Over the last year or two a group of us at the Dorchester club have been playing a good deal of Black Powder and Hail Ceaser games - many using our now vintage collections. Enough to provide some tactical challenges, and to keep us amused for 2 or 3 hours, often at the premises of Entoyment in Poole. Here we can rent a table and get basic refreshments, and of course add yet more figures and scenery to our stockpiles.
Up until now we have played encounter battles using competition style table set ups. Fine games they have been. But. We are getting a little jaded and need to sharpen our tactical nous from time to time and so at Chris's suggestion our latest game was based upon CSG's Teaser 16 - Reinforcements in defence.
The Prussians were holding a ridgeline somewhere south east of Brussels - probably not far from Ottigny. they had a brigade of infantry supported by 2 batteries and an attached Dragoon regiment. Marching to their support was a British force consisting of a mixed cavalry brigade and an infantry brigade with 2 batteries of RA 6pdrs. Attacking was a small french Corps consisting of a Division of two strong brigades of infantry, and a Cavalry Division comprising Dragoon brigade and a Light Cavalry brigade. Whilst the Infantry had about 3 batteries their was no horse artillery. The rules used were Black Powder 2, because we wanted to see how effective they were in thos smaller battle setting. I have to say that they provided us with a reasonable result in a game lasting about 6 turns. The scenario allowed for 12 turns for the French to seize the ridge line.
The infantry advanced - well one brigade did, the second kept on misunderstanding its orders and so only moving at a snails pace because it was in attack column. The french cavalry was sent on a flank manoeuvre intending to turn the open right flank of the Prussians. Partly their move was obscured by a wood, and they had not seen that the Prussian Dragoons were supporting the flank. The French charged, countercharged by the Dragoons who were initially pushed back by the superior numbers. However the French followed up too far and were defeated in the second round. The arrival of British Light Dragoons in the nick of time provided support to the Prussians and the French Dragoons broke - throwing 4 on the reaction table. Aggressive handling of the Allied cavalry saw the French Division driven from the field. Meanwhile the first french infantry brigade stormed forward and attacked the Prussian line. Only to be shot to a standstill by the Fusiliers supported by a battery of guns. Since the second French Brigade were still in a mess no help was forthcoming. It was left to provide a rear guard whilst the French reorganised beyond the baseline. All in all a sharp and enjoyable action - unless you is French of course! But they will no doubt have their revenge another day.
