Prussians and French in the 100 Days. A Lasalle AAR

ABOVE: The cavalry battle on the right flank about to erupt.

Hi all

I played my first game of Lasalle after returning home from Afghanistan yesterday. My mate Stan came round with his 100 Days Campaign Prussians, so I thought I'd use 100 Days French. Last time we played I had used a Young Guard organisation and had been successful and the time before that Liberation War French infantry (with a sea of conscripts) had again got the better of 'Jerry'.

So far the score was 2-0 to the French over Stan's Prussians, so I was confident the Emperor would recieve another report of another heroic victory! BRAVO!!!

So as core units go I had 6 Vetern Infantry and a battery of artillery

Versus:

Stan's 3 Landwehr, 3 Reserve Infantry, 2 regular Musketeers Battalions, two detachments of Jager 'skirmishers, a Foot battery and a Landwehr Lancer Regiment.

As it turned out, Stan didn't field a reserve battalion or a Landwehr battalion.

Would he come to regret their absence??? Only time would tell.
Stan's Prussians would be the attacker in this game after rolling a 6 to my 1, (a bad omen?).

The table was based on the Lasalle Map generator number 4, "The Chateau and the Town".

As defender I placed a ploughed field and an orchard. Stan then placed a marsh. I was hoping the field and orchard would go some way in channeling the Prussians into a killing ground in front of the objective. I assumed Stan just liked to have a Marsh near by to water his horses in,...

I picked as my support option the Light Cavalry Brigade. Two Hussar and two Chasseur a Cheval units and a Horse Artillery battery would provide enough mounted to cancel out most of Stan's advantage in mounted. Stan also selected a Light Cavalry support option.

I massed my Light cavalry Brigade on the right, and placed half my infantry on the left flank. My last 3 battalions were in march column so as to move quickly towards the objective, namely the Chateau.

BELOW: The Prussian Infantry commence their advance and are greeted by Napoleon's daughters, BOOM!

BELOW: French Hussars and Chasseurs of the Light Cavalry Brigade moments befor they crash into the Prussian cavalry.

The Battle commenced with both Cavalry Brigades advancing on each other. I was confident my lads would have the better of the contest, but it wasn't to be. Initially it went well, with both Landwehr cavalry units destroyed within 2 rounds of combat, but after that it went badly or the French, with the Prussian Dragoons knocking over both the 5th Hussars and then my reserve Chasseurs a Cheval. The 6th Hussars eventually were destroyed by the Prussian Hussars 'though the Prussian Hussars did sustained 3 distruption.

ABOVE: As the Cavalry prepare to engage each other on the right flank, the Prussian Infantry advance on the French center and the Objective, the Chateau.
BELOW: The 5th Hussars clash with Prussian Dragoons (near camera) after destroying a Landwehr Lancer Regiment. In the centre the 6th Hussars continue to melee with the Prussian Hussars. In the distance the Chasseur a Cheval hack into Prussian landwehr lancers for a second round of combat.

BELOW: Veteran French Infantry prepare to meet the advancing Prussians

As the French Cavalry routed on the right flank, the Prussin infantry advanced in the center. The Prussians on the left of the attack took a pounding from the Battery and infantry, with on reserve battalion being destroyed. But the lead Landwehr pushed on and turned out to be 'Valiant'.

The situation was now desperate. With my right flank smashed I need the Prussian infantry to destroy themselves on my infantry line and within the 'killing ground' in front of the objective.
BELOW: French Artillery pound the advancing Prussian infantry
BELOW: The last of the French cavalry go down fighting the Prussian Hussars and Dragoons.

When the lead Prussian Reserve Battalion was routed, it gave me a glimmer of hope. If I could swing in my infantry onto the advancing Prussian's flank all might yet be saved.

BELOW: A battalion of French Light Infantry advance off the hill after routing a Prussian Reserve battalion. The 'Valiant' landwehr crash into the French Line battalion posted on the left of the Chateau.

Unfortunatly for me, the valiant Landwehr smashed through my line battalion, and continued into my battalion posted in reserve and routed them also. This was all too much for my boys, and the cries of "Save yourself" were soon heard amongst the clatter of dropped muskets and stamp of running boots.

BELOW: The Prussian heros of the day. Valient Landwehr. The crashed through two French battalions and ruptured my center!

Another great game of Lasalle.

Most of the miniatures are AB miniatures. Stans Prussians were pained for the most part be FERNANDO ENTERPRISE with the Commanders and Skirmish bases painted by me.

Model Citizen Miniatures painted my Cavalry and about half my infantry. I painted the Artillery and the French infantry in the center, (wearing greatcoats and dying in droves).

Feel free to leave a comment.

Cheers

French Light Infantry By AB MINIATURES

(ABOVE: A French Marshal watches anxiuosly as the Lights advance)
Hi All
Here are some more pictures of my AB MINIATURES French Army of 1812.
Almost all were painted by Model Citezen Miniatures and based by me.
There are a few mounted officers based with the Soldiers that were painted by me.
The bases are slightly deeper and wider than I normaly do when basing for AGE OF EAGLES, but only just. I figured the Light Infantry would probably take up a little bit more terrain than their brothers in the line Regiments.

There are 4 Regiments here. I've yet to attach Flags to the Eagles. I might not bother,...

The last two pictures were taken with the flash on. Consequently the "Blue" of the uniforms is a little brighter and lighter than they actually are.

As you can see, MCM does a really good job, and AB Miniatures are really the BEST 18mm Napoleonics available, (IMHO).

Well, that's all for now.

Feel free to leave a comment.

Trailape OUT!

Dragoons, Cuirassiers and Carabiniers

(Left: Massed French Heavies charge the Russians)!
CHARGE! Nothing says "Napoleonic Glory" like the thunderous charge of Napoleon's "Heavies". All the miniatures are AB MINIATURES. The Heavies were painted by Model Citizen Miniatures.
Below: Carabineer Command Element, (I still have to attach standards)

Below: The Divivison Commander and Carabinieers, (1st Regiment).

Below: Div Commander and Trumpeter, (I wouldn't want to be the unfortunate infantryman laying wounded as the mass of horsemen sweep over).

Below: My Cuirassiers! They are the 2nd and 6th Regiments of 1812.

The Dragoons below are the work of FERNANDO ENTERPRISE, (FE) and REINFORCEMENTS BY POST, (RBP).

The Dragoons were the real "workhorses" (so to speak), of the French cavalry arm in my opinion.

See links to the painting services on the left.

Above and below: The French 23rd Dragoons; painted by FE.

Below: The French 7th Dragoons, Painted by RBP.

I'll upload pictures of my 1812 Italians next time. Cheers for now!

Grande Armee Lancers And Chasseurs A Cheval

Above: French 30th Mounted Chasseurs, (converted to a Lancer Regiment for the 1812 Campaign)
Hi All
In keeping with my current "Light Cavalry" theme, here are my Grande Armee 1812 Chasseurs a Cheval and Lancers.
All are AB Miniatures and almost all are the work of MCM Painting service, the exception being the Italian 2nd Chasseurs a Cheval, (who were painted by Fernando Enterprise).
Below: French 6th Chevauleger (Lancers).


Above: French 11th Chasseurs a Cheval

Above: French 8th Chasseurs a Cheval, (Elite Squadron)

and Below: the 2nd ITALIAN Chasseurs a Cheval

Next time I'll add pictures of my Dragoons and more Italian Cavalry.

Trailape OUT!

HUSSARS!

ABOVE: Marshal Murat. BELOW: The French "Light" Cavalry Mass, including Chasseurs A Cheval and Lancers.

Hi All

Here are some pictures of my AB Miniatures French Hussars.

All the Troopers were painted by MCM Painting service. The Horses were painted by me.

The Regiments (in no particular order), are the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th. All are part of my Grande Armee of 1812. I do think there might be some "minor" errors with the uniforms, depending on your references. For example; the colour of Shakos for one of the Regiments; but over-all I'm very happy.

1st and 2nd WESTPHALIAN HUSSARS!

Hi All
As promised, here are some pictures of my Westphalian Hussars.
All are the magnificent AB MINIATURES French Hussar figures, painted as Westphalian, (or is it westfalian) Hussar Regiments 1 and 2.
As is only appropriate we have first the 1st Regiment in their Green uniforms. Obviously the 2nd Regiment is dressed in the Sky Blue.

Below are pictures of both Regiments.

I do intend to eventually have King Jerome's Hussars added to my collection. The latter being a particularly well dressed regiment.

All the Hussars were painted by MCM painting service, (to David's usual high standards).

The horses were painted by me.

I purchased the miniatures from EUREKA MINIATURES.

Trailape OUT!

Foreign Regiments and MINIFIGS!

Hi All
Here I'm posting some pictures of two foreign Regiments in my French army of 1812. But first I thought I'd show you two old MINIFIG units I first got my hands on in late 1980 / early 1990!
First a unit of Guard Chasseurs a Cheval . I have this Regiment using AB MINIATURES, but have held on to this MINIFIG unit. Not as nice as the ABs, but not to shabby either.


Next we have the Elite Gendarmes. These guys rode big black horses, and were recruited from the Departmental Gendarmes, but also drew from the Heavy cavalry regiments. The rest of the army nicknamed them the "Immortals" as in the early days they didn't participate in any combat. I would love to have this regiment using AB MINIATURES, but alas, AB dont do an Elite Gendarmes figure; "sob"

Next we have the Joseph Napoleon regiment. Recruited in Spain for service with the Emperor Napoleon, and named for his Brother Joseph, the King Of Spain, (but not for long). By all accounts, they were a rather sad excuse of a regiment.

Finally the Provisional Illyarian ("Croat") Regiment. These guys were rather tough and hardy soldiers, but didn't have much passion for fighting for "old Boney" or France. Most rule systems rate them as only 2nd rate line.

Both Infantry units were painted mainly by FERNANDO ENTERPRISE. The Voltigeurs (of both Regiments), and Mounted Officer were painted by Model Citizen Miniatures. You can find links to both painting services on the left of this page.

Oh, and "YES", I know they are carrying "EAGLES", and shouldn't, but I can't bring myself to cut them off just yet,....

The infantry are all AB MINIATURES, purchased from EUREKA MINIATURES. As stated, the Cavalry are MINIFIGS, (purchased from TIN SOLDIER in Sydney; way back when,..).

Cheers