Perhaps some more Black powder gaming before Xmas? Played an Abysmal game from the french point of view tonight - Rolled 3 blunder rolls in 5 turns - we did the artillery wrong forget the differentiation dice at close medium and long and probably had too many guns on the table. But I have all this artillery I hate to just sit there unused. Anyway Andy and I basically had to start over from scratch because we both had forgot everything we learned in 4 months since we played in August. Initial depositions for both sides
Russian Orders
The Four Bridges at Mantua – Brigadier General Tokeyesvich commanding
The year is 1794, and you command a force of 14 units moving to relieve the Austrian garrison besieged in the fortress Mantua you can expect no artillery support ort from the fortress as their supplies are running low. The Upstart French General Bonaparte has been making a name for himself at the expense of your Austrian Allies Situation - You have been at Mantua Mountain since early this morning. Your force has been sent ahead of the main Russian army with orders to seize the bridges and all crossings of the River Mantua at St. Mantua tuscany. You are supported by a force to the East, commanded by Brigadier Crown Prince Ifan, which is seeking to seize a ford over the Mantuasky tributary. Mission - Your mission is to seize the bridge crossing at Mantua, and thus allow the remaining army, which follows, to turn the French armies flank, and proceed with the march on Milano. Limitations - The Bridges must be taken intact – there is no bridging capability nearer than a week away. Reinforcements will not reach you for one day, and thus you must be able to hold the bridge, after taking it, against a possible major counter attack. Forces - These should be kept secret. These comprise about 14 units of mixed infantry and cavalry.
You ordered forward a scouting party onto Tuscany village last evening. They reported seeing the following troops – in the areas marked A, B and C -a mounted unit of hussars on the low, long hill opposite Mantua mountain, at least one enemy infantry unit in front of the bridge, and activity on and around the bridges. The Fortress Mantua is near the (A) Your troops arrived under cover of darkness, and but were delayed as you rested with your mistress in the Local tavern (4) but are deployed and are ready to march on in line and assume positions along the river entering the board on the south-west side. Bridge Preparation- Men appear to be preparing the bridges for demolition. Time is of the essence if your objective is to be achieved. Maps of the area are poor so accuracy of your dispositions is questionable – your troops are at 1, 2 and 3
Russian OB
1st Brigade - Left flank
2 Battalions of Grenadier infantry
deployed Skirmisher battalion
one light battery 2 guns
2nd Brigade - Center
4 battalions of Line
1 Light Battalion
1 Grenadier Battalion
4 Medium Guns
3rd Brigade - Holding right flank (3)
Lancer regiment
Hussar Regiment
2 Light battalions
1 Horse artillery battery - 2 guns
Reserves - diced for each turn arrived turn 5 - No impact on Game
3 Battalions - Line
2 battalions - Grenadiers
French Orders
The Four Bridges at Mantua – Brigadier General Bellasario commanding
The year is 1794, and you command a force of 14 units moving to stop the relief of the Austrian garrison besieged in the fortress Mantua you can expect no artillery support from the fortress as their supplies are running low. The Upstart French General Bonaparte has been making a name for himself at the expense of the Austrian and Italian Allies
Situation - You have been at Mantua Little Mountain since early this morning. Your force has been sent ahead of the main French army with orders to seize the bridges and all crossings of the River Mantua at St. Mantua tuscany. You are supported by a force to the West, commanded by Brigadier General Bonaparte, which is seeking to seize a ford over the Mantuasky tributary.
Mission - Your mission is to seize the bridge crossings at Mantua, and thus allow the remaining army, which follows, to turn the Allied armies flank, and proceed with the siege of the Fortress Mantua.
Limitations - The Bridges must be taken intact – there is no bridging capability nearer than a week away. Reinforcements will not reach you for one day, and thus you must be able to hold the bridge, after taking it, against a possible major counter attack.
Forces - These should be kept secret. These comprise about 14 units of mixed infantry and cavalry.
You ordered forward a scouting party onto Tuscany village last evening. They reported seeing the following troops – in the areas marked 1, 2 and 3 -a mounted unit of hussars on Mantua mountain opposite Little Mantua mountain, at least one enemy infantry unit in front of the bridge, and activity on and around the bridges. The Fortress Mantua is near the (A) Your troops arrived under cover of darkness, and but were delayed as Bonaparte rested with his mistress in the local church (3) but are deployed and are ready to march on in attack columns and assume positions along the river entering the board on the North East side – your troops are at A, B and C.
Bridge Preparation- Men appear to be preparing the bridges for demolition. Time is of the essence if your objective is to be achieved. Maps of the area are poor so accuracy of the enemy’s dispositions is questionable.
French OB
1st Brigade - Left flank
2 Legere battalions
3 Line battalions
1 Howitzer battery 2 guns
2nd Brigade- Center left
Cuirassier Unit
Hussar Unit
Light Cavalry Unit
1 Horse Artillery battery 2 guns
3rd Brigade -Center right
1 skirmished Light battalion
3 Ligne battalions
2 Foot Batteries - 2 guns each
4th Brigade Right Flank
3 Ligne battalions
Brief discription pictures to follow after map French forces advance to the river but were decimated by Allied artillery fire - Allies occupied their high ground positions. French Skirmishers in intial deployment broke on their first break test roll. Allied artillery fire broke unit after unit - First die roll was snake eyes - hussar unit broke immediately just from one phase of artillery fire. After that everything was down hill for the french. A total of 2 cavalry units broke from artillery fire break tests, as did 5 infantry units. We were able to do one melee which because of the 6 inch support rule the Allies won and the defeated Swiss unit broke.
Definitely need to use some modified version of these break test rules. Also blunder rules really put a hurt on deployment. One blunder move put my mixed cavalry brigade right in front of my 1st Brigade artillery as well as placing limbered horse artillery in the line of fire for artillery - which then broke on its break test from suffering artillery fire. Also initially the Swiss brigade failed to advance so the only Brigade that actually engaged was the Center Brigade with the 4 guns
As promised pictures of the awful French defeat - Blunder roles are featured - with adaptation amendments sure to follow in due course - only one blunder move per phase and a break test rally recovery rule as per amendments I have seen on line. Especially for units breaking with low casualties. Already wondering about markers for recoverying routers?
Extra command stands marked Rally on me similar to Follow Me rule!
the initial break test - Snake eyes from artillery fire only one casualty was inflicted
where the nicely uniformed Russian Hussar officer located
used to be a Russian Hussar Unit - granted playing as french.
the French Center brigade advances audaciously to seize the center bridges
The Skirmishing battalion that broke from its initial break test after recieving 4 casualties
French Brigade artillery finally getting into action
Spanish Elite battalion moving up to sseize the bridge crossing
the Spanish held off a column charge by swiss infantry
The Far right Brigade never got into action the entire game
The First BLUNDER MOVE right in front of the artillery
The Cuirassiers would soon be following the Hussars off the battlefield
The SECOND BLUNDER move roll
Finally the Third BLUNDER MOVE ROLL
Final total
French Units Broken
2 Cavalry
5 Infantry
1 horse Artillery
Allied Units Broken
1 Grenadier Battalion
2 Line Battalions
Allied victory
