. Browns rules is the first class level of support given to all gamers who use them globally by Dave and his gaming companions. Rules queries are answered and there is a genuine welcoming of external views on rules, implications and input in a most gentlemanly of fashions. A delight in the modern gaming world.
The decision was made to have a one on one game at my home and set it in 1815 where I could get a few of the allied contingents out to battle the French.
We decided on a battle consisting of seven brigades a side, one of which must start the battle off table in reserve. The French had four infantry brigades based upon D'Erlons Corps at Waterloo as well as a light cavalry brigade and a heavy brigade of Cuirassiers. The off table reserve would be a brigade of Youing Guard.
The allies would have two brigades of sturdy British troops, one of Nassau, two Brunswick infantry brigades. These would be supplemented by a brigade of light cavalry consisting of Brunswicker Hussars and Uhlans as well as a Dutch-Belgian Heavy cavalry brigade of Carabiniers.
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Brunswick Light Cavalry Brigade with artillery support prepare to manoeuvre |
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A wider perspective of the two British brigades plus skirmisher screens |
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Brigade of Nassau troops and two battalions of the 28th Orange-Nassau (thanks Wim) |
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Cookie loves Cuirassiers - these are deployed on his extreme right |
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Lovely command stand complete with trooper getting a wasp in his face whilst at the gallop |
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French columns move up whilst the 12 pounders are given a starring role very early in the piece |
One of the great aspects of wargaming is getting the figures out, admiring your handy work and then remembering all the many things you need to repair, replace or finish off. Such is the case in the photo above as I have been dithering on getting horse limber teams finished with traces and harnesses ala the talented Kevin East and Chris Gregg at the wonderful
Not Just Old School Blogspot. I promise to have at least four limber teams complete by the time we return to the table.
But I digress...
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Picton views the field as the boys start to press forward |
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French light cavalry brigade on their left flank |
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Facing off against the French lights were the Dutch-Belgian heavies...well heavy in name at least |
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The Brunswick first brigade advances with the Advante Garde at the fore |
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The French Heavies manoeuvre to meet them |
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More French columns look to position themselves early in the piece |
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Whilst the allies attempt to take the heights in what is a reasonably flat field |
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An early skirmishing encounter as French and Allied troops look to gain a preliminary advantage. I made the
early decision to base my skirmishers, of which each battalion in a brigade can contribute one, in general terms, on
a single oval base available from Warbases. Very pleased with the result on the table and the visual
distinction made at a glance. |
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Almost looking like a Grand Battery, the French have some firepower assembled in their centre |
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The French continue to advance to the centre supported by artillery and sheltered by their own screen |
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DB Heavy Brigade awaits orders whilst in position to the left of the small farmhouse... |
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...whilst the Nassau and 28th Orange-Nassau take the fields in support |
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The Dutch Belgian Horse artillery unlimber and seek to disturb their French opponents |
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Another view of the Carabiniers - lovely Perry Miniatures |
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After an initial blast of effective range roundshot from the Dutch battery a slight withdrawal behind the rise was deemed
a sound tactical move. |
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With two ADC's around our good friend Milhaud, a "Glory" order appears to be on the cards! |
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Luckily my brave Brunswick Hussars have already thought of this cunning ploy and are prepared. |
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Light infantry advance at the trail |
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Mmmm...seemed like a good idea at the time |
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The lead regiments of British take the high ground and prepare to use their superior volley firepower to maximum
effect whilst a Royal Artillery battery looks to find a window of opportunity
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The deployed French 12lb battery has already caused some consternation in the Brunswicker ranks. As a result, the
Advante Garde are ordered into the woods to their front to see if they can distract the artillerists in a particularly
nasty manner.
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In GdA the only figures which are removed are skirmisher bases |
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The first Brunswicker squadrons rout from the Cuirassiers and cause the brigade to falter |
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An overview of the battle unfolding |
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The French General looks pensive as he prepares his next cunning move |
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Looking down the table from the allied left. |
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With black squares forming to fill the gap the next Brunswick lights move up to the pointy end. |
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In the centre the action looks interesting. The 95th have yet to form out into a skirmish line and are using
their concentrated fire to maximum effect upon the columns to their front. |
A few more photographs later in the week to bring everyone up to speed on the battle as it stands.