"Guess which battle this is!" Topic

I just did a blog post which this group's readers might find intriguing. Here's the first half of it:

It is mid-June. The continent is in turmoil. Nineteenth-century Europe's crowned heads are combining to crush an upstart; their overwhelming forces are converging on a defiant nation-state. The latter's commander-in-chief decides to exploit his central position and interior lines to defeat his foes in detail. He plans to attack the enemy army to his northwest before that arriving from the northeast can join it.

He has the advantage of surprise. Unfortunately, some of his most trusted lieutenants from previous campaigns are no longer with him; his new subordinates are gallant but promoted to unfamiliar roles, their actions are indecisive and uncoordinated; soggy ground hampers his advance. Part of the enemy army fights an initial delaying action, one of his corps fails to reach the battlefield in time, and surprise is lost.

Still, the dice are cast and the battle must be fought. He attacks the enemy army, but again, part of his force is on a wild goose chase and ineffective. His climactic assault is pressed hard but cannot break the enemy. The first troops of the enemy's ally arrive and turn the tide, he is forced to turn from attack to defence. A rocket battery plays a cameo role. Enemy numbers are now too great, the battle is lost, and his army reels back, defeated.

You can find the answer on the blog:
link

Chris

Bloody Big BATTLES!
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Well, its not Napoleonic that's for sure

Without looking at the link I am guessing it is Leipzig (The Battle of Nations) re rocket battery.

Agreed it's Leipzig

From the OP

<<<It is mid-June. The continent is in turmoil. Nineteenth-century Europe's crowned heads are combining to crush an upstart; their overwhelming forces are converging on a defiant nation-state. The latter's commander-in-chief decides to exploit his central position and interior lines to defeat his foes in detail. He plans to attack the enemy army to his northwest before that arriving from the northeast can join it.>>>

Leipzig was fought in October, not June.

It's not Waterloo either, that would be too obvious.

Waterloo

I am guessing something to do with Garibaldi?

Damn, got it wrong.

I figured the Austrians had be involved, since there was a rocket battery. But that was the only thing I guessed correctly! I admit I'd never even heard of that battle.

What is really odd is that I dug out my copy of BBB just to reread for fun this morning, then I read this post.

Interesting. good read

"Interesting. good read"

Thanks. I hope I intrigued, amused and informed y'all with my historical nugget. Anyone who spotted Waterloo as the obvious (but too obvious) answer deserves a point anyway. Tony S, have a point for guessing Austrians were in it. :-)

Now you can all impress your fellow Waterloo buffs by citing its obscure twin.

Chris

Waverley?

"Waverley?"

Tres drole. Have a bonus point.

Perhaps a better twin for Waterloo is Sekigahara:
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Chris

I can now report that the BBB scenario for Pered 1849 (the Hungarian Waterloo, if you will) gives a thoroughly entertaining game. Both sides have several important choices to make; the two 'night intervals' for reinforcement and redeployment allow the players to make fresh plans during the course of the game; both sides can gamble and commit extra reserves if things are going against them, but with a higher risk of the enemy getting fresh advantage later, a kind of self-equilibriating mechanism. Our game came down to the last dice on the last turn and was an exciting tie. The boys are very keen to try this one again as it is full of replay value!

I have therefore given it special treatment and posted it on Flickr
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as well as in the BBB Yahoo group.

Chris

Bloody Big BATTLES!
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bloodybigbattles.blogspot.com