Napoleon's last look at Borodino

The Xmas game was finally wrapped up. Below assorted Russian heavy cavalry units (top) faced off the battered French left wing (bottom), now a huddled mass of humanity rather than a rampaging legion. The only thing that deterred their slaughter was the fact they had been pushed so far back that they had inadvertently fallen upon French artillery support from the centre.

Rather humiliatingly the French "finish" positions were further back fro their "start" positions. The "big cheese" gives it his once over (see below)

Napoleon orders some of his "big cannon" to be used against the Russian Right if they advance any further. The Moscow City Militia are quite happy to stay in their newly liberated wood seeing as directly behind Napoleon is the start of his rather large Guard Column: Young, Middle and Old, plus various Cavalry formations. With no strategic incentive to "release the Guard" (other than to just to show off their factors),  Napoleon showed great strategic sense and self-control and stood them down for the night.

Summary:

A very grand spectacle, given as a Russian defensive tactical victory, having done better than history, without changing the course of history. A verdict on the rules was that although once learned they could play fast like their F&F precedents, the effect of artillery seemed out of proportion to historical simulation. In F&F ACW rules the more artillery you put into an attack the law of diminishing returns came into play (which was sensible and made players spread their fire - realistically), whereas the Fire Point factors made the effectiveness of Napoleonic artillery mathematically increase under Age of Eagle. Some modifications/review needs to be done here to reduce its effectiveness IMHO (or we had missed some important caveats in the rules).

Next:

ACW 1861/62 with perhaps Regimental F&F

Borodino Continued

I finally managed to roll a few dice in this epic mega game. For my sins I was made to play Russian on their right flank.

A plumb job as it faced a disintegrating French right wing :)

All it required was a gentle push, so the Russian forces streamed out of Borodino to counter attack.

The Russian Cossack cavalry (foreground) surged across the river into an empty vacuum. The Heavy Russian Cavalry (top) cross to face off the last French cavalry.

The French Cavalry which is now looking rather depleted and disordered after a last hurrah from a previous turn.

The one remaining French Fresh infantry formation (top right) standing in the Russian's way. The impressive array of French infantry centre top is actually a congealed mass of spent and worn French infantry who failed to take Borodino.

From behind the French lines a closer look at the huddled mass of worn French infantry. Four formations taking the area of what two would have been two at the start of the game. A French general looks on in apparent dismay.

No mercy, keep pressing the French line.

The fresh Russian Heavy Cavalry forms up to attack the French at their last defensible barrier. Spent French infantry hiding in the wood are an attractive target for the supporting Russian infantry moving up. Meanwhile Russian cannon limber and move across the river behind these troops too slow to make an impact at this time.

Finally that last French fresh infantry formation gets involved in a musket duel and is soon on its way to loosing its "fresh" status.

Meanwhile in the middle (Russian left and French right), dead ground is appearing as both sides are showing infantry fatigue in attack, as any unit attempting to cross is battered mercilessly by artillery. The bedraggled, spent Russian infantry unit is desperately trying to retire, while a reasonably looking French line infantry finds itself horrendously exposed for future turns.  

Another view of the clear water appearing between the two opposing lines (French left, Russian right this time). No man or beast wants to be the first across the void. Artillery have swept away units like a dust-pan and brush. Committing the French Guard Corps is not a very inviting prospect.

While on the left Russian flank, French Heavy (bottom) and Russian Heavy (top) cavalry clash.

As seen from the Russian perspective. Casualties are exchanged but no real "give" either way. It would have been nice to bounce through and hurt that French infantry but it was no to be.

Finally the Russians take the wood on my (Russian right) flank, with RAW militia (methinks their finest hour cometh) against spent French line. Captured in a photograph befitting the murky haze of battle.

Night descends in but five turns, so a winner (if that is the correct term) will be decided on objectives held and body count. The former is unlikely to change hands at this juncture while the latter will inevitably rise.

Prediction: A rather bloody "score-draw" with honours to the defenders of Borodino (Russian right wing) and the French infantry who cleared up to the "fletches" (French right wing).

15mm Borodino 1812: The BIG Xmas Game I missed (Russian)

Complementing the French perspective of the battlefield, the view from the Russian side is as follows:

The Russian Left:

With Cossacks out of the picture to the far, far left an impressive array of Russian horse lay to the left of the line, supporting the (now) last battalions of fresh Russian infantry. All artillery associated with the horse and reserve foot formations has been drawn forward into the defensive line.

The Russian Middle-Left:

The wreckage of battle shows retiring Russian artillery and infantry reserves pushed forward, with Russian cavalry engaged with their French counterparts in the area of the "little fletches" now mainly devoid of infantry. With the exception of two cavalry clashes the armies are having a respite before having another go.

The Russian Middle-Right:

The opposing armies are actively "still in contact" and much of the movement surrounds a vigorous Russian counter attack over gently rolling hills. The normal status of units now seems to be disordered and going from "Fresh" to "Worn". It is fair to say that there is still some mileage in this part of the battlefield yet and it all 'hangs in the balance'.

Borodino (foreground) and the Great Redoubt (background):

The former is completely untouched and the troops are relaxing playing cards and watching the spectacle of one abortive attack after abortive attack by the French infantry on Borodino. The Russians feel so safe here they are switching troops from the defensive position to help/support their counter attack in the right-middle. Not a living Frenchman in sight, as the troops that were defending Borodino are now attacking across the river and about to make a gigantic stir. 

The Russian Right

The Russian generals on the hill (above) confer on a job well done.

Artillery, horse and elite Russian infantry from Borodino preparing to attack across the river at the battered French left wing. To the right of this picture following a bend in the river is a Russian Cossack formation (hiding defensively in a wood) from the last fresh French formation, a cavalry Corp, so positioned if the above attack is successful it will receive a nasty blow in the flank. Off picture to the left are Russian militia units leaving their prepared defensive positions to try and join in the fight in the dying stages of the battle. Will this be their finest hour?

So. Will the French reverse on their left flank be offset with gains made in the centre or are the Russians about to take the French to the cleaners. More blood will flow and action is bound to spark on the all too quiet French Right/Russian Left.


To be continued ...

15mm Borodino 1812: The BIG Xmas Game I missed (French)

Note: Rules Used = Age of Eagles (Napoleonic Fire and Fury)
(I have to write it here as for some reason I cannot post comments, even to my own blog: moral of the story is never change passwords unless you really have to!)

The Battle of Borodino 1812

Nothing subtle about this, to make the Russians fight and not drift away, Napoleon had to resort to a stand-up slug-fest and attack a strong defensive position the Russians were confident of holding. No subtle manoeuvring here but a Grand Battery versus Grand Battery affair. 

Due to my hectic travel schedule and family commitments I missed the opportunity to participate in the Xmas session of the 15mm 1812 Borodino spectacular put on by my local club. However as the fight was still going on mid-January (the battle "game turn wise" is just over half-way) and is expected to finish late-January, I managed to play catch-up.

Circling round from the French far right:

A Corp of cavalry marking the end of the French dispositions, hiding in cover to avoid the attention of artillery (there seemed to be a lot of it about!). To the left of this formation (but to the right of the picture if you get it, as I am looking from the Russian lines) is a large formation or more probably "plural" of French (though of Germanic origin as per history) taking advantage of the cover from some woods. To be fair the eyes of the artillery are everywhere and they have fought and overrun the Russian advanced positions.

To the French right-centre:

Now from behind the French lines, the hidden French infantry mentioned above are to the right of the picture. Here we see a lot of reserve French cavalry and the immediate reserves of French infantry disputing the now empty "Russian central fletches". Yes the initial French attacking are mostly in the spent box off-table. The Russian infantry were systematically blown into "Spent" status before being attacked by French infantry. Nevertheless it was a bloody affair as the Russian heavy guns took a toll of the French line infantry, but the French are still pushing forward here, though losing momentum. The "Young, Middle and Old Guard" are to the left of this picture.

To the French centre-centre:

The pushed around terrains pieces tells their own story, as does the French infantry formation, now rallied but facing towards the camera (i.e. currently going a different way to the rest of the French Grand Army). The Russians are counter-attacking here, but the French are still relatively strong. The "Great Redoubt and the town of Borodino" are to the left of the picture, to the right are the contested "small fletches". The balance of power is about 50:50 here with the Russians taking casualties as they attack.


To the French centre-left:

The point of French crisis. The last fresh French infantry unit faces Borodino. Two whole Corps have been thrown against the town which is still in Russian hands. A point of French command-and-control controversy is building here as the commander on the spot seems to have been a serial gambler, and lost. The Russians are mounting a significant (if not ominous) counter-attack on now "very much" weakened French infantry.


To the French far-left:

Those of a French disposition or leaning in Napoleonics, but with a nervous medical condition should not focus on the picture or read any further. Fresh Russian cavalry and infantry are rushing out of Borodino to attack across the river. They have odds, artillery, a better status and combined arms in they favour. Draw your own conclusions. The only French reserve is a cavalry Corp facing off some nuisance value Russian Cossacks, however it is now being asked to face and attack in multiple directions.

The only French good news here is that it is so far away from the centre of the battlefield, the left wing is lost but that does not necessarily mean the battle is also lost. 

Summary:

It looks like both sides will run out of fresh infantry before the number of game turns runs out (bar the saga of the French left and Russuan right). The final position/resting place of the lines of spent infantry will decide the victor(?) of this blood-bath.

Nevertheless an impressive sight of wall-to-wall Napoleonics and I am looking forward to the prospect of rolling some dice to add a little contribution of my own to the proceedings