Friday the 6th of January saw the first game of the year at New Buckenham Historical Wargamers get off with a Napoleonic bang with this warm up to the main battle to be played the following weekend.
The French advance was very tardy, but the rapid advance of the French light cavalry on the right forced some British light companies into square. The attendant horse battery struggled to bring it's guns forward over the Portina stream but three French Btns did for the square with deadly volleys of musketry. More and more French infantry now gained the Portina and engaged the British light infantry screen in an uneven duel that saw the latter largely defeated across the field. General Villatte's division advanced but little, as it did on the day, but attendant cavalry under General Merlin advanced with abandon, the Vistula Legion lancers leading. They were hit severely by British artillery and forced to retire, with casualties heavy among the Polish horse. On the British left the 14th and 16th light dragoons formed up and the 14th counter charged the oncoming Chasseur a Cheval. The French horse were defeated and sent into disarray. The French horse battery, still negotiating the Portina, only just saw the danger and rapidly pulled back it's guns toward friendly infantry.
With this last action, the umpires called the game. Both sides cannon had done some good work, the British cannon on the right particularly, and the French were happy to have seen off the British light infantry screen that may well have consequences for the British next weekend ? The French Btns were deemed to have retired from the Portina, far from defeated as they were on the actual morning attack, and ready for the main action next weekend.
A few photographs of the action.
Ruffin advances
The British await
The French reach the Portina stream
The Vistula lancers get a whiff of canister
For more photos see the clubs
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paints brigs for the British fleet.
