This was my first lockdown battle of 2021. I based the battle on the count-ambush scenario from Programmed Wargames Scenarios by Charles S Grant. I tried a new approach which was sharing notes and pictures with my friends on messenger. (Which is the reason for some poor spelling on the picture labels.) The battle was fought in 6mm using Blackpower 2 rules with rule supplements and my troop statistics.
English Foot
Bavarian Foot
The year is 1704, the War of Spanish Succession is in full swing. While the Duke of Marlborough is manoeuvring his army into what will become the battle of Blenheim he becomes aware of a French supply train carrying vital gunpowder stocks protected by a small escort of Dragoons. A joint English/Imperial force is positioned for an ambush on the north/south road.
Map of the Battlefield
(Top of the map is North East. East to West is [C] to 8.)
Two English Brigades (6Bn) are placed in the woods (location 2) with two Gun batteries on the hill to their south (loc 8). This will allow the English forces to attack the North-South road from the West and for the Guns to sweep the road as far as the bridge. A brigade of English Dragoons hides in the woods (loc 3) ready to cut off the French.
The Imperial forces with their overall CinC have a strong brigade (4 Btn) in the woods (loc 1) and two batteries of guns. The marshy ground (loc 4) is occupied by two btn of Pandours. (Panadours are irregular light infantry from the Hungarian boarder with the Turkish empire. First class looters, 2nd class soldiers but perfect for fighting in rough terrain.) The CinC has placed himself at this point as the Imperial brigadier is lacking in initiative.
English Brigade at location 2
Pandours making use of the marshes for cover
Alas….
Bourbon sympathises (presumably biscuit lovers) warned the French and the French General ordered a joint French/Bavarian force to march through the night into a flanking position to ambush the ambush. Marching through the night resulted in some problems position the army and the entire Bavarian force became lost are a move off the battle field to the north.
Two regiments of French Light cavalry (Loc [A]), despite the title they are heavy cavalry the name was used to remove confusion with the Kings Household cavalry with orders to sweep down to the woods at loc 3. Three battalions of French foot with attacked Aty [loc B] with orders to assault the woods at 1. Four composite battalions for grenadiers (elite) (loc [C] with orders to support the foot. Two dragoon regiments at loc [D] with orders to scout the woods at 6,5 and 1.
The “lost” Bavarians include, 2 Regts of kuirassiers with orders to move with the French Hse. Three Btn of foot with attached Aty, with orders to support the attack on the woods at 1.
The Imperial /English forces find themselves out of position. Set up to attack an enemy on the north/south road but flanked by a force of roughly equal size!
French Foot and the Generals Mistress arrive
1st Hour after Dawn
The Imperial commander realising that his position was exposed ordered his brigade to fall back to the English position. At the same time the Pandours left the marshland and advanced to the woods knowing that fighting in rough ground was their forte. The English command was in some confusion with one brigade wanting to advance and one wanting to hold. The English Dragoons exited the woods to face the French horse.
The French Dragoons held position looking for Ambushes (failed order). The French foot advanced to the woods (loc 1). The French cavalry stood and watched the English Dragoons come out of the woods in from of them.
2nd Hour after Dawn
The Imperials made a fast march to the rear bringing them wall away from the woods. The Pandours closed in on the woods. The English straightened their lines. The Dragoons choosing not to charge the French Cavalry.
The French Dragoons search the woods for further ambushes. The French Foot in a show of French elan marched swiftly forward almost reaching the woods. The French horse charge the English dragoons who counter-charged keeping in a close knee to knee formation. The two cavalry brigades clashed with brutal ferocity. The English were slightly outclassed on paper but fully held their own in the melee. Both fights were bloody draws with all four regiments being shaken by the amount of casualties on each side and each brigade reeling back broken and of no further use in the battle.
The French horse charge the English dragoons who counter-charged keeping in a close knee to knee formation. The two cavalry brigades clashed with brutal ferocity. The English were slightly outclassed on paper but fully held their own in the melee. Both fights were bloody draws with all four regiments being shaken by the amount of casualties on each side and each brigade reeling back broken and of no further use in the battle.
3rd Hour after Dawn
On the English (west) side of the field the English foot were disjointedly trying to form a battle line at the woods (loc 3). The Panadours realising how close the French Infantry were to the woods fell back to the marshes, The main Imperial foot continued to fall back. The Imperial artillery batteries dropped a fuselage of balls on the limbered French artillery, leaving them shaken.
The French Foot held behind the woods waiting for the grenadiers and Bavarians to move up in support. The civilian transport contractors deserted the guns leaving the gun crews to set up the guns.
The Dragoons galloped up behind the Imperial foot within musket range in an overzealous interpretation of orders.
The "lost" Bavarian forces arrived behind the French lines. A Kuirassier brigade of two regiments and a brigade of three battalions of foot.
4th Hour after Dawn
The rear two battalions of Imperial infantry took an initiative order to turn around and fire a volley at the French Dragoons who took minor casualties and fell back out of range. Two English Btn in a moment of confusion decided to march sideways into a marsh. The Bavarian kuirassiers opted not to charge the two English battalions to their front. Everyone else moved about a little bit but not significantly.
5th Hour after Dawn
The French Dragoons moved in to the woods (Loc 1), dismounted and took up firing positions. The French grenadiers marched quickly towards the flank of the English battalions who were claiming out of the marsh. The Bavarians moved up on support of the Grenadiers but were left behind by their rapid advance.
6th hour after Dawn
The English fall back and form a line just out of musket range of the French Grenadiers.
7th hour after Dawn
In a reversal of the original French plan the Bavarian brigade advance rapidly through the French line and assault the English line. Two battalions v two battalions. One Bavarian battalion is destroyed and the other is shaken by casualties. The loss of two battalions break the brigade. The English battalions fall back but rally.
8th hour after Dawn
The Imperial brigade after some confusion advance into contact with the French line brigade wile the French Dragoons exchange fire with the skirmishing Panadours. The French line break under the assault and the brigade routs.
The French Grenadiers realise that with the loss of the French line brigade and the Bavarian brigade it all depends on them and they fix bayonets and charge the English line. The fight is fierce but once again the French are out fought, and they reel back broken.
The French counter-ambush has failed. The Imperial and English forces win the field of battle.
It was a fun game. I'm not sure the idea of sharing the battle on-line with friends worked. It was a lot of rushed effort for little return. The programmed scenario gave a good start point and overall strategy.
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