ABOVE: Troops deployed for a game of General d'Armee at
League of Ancients in Melbourne.
So I introduced another friend, Arnaud to ‘General d’Armee’
yesterday.
I loaded up the car with two 18mm Napoleonic Armies (1813
French and Prussian/ Russian) and drove 2 hours to Melbourne.
The ORBATS can be seen below.
The terrain was dominated by a small village roughly in the
centre of the table near a cross roads. To the east of the village was a small
ridge and to the southeast a small hill.
To the west of the village the terrain was covered with a
wood extending southwest.
The French deployed to the north, with their German allies
on their right or western flank.
Their 1st Brigade (and most powerful under their ‘Excellent’
Brigade Commander) was deployed on or around the eastern ridge.
Their 2nd Brigade deployed in the centre and their Cavalry
was held ‘off table’ in reserve.
The Prussians deployed oppositely (to the south.
The Russians deployed on the west or left flank and the
Prussian 1st Bde deployed in the centre. The Prussian Cavalry Brigade deployed
on the east or right flank and the Prussian commander held his 2nd infantry Bde
‘off table’ in reserve.
So the Allies (Prussian / Russians) had all but one Brigade
go ‘Hesitant’ on the first turn but at least their Cavalry Bde succeeded in a
‘FORWARDS’ order and advanced rapidly to give the French Brigade on the French
left some pause.
The French Brigade in the centre however quickly moved a
Battalion into the village. On the French right their German allies moved into
and to the west of the woods.
The Prussian Cavalry now launched a series of charges
against the French 1st Bde and elements of the French 2nd Bde not in the
village.
This only succeeded in forcing some Battalions into square
but it was my intention to pin these French Battalions down and focus the
French on the potential threat to their left so that was a type of success.
After a very brief bombardment of the village the Russian
ELITE Battalion stormed forward to Assault the village. Initially this seemed
to go well with the Russians only sustaining 1 casualty on the way in and the
French garrison was unformed by skirmish and artillery fire.
Unfortunately the Russians only managed to roll 3 on two D6
and so were repulsed.
I found the Russian effort to be a tad disappointing....
The French now brought onto the field their Cavalry Brigade
and quickly charged the Russian Elite Battalion that was preparing to assault
the village a second time.
This resulted in the Russians retreating so the French
Cavalry attempted to charge the Russian battery instead.
The fire from the Russians proved sufficient to repel the
French Cavalry but the net effect was the Russian Elite Battalion wasn’t going
to be assaulting the village any time soon.
Now a Russian Musketeer Battalion attacked the village.
Again the French garrison was unformed by Artillery fire and
some skirmish fire and they were at ‘4’ Casualties so no longer fresh! By
contrast the Russians were fresh (1 total casualty) and their Brigade commander
was leading them forward in person.
Again the Russians only managed to roll a ‘3’! The Russians
were proving to be a disappointment.
All the while this was happening the German’s in the woods
were trading skirmish fire with Russian and newly arrived Prussians who had
been brought up from the reserve. The Prussian 2nd Bde was deployed on the left
or western flank.
Now the Prussians launched a Battalion at the village.
Again a brigade commander lead his troops forward, this time
with an inspirational ‘Glory’ attachment!
And again the French were unformed!
The Prussians rolled ‘8’!
The French.... 12.
The Prussians pulled up short and fired a ragged volley into
the town.
Groan,...
I decided to attempt to switch my effort to enveloping the
French right flank. But no sooner did I start to threaten there one of the
German Battalions charged out from the edge of the woods into my third Russian
Battalion.
The Russians fired an ineffective volley at the oncoming
German’s which achieved nothing! The CoTR Germans continued forward and swept
the Russians away. To make matters worse the Russian Brigade Commander suffered
an ‘unsightly demise’.
Now the Russian brigade was faltering.
I was disappointed in the Russians,...
True to form they failed their Brigade Command roll (I
rolled a 1)
“Save yourself”!
Because the Russian elite Battalion was so far back and
close to the table edge their ‘retire’ result took them off the table.
Did I mention I found the Russians to be a bit of a
disappointment?
The result was a yawning gap in the Allies’ Line.
At this point I conceded defeat.
The result was Arnaud is inspired to build his own armies
for General d’Armee.
Great success!
French GdA 2000 pt army
Div Commander: Incomparable 150
1st Bde Excellent Brigadier 50
1 x Elite Line 200
1 x Vet Line 150
2 x Reg Line 200
1 x Reg 8Pdr Bty 125
Generates 4 Skirmishers
725
2nd Bde
1 x Vet Line 150
2 x Reg Line 200
Generates 3 Skirmishers
350
Confederation of the Rhine Bde
3 x Reg Line 300
1 x Reg 8Pdr Bty 125
Generates 2 Skirmishers
425
Cavalry Bde
1 x Regt Lancers 190 (Battle Cav)
1 x Regt Hussars 165 (Battle Cav)
1 x Horse Artillery Battery (4 Pdrs) 125
355
Total 2005 pts.
Prussian:
Div Commander: Incomparable 150
• 1st Brigade:
2 Line Btns
1 Reserve (reservists)
1 Foot Battery (12 Pdr Bty)
Generates 3 Skirmishers
285 +150 = 435
• 2nd Brigade:
2 Line Btns
1 Landwehr (Enthusiastic recruits)
Generates 3 Skirmishers
285 + 0 = 285
• 3rd Russian Brigade:
2 Line Musketeers,
1 Elite Guards (Large)
1 Battery (Large 8 pdr)
Generates 2 Skirmishers
435 + 150 = 585
• 4th Brigade:
1 Dragoons (Battle Cav)
1 Kurassiers (Heavy Battle Cav)
1 Lancers (recruits, Battle Cav)
545
Total 2000 pts.
Terrain Matt is from ‘Cigar Box’
Miniatures and 18mm AB and Blue Moon with a few Old Glory.
Update!
Arnaud sent me his AAR of the Battle.
Much better than mine:
Turn #1
General de Division d’Arnaud looked out across the
battlefield and contemplated his first move.
The Emperor had entrusted him with this important mission,
hold the crossroads of this minor German village against the advancing Prussian
and Russian forces and secure the army’s flank.
This was his first action commanding a division. His
predecessor in command had done very well with the division and was a canny
campaigner. A fellow Norman, he had instructed d’Arnaud while his Chief of
Staff. When the old man had been called up to lead a Corps after the disaster
at Berezina he had quickly handed command of the division to d’Arnaud with the
words, “Know when to be prudent, and know when to be bold. Remember the
Conqueror!”.
With a hill to the left of the village and some woods to the
right of the crossroads, if he could anchor his centre in the built up area of
the town overlooking the roads, then the natural protection of the rise and the
woods should forestall any enemy advance.
His right comprised some German troops…loyal enough to the
Emperor in the glory days, but some of those erstwhile allies had waivered in
recent times with the advance of the Russians and the betrayal of the
Prussians. Still, they were competent soldiers and should fight well enough. It
was funny how much the Germans hated each other and the Russians even more than
the French. He had bolstered them with stalwart Swiss troops and placed the
entire brigade under Chef de Brigade Clee. An experienced soldier from the
Lille region.
His ADCs pushed out to all the Chef de Brigades with his
orders, and he was satisfied to see his brigades move in accordance with his
directions. In order to make the town the bulwark of his defence, the centre
brigade’s voltigiers stormed into the buildings while the troops under Chef de
Battalion Nathaniel D’Engey pressed forwards behind them.
Despite his initial qualms, he could see his German allies
taking advantage of the surprising slowness of the Russian brigade to their
front as their commander drove them forwards at the double in echelon to seize
the woods and possibly the right flank.
As he looked over the high ground to his left flank, Chef de
Brigade McGrath (how long had that Irish family served France? More than a
century!) skilfully manoeuvred his brigades behind the feature as he prepared
to advance over the heights and around to the left.
Glancing across the field at his enemy, he was surprised to
see them milling about in apparent disarray. This was surprising; the Prussian
commander Graf Von Driscoll was an experienced campaigner. However, it appeared
that the wily Prussian’s new Russian allies were proving difficult to conform
to his desires as the enemy’s left flank appeared to be hanging back from
engaging and this seemed to have a follow on effect on the nearest Prussian
infantry in the centre. However the cavalry were pushing on surprisingly strong
towards left. Hopefully the high ground would hold them back.
Turn #2
D’Arnaud called in his ADCs and detailed his next movements.
As they sped off, he prayed that his centre could secure the village before the
advancing tide of Russian green and Prussian blue.
On his right, his German brigade continued to push forward
into to the woods and their skirmishes appeared to be holding the feature for
the rest of the brigade to follow up. Some smoke indicated sporadic firing,
however it did not appear to be effecting either side.
The German batteries immediately deployed at the crossroads
and set their sights to fire across the front of the town. Anyone daring to
push in were definitely going to enjoy a whiff of shot.
The volitgiers had secured the village and were being
largely ignored by the Prussians and Russians in the enemy centre. However it
appeared that a massed group of Russian grenadiers was being assembled before
the town. Chef de Battalion Nathaniel D’Engey’s battalion of Norman infantry
pushed into the built up area overlooking the crossroads. He knew his
countrymen would have the same tenacity to hold the village that had allowed
their ancestors to conquer England.
To the left McGrath’s brigade was advancing up the feature
with precision. The brigade commander was highly experienced and knew his
business.
Suddenly, there was a cry and the blare of bugles from enemy
cavalry as a flash of silver in the sunlight waved across the formation of the
lead regiment of Prussian Cuirassiers. To d’Arnaud’s shock these heavy
cavalrymen spurred forward towards the heights on the left supported by a
regiment of dragoons. The high ground blocked the view of the French infantry
behind the hills as the enemy horse vaulted up the far side of the feature and
topped over the rise. The smashed into McGrath’s converged battalion of grenadiers.
These veteran soldiers must have heard the crashing of hooves as they rapidly
moved into a ragged square. They were just in time! The square held (just!!!)
against the onslaught of enemy cavalry who were rebuffed and turned back
towards their own lines. Support from the veteran line infantry to the left of
the square had allowed the grenadiers to hold.
Turn #3
At last! The Norman battalion under Nathaniel d’Engey had
secured the village and were busy securing the area from the coming Russian
assault. With the rebuff of the enemy cavalry on the left, the skirmishing
clouds of volitigiers moved out into the plain beyond to screen the advancing
troops of the French centre.
To the right, the German artillery had deployed and were
getting ready to range in on the slowly advancing Russians. The Swiss and some
of the German troops pushed into the woods, while their skirmishers began
harassing fire against their Russian equivalents. A battalion of Saxons pushed
further up the right flank to the rear of the woods. Hopefully they would be
able to skirt them and turn on the Russian flank.
To the left the grenadier battalion was recovering from the
shock of the Prussian cavalry charge and held in place. The veteran line
infantry to their left advanced to the top of the heights to cover the front of
the feature. The brigade artillery was manhandled forward with an infantry
battalion in support to their rear while another line battalion pushed forward
to secure the left flank. A strong skirmish screen was sent out as the French
infantry advanced into the plain against the enemy cavalry.
Turn #4
The enemy was finally moving, much to d’Arnaud’s
consternation as he searched in vain for his ADC’s. Where had they got to? Only
one of his subordinates had arrived and had quickly been sent off again to push
the German’s to complete their hold on the woods. While the Normans held the
town firmly, their supporting battalions were seized by an unexplained
paralysis. Had the charge of the Prussian cavalry caused them consternation?
The left wing was still pushing over the rise and into the
plain, but at a snail’s pace.
Suddenly, there was a cacophony of sound from beyond the
town. D’Arnaud moved to where he could get a glimpse of the plain beyond. A
large Russian column of grenadiers came on at the rush as they manoeuvred to
storm the town. The German guns fired on the dense mass of soldiers, however
the shot appeared to do little to the formation. Interestingly enough, the
Russian musketeers behind the grenadiers seemed to have suffered more. The
sound of musketry increased sharply with a mass of smoke rising on the far side
of the town. Suddenly, there was a decrease in the firing and then the sound of
cheering from the buildings. A messenger came up from the town with the news that
D’Engey’s battalion had rebuffed the Russian grenadiers!
Turn #5
At last, some of his ADC’s had shown up. He sent a group to
the rear to bring forward the cavalry brigade. Chef de Brigade Avoines was an
experienced cavalry commander with seasoned troopers under his command. He was
also incredibly lucky! The sound of hooves pounding on the road coming up from
the rear was most welcome indeed as the battle experienced Lancers and
Chasseurs moved forward to cover the crossroads. The horse artillery came up
and moved up next to their foot slogging counterparts from the German brigade.
The German gunners were still working at their charges and harassing the
retiring Russian Grenadiers.
Scattered skirmishing fire continued on the right as the
Germans slowly made their way through the woods while holding their formation.
The blare of bugles brought d’Arnaud’s attention back to the
centre as the Prussian cavalry launched themselves at his infantry battalions
who were attempting to round the left-hand side of the town. The veteran troops
to the front quickly moved into square, as did their compatriots in the next
battalion. A short sharp action saw the cavalry seen off back across the plain.
However the entire French left was moving at a snail’s pace. The infantry
barely reaching the top of the rise while the gunners were manhandling their
way around the feature.
Turn #6
Something had to be done…
With his ADC’s obviously being held up by the enemy activity
across the centre and right, d’Arnaud decided to focus his attention on the
cavalry. A messenger duly went off to Chef de Brigade Avoines; “Monsieur! The
General desires that you press the Russians while they are repulsed from the
town. Clear them from the field!”
Avoines looked across the crossroads and smiled. He pulled
off his helmet and mopped his bald head with his kerchief. Calling forward his
groom he reached for proffered bottle of local German brandy…an acquired taste
from years of campaigning throughout the Rhine region. He took a swig and
passed it on to his squadron commanders gathered around him. With a wolfish smile
he turned at the wavering mass of Grenadiers just across the crossroads.
“Gentlemen, en avant! We go in at the gallop. Lancers in the
front, Chasseurs in support. We aim for the Grenadiers. Remember, it is always
a longshot…”
“Except when it is important!”, cried his squadron
commanders.
Tying his helmet back on his head, he spurred on his horse
and moved to the front of the Lancer regiment arrayed in column of divisions.
He was soon joined by their command element. The Commanding Officer
acknowledged his Brigadier and confirmed that the Chasseurs where formed and
ready to their rear. Drawing his sabre Avoines pointed at the Russians and
said, “Let’s be on our way.” The Lancers’ buglers sounded the advance and the
regiment moved forward quickly. With a roar the front ranks raised their lances
as the points glinted in the sunlight and then as one they lowered them into
the couch as their pennons fluttered in the wind. The advancing tide of
horsemen moved rapidly towards the Russian Grenadiers who appeared to be
suddenly moving more rapidly in the opposite direction. Fantastically, the mere
sight of the advancing cavalry had completely unmanned the Grenadiers and they
began to stream at a rapid pace towards the enemy rear! Their retirement had
turned into a rout…and they had exposed the Russian artillery!!!
Avoines moved up next to the Lancers commander and shouted,
“Edouard! To the left! The guns! The guns!”, as he pointed with his sabre. It
is extremely difficult to shift cavalry once they had put spurs to mounts,
however the French were experienced campaigners and with the clamouring of
bugles and the waving of sabres the officers shifted the direction of the
charge left and onto the Russian guns. The Russian gunners scrambled to turn
their pieces at the oncoming cavalry and let loose a barrage of grape shot,
while the Russian musketeers to the French right raked them as they crossed
their front. Men tumbled from their saddles and horses shrieked and went down
or ran off in all directions. The Russians stubbornly held to their guns as
scattered musket fire brought down more men. Avoines was neither reckless, nor
stupid. His men had achieved what was required and signalled his subordinates
to turn the mass of horsemen around and back to their lines. Both regiments
retired in good order and formed up behind their own artillery line. The enemy
centre had recoiled…for now.
Turn #7
Prussian guns had been pounding the French infantry in the
town for some time and the casualty reports were mounting. A line of Russian
Musketeers formed themselves up to storm the buildings and with a yell advanced
on the French defenders. The sound of shot and shell filled the air before a
ragged cheer broke out from the town as once again the brave French battalion
held against the green uniformed tide. The Russians recoiled backwards from
where they had come and formed up next to their guns.
To the right the woods were sheafed in smoke as the Swiss
and Germans traded fire with the enemy to their front. They executed a precise
lateral movement to cover the entire front of the woods and now both the foot
and horse artillery were in play. The cavalry had formed behind the artillery
and were licking their wounds for another tilt at the enemy centre. D’Arnaud
soon received the news that a fresh brigade of Prussians was advancing on his
right. They were being held up by stiff German fire, although both sides at
times seemed to be losing discipline and were blazing away at each other and
the skirmish screens.
The centre had formed out into two supporting lines of
infantry and followed a cloud of skirmishers onto the plain to the left of the
town, while on the extreme left flank McGrath had pushed his entire Brigade
over and around the high ground and covered the plain in a sea of blue
uniforms.
Turn #8
As d’Arnaud scanned the battlefield he noticed a dark mass
of Prussians advancing on the town from the left. A senior Prussian officer was
at their fore, waving his sword in the air and urging them on. With a yell the
Prussians advanced on the outer buildings of the town when a crashing volley
thundered from the French defenders which seemed to have stunned the Prussians
with its ferocity. Suddenly the entire Prussian line simply stopped its advance
and began to engage in a pointless exchange of fire with the French defenders
from the open and exposed position in front of the town.
To the left the slow but steady tide of French troops
advanced against the increasingly isolated Prussian cavalry. The battery had finally
gotten their range and opened a loud, but ultimately ineffectual fire against
the enemy horsemen. Evidently the exertion of manhandling their guns forward
had taken a bi of a toll on the French gunners.
To the right the French guns harassed the Russians in front
of them. The firing along the wood line had finally steadied, although it
appeared that both the Russian and German skirmisher screens had been forced
back on their parent units. The new Prussian brigade on the extreme right had
stalled in its advance. Hemmed in by the trees and the German battalion lined
up in front of them.
Suddenly there emanated from the woods a ferocious roar and
from the tree line advanced one of the German battalions at the bayonet! Chef
de Brigade Clee had thrown caution to the wind and seized the opportunity to
lunge at the Russian battalion to his front. The Russian line held its ground
and with an almighty crash the two units slammed into each other in the open
plain. Sporadic firing could be heard and a milling, thrashing mass of men
could be seen vying for mastery on the plain. D’Arnaud could see that the
Russian brigade commander had also thrown himself int the fray when in a most
dramatic fashion he managed to advance directly in front of one of those
ridiculous little popgun field pieces that the Germans seemed to insist on
adding to their infantry lines. The German gunner in either excitement or
nervousness at the approach of a senior enemy officer must have suddenly
touched his match to the vent hole as the gun discharged directly at the
Russian. The result was explosive and dramatic as the Russian general simply
disappeared in a cloud of white smoke and red mist! A significant portion of
which appeared to have been blasted all over his own troops behind!
The Russian line had obviously decided that it had enough
and immediately began to rout to the rear as the Germans charged forward and
seized their position. This had an effect on the next Russian unit down the
line which suddenly began to move backwards as well.
Turn #9
D’Arnaud watched as the enemy division commander tried to
stem the tied of retiring Russian troops. His ADC’s fanned out across the
Russian units when suddenly with much shouting (“Were they yelling, “Sauve Qui
Peut”???) the entire enemy centre disintegrated. Russian guns were limbered up
and trundled off away from the battlefield. The Russian musketeers who had been
wavering turned tail and followed their brethren in a precipitous dash for the
rear. This caught up the Russian grenadiers who had been trying to reform but
continued to leave the battlefield.
The two separated wings of Prussian forces decided that the
advancing French tide on the plain and the swinging line of German infantry
from the woods were too big a bite to handle in isolation. With bugle calls and
muffled drums the Prussians began to pull back from the crossroads.
