The Battle of Faux-Illy, 15mm Franco-Prussian Wargame Part 2.

.....anyway on to the last part of the game and the first moves.

Just a brief synopsis of the rules as they affect the players as I saw them.

1.Cavalry in line get hit by muskets and artillery on a 2 on a D6 (automatic hits if they are in column!!), don't put your cavalry anywhere near infantry or artillery (difficult).

2. French infantry fire at 18" compared to 12" for the Prussians, Prussian artillery is better (longer range and shell).

3. 2 actions for all units, 2 moves, 2 fires (second fire is minus 1) or a mixture of these.

4. Troops in defence hit in melee at +1.

5. There are others but the main one is don't let your cavalry anywhere near infantry or artillery or that bloody mitrailleuse.

I have narrated from the point of view of myself and Dave's Northern and Southern Prussian forces, better pictures from the East and West attacks on Big Lee's site.

My boys advance

Dave's boys push forward.

A battalion of infantry in this house gave me arseache most of the game, nice smoke marker from the volley.

The French lines start to maul our advance.

Dice show the mauling effect on the Prussians.

Racing forward to negate the French advantage in rifle range

My deep columns advance protected by a screen of skirmishers.

Had to answer a question on Pearl Harbour to get this one artillery piece but it made such a difference (only one to get his question right)

The French fire was ruthless, that double action killed us going in...literally.

Dave especially got hammered by those 2 units in the woods with their fire and plus 1 in melee.

Things are still going well....so far.

A view of Big Lee's advance by his Bavarians (Yokels).

Cuirassiers in the lead, the heavy boys, shot out of their saddles and headed back to the Prussian lines.

This turned into an ongoing slog that wiped out both units.

Poor old Dave getting hammered in those woods, spent the day back and forth like a backpacker.

There was the odd rule clarification that usually screwed the Prussians ( the warm cream soda is still been peddled).

Postie and his contractual shot (cannot show you what he is pointing at but at least the t-shirt is clean enough to show).

Finally got to assault the house and drove the French out and occupied it myself.

Smithy trying to turn the French flank and eventually did but a little too late.

Prussian Lancers hitting the French cuirassiers and giving them a kicking (not technically a military term).

French remnants heading into the woods.

The last stages and as we did not take the hill, this counted as a minor French victory, very good game but a slog, a dice throwing slog with horrendous casualties for the Prussians.

Our genial host with the rules, top man.

The Battle of Faux-Illy, 15mm Franco-Prussian Wargame Part 1.

The Rejects (Surjit, Postie, Smithy, Lee, Richard, Dave and myself) gathered on Saturday at Richards in Faversham for a fictional take on part of the Battle of Sedan during the Franco-Prussian War, 1st September 1870.

The French Imperial Army, after a week of marching to and fro with the aim of relieving the siege of Metz, has been caught by the Prussians and forced to offer battle.For much of the day the Prussian army has been slowly gaining the advantage and has been enveloping the increasingly desperate French.

As the afternoon draws on into evening, the Prussians have almost completed surrounding the French and need only take the heights of Faux-Illy to dominate with their superior artillery.

The French, for their part, are set the task of stopping the envelopment and provide a conduit through which their army can escape during the night. The situation for the French is critical. However, the Prussian infantry have advanced ahead of their artillery. Can the Prussians afford to await their arrival? Night will arrive soon and time is of the essence.

Victory Conditions:

French: Keep a conduit through the centre, must hold the hill.

Prussian: Capture the hill and place artillery on it, and push the French into the big woods in the centre.

French Army: Commanded by Surjit and Postie.

French forces consist of a makeshift under strength division comprising 9 infantry battalions (1 chasseur a pied, zouaves, guard grenadiers and line infantry), 2 batteries of 4 pdr artillery, 2 mitralleuse batteries and two regiments of cuirassier and two of dragoons. (298 figures)

There is the chance of reserves but they will be Garde Mobile.

Prussian Army (East Wing): Lee and Smithy.

Bavarian Brigade comprising of 6 battalions of line infantry and one battalion of Jagers.

Prussian Brigade comprising of 7 battalions of line infantry.

Two to three 4 pdr artillery batteries (depending on how well you did with your question)

Prussian Army (West Wing): Dave and The Lurker.

Northern Brigade comprising 7 battalions of line infantry, 1 chevauxleger regt and a dragoon regt.

Southern Brigade comprising 7 battalions of line infantry and 2 regts of lancers and one of cuirassiers.

Two to three batteries of 4 pdr artillery again depending on how we answered our military history questions.

There may be reserves but will be line infantry. (620 figures)

The rules used are  They Died for Glory and the table was 8ft by 4ft. (Above words from Richard)

An explanation of the war can be found here Franco-Prussian War

The table at the beginning before the French were allowed to redeploy.

My Prussian forces, no redeployment allowed.

The hill mentioned in the brief is on the left of the picture and the woods are in the centre. 

Instructions received by all Prussian players.

Northern and Southern Prussian Brigades and the unholy of all that's wrong (warm cream soda).

The genial host and umpire Richard, a gentleman among us and flattery gets you nowhere.

The redeployment of the French.

Prussian forces on the East wing. (Smithy)

Bavarian forces on the East wing. (Lee)

French cuirassiers and dragoons await.

The French forces await the Prussians.

The Prussian Northern Brigade. (Dave)

Tomorrow the armies clash.

Happy 4th of July to our American friends.