This week's battle was another 'Blucher' game. This is my rules of choice right now. My enthusiasm stems from the near completion of my second Napoleonic army - Prussia. All miniatures on the table - as well as terrain - are mine. It gave quite a sense of pleasure to sit back and watch. I must admit that it rather distracted me from the game. Well, thats my excuse for such poor play. I don't think I've managed to develop effective tactics for my Late War Prussians as yet.
Below an image of my French battalions (brigades in Blucher terms) surging forward. Most were run as Marie Louise conscripts - who are very good in these rules with the skirmish and shock traits.
The lower cost of the French conscript infantry allows more batteries. The French list I designed runs with six. These were to have a terrible cost for the Prussian brigades struggling forward last night.
Ah ... the Prussian infantry trying to advance. Low MO rolls throughout the evening would leave these fine troops stranded before the French cannon - that and my bad deployment and management of available movement did not help. I ended up trying to attack over too wide a frontage against superior troops. An in depth assault may have been better.
My Prussian cavalry division. This was pitifully utilised on the evening never really playing a role and being committed too early allowing the French player to flank with his cavalry. I'd hate that move ... if it wasn't the very one I've used so many times previously.
A close up of French guns slamming roundshot then cannister into the headlong assault of the Prussians. The general who ordered this will swing!
Above a French division is halted by the appearance of Prussian dragoons and hussars. From this point the confusion of battle would befuddle the Prussians allowing the French time to form square.
The Prussians try to form up to drive home an attack ... but already one brigade down due to murderous French artillery fire. The landwehr cavalry would charge repeatedly at the French square at the end of the line to little effect.
A strong mixed French line ferociously guards the objective. The superior artillery fire allowed the French to sit unmoving and pepper the Prussian line. This allowed movement points to be spent elsewhere whilst the wide Prussian assault demanded movement points everywhere - and they were critically short throughout the battle. No one attack was really driven home.
Arrgghh ... cuirassiers around the flank ... this is going to sting. Two landwehr regiments were swamped and run down. The end was nigh ... morale point was almost reached.
My new Brandenberg Uhlans ... I had even forgotten to varnish ... they too were left languishing under cannon fire (see the top left of the image) while movement points were either none existent or squandered.
Ah ... to flash or not to flash ... a dimly light garage and not the best phone. Perhaps a photo opportunity lost. Overall, a fun game which would normally have been very frustrating for me. However, on this occasion, I was more interested in the spectacle provided and the final materialization of my desire to play the great and desperate battles of 1813. I found it a different and quite satisfying experience. As my troops - and all 26 infantry, 8 cavalry and 10 batteries + command were mine - won and lost the evening I couldn't really be too upset.
May this long continue ... (except the criminal deployment and flawed command decisions.)
