Battle Report - Essling 21 May 1809

 We had a busy few days wargaming this week.  Phil paid a visit on Monday - Wednesday and Will joined us on Tuesday.  We three enjoyed a few days of wargaming, eating along with some beer and wine.  In all we fought Essling, Balaclava, an 1866 Austro Prussian engagement and a Spanish Peninsula War action.

Our first battle was Essling.  

The French having crossed the Danube were counter attacked by the Austrians under Archduke Charles, and the pontoon bridges required by the French for supply and reinforcements were destroyed by the Austrians.  The French that had managed to cross the Danube established a defensive bridgehead using the two villages of Aspern and Essling as anchors.  Huge numbers of Austrians advanced to eliminate the French army. Several French attempts to break out had been beaten back.  

This game concentrates on the action in and around the village of Essling. The central feature is the village of Essling itself, with the enormous stone granary, forming a massive strongpoint:

The view from the Austrian side:

The battle began with some probing attacks by the Austrians; with some infantry that were raked with artillery and musket fire and light cavalry on the left, being driven off by French horse artillery:

The French light cavalry charged into the disorganised Austrian infantry sending them reeling:

The situation on the left is temporarily restored, but the Austrian heavy cavalry charge forward:

They are met and destroyed by French Cuirassiers and destroyed.

Austrian attention shifts to the right flank.  Three large columns advance towards the walled area known as the Long Garden, held by French light. The assault by the Austrians is checked but the French light suffer heavily.

The Austrians pour in more troops and eventually the French light are overwhelmed, giving the Austrians control of the French right. The French begin to organise a counter attack.

Supported by artillery, a second French light battalion advances on the long garden.

The Austrians counter attack and despite causing some more French casualties, they are destroyed.  A similar assault against the French artillery fails as the Austrian column is torn apart by close range artillery.

The remnants of the Austrian column pulls back into the long garden and is finally finished off by French infantry and artillery.  For the time being the Long Garden is secured once more.

Over in Essling village the French mount a small counter attack with two fresh infantry battalions, pushing back the Austrians before them.

The French counter attack is successful but they begin to suffer in the open ground outside the village.

The Austrians counter attack with their heavy cavalry causing more French casualties. The surviving French retreat back into the Granary.

The Austrian heavies are met by French cavalry and horse artillery, as well as musket fire from the buildings.  The Austrian horse dissolves

Suddenly it is all over.  Archduke Charles is shocked by the unsustainable level of casualties and begins to pull back.  The exhausted French take the opportunity to withdraw back across the Danube.  With a score of 8 - 4 to the French it is a resounding victory, however, most of the French units have casualties.

This was a great game that somehow reflected the historical action of 1809.  

All the figures are Warrior castings, originally from the collection of Jef, who was responsible for the wonderful painting.  The rules were used were Command and Colors, using the game cards rather than our usual action points methods.

A Clash in Spain - Battle Report

Will came to visit over the weekend and we managed to play a couple of games.  the first, and the most enjoyable, was an encounter between a French force against an Anglo Spanish army.  The terrain was very simple, with the action being fought across a shallow valley with the armies poised on the higher ground on each side of the table.  A few small woods broke up the otherwise open battlefield:

Each army consisted of around 10 battalions, four gun batteries, two heavy and two light cavalry regiments.  On the Allied side all of the cavalry were Spanish:

I played the Anglo Spanish army and Will the French.  I decided that I was going to glue myself to the line of small hills and allow the French to come on, which they did with an advance on my left flank, with some light infantry, supported by cavalry taking the small wood.  I deployed my horse artillery forward to harass  the french light infantry, but they were soon chased off:

The French light in the wood would be a pain for the rest of the battle.  The French attack developed and soon a major engagement began on my left.  Whilst all this was going on Will pushed some more of his infantry into the central copse, supported by his horse artillery.  My infantry and artillery blunted this move:

To maintain momentum, Will pushed forward his heavy cavalry brigade to threaten my centre.

One of the French dragoon regiments charged up the hill to take one of my gun batteries, but were beaten off by heavy fire.

The close proximity of the French cavalry forced my infantry to form squares  but the allied cavalry counter attacked.  I lost a Spanish Cuirassier regiment and Will's troops were pushed back, losing his horse artillery in the process.                                                          

Over on my left, more French infantry infiltrated the woods and fired upon my exposed British battalions:

The slow attrition of the battalions on my left flank continued but despite the heavy casualties the British battalions clung on as Will brought his cavalry across to support that flank.

All the time the guns from both sides pecked away at any exposed troops.  The french attack in the centre melted away following a stout defence and some effective counter attacks by Spanish cavalry

Over on the left The British brigade had been reduced to just one effective battalion and so I moved a Spanish regiment across to bolster the position.

Although my left flank was very much reduced Will was weakened too, especially in the centre, where his attack had all but failed. Attention now shifted to my right flank, which up until now had seen no action, with the Spanish battalions largely untouched. Will threw his cavalry forward with three battalions, but my two artillery batteries and  Spanish infantry regiment Muerte blunted this move.

With the French centre now exposed Spanish dragoons thundered forward and swept away a French battery.  This led to the French reaching their exhaustion point and they began to withdraw from the field

This was 'a close run thing' for the allies, as someone else said.  The result was an Allied victory at 8 - 6.  All the figures used, apart from a couple of generals were by Warrior Miniatures.  The rules were our own adapted Command & Colors set.  It was a fun game that had us both engaged until the very end.

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.