Spencer Smith Zulus

 I got these figures out to do a little touching up and thought I would post some pictures.  These are charming, solidly made figures from the Spencer Smith range that are very easy to paint:

Old School Wargame - Battle of Leibnitz

 Another wet few days, so I thought it would be fun to have a quick wargame. I decided to base the action upon Neil Thomas's example battle of the same name in his book 'Napoleonic Wargaming'.  This game has eight units per side.

 I used my Warrior troops for this action, which include some very senior figures.  Two of the cavalry units were previously owned by the late Stuart Asquith and can be seen in action in December 2016 on Keith's Wargames Blog under the command of Stuart himself!

 The Russians have three cavalry, one artillery and four infantry  units,  The French have two cavalry, one artillery and five infantry units.  The battlefield looked like this:

The French are at the bottom of the picture.  The town of Leibnitz is on the left, occupied by Russian Jaegers. In the centre right is the Schiller Forest and below that is Mount Hegal, around which is positioned the French army.

The Russian plan was to pin the French between Leibnitz and the Forest and bring their cavalry and heavy infantry around the opposite flank.  The French meanwhile decided to bypass Leibnitz town and batter their way through the gap between the forest and the town.

The battle kicked off with the French adavancing on the left and pulling back on the right.

A French Battalion watching Leibnitz, defended by Russian Jaegers:

The French advance commences:

However, the Russian Cossacks charge and force the French Guard Battalion into a square:

The French guard are then hit by artillery fire and finally destroyed by assaulting Russian infantry - not a good start for the French.

On the opposite flank the Russians begin their move, with two infantry battalions (one Guard) and two cavalry regiments, one heavy.

Back on the other flank things begin to hot up. The French send in their dragoons to chase off the Cossacks and a line grenadier battalion charges the the Russian line battalion that was already damaged during the fight with the guard. The Russian infantry is destroyed:

Having defeated the Russian line infantry the French storm into the Russian gunners nearby and wipe them out too:

The French are much happier now, having seen off the Cossacks and destroyed  an infantry battalion and a gun.

On the other flank, things are also developing.  The French Chasseurs a Cheval attempt to fight off the Russian Cuirassiers, fail and then rout from the field leaving the French flank horribly exposed.  However, not waiting for support, the Russian guards storm into the French voltigeur battalion, causing some casualties and forcing them back.  This leaves the guards flank exposed and next turn they suffer heavy casualties from flank and frontal fire and rout off the field:

The French success is quickly forgotten as the two isolated units are threatened by cavalry and forced into square, whereupon they begin to take casualties from the Russian grenadier battalion that has moved into range:

The French dragoons now hurtle across to the threatened flank and begin a lengthy melee with the Russian Hussars, with neither side making much headway.  

Having seen the French dragoons depart the Russian Cossacks come into play once more and charge the now exposed French Grenadiers, who fail to form square and are destroyed:

 

During the same turn the Russian Jaegers emerge from Leibnitz to threaten the French left, supported by the Cossacks:

 Back on the right flank, one of the French squares collapses and routs from the field. This leaves the French gun exposed to attack by the Russian Cuirassiers, and despite heavy casualties the guns are swept aside. This final blow sealed the fate of the French, giving a 5-4 victory to the Russians. 

 

What a great game.  Sometimes it is the simple games that offer the most enjoyment.

 

Back to Basics - ACW Battle Report

I thought I should get around to posting the battle report for my recent ACW action.  The game was fast moving and fun.

The battlefield, with the Confederates (Rebels) converging on a crossroads of the turnpike, with a small Federal force holding it and a nearby river bridge, but with reinforcements on the way:

The action started on the Rebel right with an attempt to take the bridge, supported by forces already on the other bank. A vigorous battle began. The bridge was stoutly defended by Union sharpshooters supported by artillery, with reserves rushing up to assist:

Meanwhile, in the centre Rebel guns blast away at the Union artillery:

The Rebel plan was to put pressure on the Union left around the bridge, draw in as many reserves as possible and then carry out the main assault on the Union centre and right.

Throughout the initial few turns, the Union had rotten luck. losing most of the initiative tests, allowing the Rebels to batter their way forwards.

On the right the Rebel assault pushes forwards over the bridge:

And another Rebel brigade moves forwards in support:

After losing a Regiment while crossing the bridge the rebels continue to apply pressure, as the union sharpshooters break and a union gun is overwhelmed:

Union reserves continue to move up to the action, while the Union Iron Brigade commander orders one regiment to swing around to fire into the flank of the advancing Rebels:

This move causes some casualties to the Rebels, but their advance continues, sweeping aside the Union defences by the bridge, while the Union New York regiment is pushed back from the area of the crossroads:

At last the luck of the Union changes for the better. The Union reserves begin to arrive to support hard pressed units:

The Iron brigade continues to pour fire into the rebel flank:

At last the Union troops manage to stabilise the situation, with opposing battle lines slugging it out. Some of the Rebels begin to waver:

But, at this point the Rebel commander commits his reserves on the Union right as new columns of infantry advance:

The Rebels deploy into battle lines and supported by artillery, pour fire into the Iron Brigade. One Union Regiment is routed:

The Union forces break and those units that can begin to withdraw from the field and the Rebels gain control of the crossroads.  A major victory for the Confederates.

Back to Basics ACW Game Part 1

Having used hexes and Command & Colors mechanisms for the past year, I thought it might be fun to go back to some 'old school' style wargaming.  I have used my own rules, which I published earlier in this blog, that are based upon Featherstonian, Grant and Quarrie systems, but much simplified. I use coloured dice and measuring sticks for combat, D6 for initiative and casualty % for morale.

This ACW battle is not based upon any particular scenario, but sees three Confederate divisions converging at a crossroads on a key turnpike. However; the crossroads is occupied by a weak Union force, that is being rapidly reinforced. To add to the Confederates problems, one of their divisions is on the wrong side of a river and the only bridge is in Union hands.

Here is a long shot of the battlefield, Confederates on the left, Union on the right:

The area of the crossroads, held by Union troops:

 The area of the river bridge, also in Union hands:

The cross roads is held by a mix of Union artillery and infantry;

With Union reserves rushing towards the area:

Meanwhile on the Union right, the Iron Brigade, supported by guns and cavalry moves into position:

The area of the bridge is strongly held by sharpshooters and artillery, again with reserves moving forwards:

The action kicks off with an advance by the centre Confederate Division, moving directly towards the crossroads:

The leading regiment comes under fire from Union artillery at the crossroads and suffers some casualties - first blood to the Union:

To be continued.........................