Goldie and I squeezed another game in before the end of the month.

This was another practice with same sized forces and testing the subtle changes we have been making to standard Black Powder rules. This game we introduced no supports in combat…on the basis in reality the units are basically in a skirmish formation…so should not be supported.

The terrain had the French deployed south of the central road.

I was French and Goldie Prussian as usual with all brigades being 4 bttns…..the Prussian 4 bases and the French 3 bases. All units had 4 shots, the Prussian had 8 attacks in hand to hand ,the French 6. Commanders are all rated as 8s.

My left flank brigade based around a farmhouse with a mitrailleuse skulking behind the orchard and light infantry in the wood. Goldie has advanced a brigade opposite me. The Prussian artillery(4 guns) Goldie placed centrally…but they refused to move……a great start for me!

My Central brigade deployed between/on 2 low hills with my battery in the hollow.

My right flank brigade deployed on low ridge/trees.

Goldie advances his left flank brigade to take the farmhouse. I was perfectly happy to let him have it…he can only shoot 12 inches…I shoot 24 inches…his artillery is not on this flank so I was going to stay outside of his shooting range and inflict casualties.

The Prussians were a bit tardy at advancing so I was able to concentrate fire on the exposed advance bttn.

Prussian right flank brigade advances into a wall of fire. He may have large units and stamina 4…but I have 4 shots per unit……

The Prussian artillery finally obeyed orders and advances…but artillery cannot shoot on turn moves……which gave my brigade in the open an opportunity to retire…..fools didn’t…..

Over on my right I advanced to get into shooting range…..I obviously needed a whisky…as why did I leave that unit side on?

My Centre…trying to scurry for cover as the Prussian artillery unlimbers…..but look at that tempting line in front of us!

French light infantry in the woods.. I decided to sacrifice them to the guns… while I inflicted as many casualties as possible on the Prussian infantry to their flanks before I headed for cover!

On my left flank the tardy unit that had been skulking behind the Farmhouse finally moved onto the hill to start firing!

Phew….Goldie sent a unit to charge my poorly positioned flanking unit…but he did not make it in.

The flank chaps have disordered unit to their front…good boys! Ladz in the farmhouse however are disordered and taking casualties.

The Mitrailleuse had made several rounds of firing for minimal return…then they did this…all is forgiven!

Goldies right flank is looking a wee bit sad….shaken and disordered units abound! In his defence…..I don’t think I have ever rolled so many 6’s for shooting before.

There were 2 units beside the farmhouse…now 1 and it is shaken.

Goldie’s failed flank charge leaves this unit facing a battery and 12 shoots in my turn…a disorder and 2 casualties is a poor return!

In they come. Goldie throws his reserve brigade into the attack in the centre.

Sigh…after its last round of shooting….it misfires and can’t shoot again.

C’est la vie!

Prussian unit lost the combat and retires shaken/disordered…. another is disordered with 3 casualties. I have a unit positioned for flank attack.

Where the game is to be decided…Goldie need to break through before I can turn his flank.

Charge on my guns…guns pop…..but the charger is now disordered……

My flank attack destroyed a unit, another has lost its combat and Goldie’s attacking brigade is now broken.

On my left…Goldies right flank brigade is broken….

On my right flank…Goldie’s brigade here is also broken.

So that was a comprehensive French victory!

But I need to put a caveat on this as several events resulted in the ease of the victory. Goldies artillery was set up where it could not control the battlefield….. the turn one blunder and non-movement then accentuated that. Then my firing was awesome with way above average numbers of 6’s being rolled all game thus pinning Goldie’s bttns outside their shooting range and allowing me extra turns to pile shots into them.

Hopefully for the next game Alan will be available and we can have a larger game…and one day the Perrys may even paint some command figures for us!! Some French cavalry is on the painting table so will be fun to add them to games…but then I am verryyy slow at painting ….. so could be a while!

Until next time……