The Battle of Brienne, 29 January 1814

On Saturday I hosted another Napoleonic  game organized by Mike using some his incredible 1/72 plastic collect. Mike kept the scenario a secret from the other players to add a little mystery and anticipation before the game but obviously I was 'in the know' as I had to set the table, not that Brienne would have meant a great deal to me other than as a very tall plus-size woman in Game of Thrones. Click here for an account of the real battle. Read on for our version.

John the Red and Paul were the French while Conrad and I were the Allies (Prussian and Russians, although the only Prussian on the table was Blucher). I had the dubious honour of being Blucher. The French had to fight their way through the Russians and exit off the bridge for an outright victory. The capture of Brienne, the chateau and the destruction of the enemy all yielded points should that optimistic goal not be realised.

In order to make things interesting we factored in some weather rules. It was late January and it had been snowing so there was a chance it might again. The battle also started mid-afternoon with darkness descending quickly so time was not on Napoleon's side.

As usual I will let the photos tell how the game unfolded, and a tense close-run thing it was too. We diced for the weather and low and behold it was snowing lightly at the start, which reduced visibility to 24".

The armies deploy. The Russian reinforcements are not yet on the table. The French were faced with having to fight their way down the table!

Russian reserves marching towards the battle.

The Chateau de Brienne, garrisoned by three battalions of Russians. 

The town of Brienne was held by six Russian battalions and three artillery batteries. I kept one in reserve to the rear of the town. Cossacks and hussars can be seen beyond the town. Five further battalions of Russians were deployed behind the chateau in the woods.

Paul's cavalry division advances towards the town.

One of Paul's cavalry brigades; four regiments of dragoons.

The dragoons got too close to the town and took heavy casualties from our artillery before they were able to shake out into line. First one, then another, then another regiment broke and fled to the rear to escape the cannonade. Not a good start for the French.

The Russian cavalry were mainly cossacks so not a great deal of use in a battle. 

The setting winter sun cast long shadows on the ground as the French dragoons retreated, followed by several other cavalry regiments that were also caught by our massed artillery before they could deploy. At least there was room for their infantry now. The best part of an entire corps of French cavalry had been knocked out of the battle. Lots anyway.

A French infantry corps advancing along the road towards Brienne. I think there were some Young Guard in there somewhere but can't be sure.

There are an awful lot of French marching towards us.

Napoleon is on the field, more French cavalry have appeared, supported by even more infantry, many of whom start filtering through the woods to outflank our position.

Meanwhile our reinforcements are making slow progress.

The French had driven off a Russian battery that had been supporting the troops in the chateau and were now within striking distance. (Note, these were representing the Imperial Guard, but we were using the Dutch Guard as thats what was available).

The French assault on the chateau was strongly resisted but eventually they were able to drive the defenders from the chateau walls and break into the courtyard area.

In the distance French light cavalry, supported by skirmishers in the woods, can be seen driving off our cossacks.  A French division was also poised to assault Brienne. The church had been set alight, forcing the defenders to pull out, and our artillery was under fire from French batteries out of the picture and skirmishers. Eventually both Russian batteries were silenced and the French could attack without being blasted into next week with canister.

The Guard took complete possession of the Chateau, driving the entire garrison away broken.

The garrison of the chateau in the foreground streaming to the rear. Blucher had been in the chateau but left just before it fell. He and senior Russian officers are  planning a counter attack. Conrad's corps can be seen arriving in the far distance. The snow was still falling, and it was also starting to get dark so visibility was down to 12".

The French launch a charge to try and drive the Russians from the town, and successfully rout the defenders on the crossroads.

The euphoria of victory was short lived for the French in Brienne as the battery of guns I had held in reserve was in position to hit them as they tried to reform at the crossroads. They also took fire from troops in the remaining buildings. Darkness was falling quickly and visibility was down to 6", apart from troops within 12" of burning buildings who were illuminated by the flames.

The French were driven from the town, and their commander cut down by a canister shot.

Yet another French assault to clear the town of Russians. Night had well and truly fallen and time was running out for the French.

My Russian reserve cavalry held the ground close to the bridge. There was no place for them in the confusion of fighting in the dark and snow, illuminated only by the flames of burning buildings. 

In the penultimate turn the snow began to fall heavily, reducing all movement and visibility and preventing muskets from firing. I don't have a photo but the Russians managed to set fire to part of the chateau, and made a last ditch bayonet charge to try and dislodge the French. Sadly it failed, but it would only provide temporary respite for the French as more and more fresh Russian troops were available. Unfortunately with night time upon us and the weather deteriorating the battle was over.

The game was very close but it was a strategic win for the Russians and tactically a marginal Russian victory. To be honest it was the French who insisted that the Russians had won, as Mike had been inclined to give it to them, but who are we to argue.

An excellent game played with the usual good humour and necessary levels of sledging when appropriate (the verbal sort not the alpine variety). I quite like the rules (based Neil Thomas' set iirc) as they're very easy to pick up and give a good balanced game. I'd prefer Black Powder but that's just me. I'm quite taken by Mike's enormous collection of 1/72nd scale figures. I had always planned to replace my long gone Russian Civil War 28mm collection with 1/72nd scale plastics, and might just do that.

Assuming my back continues to improve I have another game on Friday. French Revolution somewhere in Flanders I think.

Yet more goodies from Helion

I thought Christmas had come early last Saturday as three books dropped on the doormat courtesy of my friends at Helion & Co. Here are my thoughts on the first.

Well Helion have done it again. This is the latest book in their 'Century of the Soldier' series and quite probably the author Bruno Mugnai's best to date. The Wars and Soldiers of the Early Reign of Louis XIV Volume 2 focuses on the Imperial army between 1657-87. It is a fascinating and informative read.

After setting the scene with a chronology of the seemingly endless list of wars, uprisings and sieges (43 in total that took place during the period under review, many of which I'd never heard of), the book then includes a further scene-setting chapter with an informative discussion on the House of Austria before launching into the administration and organisation of each element of the Imperial army (i.e. the high command, infantry, cavalry and artillery), as well as that of the Royal Hungarian Army and the Reichsarmee, which is dome in great detail. The next section of the book covers the Imperial army on campaign, from Poland and the Baltic between 1657-60, the Ottoman War of 1663-64, the many uprisings within the Empire between 1671-81, the War against the French along the Rhine and in the Spanish Netherlands from 1671-78 and the years leading up to the siege of Vienna in 1683. While entire books could and no doubt have been written on each of these campaigns the author provides more than enough information for both the casual and serious reader to garner a pretty good understanding of events as well as the 'whys' and 'wherefores' of each campaign. The section on the Ottoman War is particularly useful to someone, like me, with limited knowledge of this subject.

Finally (almost) we get a very useful section on the evolution of uniforms and standards of the army. This section is supported by sixteen gorgeous colour plates, depicting uniforms and flags from this period, all drawn by the author, with explanations of each at the back of the book. There is also a vast array of interesting contemporary black and white illustrations.

Completing this excellent volume are several appendices which include several highly useful orders of battle, the contributions (in men or money) of the various states to the Reichsarmee, and a list of Imperial regiments including uniform details where known. Overall this book is a gem. Well written and referenced, and judging by the select bibliography painstakingly researched. This is an absolute must for anyone interested in this era and the Imperial army whatever the reason.

Volume 3 of this series will cover the Ottoman Army, which I expect will be an absolute treat!

November progress update.

I realise that these monthly updates may well bore the pants off some readers, but bear with my self-indulgence please as this monthly tally is a great boost to the soul, and of course to the painting mojo. Anyway, I almost forgot to finish this update of stuff completed during November, but here goes. Much of my focus, well all of it actually, was on putting the final touches to the Sikh Wars game I put on (with some of my friends) at Battleground.

Completed (painted and based by me):
Troop Bengal Horse Artillery - 10 figures
BHA six-horse limber teams x 3 including converting suitable extra drivers
Camels and Camel-drawn limber and cannon
Bearers, artillery lascars, Civilians and sundry vignettes (approx 40 figs)
British Sikh Wars command stands x 3 (7 figures)
Bengal Native Infantry Btn 20 figs
European infantry Btn 20 figs
Sikh artillery battery- 18 gunners, 3 cannon
Assorted spare limbers, ammo wagons and water carts - 5
Vultures x 4 bases

Terrain items etc:
Painted 12’ of earthworks for Sikh Wars game (scratch built by friend Rob Anderson of Northumbrian Painting Services)
Various tents, market stalls, encampment bits for Sikh Wars
Raised gun emplacement and large redoubt for Sikh Wars game

Games:
3 incl demo game at Battleground

Shows:
Battleground Stockton

What next?

What indeed? I have a half a dozen or so more units to do for the Sikh Wars, mainly irregulars but also regiments of Sikh Dragoons and HM 9th Lancers. I’m in no rush and although it won’t suffer for them not being completed, I really want to put this project to bed and move on to tackling another part of the lead mountain. I can’t face making a start on adding to the Italian Wars figures I bought off eBay several years ago yet, but do fancy starting my TAG Renaissance Cossacks. Of some Americans for the War of 1812. We shall see. There’s always an odd French Revolutionary War unit to paint up, or French 18th century infantry.

War of Austrian Succession/SYW Saxon Cavalry

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At long last perhaps the final unit from the treasure trove under my table is completed.  The riders were done years ago but I've completed the horses from scratch in the last month or so, using the new Contrast Paints. Not impressed as although they work quite well on horses my one attempt using them on 'men' wasn't quite to my taste, apart from which I don't want to learn yet another new painting technique. I'm too old for that now.

Anyway, here we have the Graf Rutowski Chevau Legers. Iirc the figures are from Eureka Miniatures.

Leuthen refight. Result almost evens the score but still 7:5 in Austrian favour.

Its ages since we had a Seven Years War game so yesterday I staged my at least annual Leuthen refight, the anniversary of the battle being 5 December 1757. Conrad and Shaun played the Austrians while Dave J and I were the Prussians. By tradition Dave was Frederick. Paul S umpired as we were using his own Panoply of War rules rather than Black Powder or Honours of War. I had sorted out the orders of battle and troop characteristics. Essentially all the Prussians except the fusilier battalions were rated very highly, even the heavy and light cavalry, which may or may not have been too generous but this was the Prussian army arguably at its peak before losses wore its quality down. The Austrian Cuirassier  were also rated highly, while the Dragoons amd Infantry were classed as well trained experienced troops. Their Hussars and the Reichsarmee contingent were rated poor, the former as they were not ‘battle cavalry’ unlike their Prussian counterparts who definitely were. Units were scaled down from the original orders of battle at the rate of one cavalry regiment (24 or 30) on the table for every ten actual squadrons  and one battalion on the table for roughly every three or four actual battalions. Not all the Austrians featuring in the OoB were available; many had already been engaged and destroyed and others were still facing the original Prussian position or were en route to the battle an too late or knackered to join in.

Click here for a good account of the background and the battle itself.

Anyway, it all kicked off nicely on time and we set to it! In time honoured fashion the photos will show how the battle unfolded, except for a period towards the end when I was too absorbed in the game and forgot to take any.

Seen from the west, the distant Prussians are arriving en masse in the centre. Austrian hussars hold their right covered by their only artillery on Windmill Hill.

Leuthen church, hastily garrisoned by the Rot-Wurtzberg regiment and regiment of Austrians. The Reichsarmee troops can be just seen withdrawing from the oncoming Prussians.

The Prussian army advances in line after their momentous march around the Austrian left flank.

Me in my Frederick the Great hoodie. Don’t ask.

 The Prussian right wing under Zeithen line themselves up to attack the withdrawing and disordered Reichsarmee troops.

Prussian cuirassiers hit the disordered enemy. Despite taking quite a few casualties from closing fire the cuirassiers ride the Reichs troops down and smash into their supporting unit which is also destroyed

 The survivors of the Reichs brigade have withdrawn into the outskirts of Leuthen, while Conrad brings on the first three of five Austrian cuirassier and dragoon regiments. The Prussian dragoons are unable to hold back the wall of Austrian steel and are bundled back in disorder. The Black Hussars manage to stem the tide then one of the dragoon regiments returned to the fray recovered and pushed the Austrians back. The two Prussian cuirassier regiments make hard work of disposing of the Austrians facing them, but eventually the entire Austrian wing is shattered for the loss of two 'battalions' of the Black Hussars.

Meanwhile, over on the other flank Shaun had brought on his cavalry representing GM Lucchesi's  made dash from the other end of the original Austrian line. Prussian cavalry were hidden in dead ground ready to pounce, which they did. In a not totally one-sided affair the Austrians and Reichsarmée cavalry were shattered, leaving the Prussians victorious.

The second line of Prussians march in column move towards our right flank, just in case the Austrians were to prevail over our cavalry. Touch and go but thankfully they weren't needed.

The Austrian left flank has been routed, allowing the battered Prussians to recover.

The main street of Leuthen packed with Austrian Infantry.

This is where I got distracted. The Prussians had advanced as quickly as they could, (for that read as quickly as the dice allowed) stormed the  churchyard and  forced their way in, forcing the Rot-Wurtzberg regiment to retreat. The Prussians were poised to tackle the rest of the garrison when Dave’s howitzer managed to hit something for once and set the church on fire.

It seemed to be taking an awfully long time for the Prussians to get stuck in, but when they  did they drove all before them, occupying the eastern end of Leuthen and evicting yet more Reichsarmée troops in the process.

This one is for Shaun, who was told 'all you need is to get 3+ on ANY ONE of these four dice!

Seen from the West the Austrian hussars advance towards the Prussians. The sole battery of Austrian artillery can be seen on windmill hill.

A bleak looking Leuthen.

The start of a critical cavalry combat. If the Prussian hussars don't hold the Austrians will be in among their infantry and  the Prussian reserve artillery just out of shot to the left.

The Prussian hussars eventually overcome the Austrians.

Prussians and Austrians still locked in combat on the Prussian left.

The Prussian general assault on the eastern end of Leuthen.

Above and below, the village of Leuthen, packed full of Austrians and demoralised Reichsarmée infantry, and the church ablaze uncontrollably, forcing both sides to vacate the churchyard.

The outgunned Austrian artillery

Colonel Moller's Prussian reserve artillery. Mostly ineffective until the lucky howitzer shell set fire to the church.

All in all a tiring yet exciting game and a close-fought Prussian victory. The Austrians did well but their troops were outclassed by the Prussians. I'm less inclined now to think that I'd over rated the latter as the Austrians were in reality exhausted after their rapid march of several miles in some cases, passing their fleeing comrades, to reposition their line to face the outflanking Prussian army. I'm certainly warming to Paul's rules and I am keen to try them out again in another SYW game (I am almost ready with enough French for Rossbach), or maybe a French Revolution one. We shall see. Very many thanks to the chaps for coming down to take part in another trademark Big Burrow Game. I've yet another game here next Saturday, but it is a secret between me and the scenario organiser. You will have to wait.