Waterloo Project: More on the Test Game

I'm long overdue in posting photos on the second day of our Third-rules-test-game, but have a look at the link if you want a reminder of where we got to in February. The second day of that test game was on 1st March and since the week following that game it's been non-stop for me working on various aspects of the four Waterloo weekends we have to look forward to here in The Cotswolds. More on that in later posts, but for now, a daunting task.
The main reason for the delay in blogging this was just the sheer quantity of nice photos, both mine and Kevin's, so I'll have to break them up into manageable chunks and let the captions be brief. I'll assume you've read the earlier posts and just a  reminder of key points for new comers:
- We are refighting segments of the Waterloo battlefield at La Haye Sainte in July and Hougoumont in September.
- Both are at 1:3 scale on the ground and in figure:man ratio.
- We are testing special rules written for those days called "With MacDonnell and Baring 1815"
- The terrains will be built specially; this test is just "generic" with a rough and ready terrain cloth over wood, cardboard and paper.
- 28mm figures from various collections, mostly compatible!

Here we go

Allied commanders James and Richard share out the initiative chits

French Commander Kevin seems happy with his renewed attacking deployment

The French Cuirassiers in the front line had been reinforced by two
squadrons of Dragoons

Kevin has brought forward his horse artillery battery from their rear position "on the shelf"
with the intention of playing close range fire on any Allies that refuse to give way to his cavalry

Here they are deploying; limbers and teams still in the act of getting clear

Please note Kevin's beautiful vignettes of Horse Artillery horse holders.
In front of the artillery French skirmishers and Lancers are threatening the
Luneburg battalion. Cuirassiers are advancing up the ridge on the right of the photo

In the distance the farm is on fire and under close attack by infantry

A close up of those French Lancers

On the right the small KGL Light square struggles against Cuirassiers while Allied
cavalry come up in support

The single company of 2nd Bn KGL Light Infantry had collapsed under pressure from the Cuirassiers
but took their leave quickly under cover of 2nd Squadron KGL Hussars coming to the rescue .
The two company square of the same battalion is holding its own on the ridge

That KGL rifle company can be seen rallying in the shelter of the ridge
while 3rd squadron KGL Hussars gets ready to advance

On the French right flank, changes from the earlier part of the game.
The French light battalion left the field to be replaced by another one and also a line battalion.
Skirmishers from both are pressing the KGL Light Battalion skirmishers.
On the ridge an RHA Rocket section has deployed and the 5th Line Battalion KGL
is beginning to arrive in company column  

Two views of the 5th KGL Line Battalion.
Apart from the Rocket there is also a Howitzer section left from the
 RHA Battery that featured in the first day's test

A better look at the newly arrived French Light battalion

That's all I have time for at the moment, so I'll get it published rather than delay and make too long a post. Hopefully more tomorrow.