Battle Report - An Old School Battle

 Will came over for a gaming session on Sunday and for our first encounter I decided to pitch the French against the Austrians in a napoleonic encounter.  It was also a chance for me to get  the lovely Warrior Miniatures figures, painted by Jeffers, on to the table. I played the French and Will the Austrians.

Just for fun I went for small forces that were completely balanced.  The idea was that this would be a true battle of skill and some luck.  Each 'army' had five infantry battalions, one of which was light, one heavy cavalry and one light cavalry regiment, a general and a single battery.

There were no buildings on the table, just some small woods and low hills.  If some sense of reality was needed then I suppose this could represent the advance guard of two probing corps.  We used my in house Command & Colors rules.

The initial set up was as follows (seen from the Austrian side):

Both generals spotted the significance the large wood in the centre as French light and Austrian Jaegers raced for possession of area.  The Austrians got there first, but after a brisk fire fight they were ejected by the French light:

The line infantry on both sides began to move forward, with the French building on their right where they were countered by the Austrians.  The French Cuirassiers cantered forwards and forced an Austrian Regiment into square formation, slowing them down, but out of range of the French guns. The French cavalry pulled back again:

The French cavalry were active on their left flank too, their lancers attempting to drive off another Austrian battalion that was supported by Austrian Hussars.

Unfortunately for the French, Will, who is a master at swinging his cavalry around the field, attacks the French lancers in the rear with his heavy cavalry and drives them back.

Meanwhile..... over on the right, the French infantry make steady progress, supported by cavalry and light infantry

But it is on the left where a bitter struggle is taking place as the hard pressed French try to hold back a strong Austrian push.  The Cuirassiers are pulled away from the right to counter those pesky Austrian Hussars that threaten the French infantry

The arrival of the Austrian heavy cavalry on the left forces the French Cuirassiers to pull back, but the bold move by the Austrians brings them into range of the French guns where they are shattered by artillery and musket fire

The action now shifts to the centre as the French right wing gradually forces the Austrians back as they swing around towards the Austrian centre.  However, the Austrian battery and their remaining Jaegers cause casualties on the advancing French.  A dash by the French Cuirassiers to deal with the Austrian guns leads to their demise.

Another charge by the Austrian Hussars is beaten off by a French battalion that successfully forms a square, but the square is peppered by Austrian muskets and eventually destroyed.

French infantry attempt to assault the Austrian guns but are again beaten back grape shot, however a second French battalion finally clears out the Austrian Jaegers.

Both armies front up to each other forming two rough lines.  The French light hold the central wood where they pour a devastating fire onto the already damaged Austrian line infantry.

Still the French are unable to deal with the Austrian battery,  but the French are slowly winning the firefight

The collapse of the Austrian right of the line is sufficient to break the Austrian morale as they exceed their exhaustion point.  they call it a day and leave the field.

This was an excellent game and was thoroughly enjoyable as the fortunes of both sides swung back and forth.  This is the second time that I have played a game with just a few troops on the table and the results have been rewarding on both occasions.