Sunday, March 08, 2015

Napoleonics at Molesworth

Dave & Chris' British v. Jim & Mark's French

The French had 4 infantry & 2 cavalry brigades, the British 4 infantry & 1 cavalry brigade.  The battle started with dice rolls determining that the British had 4brigades the table at the start, the French 3.  The remaining brigades were to come on turns 1 or 2 depending on further dice rolls.  Deployment was governed by alternately moving the brigade commanders only until each came to 36" from the enemy when they were locked.  The brigades were then deployed behind their leaders.
 The French are coming on from the right.

After turn 1 the French guard brigade has come on behind their centre while their cavalry hasn't showed up.   The British cavary also hasn't showed up.

The British cavalry has been brought on the plateau on the left side.  The French light cavalry was brought on in the centre, but is moving to the left.  Both sides are advancing on the other flank.  The French have moved their Guard & Cuirassier brigades to support their right.  The British had some command trouble in the centre allowing the French to get into the village.

The British cavalry have advanced down the near flank while the French light horse dither.  On the other flank there is a general fire fight.  The British centre is still advancing only slowly.

After getting the worst of the fire fight, the French line infantry has fallen back, but the French have committed the guard in a massed column attack on the British line.

On the far flank, the French Guard has smashed a hole in the British line though an attempt to widen it with a cavalry charge failed - repulsed by defensive fire by a British line.
The British light infantry brigade is putting pressure on the French centre. 
The French left is being overlapped while their light horse still dithers.

On the far flank the French are exploiting the hole in the line where a British Brigade was broken & the brigade on the far end of the line is in big trouble.
The French centre is holding on despite heavy losses to riflemen.
On the near flank the cavalry finally got to grips with the French winning the first clash, but British infantry has come up to support their horse.

On the far flank the British guards are still holding on, but suddenly the battle has been decided on the near flank.  The British infantry attack on the square was left unsupported when other infantry refused to advance and the British cavalry was broken by the French horse.  A counterattack by the French infantry on the hill combined with converging musket & artillery fire broke the British infantry on their right.  The Brits then had lost 3 brigades of 5 and their army broke.  The French had lost no brigades.


1 comment:

Mike B said...

Outstanding table and figures, great post!
Greeting from Old South Wales!