1813: Things look bad for France!

Today Rafael, Graham and Steve (Norseygamer) Dix visited Goldhanger for a Napoleonic game using the In the Grand Manner Rules. 

A general view of the table showing the key bridge that was to form the objective for both sides. 

Farmer Dan has got some part time work at the local sawmill. Therefore he started his day walking over to the mill. 

 Dan is also has archery as a hobby so always carries his quiver with him.

 Time to get the logs split by the end of the day. I hope I don't get distracted.

 Back at the bridge a member of the French staff arrives to take a look at the area

 Other senior French officers arrive. It seems too quiet.

 General Binot sees something move in the distance. As hes suspected it looks like the Austrians and Prussians are heading this way 

 The Division of French Allies rush forward to take up position. 

 Rafael consulting the rules

 The French Allies surge forward in two columns. 

 On the French left flank Graham deploys the French Division

 The Prussians are also marching into position 

 The Austrians are also deploying. A lot of cavalry trot on in the centre.

 The Irish Legion have deployed into line with skirmishers deployed 

 A regiment form Colberg-Salfield also hope to play their part.

 An overview of the game at about 12.30

 A view of the Austrian lines

The Irish Legion has already seen off an attack of Austrian Hussars but now their Uhlans charge the Legion

 German Infantry also march forward in column

 More Austrians in column march forward, this time they are heading for an Italian regiment. 

 The French on the left flank begin their attack

 The Uhlans charge home!

 They burst  through the Irish Legion and cut down more than half of them

 Gaps are appearing in the French lines.

The Italians face two Austrian regiments.

 The fighting begins

 The Austrians win the fight

 Again the French face twice as many Austrians

 The Colberg regiment is charged by Austrian Dragoons

 They are cut down

At this point we closed the game down. Clearly an Austro Prussian victory. A lot of fun during the day for all involved. I was too busy facing the Austrian advance to get pictures of what went on in other parts of the battlefield. Additional pictures are to be found on Norseygamer that show a lot of the Prussian and French struggle. Well done chaps a good day!

A Clash in Southern Italy

At the club today Rafael continued to teach Wesley and myself how to play DBR. The game was set in Italy during the Italian Wars and was between a French army led by me and Neapolitan Spanish force led by Wesley.

This is one of my commanders.

A formidable force of Pike and shot from Picardy

Mounted crossbows to help crush the Spanish cavalry

Sadly this force of Swiss mercenaries was not used to the best in this game. Very little impact on the enemy and they spent the game generally being shot to pieces. Poor generalship on my part.

Swiss commander who clearly felt he was not being paid enough for this battle

The pride of the French army. A considerable force of Gendarmes

The Spanish army looks ready. Wesley seems to be making his fingers march up and down behind his troops to show them how it is done.

Spanish Galleys on the river nearby hope to cause devastation to the French forces

The French plan to crash the Spanish right while holding their left. 

The French Pike move off

A view from behind the Gendarmes

The Swiss also look confident.

No Spanish in front of them at the moment

The Galleys are readying themselves for action

The battle can be seen in the distance

So there are some Spanish troops behind the hill

The Spanish troops look ready as do their light guns

The Spanish also have a strong force of cavalry on the other flank

The cavalry clash on the hill. My plan is to defeat the Spanish quickly and then roll up the rest of their army.

The French Pike continue to march forward.

A bit of redeployment to help the Swiss

The Spanish line continues to look strong.

Spanish Gendarmes move forward

Some Italian Elmeti will help them

Pike blocks begin to close on each other

Formidable Spanish Pike block

A general view of the french right flank.

The Swiss are attacked in the flank

Both sides cavalry fight each other to a standstill

Gendarmes find it hard to see who is on which side!

Yet more Spanish Pikes

Final overview of the shattered French forces. Cavalry on the left flank failed to move fast enough to save the day. Casualties mounted and in the end the Swiss were cut to pieces. Time for the French Gendarmes to head for the hills. A good game that kept us engaged for several hours. The figures were all form Rafael's superb collection of Renaissance troops. I have now purchased a set of the rules so hope to make better progress next time!