The Corlears Hook Fencibles played a game of the 1859 battle of Montebello last night using the Bloody Big Battles rules. This is a small battle (for these rules) and was used mainly as a training game for Jay, our newest recruit – though we have known him for many years. It being a small game, we played it twice. The game rewards play by the French that would be rash in most circumstances. Any turn that the French do not assault the Austrians results in a Habsburg roll for variable reinforcements. The French are more mobile, better shots and fiercer in assault. There are plenty of Habsburg troops.
Jay took the Habsburgs for the first game opposed by Rick with the Franco-Sardinians. The game began with the ritual assault by the Sardinian cavalry. It was repulsed. The lead Austrian unit rallied, formed line, and blew the cavalry away.
The 84th Line ran into Montebello, still in road column and suffered losses from rifle fire. Emboldened, the Austrians swarmed forward and stormed Montebello by sheer weight of numbers.
The French ceased bayonet attacks while waiting for the rest of the division to show up.
Then the 84th charged and drove the Austrians back a short ways. No variable reinforcements that turn.
This seemed to invigorate the French CO and assaults were launched all along the line…
with sunning success, aided by lousy Austrian dice. (Asutrians in photo are misspelled Austrians. Why does this become obvious after saving?)
Second brigade could not exploit again, but First brigade could and did, into Montebello.
A late Austrian bid for a tie was stopped by a shadowing French force.
The last Austrian gasp failed.
The game lasted 2 hours and 15 minutes. French losses were 1 infantry, 1 cavalry (1 ran away). Austrian losses were 8 infantry stands gone, most of them in hard-hitting French bayonet assaults.
Jay switched side and took the French. I settled into the Habsburg role. The first cavalry attack was dispersed with bayonets and point blank fire. The usual reinforcements paraded over the bridge.
The French kept their distance and I organized a line.
The quiet didn't last.
You may detect a theme here. I didn't until it was too late.
I got too involved with a weak spot in the French right center.
We had traded queens, ending with a tie. The game lasted about 85 minutes. Austrian losses were 2 infantry and 1 artillery stand. The French lost 3 infantry (1 ran away), 1 cavalry (1 ran away) and 1 artillery stand.
I must really check my photo captions. I have found various ways to spell Austrian.
makes models of models of models...
