"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!

City Point ACW using Carnage and Glory II at Huzzah May 2013

Rich Wallace ran an American Civil War game at the Huzzah conference in Portland Maine over the weekend.  Its a "what if" encounter between a Confederate force lead by Kirby Smith comprised of three + brigades lauching a surprise attack on the Union supply base at City Point.  I helped Rich play test the scenario and the two games couldn't be more different.  In this game I commanded one of two Union Brigades encamped in the area who must be activated by orders before we could respond to the rebel's presence.  A third Union command comprised of a battery, two dismounted cavalry units and another unit, the New Hampshire Volunteers who were also in camp, was commanded by the third Union player. 

The photo shows the battlefield looking towards the confederate objective, the brown barn and supplies surrounding it. My brigade is encamped to the right of the barn, a brigade of Union Zouaves is encamped in the woods to the left of the barn and the union battery can be seen to the left of the commanders house where one of the cavalry units is located.  The second is in the orchard on the right of the field.

A close up of the Rebel objective, the City Point supply center.  Rich did a great job creating this event.

The Union battery.  Note the dismounted Confederate Cavalry hiding in the woods just beyond it.

First turn.  The rebels come on the board and mostly remain out of site of the Union battery, except the regiment on the center left which the union battery spots and fires upon, sounding the alarm.  Note the second dismounted confederate cavalry unit is advancing on their union counterparts in the orchard in the foreground.

Another perspective on turn one from the Union battery. Note the rebel field works.  They had been able to sneak forward undetected and begin construction to emplace a battery.

The Union command sent dispatch riders with orders to his two brigade commanders.  The Zouaves were the first to respond.  It took another turn for the rider to reach my command.  In the meantime the Union Commander in Chief mounted up the cavalry unit at the house.

The dismounted rebel cavalry moved to the flank of the Union battery and shot at it.  The Union could not respond without changing the facing of their gun (there were three stands of artillery in the battery).

The Rebel battery completed their engineering efforts and were emplaced in the battery on turn two. Two additional Rebel brigades deployed onto the table.  The Rebels deployed one unit in open order to screen their advancing columns. 

During the previous turn the Union Cavalry had changed formation into assault column and been able to move to shelter on the side of the Stone Building used by the Union as their headquarters. The unit launched a charge on the open order rebel regiment.  Our hope was that this would slow down the Rebel assault which we could see developing along the orchard side of the table(our left flank).  The rebel brigade of three regiments moving behind the unit in open order were unable to get around the attack. One unit penetrated the orchard to join the dismounted cavalry regiment.  The open order unit was able to form hasty square in an attempt to repell the Union horse soldiers.

In this shot the Rebels have formed hasty square.  Note the large brigade on the right advancing toward the battery.

Rich always has something cool to add to his games.  In this case its the use of an off-board ship, the Cairo, represented by the monitor type ship seen above which steamed onto a neighboring table where Germans were racing to seize a bridge over the Scheldt from Dutch and French forces in 1940.  The Cairo could lob howitzer fire into the center of the table as long as Union troops were more than 300 paces away from their target.

The next turn the Union Cavalry continued their charge into the next rebel regiment (note their first target of charge with the red marker adjacent to the battery).  The Rebs had interpenetrated two of their units in their retreat. The one regiment that had successfully made it into the orchard continues forward, joining the dismounted cavalry in moving toward the orchard's edge. The union cavalry in the orchard moved out the orchard.

My command moves into the woods and fields to anchor our left flank and guard the supply point.  The New Hampshire Volunteers have also arrived on the field and formed up in front of my troops. 

The Zouave Brigade advances to the headquarters building and the second cavalry unit has followed the direction of their counterparts and formed up into assault column. 

The log jam created by cavalry.  One rebel regiment disperses and the second has retreated back to the battery with a red market.

Charge!  The rebel brigade on our right charges the battery (by this point in the game the battery was suffering severe fatigue and was firing with diminished effect. 

What works for one flank can work for the other.  The second union cavalry unit charges, hitting an open order unit and following through into a second rebel infantry regiment.

Over on the Union left flank the New Hampshire Volunteers and charged the dismounted rebel cavalry and seen them off.  The rebel infantry regiment has formed line outside of visual range (100 paces) in preparation for smacking the Granite Staters. 

The Rebel charge takes the union battery, but the Union cavalry send two more confederate regiments into retrograde motion.

Note the two units with red markers. The Louisiana Tiger Zouaves can only look on while their colleagues are smacked by the horse.

The rebels assault the New Hampshire Volunteers, unfortunately for them they attached their commander in chief, Kirby Smith, to this engagement.  Another rebel unit charges the retreating union cavalry.  My union brigade moves up in support.

The union zouaves move up and begin to exchange fire with the rebels on our right. The cavalry continues to attack sending yet another rebel command scurrying away.

Kirby Smith is killed and the rebel assault falters 50 paces from the New Hampshire Volunteers. The Rebs charge on the exhausted cavalry unit is more successful, sending them packing through the gap we created to assist them to our rear.

End of Game.  My brigade has yet to fire a shot.  The Union Commanders forces (the battery, two cavalry units and New Hampshire Volunteers) have shown off the enemy with our other two brigades barely firing a shot.  In the playtest I played a confederate and it was a slug fest in the wooded area shown in the foreground and around the headquarters house.  This game was totally different. 

Rich Wallace deservedly won the best game of the morning.  Congrats Rich! Another awesome teddy bear fur game terrain that was a great piece of eye candy.  A fun time was had by all!

Leignitz

Rich Wallace hosted a Seven Years War game using Carnage and Glory II, the Battle of Leignitz, 1760. Rich held the game outdoors under a tent on a sunny and warm 1st of July, 2012.  A gracious host, as ever, Rich's son grilled burgers and dogs while we manuvered through the Silesian dawn in the shade of Rich's tent.  The game started with limited visibility (200 paces).  Rich explained the strategic situation to us.  Fredrick, upon learning from a deserter that he was surrounded by three corps of Austrians (outnumbering his forces about three to one), moved from his previous encampment and relocated to the top of a plateau.  There his unexpected presence disturbed the Austrian manuveres.  The result was the battle of Leignitz which we refought. 

The Austrians, two commands of infantry raised to B grade to reflect the lessons learned during their prior bouts with Fredrick, and two cavalry commands, can be seen on the far side of the stream.  An open wood runs along one side of the table, the plateau is in pale green. Control of the Rehburg (or top of the plateau) would be critical.  One town can be seen in the right rear of the table with another just to the left of the shot.  Beautiful terrain as always from Rich.  Bravo! Gotta love that Teddy Bear fur.

The Austrians can set up within a foot from the table's edge.  Greg Symko, Leo Walsh and I took command of the Austrians.  We would face off against Scott Monteith and Mike Paine; all of us are experienced gamers familiar with C&G II.  We would have the opportunity to slightly reposition our troops before the game commenced.

Zeiten's Corps of Prussians located on the back side of the Rehburg plateau. 

Rich does such a nice job with terrain.  He uses 15mm buildings for his towns.  This town is capable of holding three units, one in each section of the town.

The Austrian first turn.  My infantry are closest to the camera, stretching over to the second gun and limber. I am able to get some of my troops across the stream.  Crossing the stream disorders and fatigues the troops.  On the far side of the bridge I have moved my troops up to the stream edge and will cross it next turn in one go.  The intent is to not have two turns disordered in the stream. 

We Austrians had the initiative on turn one.  Thinking that we would retain the initiative on turn two I sent my cavalry doubling down the road (750 paces times 2) in an attempt to get them into the open territory on the far end of the town and pose a threat to the Prussians.  You can see the Prussians advancing in their turn down off the hill.  They have been told that another corps of Austrians is somewhere about and have begun searching the wood (visibility is limited to 200 paces in the woods) and its still just 4AM or so.

Fredrick's minions advance down off the Rehberg to deal with the Austrians they are facing (but cannot yet see) across the stream.

My cavalry are on the other side of the town and the Prussians have formed a grenadier unit into column to enter the town.  A Prussian dragoon unit is also formed in column along the road closest to the hill.

Greg's Austrians advance toward the hill.  Some pushing into the woods.  They have a second line in support as is traditional and needed in this period. 

On my side of the lines I have reversed my cavalry and had them snake about in column to locate behind my advancing infantry.  Note the deployed battery facing down the road and the four Prussian infantry units with dragoons in support.  Scott always runs his troops well.  The Prussians had the initiative on turn two and used it to block off access on the far side of the town into the plain beyond, causing me to reroute my cavalry.  Scott also sent the infantry column ( a unit of grenadiers) into the central portion of the town (another three section town). 

I position a unit of heavy cavalry with their flank to the town. another faces down the roadway to keep it in check.  The infantry unit with the flag will form into column and advance to deploy into the town. 

Leo's troops, two units of Grenzers, a battery, a line infantry unit and two grenadier units appear in the woods.  The Prussians had been moving to counter the Austrian cavalry's forray down the road on the opposide side of the table.  But they had left a number of their own cavalry in place on the plateau. 

The Prussian cavalry, the troops best able to react to a change are seen heading toward Leo's Austrians (the white flags in the distance). 

Scott's Grenadier unit remains in the town center while Mike's infantry enters the town and prepares to move into the section of town closest to the Austrians.

It is now daylight with full visability.  We had just two turns of limited visability.  Fredrick ponders the view from the top of the plateau. 

Mike's Prussians about face and begin their march to thwart Leo's troops who have appeared in their rear.

The view from the plateau as my infantry approach the Prussians.  I am attempting to advance out of the effective range of his cannon and engage the Prussians.  Scott has been resting his troops and their first volleys will wreak havoc and devastation upon my kaiserlicks. 

The Prussian battery on the road cannot be avoided.  I have advanced my Hungarians toward it in the hopes of reducing the batteries effectiveness by engaging it with musketry.  The Prussian grenadiers supporting it have another idea in mind. 

This is where things went off the tracks abit for our team.  Greg and I had had our guns all target one Prussian unit, the fusillers with the light blue flag on the left of the picture.  It was shaken (disordered by the fire).  Greg attached his general and lead his troops in an assault on the unit, an effective strategy.  Unfortunately he had his other supporting units assault through the woods as well.  They encountered fresh Prussians whilst they had been fatigued by crossing the stream and traipsing through the woods. 

My Hungarians are also disordered by the exchange of fire with the battery and the Prussians.  My Austrian line  units also received a fresh and devasting volley from the Prussians to their front. 

Mike attached a general (Zeiten) and launch his hussars against the grenzers deployed in open order, with predictable results.  The other unit of grenzers are now in deep trouble.  they are facing a second unit of hussars in open order and have an infantry unit bearing down on their flank, not to mention the formed hussars to their rear.  The woods are open woods so don't offer the protection from cavalry and formed troops that one might expect. 

The result of assault, both Greg and I have two units rout.  I did not want to attach my general to rally the troops in the front rank as this would put him at risk of becoming a casualty in a counterattack, as Greg's general became in the firefight that emerged after his troops sent the disorder Prussians scampering through the grenadiers formed behind them.  Greg's troops advanced into the fire of Scott's supports and the general went down.

The Prussian cavalry continue to move to counter the Austrians who have emerged on their flank. 

They effectively pin and seal the fate of the second Grenzer unit.  It will take one more turn to dispose of them for good.

Leo has moved a unit into the town at the rear of the plateau.  From here he can engage the adjacent Prussians.

The one moment of success on an otherwise dark day for the Austrians, my heavy cavalry charge the Prussian troops to their fore.  We lost 22 men and sabred down over 600 of Fredrick's finest.  One glimmer of hope on an otherwise dismal day. We had been soundly spanked by Scott and Mike (and Fredrick).  With six + units routed off the board for none of the Prussians, a tip of the proverbial hat is due to our opponents and our host.  Having relearned the lesson of softening up your opponent before assaulting them as well as the need to recover from fatigue before launching a general assault; I am eager to apply these lessons in a rematch.
Cheers.  Peter