Waterloo 1815-2015
(Lone Star Historical Miniatures (LSHM) Game Group – San Antonio, Texas)
A group of us from Lone Star Historical Miniatures (LSHM) Group met up on the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo to refight the historic battle. We played the game on a 4'x 12' table arrayed in an L shape. The table covered the ground between Planchenoit in the south-east to Hougoumont in the west. We used 15mm miniatures and The rules set was Napoleon at War.
The British and their allies held the ridge and placed strong garrisons in the Hougoumont and La Haye Sainte and placed their Dutch and Brunswick allies in the villages of Papelotte, La Haye and Frischermont. The Prussian army was ready to enter the table on the east edge using a random entry roll of the dice.
The French began the game with a massive bombardment by all their artillery, they focused on the towns, villages, and farms garrisoned by the British and their allies. This was followed by an assault of French columns. This first wave was repulsed with heavy loss. The farm of La Haye Sainte fell by the combined artillery and infantry assault. All the while the French were massing their cavalry to attack the center. Hougoumont was fought over throughout the battle, but the British were able to hold on until the end.
The Prussians began arriving on turn 3 and the bulk of the army arrived on turn 4.
At this point the French committed the Guard to the battle. Their victim was the Brunswick brigade holding the ridge line between the village of Papelotte and La Haye Sainte. The middle guard was repulsed, but the two old guard battalions took the ridge. Further east between the La Haye Sainte and the Hougoumont the French cavalry assaulted the main British ridge, but was repulsed by the combined British Highlander and Guards brigade.
The day ended with heavy losses on both sides, but few brigades broken. The French held 6 of 10 objectives. Both sides claimed overall victory and a re-match is planned for the 201st anniversary!!!
This was the 3rd battle fought this week, we also played the battles of Ligny and Quatre Bras on Tuesday (16 June – also on the 200th anniversary).
