French Revolutionary War of the Second Coalition:Suvarov in the Alps game set up

Well, I've set up my table for this week's game(s) set during Russian General Suvarov's campaign in Switzerland as he retired from Northern Italy to join with the army of General Korsakov. I shall be using Black Powder with hopefully the right attributes given to the troops involved. Although there's not a Toblerone in sight it looks reasonably like Switzerland according to the missus who lived there for a while,  but I've not given the table an additional liberal dusting of baking powder or snow scatter as it might interfere with players' breathing like it did last time I used it. The scenario is a tough one for the Russians who must attack across some dreadful terrain to continue their march through Switzerland. There's about a dozen battalions on each side plus some cavalry and a bit of artillery. I will post a picture of the terrain in the morning with a bit of luck.

Leuthen refought. Frederick demands a rematch.

On Thursday I organised a refight of  Leuthen using Honours of War. Robbie brought Dave Jarvis along, and Dave brought some very nice freshly-baked contraband in the form of some muffins. John was unable to make it unfortunately so Robbie played the part of Charles of Lorraine while Dave was Frederick and I was Zeithen. Those of a superstitious nature might have been interested to see that I had unwittingly given Robbie my mug depicting a scene from the Battle of Leuthen. Worse still, Dave had a Rossbach mug although I did have Hohenfreidberg. (Check them out on Amazon). The actual anniversary of the battle is on Monday 5 December but none of us were free on Monday, despite us being gentlemen of leisure. It's such a busy time being retired.

We've done this game a few times now (5?) using both HoW or Black Powder. In every occasion it's been a hard slog for the Prussians who have only managed to scrape a couple of marginal victories. I have always used the scenario described in Charles S Grant's Wargaming in History Vol 4 (without the table shift) which has always seemed to feel right in terms of troops numbers etc so I can only lay the blame for the Prussians lack of success on generalship, usually mine, of less than Frederickan quality. For this game we dispensed with the bounce through rule as I reckoned that the snow would negate the effect significantly. I've made an attempt at 'wintering up' the photos by fading them significantly using the app. on my computer. I've not yet mastered how to put falling snow into the pictures but I think they don't look too bad, and it certainly looks cold.

The battlefield at the start, with the Bavarian/Wurtembergers retreating having been driven out of Sagschuttz, closely pursued by Prussian horse.

Rot Wurzberg in the churchyard supported by other Austrian units as the Reichs troops retire.

Anhalt Dessau's troops enter the fray.

Dave's advance guard was slow in, er, advancing but my Cuirassiers on the right wing moved forward to threaten the retreating Reichsarmee units (representing the Bavarian and Wurtemberg contingents). The Prussian hussars in the centre seemed rooted to the ground and failed to respond to Robbies Austrian hussars who were sweeping round our left flank. Our main body arrived under Anhalt-Dessau and immediately thrust forward towards Leuthen. The reserve under Forcaide was delayed for a turn although the artillery did arrive on time,  it was very slow to deploy. Indeed if it were not for the two regiments of Prussian hussars sacrificing themselves the as yet unlimbered artillery could well have been overrun by the Austrian hussars who got dangerously close to doing so! But I am getting ahead of myself.

 Rot Wurzberg leave the safety of the churchyard. Why?

Meanwhile the Prussian cuirassiers take on the Reichs troops, already depleated following their ejection from Sagschutz. The Reichs battalions (two of them) are broken.

 In the foreground the Prussian horse are massed ready to take on the Austrian cuirassiers to their front. What followed was to follow was a most sanguinary combat with both sides taking a hammering.

 The surviving Reichs troops withdrew on Leuthen and formed a line of sorts to face the oncoming Prussians.

 Anhalt Dessau and Forcade's brigades enter the table and advance rapidly towards Leuthen.

 Serbollini's cavalry advance against the Prussian right.

 In the Prussian centre things are getting a little out of hand and confused. The hussars are being battered by the Austrian guns and are not getting their orders, the artillery is slow in unlimbering and the infantry is attacking too quickly and piecemeal. Grrrr! 

 The infantry in the centre clash. In a furious round of shooting and an impetuous bayonet charge both front ranks are shattered, which was not part of the plan if you were a Prussian.

 The Rot Wurtzberg regiment pays for stepping out of the churchyard and break as they face a brutal charge by Prussian grenadiers. They gave as good as they got as the already battered grenadiers are also broken.

 A large gap had appeared in the front lines of both armies, ripe for exploitation.

 The Prussian right wing cavalry were fighting a slow loosing battle against the more numerous Austrians, and despite some success, several units had been broken or driven back.

 In the centre the Prussian Guard successfully broke into Leuthen, driving off the Reichsarmee battalion that was taking refuge there.

 Another battalion of Prussians attacked the church although their supporting battalion was broken.

 The Prussian right is starting to buckle under the pressure.

 By this time the only Prussian brigade remaining unscathed was that of Forcade, who were making short work of the surviving Reichsarmee battalions whilst keeping one eye on the cavalry battle on their flank.

 The Prussians finally broke into the churchyard. Would they be in a good enough condition to hold it? No. A rapid counter attack by the Austrians drove them back out again.

 The Prussian left wing cavalry under Dreissen made their appearance on the flank of the Austrians, but the latter were able to turn and countercharge. Both sides took heavy casualties and the Prussians failed to break the Austrian horse.

 More Austrian cavalry appeared facing the battered Prussian left wing.

The main Prussian artillery battery had finally got into action and was starting to make its presence felt among the Austrian infantry and cavalry to its front. But it was too late.

By this time the Prussians had reached their army break point, due largely to the gradual disintegration of the cavalry on both flanks and the piecemeal infantry attacks in the centre. Frederick threw in the towel (well Dave and I agreed that we'd messed up). Then again we were well aware where we had gone wrong so there was something positive to drag from the debacle. Yet again the Prussians had failed to gain a crushing victory, and didn't even manage a minor one. Maybe next year. It was a good result and a hard fought game and credit must go to the Austrians for more than holding their own. The rules worked well, certainly we were starting to remember them much better, certainly better than the previous week. The 'house rule' we have reducing the range of effective canister feels right and the decision to ignore the bounce through rule for this game had no impact although if the Prussians had been able to get their artillery into action sooner it would have been useful. I'm much happier with the rules now. My one reservation is the fact that cavalry melees tend to be mutually destructive especially as one fights them until there is a result in one game turn. 

What next for Frederick? He falls back, passing the wreckage of his artillery and cart loads of wounded men.

Senility and death beckon..........

Well I hope not! Today I formally retire from Ofsted to become a gentleman of leisure. Actually I've been practicing for three years already but that's good in a way as I've become quite used to the life. It's great. Even with the arthritic spine and the daily dosing of opiates it is brilliant. "Whenever did I find the time for a job?" I ask myself.  Parts of my body might be operating at less than 100% but the brain still works away feverishly sending signals to the bits that do, as well as thinking up new ways to spend my enormous (not) civil service pension. More little men, more tufts, a new project, all of the above. More games too I hope, although more than one a week is probably being greedy and more than a bit silly.

Hosting a refight of Leuthen tomorrow as it's almost the anniversary of the battle (5 December 1757) but none of us do Mondays so this is as close as we can get. I shall of course report on the outcome.

The Battle of Wilson's Creek 1861 and the Battleground show.

Last Saturday we were at the Battleground show in Stockton. John and Neil were putting on a 10mm Sudan game while Robbie and I had decided to refight the Battle of Wilson's Creek, which took place near Springfield Missouri on 10 August 1861. The battle was relatively small and we were easily able to recreate both sides from our 28mm collections with each unit present on the day represented by a unit on the table. We used Paul Stevenson's scenario which appeared in issue 364 of Miniature Wargames, suitably updated to accommodate the new rules and so forth from Glory Hallelujah Black Powder supplement. The Federals were outnumbered in every arm but the Rebels had to get their act together and bring all their troops up as they were initially caught napping by the boys in blue. Worthy of note was the fact that nearly half of Robbie's Rebs were pretty useless Missouri State Guard armed with shotguns and that my Federals included two battalions of US regular infantry and a unit of regular cavalry. We played the game slowly and for the benefit of the punters otherwise it could well have been decided rather quickly.

 The battlefield. Federals on the right advancing on the Rebels who have been caught with their pants down and can be seen hurrying into action in the distance.

 The Federal left flank. This brigade was to hold the cornfield area and thus secure the Federal flank throughout the whole game.

 The Federal right flank, three battalions of volunteers stiffened by a battalion of regular and two sections of artillery.

 The Reb left flank was made up entirely of Missouri State Guard. They tried to pin my right wing from the front and then send a brigade around my open flank. Good plan. Well thought out. Shame that it was entrusted to the Missouri State Guard!

 More Rebs on the march.

 Back on the left, my cavalry had dismounted and were keeping the Reb cavalry at bay, despite being under close range artillery fire.

 US regulars supported by artillery and skirmishers holding the 3rd Louisiana and the rest of the enemy right flank back.

 Turn 6 and Rebel reinforcements arrive and head straight for the Federal centre which has been taking a slow walk towards the enemy for much of the game, and showing little interest in getting moving.

 Eventually the Federal centre are in position, about 4 turns late, but not too late as it turns out. 

 On the right the regular battalion shot up and broke a battalion of Missouri Guard that had tried to charge them but then found themselves a little exposed.

 Eventually the Missouri State Guard get on to the Federal right flank but I was able to reposition my artillery and withdraw my infantry to counter them.

 The Rebels had difficulty in shaking out into line from march column, which was to prove very costly to them as they were hit in the flank and one unit and one battery destroyed.

This battery just refused to give up its guns and fought to the end of the game. Very annoying.

Anyway, it was a fun good-sized game and the Federals managed to get a winning draw out of the day. The Rebels just ran out of steam and were unable to envelop the Federal right despite having superior numbers.

As for the rest of the show it was great. Quite busy I thought until the usual lunchtime decline in numbers. Lots of interest in our game and that of John and Neil, and there were some pretty good looking games dotted around the hall as well. As usual the trade was excellent in terms of variety and I caught up with quite a few old chums and acquaintances and made a few new ones during the course of the day. Here are a few pictures of a very small selection of the games on display.

 Top two are of the Brompton Bankers game. Very pretty and a bit silly.

 The next two are of a 1918 Kaiserschlacht game, Germany's last great offensive. Nice looking trench systems and troops.

 I don't know what this was but I liked the cardboard hills!

 Border Reivers' Cross of Iron game, featuring the attack of the T34s from the movie. Nice train.

Durham put on an 1866 Austro-Prussian War game, the Battle of Skalitz, one of the early battles of the war (the second day of the war I think) as the Prussians marched through Bohemia. It was very big and featured loads of beautifully painted troops, many lent to the group by yours truly for the occasion. The Austrians played the game using the historical tactics and this resulted of course in a historical outcome as their assault columns were cut down by rapid firing needle guns.

Some more troops for my Suvorov in the Alps project

I managed to get these based up over the past couple of weeks. I've now certainly got enough French for the time being and will very soon have Russians aplenty (once I've based them up of course). Tomorrow I hope to pick up my 'Alps' and a Devil's bridge off my mate Stuart. I'm also collecting some figures that I had to farm out recently as my arthritis has prevented me from painting at the rate I (a) want to, and (b) used to. Some of the pictures have an odd blue'ish tinge but no idea why other than blaming my lack of technical skills.

First up are some Russian commanders, a mix of Eureka and Trent.

Next some Austrian chevaulegers (Eureka)

 Another Russian commander. (Eureka)

 French generals. Eureka, Elite, Trent and the first one is Gringo 40's

 Completely anachronistic for the Switzerland campaign but I had to have a unit of ex-regulars in their white uniforms.

 The Polish Legion (Trent). I need to give them a flag though.

Tomorrow is the Battleground Stockton show, which I am looking forward to. Rob and I are putting on an ACW game - Wilsons Creek 1861. Say hello if you're there.