Leuthen

The flanking movement brings the Prussians onto the flank of the Wurttemberg Division

The Prussian dragoons and hussaars in the rear of the Wurttemberg units and blocking the exit from the town



Charles of Lorraiine watches his troops react from the Windmill Hill








The Bosniaks charge the retreating Austrian Hussars




Nobody puts Frederick in a corner, except may Frederick.



Leuthen: Fredrick's greatest victory. Carnage and Glory II Rich Wallace GM Havoc Marc 2014.
Christian, Max and I played the Prussians under the command of his majesty Frederick the Great, Jerry B. and another gamer took the Austrians commanded by Charles of Lorraine who outnumbered the Prussians about two to one. The Prussians have better quality troops than the Austrians and their Wurttemberg allies. Victory conditions were to hold the church, the three city areas, and the windmill hill, failure to hold all victory conditions became a victory for your opponent.

The Austrians had a fixed setup with their weakest troops on their left (the Wurttembergers), and an Austrian brigade arrayed in front of the town and a strong force on their right flank in front of the windmill hill. Their cavalry would come on later. They had grenzers and hussars (one unit each) in the woods on their right front facing our Prussian skirmish unit and Bosniak lancers. Max jumped in to take these Prussian units.


The Prussians chose to have a flank march arrive turn one on the right flank allowing us to come in with cavalry (four units) behind the Wurttembergers and with a heavy gun and two commands of infantry totalling 8 units. Two units of light cavalry remained to support the heavy battery on the hill. Christian ably commanded this flank.

I took the Prussian center (Christian later gave me command of the battery on the hill bearing on the Wurttembergers). Another battery was deployed on the left center hill to bear on the Austrians in front of the town and my third heavy battery along the left flank road bearing on the Austrians and the windmill. I had a large Prussian infantry brigade of five units and an independent single infantry grenadier unit. Four cavalry units were also part of the command, two on the center right, one under the guns on the hill, and one on the left flank in case the bosniacks needed assistance.

The flank attack developed with our Prussian cavalry moving along the table’s edge toward the church and outflanking the Wurttembergers . I wonder how the game’s outcome would have changed if we had sent one of Christian’s brigades of infantry on a forced march accompanying this incursion, instead of having them enter the town on the Wurttemberg left flank and never get fully into the battle. An artillery barrage and a volley from the Prussians shook the Austrians allies on turn one. Return fire saw one of Christian’s grenadier battalions disordered. It spent the remainder of the game trying to recover.

In the center the Prussians advanced.


On the left the Austrian and Prussian light cavalry formed line.

On turn two the Austrian irregular cavalry charged and the bosniacks lancers counter charged. They locked in melee and would swirl about in combat for the next four turns under Maxs able command, tying down the flank for most of the game.

Turn two the Prussians also charged in the center as their flanking cavalry on the rear table edge moved toward the church. Leaving two line infantry units and a battery to hold the Prussian center left, the remaining Wurttemberg infantry about faced (Turn one) and made for the rear to better deal with the flank attack (turn two). On turn two my Prussian cavalry in the center charged the retreating Wurttemberg (Center right) and a retreating Austrian unit ( center left) to pin them and keep them from occupying the town and other victory conditions. The Austrians by the windmill formed column and rushed to occupy the church and town.


















The Wurttemberg infantry on the flank crumbled in the face of Christian’s assault (his infantry and artillery having softened them up on turn one a charge saw the first unit flee and the second defeated in melee).

His cavalry in their rear caused massive losses as troops surrendered as they broke for the rear. With assaults hitting the Wurttemberg left and center and cavalry romping in their rear Jerry had his hands full. Fortunately for him cavalry reinforcements brought troops onto the rear and flank of the Prussian flanking movement.

Turn 3 saw Christian dealing with losing two infantry units to Austrian cavalry on their flanks before the Prussian cavalry could deal with this incursion.

It slowed us down and kept us from crushing the Wurttemberg division sooner.

My Prussian cavalry kept pressure on the center pinning the Austrians in place while the Prussian right center infantry moved up and the guns sought to soften up the opposing infantry. Unfortunately the Austrian center guns gave as good as they got, damaging one Prussian unit and eventually causing them to rout. Turn two’s cavalry charge into the rear of the Austrian unit attempting to enter the town failed to close at 50 paces after taking some passing fire from another Austrian infantry unit. I attached General Seydlitz and used his command capabilities to order another charge on the same unit the following turn (3) which resulted in the Austrian units utter defeat. Turn 2’s cavalry attack on the Wurttemberg infantry resulted in that unit routing. Turn 3 the unit refused to charge as did a Prussian hussar unit in open order that I requested assault the unprotected Wurttemberg artillery.

Max caught the retreating Austrian light cavalry in the rear on turn 3 and kept them in combat. Two Austrian dragoon units formed behind them anticipating an easy victory once their pinned colleagues retreated from the battle. They didn’t and Max kept them tied up for another turn.

Meanwhile his light infantry exchanged point blank fire with the grenzers who finally broke on turn four, clearing the woods. Turn 5 saw the Austrian Dragoons see off our Bosniaks.

On Turn five I had sought to charge the other Austrian units to the front left of my Prussians. I was stopped by Austrian cavalry who caught my other dragoon unit, defeating it in battle and causing my infantry to reconsider their advance. I was very unhappy with my handling of the Prussian battery on this flank as it was never fully engaged because of the limiting terrain and poor deployment of my units which did not allow for proper fields of fire for this unit. My center right infantry finally went in and threw out the Austrian infantry leaving their gun unprotected. By this time the Austrians from the windmill hill had deployed in all of the victory locations, giving them the terrain victory conditions.

With the arrival of the Austrian cavalry the Prussian’s chances went from slim to nil. We broke the one wing and never got into the town.



The esteemed game master declared an Austrian pyric victory which switched to a minor Austrian victory on the next day.


A fun time was had by all on a beautiful table. Way to go Rich

By God Those Must Be Regulars - The Battle of Chippawa 1814

 I ran this battle using Carnage and Glory II at Cold Wars last weekend, March 7, 2014. Brigadier General Winfield Scott had spent the winter drilling his brigade and getting them into fighting trim for the summer campaign. After crossing the Niagara River into Canada his troops were leading Major General Jacob Brown's pursuit of Major General Riall's British Right Division as it retreated east towards Niagara destroying the bridges as they went. The US Army logistics were horrible. In fact, the Army had run out of blue dye for its uniforms and were forced to use grey cloth. Scotts troops went into camp on the west side of Streets Creek. After restoring the bridge Scott lead his brigade over to the empty farm fields and began drilling his troops once again. The British, seeing this activity, sent their native allies supported by the 2nd Lincoln Milita into the woods to harrass the Americans while they crossed the Chippawa River and formed up under cover of the woods. Our game includes the earlier clash between each sides native allies and supporting Militias (US 5th Pennsylvania and 386 Native Warriors and British native allies from the Grand River Band 100 and Western Natives 200 supported by the 2nd Lincolnshire Militia). The British and Americans are marching onto the field. The Order of Battle for the Battle of Chippawa 501 MG Riall 502 Colonel Gordon 501 1st Foot 502. 8th Foot 503 LTC Hay 503. 100 th Foot 504 LTC Dickson 504 2nd Lincoln regiment 505 Captain Mclachlane 505 Sheppards Battery 506 Armstrongs Battery 506. Major Leslie 507. 19th Light Dragoons 507 Captain Norton 508 Western Nations 509 Grand River Nations 201. MG Jacob Brown 202 BG Winfield Scott 201 Ninth/twentysecond 202 Eleventh 203 Twentyfifth 204 Twentyfirst 100 men (attached from Ripley's Brigade) 203 BG Ripley 211 Twentyfirst(balance) 209 Twentythird 204 BG Porter 205 Fifth Pennsylvania 205 LTC Granger 206 Native Warriors 206 Major Hindman 207 Ritchies Battery 208 Towsons Battery 207 Captain Harris 210 US Light Dragoons
 

The Battlefield map



The British begin to deploy onto the field.




Scott's Brigade begins to deploy into the field

 

The 5th Pennsylvania Militia move forward across Streets Creek to support their Native Allies




British Form line in the field with a battery along the road



the 100th regiment of foot form the second line



The 9th/11th Regiment form line to meet the British advance.



Native allies support the British advance in the woods and along the fenceline



5th Pennsylvania advances to support the US Line slowly thorugh the woods 



Cannon Fire along the flank



The British advance toward the fence line

 

US Regulars prepare to greet the British line



Exchanging Vollies



Decision Time




Both sides lose one unit.

 

Here they come in the woods



Command Integrity is cautionary, the British can no longer advance.

 

Scotts Brigade also receive a no advance marker



US Native allies advance



Native Allies advance



Woodlands warfarae



The Canadian Milita is sent packing by the Native Warriors



A native warrior prepares to slip across the Chippawa River

The results from this run through of the game were the same we received at Cold Wars, a US pyrric victory. Both sides having a regular line unit disperse along with punishing losses to their remaining colleagues and native allies.  Good fun was had by all.

"Albueraesque" meeting engagement Battlegroup Boston Game Day August 24, 2013 with Carnage and Glory II

On Saturday, August 24 a group of gamers met at the Hobby Bunker in Malden, MA as part of Boston Trained Band's annual game day. Rob Walters of Eureka Minuatures ran what he described as an "Albuera-esque Meeting Engagement" with British and their Portugese Allies taking on a much larger French force. Of course the Brits were ensconced on and behind a hill. Chits were used to show the location of troops on the reverse slope but they did not appear on the table top until they moved out of position or the French topped the rise. Rob used his beautiful French Revolutionary Eureka figures supplemented by Foundry Napoleonic troops for the British, Portugese and balance of the French. Carnage and Glory II computer moderated rules were utilized for the battle. Scott Montietth took the French Cavalry and the infantry in the center while Steve Umbrell took the infantry brigade on the French left flank. They were later joined by Rich Wallace who commanded the very large French reserve brigade. On the British left,Dave Soucy took the British and Portugese Cavalry, a Portugese infantry brigade with their two gun batteries posted on the hill and a brigade of British comprised mainly of Scotts on the center hill. I commanded two British brigades, one on the center right portion of the hill and a second on the right hill along with 3 batteries of British 6 pounders.

Scott Montieth is an excellent cavalry commander but appears to have met his match with Dave Soucy. The French moved first and advanced their cavalry to narrow the field of engagement. The British and Portugese cavalry changed into line and advanced onto the field. The forces were fairly evenly matched, two British Guard Dragoon units (heavies), two KGL hussar units, and two Portugese units versus two French heavy units and four dragoon units. In the foreground you can see the slope the British and their Portugese Allies are defending, with the units on the reverse slope shown with a round poker type chip. The British batteries are on the far right flank and are content to soften up Steve Umbrell's advancing French brigade while the British light battalions advance a bit to harrass the approaching French.

The Portugese horse artillery advanced onto the field on turn one, deployed and hosed down the French heavies. On turn two the British had the initiative and took it. They charged the French cavalry catching them flat-footed for the most part. The Portugese line cavalry defeated two opponents, one regular line dragoon and the French heavy who received the whiff of grapeshot from the horse battery. The KGL hussars were defeated the British heavies sent a third French unit retreating in disorder to the rear. Dave's brilliant charge and follow on the next turn broke the French cavalry brigades morale and took them out of the game for all intents and purposes.

The French continue their advance toward the center hill. The Portugese infantry deploy to meet them in the area between the cavalry and the hill while their two batteries take pride of place on the hilltop, supported by British infantry with two light battalions (combined for each brigade) on the first level of the slope. Scott seems to pointing in disbelief at his rapidly diminishing cavalry brigade.

The French advance in the center continues.

The French are forced to redeploy on their right wing to counter the cavalry threat. Many of their units form square and the Portugese horse artillery redeploys to take advantage of the juicy targets. The French likewise, deploy a battery to check the British cavalry's challenge to their flank. (See below)

The advancing French columns paid a price but quickly dispatched two of the three combined British light battalions deployed forward of the crest. The unit pictured is Dave's Scottish brigade combined light battalion which was a veritable "Rock of Chickamagua", breaking all French attempts to disperse it during the game.

In order to counter the increasing French pressure (their reserve brigade has entered the field); The Scotts bring a small battalion forward and the British center brigade deploys a second battalion as their first unit, the Middlesex battalion has charged the French column which had dispersed the brigades combined light battalion; as does the right flank brigade which had earlier marched one battalion into the gap between the two ridges.

The Middlesex battalion did a very un-British thing, they chose not to fire before meleeing the French column. This is usually a good strategy in Carnage and Glory II, in this case it wasn't. The result was the melee was drawn. The next turn the French added a second column to the melee and sent the Brits packing. Earlier in the turn a French battalion which had been absorbing the Portugese batteries cannister fire for four turns received a result I had never seen before. Battalion wiped out! So long boys. Ouch. Our four hour game slot was coming to a close. Dave charged his cavalry on our left flank, losing one round when his troops were shot from the saddle and sent packing on their second round of action after dispersing one of the remaining French dragoons which had not reached the safety of its own lines. The fresh Portugese cavalry went into a French unit in line and dispersed it continuing into the flank of a French battery - victory for the Portugese, and a French unit in square, victory for the French with an end result of the Portugese cavalry falling back 150 paces, disordered.

On the French left wing Steve had been taking a pounding. As the game came to an end he sent a column up the right hand slope and took out one of the three British batteries. The British deployed their remaining reverse slope unit and came forward to support the remaining guns as the game came to an end. I think all of us would have liked to have played a few more rounds and seen what happened when the French engaged around the center hill. All in all, it was a fun event. Thanks Rob!

Crysler's Farm C&G ii (Play test)

One of the great things about using Carnage and Glory II, is the different outcomes that different strategies and different players can produce.  Below you will read about the first play test of Crysler's Farm scenario (War of 1812) historically fought on 11-11-1813.

Great Britain   Morrison’s Corps of Observation                                                   Defend Orders

Corps       501          LTC Morrison                           Active      B+            (1400 paces)           “”

2-in-C      502          LTC Harvey                              Active B   (800 paces)             “”

                503          LTC Plenderleith      Active B   (250 paces)             “”

                                501          49^th Regiment of Foot            0/304      B+ (sk)

                                502          89^th Regiment of Foot            0/240      B+ (sk)

                                505          89^th detachment     0/144      A- (sk)

                504          LTC Pearson The Advance       Active B (225 paces) “”

                                511          49^th Elites                                0/100      A- (sk)

                                512          Canadian Fencibles 0/108      B- (sk)

                506          Major Heriot           Lights      Active B   (225 paces)   “”

                                514          Canadian Voltiguers               0/150    B- 

                                515          Provincial Lt Dragoons            0/25        C+ 

                                516          Mohawk Warriors   0/50        B

                507          Captain Jackson Artillery Active B          (225 paces)  “”

                                517          Royal Artilley (1)     0/50 (2) 6 pounders C+

                                518          Royal Artillery (2)   0/25 (1) 6 pounder C+

519          Yeo’s Sloop                             0/50 (1) 24 pounder C+

Strengths                                Losses/Active

                                                0/1096 Bayonets

                                                0/25        Sabres

                                                0/75        Artillerists

                                                0/3          Cannon

                                                0/1196 Total of All Arms

Victory Conditions:                  Retain five unrouted units on the field (minor)

                                                Cause half of the US forces to route off the field (major)

US   Forces

Wing Boyd                       202 Brigadier General Boyd        Active        C-                    (1100 paces)  Attack orders

1^st Brigade                        210  LTC Coles                                                              Active C+  (500 paces)                      “ “

                                                                        202               12^th US Infantry            0/369          C- (sk)

                                                                        203               13^th US Infantry                                    0/391          D+ (sk)        

3^rd Brigade                       205 BG Covington                              Active C-    (350 paces)  “”

                                                                        207               9^th US Infantry                                       0/468          C- (sk)

                                                                        208               16^th US Infantry                                    0/377          C  (sk)

                                                                        209               25^th US Infantry                                    0/562          C (sk)

4^th Brigade                       206 BG Swartout                                 Active  C+                         (350 paces) “”

                                                                        210               11^th US Infantry                                    0/449 C+ (sk)

                                                                        211               14^th US Infantry                                    0/267 D+ (sk)

                                                                        212               21^st US Infantry                                     0/632 C          (sk)

Boat Guard                      212  LTC Upham                                  Active B     (225 paces)   enroute  with attack order

                                                                        222               Boat Guard                                              0/600 C+ (sk)

                                                                       

Cavalry                                208 Major Woodford                                               Active C-    (175 paces)  enroute

                                                                        218               2^nd US Dragoons           0/150

Artillery                             211 Captain Knox                               Active B     (225 paces) enroute with attack order

                                                                        220               2^nd regiment of artillery  0/78 (3)  C  6 pders

                                                                        221               2^nd regiment of artillery                0/75  (3)  C  6 pders

Strengths                          losses/active

                                                                        0/4115  Bayonets

                                                                        0/150          Sabres

                                                                        0/153          Artillerists

                                                                        0/6                Cannon                                                       0/4418 Total of all arms

Victory Conditions:  Drive the British from the field

Rich Wallace and Scott Monteith eyeing their commands. Note the gulleys and the bridges which crossed them which have been removed.  The same muddy fields and fencing are in play.

The US troops, three brigades, approach the British skirmish line deployed at the first fence line. 

The British initial dispositions along the fenceline with their left on the swamp and their right on the river. Only one artillery unit is being used by the British in the play test. 

The initial British artillery fire targets the 2nd US Dragoons. sending them to the board's edge.

Rob Walters commands the British right flank.

The dragoons had advanced quickly to the second gulley. Attracting the artillery's attention.

Rob ably manuvered his unit of Provincial Dragoons on the flank of the US advance.  The artillery having forced the first unit in the US left brigade to withdraw and put a hurt on the second.  Rob advanced Captain Barnes detachment towards the weakened Americans.  Rob had not read the OOB and did not realize how weak his forces truly were.  Lesson from this trial run, each stand to represent 100 figures. 

The dragoons have stymied the US advance in the middle and Rob has learned to his chagrin how brittle his right flank detachment is.  On the US left flank the British are forced back from the fence line.  The US artillery have arrived and are beginning to tell on the British troops. 

The US forces are pushed forward on their left flank. 

The British attempt to form a new line to their rear.  LTC Plenderleith's command's brigade integrity is effected.

The British unit of detachments routes back to the Farm buildings and attempts to rally.

The provincial dragoons are sent running by the US infantry who turn their flank.

Garrisoning the farmhouse will hopefully assist the units to rally.

The advancing US artillery has other ideas. At this point the British morale falls below 75%.  The US gets a minor victory. 

Mike Paine brought along The Helm, the club award from Huzzah 2012 for most participation by a club.  We have been taking pictures with it wherever club members play during the past year.  Left to Right- Rich Wallace, Scott Monteith, Peter Lowitt, Rob Walters and Mike Paine on camera.