With the anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo last Thursday we decided to ‘do' Waterloo. We would to play our game with 6mm figures on 40mm x 20mm bases representing Brigades using Blucher Rules on an 1800mm x 1000mm playing field. So, with around 1500 little soldiers o the table we went for it!
Dave controlled the Allied Army, George the Prussians and Marcus and I took command of the French. The battle began using the armies historical deployment!
Initially the French made a wide flanking move on the Allied right while masking Hugomont. This turned into a major battle involving two French Infantry and one French Cavalry Corps. Against this the Allied Army arrayed their I and II Corps as well as the Brunswickers and a good portion of their Cavalry.
To distract the French from this major offensive a British cavalry feint was launched against the French right while Bijlandt's Brigade launched an assault on the French Grand Battery (this madness must surely have been ordered by the Prince of Orange!). Both of these attacks were repulsed by the French.
At this point the arrival of the Prussians forced the French to deploy a cavalry screen to slow them. This screen made up of two Light Cavalry Divisions and the IV French Cavalry Corps proved very effective and held the Prussians until late in the night when the Guard Cavalry was deployed to relieve the depleted units and maintain the screen. Effectively the Prussians were out of the battle at only a slight discomfort to the French.
Meanwhile the French I Infantry Corps attacked the Allied left and in a seesaw struggle crested the ridge and captured Le Haye Saint! The Allied Army was under immense pressure at this point with gaps in the lines and many units out of action but they held together long enough to be saved by the fading light.
The arrival of darkness brought the action to an end!
The result: The Allied Army had taken heavy losses and had lost control of the Mont Saint Jean Ridge while the Prussians even though they had advanced aggressively had not broken through the French lines. The French at the end of the day commanded a central position the entire Guard Corps intact, the infantry of the VI Corps was still fresh and of course in the morning Grouchy's men would be available having defeated Thielmann's Prussians at Wavre. Both sides would have to finish the punch-up on the 19th!
The Casualties…
The Allies; 10 units lost and 1 retired, with a Break level of 11!
The Prussians; 1 unit lost and 1 retired, with a Break level of 11.
The French; 9 units lost and 6 retired, with a Break level of 19.
Here's some pictures!
The initial battlefield from the French side…
The French moving around the Allied Army's right flank…
Napoleon near his headquarters at La Belle-Alliance directing the Army of the North…
D'Erlons Corps advances majestically toward the Mont Saint Jean Ridge with most of the Allied reserve shifted to their right, Jacquinot's Cavalry can be seen cresting the slope!
The Prussian II Corps advances behind Von Bulow's troops, Frischemont is in the top left of the picture…
The battlefield as night fell the depleted armies positions can be made out, from the west it can be seen the Allied army has been driven from the ridge six Brigades can be made out being pressed back by the French VI Infantry Corps. The Hugomont garrison is isolated. The 3rd Netherlands Division is in the lower left of the picture and the French Imperial Guard can be seen still in reserve behind La Belle-Alliance…
From the east view the Mont Saint Jean Ridge has been cleared but Prussians can be seen approaching in force. The Allied garrison of Papelotte/La Haye is still in position…
The full AAR with lots of pictures are on the TSOG Blog…
link
Cheers!
gets started with Flintloque.
