I set the scene in an earlier post
quatre-bras-test-game-5-imminent, and thanks to all those who commented on it. As I said it was to be a two day wargame held over the weekend of 13-14th May, and the size of it means that there were about 260 usable photos. So I will limit myself to reporting only the first day's play in one blog post.
To start off have a M
ap
Objectives ad Deployment
I had devised and built the terrain but had left Kevin to think up a scenario for it. We didn't want the standard French attack a defensive Allied position so he gave each side a forward post in the BUAs - Chatelet hamlet and Pironchamps Farm. Victory points were allocated for locations as shown on the map, and, to encourage aggression, 2 points would be awarded at the end for every unit in the other side's "Area A". In addition 2 points could be gained for each enemy unit destroyed; we did not realise how crucial that would be for the outcome.
The blue and red dotted areas indicate very roughly where each side was allowed initial deployment. The map was divided up into 1 foot squares on the table which were labelled A-F and 1-10, and these were used to determine a phased arrival of reinforcements. Each C-in-C had to make the decision two moves ahead of where reinforcements would arrive, but this could alter if the enemy was within 12" of the arrival point.
The full briefings and orders of battle for both sides can be found in the Napoleonic Downloads sidebar at right, with a link
here
On Day one the players were:
Allies:
Richard Newcombe
James Fergusson
French:
Tony Dillon
Graham Ward
Umpires:
Eastern Half - Chris Gregg
Western Half - Kevin East
Apologies in advance that while my knowledge of events in the eastern half of the table are good, they are are a bit patchy for the western part.
The Initial Dispositions
Comparing with the map, and the briefs if they interest you, here is a photographic tour at the start
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| Day one line up, from left - James, Richard, Graham,Tony, Kevin |
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| British 1st Foot Guards arriving |
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| Most of the Allied defence around Chatelet is hidden |
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| Dutch, Belgians and Nassauers line the Ramskapelle heights |
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| Jerome's French Division in and around Pironchamps Farm...... |
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| .....closely supported by Imperial Guard lancers |
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| Bachelu's Division deploys to attack Chatelet and its woods |
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| British Guards move up to support the defence of Chatelet |
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Tony commences by Bachelu's skirmishers attacking the
Luneburg battalion rifle companies in the garden |
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Graham has moved Jerome's skirmishers into Piron Wood and is developing
an attack to the left of the wood. Lancers of the Guard are still in reserve but
across the valley Richard moves forward the DB cavalry |
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Above and below: The DB and Nassau brigades look more formidable than
they actually are, but the artillery will be effective enough |
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| Skirmishers fight for Piron wood across the Hoeke River, and the Belgian Hussars negotiate it at the trickiest spot, all the while under artillery fire..... |
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| ....watched by the Prince of Orange |
The Western Flank- opening moves
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| Bachelu presses forward against Chatelet and the woods |
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| British Guards deploy to right and left of Chatelet, behind the 30th Foot |
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The French attack through Chatelet Woods with skirmishers and round
it with more columns |
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| Where a battery of Kings German Legion Horse Artillery has deployed in the cornfield to give them a hard time |
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The view from the French lines
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Above and below: General Reille supervises Bachelu's columns
enveloping Chatelet village |
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| French Light infntry engages the Grubenhagen battalion in Chatelet wood |
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But the French attacks are pushed back and the Hanoverians hold onto the
hamlet and surroundings....for now |
Eastern Flank - opening moves
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Looking beyond Bachelu's attack one wing of the Lancers of the Guard can
be seen advancing on Hoeke Hill well supported by French artillery fire (below) |
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| The unfortunate DB cavalry had suffered from two batteries of artillery firing and retreated back to the relative safety of the ridge road |
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The Nassau Brigade has a good view of two battalions coming down the hill to support
the defence of Pironchamps farm |
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Graham was busy building up a coordinated column attack at the West of
Piron wood, but at some cost from those two batteries of DB artillery |
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| French Light Infantry fight hard for Piron wood |
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French artillery fire and the skirmishers eventually push the DB lines back
from the ridge crest |
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On the extreme eastern end a combined battalion of Nassau Elite companies
threatens to cross the Hoeke to outflank the farm |
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| A useful general view: Along the ridge the DB cavalry are held back watching one wing of the Guard Lancers advance up to Hoeke Hill. Infantry await the French onslaught with Graham's columns massing just across the river, still under bombardment from the DB batteries. 2/1st Legere have thrown the 27th Jagers out of Piron Wood |
Both sides get Cavalry reinforcements
Some gains for the French on the Western flank
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| At left is a 50% Grubenhagen battalion now pushed out of Chatelet Woods |
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| As the 1st Chasseurs charge the 30th Foot square something seems to be amusing Tony, Kevin and James! |
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2/1 Guards are assailed by the proverbial "cloud of skirmishers", but it isn't mist that
causes Maitland to be wounded (below) and sent to the baseline to recuperate |
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Success at last for Tony under General Reille's personal direction
as the Luneburg battalion command stand is repelled into Chatelet high street
and Allied hold in the hamlet is now only in the Western most building |
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Not all good news though as the 30th Foot square has seen off his attack
by the 1st Chasseurs a Cheval |
Cavalry action in the Centre
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| The Scots Greys, 1st Dragoons and Life Guards head down through the crops to cross the river, not yet suffering cannon fire |
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| Brave Van Boreel Hussars charge up Hoeke Hill towards the Guard lancers... |
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....who counter-attack, urged on by General Lefevre-Desnouettes masquerading
as a Lord Uxbridge figure (it's a long story...sigh!). The lancers have
received casualties from cannon fire in that exposed position |
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| Not surprisingly the Lancers won and have pushed the Belgians back. Behind them 2nd wing changes facing to cover an attack by the Scots Greys |
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| A view from the other side |
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| Opposite this struggle, at the French baseline along the lower slopes of Lissewege heights, Wathier's Lancers and Horse Artillery have deployed |
Even Honours on the Eastern flank
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| Although now lacking one battalion forced back to try to reform, and a colonel killed, Prince Jerome personally urges on the 1st and 3rd Ligne regiments at last in a coordinated attack...... |
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....which seems to pay off as the 8th National Militia battalion is reduced
to two stands and forced back to the road. Morale tests on the French,
though, were to have unpleasant consequences for Jerome |
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In Pironchamps farm the 1/1st Legere held firm despite nagging losses from the guns
on the ridge and sniping from two companies of Nassau volunteer Jagers with rifles |
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2nd Ligne had pulled back to avoid the damaging Nassau skirmisher fire
but in doing so potentially left the way open for them to creep round the right flank |
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A melancholy final photo for this day shows Colonel Cubieres
of 1st Legere a victim of Nassau rifle fire, out for the rest of the game! |
It was now 7pm and we had played 7 moves. It appeared on all fronts, from the photographs, that the French had the upper hand, but this was illusory. Graham's near final act was to check Morale for his damaged battalions and the results were not good even with Jerome present, as we shall see in the next instalment of this thrilling tale!
