A long piece of new terrain

No games planned until next weekend if anyone is available so in the lull I've been focussing on finishing some terrain pieces. 

For some reason lost in the mists of time I acquired several feet of canals. Well actually 14 feet, enough to run the length of my table! This weekend I have actually finished all the sections and here they are, complete with a narrow boat. (Definitely not a twee holiday barge but a grotty working one).

If I remember correctly, and as seems most likely, they were purchased for a game set during the War of the 1st Coalition in Flanders in 1794-1795. Thanks to my recent departure into the world of internal combustion engines, tanks and early WW2 stuff I can now also use them in some 1940 Fall of France scenarios. 

The sections are made of resin and were very quick to paint. I'm happy with them. I’ve got a couple of pairs of lock gates to finish together with two more narrow boats but they are on today’s list of things to do.

French Revolutionary Wars Campaign: Battle of Turcoing, Rearguard Action

 We gathered, via the wonders of technology, for the final phase in what had turned out to be a monumental campaign battle around the fortress city of Turcoing. Readers will be aware of the result of the main action (click  here  if you missed it) and of the narrative behind this phase of the battle as outlined  here.

I won’t repeat anything here (well, much) that’s already been written. Suffice to say that a mixed force of Prussians, Austrians and Bavarians was detached from the commands of FML Von Knobelsdorf and FZM von Kaunitz to hold a larger French corps under Generals Pichegru and Jourdan at bay while an attack by the French General Marceau-Desgraviers on their rear was dealt with. 

Numerically the infantry and artillery in both armies were pretty evenly matched, but somehow General Pichegru and Jourdan had collected between them the vast majority of the cavalry available to General Houchard’s Army of the North, which incidentally was marching to join them from Courtrai as fast as their weary legs could carry them, having withdrawn to the right bank of the Lys and removed their pontoon bridges. “First the Austrians, now the Prussians, and only then the English” to quote Houchard. This was a strategically sound plan. The French controlled all the crossing points over the River Lys south of Ghent, this preventing the English from interfering in operations on the right bank. The main Austrian army had been captured when Courtrai fell, so Knobelsdorf was now firmly in Houchard’s sights.

Anyway, I digress. The Coalition rearguard was under the command of the Prussian FML Prinz zu Baden, deployed in a thin line along a low ridge facing roughly North. By some quirk of fate the rearguard had been assigned the entire reserve artillery remaining to the Austrians in the campaign. The attacking French lost some time by deploying fully before attacking, but that didn't seem a critical issue at the start of the battle. The Coalition were given two turns of pre-game bombardment to allow for the fact that the French were deploying within range of their heavier artillery, but this proved to be pretty ineffective. Here are some photos of the game which will hopefully explain how the battle unfolded. Battle commenced at 2pm campaign time.

The French right wing cavalry moved in an arc to try and outflank the Coalition line.

Facing the French was a single regiment of Austrian Grenz Hussars.

The hussars charged the French heavy cavalry but predictably were beaten in the melee and forced to retreat. The French regiment did however take heavy casualties. A second regiment of French heavy cavalry then drove the Grenz from the field leaving the Coalition left flank open.

A close up of the Grenz Hussars specially at the request of one of my readers. Hinchliffe figures.

On the right the Prussian cavalry face the advancing French. The odds were pretty even so I don't know why the Prussians didn't dig their heels in and charge. Of course, what the Prussians didn't know was that several of the French cavalry were already carrying three, four or even five hits from earlier in the campaign.

On the Coalition right the Prussian cavalry brigade failed to move for the first two turns and then decided to pull back behind the infantry to avoid being swamped by the French cavalry. I wouldn't have done that but sadly I wasn't playing. The French 'Polish Legion d'Acronistique lancers' charged the Prussian 8th Hussars and broke them. 

The routing Prussian 8th Hussars, causing their brigade to falter and retreat away from the enemy.

In the centre the French were advancing en masse so the Prussian infantry brigade obliged by advancing to meet them. Meanwhile the French artillery had spent much of the game so far engaged in counter battery fire rather than taking aim at Prussian infantry arrayed before them in three lines! The counter battery fire was effective insofar that the Saxon 12pdr battery was left with only one strength point remaining (7 lost out of 8).

Meanwhile the Coalition artillery was sending ball and canister into the face of the advancing French, causing grievous losses and breaking one battalion. The Prussian artillery as usual caused more damage to itself than the enemy and also went low on ammo at a critical point of the game.

Back to the Coalition right their cavalry had retreated after their 'faltering' test. That left the Bavarians (lovely flags, nice uniforms, silly hat, not very good) facing a company of French horse guns and four regiments of French cavalry on their flank while a brigade of French infantry advanced on their front.  They hastily formed square.

The much battered Saxon artillery with a plethora of targets in the centre.

Another shot of the Bavarians facing a brigade of French infantry.

A long shot of the table, at approx 4pm campaign time.

The French left massing to attack the Bavarians. 

The French cavalry facing the Bavarians planned to launch a charge, aiming to hit the Coalition main battery in the flank. This would entail riding across the front of the Bavarian infantry. Meanwhile their horse artillery started causing casualties on the squares.

The Bavarian 'bloody angle'

The Prussians in the centre waiting for the inevitable French assault.

The French cavalry charged the Bavarians, forcing another battalion into square but they failed to roll up the Coalition artillery, and the 3rd Hussars were broken in the process.

The main French assault as seen from the redoubt.

The French charged, with several battalions in support which ought to have helped. Sadly it didn't and the column was repulsed, as was a second attempt the following turn. The lesson here is that a steady fresh line ought to beat of even a well supported attack in columns with relative ease, which they did. This French brigade had by now lost four battalions in the attempted assault, but had each time passed its 'faltering' test with flying colours.

On the Coalition left the French were unable to make much progress with their infantry, due in part to becoming hesitant rather too often and also the effectiveness of the Austrian artillery facing them. They did however drive the Austrians out of the wood on the left and the hamlet in the centre of the table. At the edge of the photo is a Freikorps battalions (Wurmser), holding the village is the Carnville Legion, in line to the right of the guns is I/IR51 Graf Gabriel Splenyi while in the foreground are Grenz IR No 8.

The Austrian artillery.

Towards 5pm campaign time, after seven turns, the French centre had been shattered, with four battalions destroyed out of seven in one  brigade, which was demoralised after its failure to shift the Prussians. It was only on both flanks that the French had made any headway, not surprising given their unusual superiority in cavalry. The Coalition right was just holding, as was the centre,  but there were French cavalry, lots of it, ready to pounce on the Coalition left flank. However, Pichegru decided, probably wisely, that nothing was to be gained by continuing the attack as the Coalition rearguard had clearly done its job. Added to that the fact that most of the Armee du Nord’s cavalry were attached to Pichegru and Jourdan, they were both mindful that their mounted troops, which had already suffered heavy losses throughout the campaign, could not be squandered in further attacks. 

Pichegru ordered his division to pull back, covered by his cavalry, while Jourdan’s battered infantry did likewise. The latter’s cavalry did however harass the Austrian brigade on the left of the Coalition line as it withdrew, and even managed to cut off and capture two entire battalions of Freikorps, netting almost 1000 prisoners in the process. The remainder of the coalition forces, did not pursue and withdrew to rejoin the main army to their rear, covered by the splendid Prussian infantry that had almost single handedly stopped the French attack in its tracks. The Man of the Match Award went to II/IR 15 Garde for their ass-kicking performance in the last quarter of the engagement.

Losses were heavy for the French, in strength points they lost almost 25% of their total, and the Coalition were not far behind when their prisoners were added to the total. A very sanguine battle but a critical one for the Coalition to win. Had the French broken through, which was on the cards and certainly expected by the Coalition commanders, they would have arrived in the rear of the main Coalition force outside Turcoing whilst they were dispersed across the battlefield engaged in mopping up after their earlier crushing victory over the French. Also, if the French hadn't waited to deploy but launched themselves straight at the enemy they could have prevailed as their superiority in cavalry would have pinned the Coalition down while the infantry prepared to assault from the march. I reckon it would have been a risk worth taking but then I obviously see both sides of the campaign.

The Coalition and French armies will no doubt need time to recover from the battle on 18 September. I know I do!

Thanks to everyone for taking part, and to my wife Katherine for sorting out techie issues at the start. I do still like Gen d'Armee but am always open to trying new sets. Not for the duration of this campaign though as most players are comfortable with them and getting used to the nuances they contain. 

FRENCH REVOLUTIONARY WAR CAMPAIGN - Pichegru and Jourdan attack the coalition rearguard.

 The table is set and the troops deployed (except a hidden brigade on the Coalition side). I'm looking forward to this one as the result will add even more to the swirling and dispersed action that is the Battle of Turcoing. It is 2pm. The 'other' battle here concluded at 4.30pm or thereabouts. No chance of Pichagru and Jourdan interfering before then, but a quick victory could see them arrive as the Coalition forces have completed their mopping up of the defeated army of Marceau-Desgraviers. Now that would be interesting!

The Coalition right looking very exposed and alone.

The Coalition centre. My brigade of Bavarians in Rumford uniforms supporting some artillery. Rather a lot of targets our there! 

The Coalition left. A potentially flakey brigade of Austrians, including one regular battalion, one Grenz battalion, three Freikorps battalions and some Grenz hussars, supported by a battery. 

The Coalition secret weapon. Grenz Hussars with lancers! Shame they're rubbish in a stand up fight.

So there you go. I will be live streaming the game from 10.30 tomorrow in order that the players can see what's going on, with audio provided by Skype. Worked very well last week. Im looking forward go this game a great deal. As I said at the top of the post, a potential cruncher.

French Revolutionary Wars War campaign: Rearguard at Mouscron 18 September 1793

Another Saturday and another battle. This one will be taking place at the same campaign time as last week's game, only a couple of miles to the rear of where the Coalition  army was fighting. FML von Knobelsdorf and FZM von Kaunitz deployed two brigades each to cover the rear while they took on the fresh French Army of the Scarpe. This rearguard's presence is probably going to be enough to prevent the forces under Pichagru and Jourdan from attacking the rear of the main Coalition army.

 The timings are such that even the quickest possible victory for the French under Pichegru and Jourdan wouldn't arrive behind the Coalition main body before perhaps 4.30pm. As we know the Coalition forces had crushed the Army of the Scarpe and were in the process of mopping up and stuff.

So, we have four Coalition brigades under FML Prinz von Baden, two decent Prussian ones (one of six battalions including the Garde, and the other of hussars). The Austrian/Saxon/Ragamuffin corps sent a brigade of Bavarians (!) and their own reserve brigade which was a mix of Austrian regulars, Grenz, and Freikorps with the welcome addition of the army's reserve artillery. The sketch map shows the Coalition deployment. Prussian cavalry on the right, the Bavarians and the reserve artillery in the centre, Austrian reserve brigade to the left of the road with one battalion occupying the hamlet.  In reserve, not shown for obvious reasons, are the Prussian brigade, the best troops on the Coalition side by a country mile. The force is under the Command of FML Prinz zu Baden.

Pichegru and Jourdan (not sure who will be in command as there is some rivalry) have much of the Armee du Nord's cavalry, ten regiments of varying types and quality in five small brigades, and four brigades of infantry of which one is newly raised volunteers and  another of former regular battalions. Most of the French have been in action before and are understrength to varying degrees, especially among the cavalry. 

The Coalition rearguard have had ample time  to  prepare some rudimentary fieldworks for their artillery to shelter behind. The French commanders were given the option of either advancing straight ahead from the march (A) or taking time to deploy before beginning their attack (B). They chose the latter, although much of the cavalry moved to concentrate on their left.

All is set now for yet another crunch battle in the campaign, but you will have to wait until Saturday!

French Revolutionary Wars Campaign: The Battle of Turcoing - Endgame...?

Well, another Saturday and another game in the campaign. By the end of week one (here) it was evident that both sides had psyched themselves into thinking they were outclassed and/or outnumbered and going to be overwhelmed by the other. In fairness the dice had more to do with it but I think a more ‘in period’ narrative is Far more fun and appropriate. 🤔😉 

So. Turn one this week and the unexpected (except by me and their actual real commander, not Mike who is only Conde) Emigre division of Le Comte d’Artois (Originally en route to join the Army of the Conde) began to arrive behind the right flank of the French (I know the Emigres are French as well but I’ll call them Emigres and the revolutionary army French, or it gets complicated). There were two brigades of Emigre infantry and one of cavalry. All the brigades were a mix of mainly ‘line’ with a couple of ‘elite’ units and several of ‘recruits’. Half of the cavalry were only small units as well so a right hodgepodge. Their artillery hadn’t been able to keep up so didn’t figure in the game and would only arrive once all the Emigres were on the table.

After manoeuvring through the Prussian camp last week the Saxon cuirassiers were well placed to attack the French in the centre, which they duly did. (Eagle-eyed readers may spot that I removed two tent sections after almost 1000 heavy cavalry men trampled their way through the encampment). One of their regiments were stunned by the bravery of a French volunteer battalion which stood firm in the face of their charge and failed to close to contact, instead retiring behind their infantry, but another quickly broke one battalion, cut through the French brigade, rode over a limbered artillery company which was destroyed, swept on over a second that was ridden down, and then hit a company of horse artillery in the rear where the gunners were cut down.

On the Coalition right the Prussian heavy cavalry failed a ‘faltering brigade’ and retreated off the table, gone for good. Any hope of the Prussians rolling up the French left wing went with them. In the centre the Prussians made heavy going as they tried to advance through the encampment towards the French centre/ left. By the end of the game the Prussians weren’t really putting the French left under any pressure, and were taking a bit of a hammering from the French artillery in the process.

On the Coalition left the Saxon cheveau-legers and hussars were held back in reserve and the artillery continued its deadly work demolishing the attacking French who were forced to retreat. The Saxons in the centre attacked, charging the French, who in turn also went on the offensive. However luck was on the side of the Saxons and they drove the French infantry back. As usual attacks in column failed against an undamaged line, which seems a reasonable outcome.

At two points during the game we had three faltering French brigades. The first time they either obeyed orders or rallied, but the second was less positive. While none of them ran away they did have to retire, and with the Emigres coming up on the rear this was going to be difficult. I’ll halt now and let the photos and supporting captions show what happened.

At the start of turn one the Saxon cuirassiers hit the French columns in the flank.

Meanwhile the French launched two columns at a fresh Saxon regiment. Not surprisingly the French were bundled back in disarray.

On the French right, their infantry were taking a pounding from the Saxon artillery but had driven the Saxons out of the woods.

The French heavy cavalry made a risky about face in response to the arrival of the leading Émigré brigade and the French were in danger of being the proverbial jam in the sandwich.

The table as seen from the garden end of the table (the east), dominated by the French 12pdrs. Opposite are the French who are in a large traffic jam and unable to avoid the cannon fire. The French light cavalry just couldn’t avoid becoming hesitant as it was trying to launch a charge at the Prussian flank and maybe even their artillery. It wasn’t to be.

The Prussians advancing through the encampment.

Two companies of 12pdrs covered the gap between the two woods very effectively, with the Prussians unable to risk an attack down that route.

The battlefield from the kitchen (western) edge, after the French attack was halted and the survivors retreated.

The Emigre cavalry were the second brigade to appear in the French rear They weren't generally very good even compared to the French but there were lots of them. The French right wing was now in deep trouble.

The bottomless void that the French appeared to be falling into.

The Emigre cavalry charged the rear of the French columns but amazingly were beaten off. However the Emigres also charged the artillery on windmill hill and overran it from the rear.

This picture is out of sequence but shows the end of one isolated French battalion that was unable to retreat with the rest of its brigade as it was surrounded. The battalion downed arms and surrendered.

The French right wing before they were ordered to halt their attack on the Saxons.

Just another shot of the Prussians marching through their own camp as they attacked the French left.

The French heavy cavalry tried to drive off the Emigres but failed and were forced to pull back.

Confusion in the French centre with enemy to their front, rear and left flanks. The French right was at this point faltering (all three brigades) but they didn't run.

The French Carabiniers had no choice other than to charge the Saxon cuirassiers even though they were carrying almost maximum casualties. They hit but in the melee took enough damage to see them disperse.

The remaining French heavy cavalry were now all but surrounded by the Coalition army. They attempted to cut their way off the battlefield while the infantry in the photo withdrew to the village where they later surrendered.

The Emigre cavalry after ridding down the French gunners on Windmill Hill. It was the end for the French army.

The implications for the Republic of this crushing French defeat are significant. Although the Coalition forces were unable to prevent the withdrawal of the French light cavalry, one brigade of infantry and the reserve artillery, the other two brigades of infantry and one of heavy cavalry were broken or captured. One brigade withdrew to the village but were ultimately forced to surrender. The other infantry brigade was pursued by the Emigres and all but ceased to exist, while the remaining heavy cavalry did manage to cut their way though the Emigre cavalry, again with very heavy losses. The French also lost 18 guns and after chucking the usual D20 a few times a number of general officers were killed, wounded or captured in the retreat. As were some Coalition ones in the pursuit. By some stroke of good fortune, the attached Representative of the People has not so far managed to find the safety of Lannoy, and it is to be assumed that General Marceau-Desgravieres is rather grateful for this misfortune. Of course, there's always later in the evening or the next day.

Coalition losses were certainly quite heavy, mainly among the heavy cavalry brigades and the Prussian musketeer brigade. The performance of the Prussian artillery had been yet again abysmal while that of the Saxons was good. The Prussians were in no position to pursue as a result of their losses, and the Saxons were simply in the wrong position to pursue effectively and instead concentrated on capturing the brigade taking refuge in the village. The Emigres pursued gleefully taking some measure of revenge against their implacable foes. The shattered French Army of the Scarpe withdrew to Lannoy but is in a sorry state. I now have to tell their real life commander what Shaun, Richard and Steve did to his army. I have to say that knowing what I did about the wider scenario the Coalition COULD and perhaps SHOULD have defeated the French last week but the French HAD to defeat the Coalition last week, and the battle was probably lost at the point. The psychology of wargaming is always fascinating. As I’ve alluded to earlier, all the players on both sides seem to have psyched themselves into fearing the imagined and in some cases unfounded abilities of their enemy. Not unlike reality.

However, we must now turn the clock back a couple of hours and move to the rearguard action the Coalition are fighting against the advance of Generals Pichegru and Jourdan. If the rearguard fail to stop them the French will arrive behind the currently victorious Prussians and Saxons in approximately two to four game turns from the end of the battle we’ve just completed, with the Coalition forces spread all over the table (and off it) engaged in  mopping up the defeated Army of the Scarpe. You remember I said this was complicated? We shall play the rearguard action next week.

Many thanks to everyone for taking part. The technology worked very well this week, especially with the addition of a third camera covering the entire table, for which I must thank my techy wife Katherine who made it all work after much hard work. I am still firmly in favour of General d’Armee although have to admit that playing such a large game remotely is sometimes quite slow and stressful. Everyone, especially the French, who were this week on a hiding to nothing, played the game in good spirits. Thanks too to Conrad for coming down to help move the figures. 

Not long after the game ended I settled down to enjoy another 90 minutes with the Virtual Wargames Group and had some great crack with its international membership effortlessly steered by Phil Olley. Another very good Saturday of wargaming.