So 12 months ago we first played this scenario from the ‘Lets Fight Leipzig!’ book. As I had a home alone weekend I decided to have a Saturday game in the home Garage, rather than transport everything to the Club(last year when we played game at the club, we were banished to the bar area… inadequate space and lessened game fun factor!).

Game was played on a 15 x 6 foot table. We again used the newly printed 20mm scale buildings Alan is printing for me(some now painted!).

The French could deploy up to 6inches in front of Mocken and extend from the River Ekster to the bridge over the stream. The Prussians may deploy between the villages of Wahren and Lindenthal. Mockern was a 3 module village, the others were 1 module.

The Victory Conditions are the Prussians gain a decisive victory if they capture the whole of Mockern, and road junction A. They gain a tactical victory if they capture Mockern alone. The French gain a tactical victory if they hold A and at least one module in Mockern or a decisive victory if they hold the entire village.

Set up was:

Prussians – Goldie took 2 brigades and deployed around Wahren and across to Mockern. The 1st Brigade was in reserve. Alan took the cavalry reserve, 12 pdr battery and 2 Brigades and deployed in the centre.. Steve took the Advance Guard and deployed around Lindentahl.

French – Rob took the 20th Div, 25th light cavalry brigade plus 12pdr battery and deployed in and around Mockern. I took the 21st and 22nd Div’s plus 5th light cavalry brigade and deployed to Rob’s right.

Prussians have turn 1. Steve’s brigade order left his landwehr behind and as crossing the stream would have disordered his cavalry, they moved across and behind the infantry.

Goldie headed for Mockern.

On the right Prussians advance to towards objective A.

A flank was exposed when Prussian cavalry miss understood request to support flank of the infantry. I tried to get 1 Hussar into the flank, then a 2nd into the front, but 2nd only moved 1 move. Was not expecting the flank attack only to work, low odds. But Steve really helped me out….I won the combat…the infantry retired only…I carried on into another unit…won they combat as well…but they passed morale and 1 retired.

Which left me facing the Prussian reserve cavalry. Oh well, I got one glorious charge in! They were charged, got beaten up….retired….got beaten up….retired….I then initiative moved them off the table..shaken/disordered and flank on to Prussians…a target ready for destruction…and tests for the troops around them…so…they REALLY HAD TO GET OFF TABLE!

I think this inspired Alan as he now charged the 12pdr battery……and some infantry charging French line beside them as well.

Steve’s steady advance into my flank continues.

The 12pdr is destroyed… the the infantry charge eventually defeats the French line who retire…the Prussians then retire.

And its lunch time…..so we had a civilized meal upstairs!

Back to the game. I found a church I liked and Alan has printed 2 of these. The second has a destroyed tower. There is also a multi part windmill that will look awesome! Goldie has concentrated his attack to his right and not attacked Mockern it self. It is helped however by Steimetz’s refusal to move!

Here is that attack…it was aided by Rob having one of those days we all have from time to time…you can’t roll a decent dice at any time!

Over other flank and Steve is sending cavalry in to force me into square and then getting infantry up to attack next turn.

Rob’s flank is collapsing. The cavalry was used to keep the Prussian in square.

I decided to try and blunt Steve’s progress…first the flank Hussars charged and forced a column into square….then I charged the Grenadiers and moved up a flanking line in support. In a dumb dumb moment didn’t move them quite far enough and didn’t cover their flank properly. I actually beat the Grenadiers….but they stayed. LOL

Rob has moved his 2nd Cav regt over to help keeping Prussians at bay. In the background you can see Steinmetz is still not moving!

Bit of a mess. Steve has charged the square….Steve moved skirmishing Fusiliers up on 1 flank. Alans’s Pointy stick cavalry have charged in the flank of the combat, this is after Dragoons charged the line to the left of the picture and forced them into square….so they didn’t get to shoot the cavalry as they charged in. Steve then moved up a horse battery to close range of the square. This is when Steve and Alan had the bad dice……they did only 1 casualty on me…I passed morale…cavalry then bounced…..funny!

Back up Mockern way…..for several turns I had been shifting my bttns to the left and away from the right flank…..this allowed me to replace Robs front line, push a unit into the 3rd Mockern module and have a reserve which I threw into 2 disordered shaken Prussian bttns in line. The gap is where 1 was, sadly the supporting units didn’t care. My 2nd charge got disordered going in and fluffed its attacks and the combat is going on.

End game. Steinmetz has still not moved, Goldies force is not strong enough to take Mockern.

Facing Mockern are a mix of Goldie and Alan forces… ..but they and French now have multiple units with casualties on them.

Ha……I threw a legere unit across table and picked on a Dragoon unit that has 2 casualties in it…hoping to max casualties and take it out. caused 1 more so only shaken..

Steve and Alan close on on my blocking force.

Alan has troops facing the ridge but it has mainly been a shooting standoff. Looks pretty thought.

View from Junction A which the Prussians hold.

So that was that, a decisive French victory…in so far as we held Mockern. Robs Division was 1 unit away from collapse……but even then his units would not have to leave Mockern. French plan was to wait for Prussian advance then relocate units to the ridge beside Mockern…and it worked…so a good day at the office for Rob and I! Lots of what ifs…..maybe if Steinmetz had moved…..or Steve has managed to get his troops to move faster…or……and that is the fun of playing these well balanced scenarios……

Now the Whisky of Week is rather special.

Last week with my neighbor I had the privilege of attending a 20th Anniversary tasting for the Kilchoman Distillery from Islay. This was hosted by Whisky Galore in Christchurch and we had the pleasure of the evening being present by Catherine MacMillan from the Distillery.

6 wonderful drams were enjoyed, along with an entertaining tales on the history of the Distillery, and life on Islay.

Now, I only have one Kilchoman in my collection which is the PX Sherry cask. Shortly Whisky Galore will have a limited number of the Anniversary tasting for sale and as we were at the tasting, we have first dibs!!

A review I found said:

Nose: Dried fruit, earthy smoke, orange peel, dark chocolate, and hazelnut.

Palate: Salted caramel, marmalade, sultanas, cinnamon, and coffee.

Finish: Long, sweet, and rich.

Steve joined me in sipping this delightful drop during the game and I believe he left a happy man.

Until next time.. Terry out.