As L’Emperor Napoleon led his Imperial Guard away from Nogent sur Seine he received word that a force of Bavarians was ransacking his Palace of Fontainbleau. He straightened in his saddle and roared old his orders…..’To Fontainbleau we go!’

A division of Bavarians under General Stephan Hofbrauhaus had captured the Palace at Fontainbleau and was having a drunken old time in the wine cellar. They had some pickets out but had no thought to what Napoleon would do to them if he caught them.

The Bavarian Division was a good mix of troops, 2 line regts, 2 landwher, a jager, a battery and regt of Chevauleger light cavalry. Their happy commander is below.

The French commanded by Russ and Robert marched on the table on the road from Montereau. Their force included Napoleon, 4 regts Old Guard, 4 regts Middle Middle Guard , the Grenadiers a Cheval and Chasseurs of the Guard regt and a Guard horse battery.

The Old Guard march to the attack with the Emperor safe in their midst.

This lovely newly finished diorama is another classy paint job from Russell.

The Guard rushed straight into combat, hitting the first buildings from 2 sides. The Jager defending had been sleeping off a drunken stupor in the gardens so were disordered as they staggered in to buildings. Even so they managed to hold on for a couple of turns.

The horse artillery take out the Bavarian battery.

The Jager are still holding on, the Chevauleger sortie to help out….bad…bad call…..Old Guard infantry are not worried by light cavalry!

Once the first building was taken, the Guard then made multiple attacks on the rest of the Palace which they successfully captured. The Bavarians were destroyed with the Guard suffering some unit casualties only by Turn 6. It was quite entertaining as many dice were rolled, Steve actually won some of the combats and Russ/Robert had to use some of the ‘Steadfast’ rules the Guard have(basically pass first break test) to hang in there. But Guard are Guard…they are hard to kill off.

A victory for Napoleon and the French.

And that was Turn 8…..Goldie will now digest what has happened and we will get our scout reports and decide on Turn 9.

Paris is getting closer for the Allies.

The other night I played a game versus Keith using his Russians v some French. Keith had painted up the Russian 27th Division to be part of the Russian 2nd Western Army at our Borodino refight. Unfortunately due to ill health, he was unable to join in but is now up and about again so we had a game.

I set the table up using 2 of the Borodino boards, namely the 2 southern boards that have Utitsa village on them where Keith was to play and probably will in the refight later this year. Russians on the right…French pretending to be Poles on the left. Keith had 12 bttns foot(8 musketeers and 4 jager), 2 batteries and 4 regts cossacks. I fielded 9 foot bttns, 2 foot batteries, 1 Uhlan, 1 hussar and a horse battery. All commanders were 8 except Poniatowski who was a 9.

And here is the man himself, all smiley.

Early stages and Keith skirmished with his jager across the front. I formed a gun line supported by columns to counter. The French column out in front was ordered to advance through a shot up line and form line in front of them…they managed to move through them. The yellow dice records a unit disordered…. my pack of disorder markers have disappeared…..probably in the Druid mist that turned up in 2nd Battle of Troyes.

It just keeps getting better…..I ordered the 2 columns on my left to charge through the front line and chase off the skirmishers…they only rolled 1 move…so used Poniatowski to give them a reroll…rolled 12…great…a blunder…so they moved 1 move to the right… oops.

A view from behind the attempted charge….I had to send my Uhlans racing across to cover the open flank.

If you look to my left flank the Uhlans are gone…they got Cossacked to the front which would not have been an issue normally…except for the Jager unit that then hit my flank..pop went the Uhlans( in my defence here…was feeling generous and suggested the ploy to Keith).

On the right, Keith has taken out my horse battery with counter battery fire and the disordered column is no more. Its not looking good for me.

A turn on and Keith has gone onto the attack…..his left flank brigade has charged forward to wipe out my last 2 bttns of small right hand brigade…..before this I had offered to concede…but was only 9.15pm so Keith decided to carry on.

Unfortunately his attacking columns didn’t quite make it into contact and stopped just short….. his jager moved to shoot my flank….but missed all their shots! Things are looking up!!

A look across the table….dreaded yellow disorder dice on my units…..I have seen off some Jager but 2 Cossack units moved up to cover Russian flank. Notice the Russian columns in centre in front of my line.

Woohoo…. French strike back….managed to get front and flank attack on the Russian column which popped…….moved my left flank bttns up in line to shot up the Cossacks on hill……my centre battery wheeled to shoot up a column…right side bttns shot the columns that failed short in the charge…and cavalry general grabbed the Hussars…said  ‘Follow me lads’ and ran down down the fleeing Jagers then burst on to the battery on hill and ran down the battery!

Hot damn!!

End game position. Keith charged my right battalions……one popped…I did manage to shoot and destroy one incoming bttn with artillery fire and musketry. Keith then charged his Jager into my unloaded battery…and ..the Jager didn’t do any wounds…but…I did! So they lost and retired!!

So at game end….I had one broken brigade where 2 of 3 bttns were destroyed, the 2nd brigade was intact. My cavalry had lost the Uhlans and the horse battery, but being marauder cavalry, the Hussars don’t care.

Keiths Russians had lost the jager brigade and 1 bttn from each of the other 2. Both batteries were destroyed as was 1 Cossack with another shaken.

So from the closing jaws of defeat I grabbed what looks like a draw to me

So it was dawn after the 2nd Battle of Troyes and the Druidic Mist has gone……

Hordes of Russian Cavalry set off across the broad, flat plain between Troyes and Nogent……they burst into the town to find the French fleeing down the road West to Bray.

With blood in their eyes…the Cossacks lead the Hussars in the chase….many are the French cut down…..guns are captured…. many wagons…but no quarter is given.

REVENGE is had.

So the French have fled Nogent, the damaged cavalry along with Napoleon are no where to be found, only Marmont’s Corps which gets a bit cut up and loses its artillery as it flees. Goldie performed an Umpires resolution here, not sure of actual French casualties…just there were some.

Below is the campaign map for the South Western sector. I anticipate a battle or 3 shortly.

Napoleon himself has provided some photos and commentary of this battle so I have updated the report and added his comments on the photos. They are in italics.

So no sooner had yours truelly headed off for a 2 week holiday with ‘She who must be Obeyed’ and the French launch a major attack on Troyes!

So the battle was played while I was away in the Coromandel relaxing…..and we timed the break to start just as the school holidays ended so the beach town of Whangamata where we go, over the first couple of days went from full to almost no one. Check out beach shot below. Did see some whales breaching off the beach and the tails upright before going back down. Very Cool!

Now…back to the game. I had asked for some photos to be taken and a commentary provided by Goldie. Alan has taken photos and they have a couple words on each so thats as good as its going to get! As for the commentary…like Xmas…its coming…one day.

THANK’S GOLDIE!

So the game went something like this……Napoleon used his superior movement(he gets to take his troops 3 towns in a turn instead of 2) so that he performed a night march from Nogent to attack Troyes. The Allied pickets outside of Troyes started skirmishing with advancing French light cavalry before dawn.

Apparently when Wurttemburg was awoken from his slumber, he was told French cavalry were attacking, he asked ‘How Many’ to be informed ‘All of them!’.

Not an encouraging way to wake up really(Wurttemberg is my command , Nick stood in for me).

So as dawn lightened the sky 15 French cavalry regiments with horse artillery galloped across the flat plain between Nogent and Troyes to attack the forces of Wittgenstein which had captured Troyes. However, it was the not forces of Wittgenstein they faced, as the survivors of the 1st battle of Troyes had informed Napoleon, but the forces of Wurttemberg they faced. This was not a force of Bavarian infantry including landwher and light cavalry, no this was something entirely different!

As the mist lifted, in the dawn light the French could see rank upon rank of Austrian regular infantry….. rather large ranks at that. Between the ranks were supporting batteries and to the French left, rifle fire commenced from some villages….where regts of Wurttembergers could be seen….. beyond them mist obscured the Allied camp.

This might not be as easy a fight as they though!

Right…so that’s the picture…the French are charging across an open plain, led by Napoleon with a lot of cavalry including Old Guard, Young Guard and line regiments.

There are basically 9 turns in a day and the French by marching at night have a full day to beat up the Allied force. There is a limit of 5 divisions that can come down an Imperial road in each move and there are 2 moves per day so any French / Allied reinforcements would be under orders already and would arrive on turn 5.

Below is position at dawn where the French cavalry are on the field.

Now somehow a French Regt has got around the village with the Wurttemburg Jager in and destroyed the Wurttemberg battery. I do recall giving express instructions on my batteries to be safely positioned as is a campaign, did not want to lose any. Gggrrrr. On the flip side, this cavalry regt doesn’t appear in anymore photos so assuming they did a sweeping advance onto the line regt and they were destroyed.

This is the follow on charge after running over Wurttemberg artillery from Oudinot’s light cavalry which broke.

The photos below is entitled, ‘Repulsed’…I can see a disordered marker so assume the Austrian cavalry won somehow! Go my boys!!

Next up is a picture down the table.

Out of the camp mist, Duka’s Russian Cuirrassier Division rides up along with some more Austrian infantry and guns!

The dice gods are smiling, French charge an Austrian battery…and …lose the combat!

The Death of Duka….. PaulW….in payback mode after the battle of Vitray gets Duka and the Military Order Cuirrassiers destroyed taking it to the Frenchies….. I am recommending an assignment in Siberia next for him.

Cuirassier sandwich presumably when General Duka died too, though I don’t see him there.

View down the table, Goldie is performing a Druid ritual. As you will see later, it was successful.

Mortier’s Corps cavalry Cuirassiers shot to shaken and therefore broken

Next up are 2 broken French cavalry running off the table.

Below we have a French cavalry regt charged by cavalry…then hit in flank by large bttn. Pop.

And its Turn 5 which is the second move of the day. The French have no commands arriving(we were all expecting to see a rush of French infantry coming to join then party!But the Allies do. Osten-Sacken arrives with 12 regiments of Russian Cavalry charging through the Austrian lines. Kretov appears in the French right flank with 3 more regiments of Russian Cuirrassiers!

Guard horse artillery land two 6 hits on the Russian? Cuirassiers who nonchalantly roll double 6s to shrug them off (disordered though)

Miraculous Chasseurs a Cheval of the Guard counter charge supported, follow me!, Russian cuirassiers, suffer 3 casualties, inflict 6 casualties. The cuirassiers pass their -3 break test (merde!) but general (insert name here) dies!

And we have the French now retiring off the table, but not before Kretov also got himself killed. Argghhhhhh. Steve gets the rap for this one.

My sources dear readers, tell me the French lost 7 regiments and most of those remaining have suffered some damage. The Allies lost a battery and 2 cavalry regiments(if wrong will update..still waiting on the Druid mail service to deliver report).

Now readers, I am sure you, like me, have read the Glorious accounts of cavalry pursuits in the Napoleonic wars. However, we had not worked this out before the game, and so Goldie made a call on how it would go.

So some Gaulish Druids were inhabiting a wood close to Saint Aubin and came to wee Nappy’s aid. A deep magical mist rose over the plains, leaving the road to Saint Aubin and thence Nogent as the only route you could take. You have to form column of march, no racing across the flat open plains in pursuit of your weary, beaten enemies. So being chivalrous chaps, our cavalry sat on their steads while the French formed nice columns on the road…and off they went……I dare say in as much shock as we were(but much happier!).

And that was it…..my carefully prepared trap for the French cavalry being stopped by some Gaulish Druids……who would have thought it!

I hope the Prussians have the next battle as am not sure I could handle the stress so soon of another one…..and I wasn’t even there!

So battle #2 has been fought.

Wittgenstein(Steve) advanced from Vendeuvre across the River Seine to Troyes which was held by 4 bttns of the Garde Nationale. These outstanding lads were rated as Unreliable and morale 5+.

Steve is in the blue shirt, Alan (provided the Bavarians) in the red and Goldie who although Campaign umpire played the French is in the white. Below is the start positions. French on western side of the Seine. They have blown the bridge on the central road, however bridge on northern road is not blown. They have 2 bttns covering the 2 roads and 2  supporting. Allies can try and send one bttn across per turn in boats. It is 3 moves to cross. The northern bridge can only be crossed in column of march.

Allied turn one and a Bavarian line bttn gets across the river on the allied right.

There was one piece of high ground which 2 Bavarian batteries took over. This is their first shots…needed 6’s to hit…2 6’s rolled. Awesome.

French bttn by Northern bridge sustains 4 wounds and a disorder from shooting, it pops.

French turn 1, one bttn has been destroyed, second has retired from central bridge(its a destroyed bridge) with 3 wounds and a disorder. The 2nd line bttns now move up to cover bridges.

Allied 2nd turn, this Bavarian bttn between the batteries was the forward bttn, it was ordered, twice, to get into boats and cross the river in front of a French bttn, they decided to blunder and retire. Wise men.

Here we have Bavarian light infantry who have followed their General across the river!

Its turn 3, and by the scenario rules bad things can happen to the Allies if they have not established a bridgehead by the destroyed bridge at the end of this turn. In turn 2 their had been a number of failed orders on the allied side so it was all a bit nervous. The left French bttn has 2 wounds and is disordered. The centre bttn has recovered from disorder but is still shaken and the right side bttn is now shaken.

Allied shooting on the left bttn causes more wounds and Paul needs to roll a 7 to pass his break test, he rolled a 3 so thats the 2nd of 4 bttns gone.

In the centre a Bavarian bttn moved up to the river bank and fired, rolling 3 6’s and inflicting 3 wounds. The bttn that had crossed the river upstream now moved up and fired along with the light infantry, adding 4 more wounds, which with the disorder meant Paul was rolling a break test on a -8. So he couldn’t pass, but then he rolled a double 1 anyway.

So having lost 3 bttns the French break and the Allies take Troyes.

Below is Map showing Troyes.

The Orders for Turn 5 are now going into the Umpire, the next turn could be quite interesting.

‘Marshall Marmont surveyed the village of Vaucler and the road which stretched from it south east to St Dizier. His scouts had just reported in, a column of Russian infantry was marching up the road. He was shocked to be told they had no cavalry, not even the dreaded Cossacks! Just then an ADC raced up from the west, Le Emperor and Marshall Ney, the Bravest of the Brave were approaching from Chalons with a Guard force and he was to hold his position until they could join him. The Russians were going to pay for invading France!’

So Tuesday night we had the first battle of the 1814 campaign.

Osten-Sacken(PaulW) set off from St Dizier and marched North East towards Vitray. The road could have 3 divisions move up it a turn, so Paul advanced with 3 Russian infantry divisions, each of 4 Musketeers, 2 Jager and 1 battery. For the numerically challenged, thats a wholesome force of 12 Musketeers, 6 Jager and 3 batteries. And as shocked as Marmont was, no cavalry!

Marmont(Robert) commanded 3 divisions, the 3rd Division of 4 ligne infantry and a battery, the 8th Division of 1 legere and 3 ligne, and the 1st cavalry with 2 light cavalry regts and 2 cuirassier regts.

Napoleon/Ney( was to be Rob, but Russ had to sub in for Rob) commanded the 1st and 2nd Young Guard Divisions each of 4 regts, and a Garde d’Honneur Division of 2 combined regts.

Meanwhile…..on the road from St Dizier…..

‘Ivan……I thought some of them thievin Cossacks were sent up the road before us this morning’ Igor said….

‘Nah’ said Ivan….’I spotted the drunken sods snoring in that farm they took over’…..

‘Crap’ said Igor…..’You think any ones had the balls to tell old fancy pants’…..

.’Nah….all pretty boys…no balls them officers’…….said Ivan……

‘You get enough ammo last night’ asked Igor…..

‘Nah’ said Ivan…..’Boris said the supply train is late’…….

‘Oh great’ said Igor……’Hope no garlic breathers are in that town up ahead then’ ….said Ivan…..and just then drums started beating…..

So the battle will be 5 turns followed by 1 turn of dusk when visibility reduce to 6 inches.

Below is Russians who have arrived on the table….the edge…the very edge.

And here is 2 divisions of Young Guard accompanied by Napoleon and Ney, The Garde d’Honneors  are off table on the road. Marmont is up in the middle of the table.

And here is middle of table, village of Vaucler with 3rd Division in residence. The light cavalry are forward of them, one on each table edge.

A view from the Russians with the Young Guard now skirmishing to their front and columns and cavalry close in. They still have not moved.

Russians have moved….the 6 units of Jager still have not skirmished, 2 have formed square though…otherwise bit of sideways shuffling. In the Jagers defence…as Ivan and Igor have said, they must be short on ammo…as Umpire only allowing them 2 shots instead of the normal 3, and their batteries seem to have lost 1/3 their guns….oh and its muddy so you can’t move and shoot guns in same turn.

Oh, and the 2 square are because of the announcement 2 Cuirassier regts had just failed order to rush on table beside the Hussars on the French left flank. This lead to discussions on Campaign rules on off table troops appearing…..a rarity in our games.

Anyone would think the French were running the campaign  🙂

Here come the Garde d’Honneurs down the French right flank. They were rated as ‘Ferocious charge’, so they reroll any misses in first round of combats….nasty for light cavalry…..the were nicely painted, well done Russ…very pretty.

What a mess. The Russians hugging the end of the table is now going to haunt them. They have no depth and are all bunched which is about to turn nasty for them, Russ has charged in with the 2nd Young Guards in the square and some columns Paul managed to get over there in the French left. In the Centre Robert supported by the skirmishing 1st Young Guards has also charged in.

The aftermath. A number if Russian units are missing. Paul failed almost every break test. It was truely appalling dice rolling. But Russ is a vastly experienced competitive gamer, he knows EXACTLY how to win in that mess of units!

The End Game. Paul did better in the middle but Robert did enough coupled with Russell’s demo on the flank to make the Russians retire beaten after dusk. Being a Campaign Game and I am not meant to be aware of actually casualties yet, I didn’t keep track of the casualties to either side.

As Ivan and Igor trudge back down the road to St Dizier in the dark…..

‘Well that was a shitfest wasn’t it Igor’

‘Yeah…..ole fancy pants probably shat himself alright Ivan’

‘Who do you think he’s gunna blame?’

‘Bloody Cossacks of course Igor!’

‘Those Frenchies were bit young weren’t they…..one kid I shot hadn’t even loaded his musket…and he didn’t have boots on Ivan!’

‘French Guard ain’t what it was mate’ said  Ivan

So that was the first campaign battle.

Sadly, Russians well and truely beaten.

So Goldie has been talking about an 1814 campaign for sometime, and over the past Xmas period he has rolled one out.

The French have 3 players(Russ, Robert and Rob), the Allies have 5 players(Terry, PaulW, Steve, Alan and Nick).

Goldie is the Umpire, Rulemeister and point of all communications. Rules are BP2 with some adjustments Goldie has made.

Players on the same side are only allowed to directly communicate if we have forces in the same nexus. We can communicate by sending ADC’s racing around the map passing messages between ourselves.

Below is the map we are playing on.

Each player is in command of a scaled down Corps. Each Corps has 3+ Divisions(2+ units) in it. Turns are are a day, split into Morning, Afternoon and Night moves. Each move is one town. Night moves can result in Divisions losing stamina.

It is VERY IMPORTANT to work out your order of march.

The 3 red roads are Imperial roads and 5 Divisions can move down them at a time, other roads are only 3 Divisions.

The Allies enter from the eastern edge, the French are somewhere on the map.

So its turn 1 and lo and behold, Osten-Sacken(PaulW) has marched into a nice French Trap at Vitry le Francois. Happily strolling down the road, they find Marmont in possession of the town and rapidly approaching what looks like Napoleon and Ney leading a Corps of Young Guard……the battle will be fought next week….report will follow!

So its day 2.

Am writing this report a bit differently and will split the tale into the 3 sectors and report on the South, then the North and will end with the Centre. Napoleon has sent some more photos so will incorporate a few of them as I got involved in my wee corner and neglected to take many other photos(his camera took better pictures as well).

Before start…here a picture of the French players….don’t have one of the Russians…yet…

So in the South…..

At the end of Day 1 the Poles had lost several batteries, as had I and they had replaced theirs with 3 heavy batteries and Montbrun’s cavalry division has also made it down the road to join them. With the full French force on the table it was time to attack. There were some disordered and shaken units plus light cavalry in their front line. Perfect prey for Cuirassiers to attack on ‘Follow Me’ orders, smash them and breakthrough on the units behind causing morale checks which units would hopefully fail. Dispite the urging of Kutusov( who was not slumbering in the rear) I had refrained from rushing into the attack, until now.

At the same time Brent had taken over from Mark commanding the Guard brigade as they were now in his sector…so they were thrown into the Westphalians….I advanced Grenadiers in support.

Things were going well for Russsia, the Poles and Westphalians lost combats and units retired/popped. However my disordered Grenadier unit was left exposed in the front line! The plan was to withdraw it behind the line that was supporting it to the rear but Nappy appeared and distracted me. Then it was the French turn and Johnathon who was dribbling with excitement as he looked at my disordered unit in front of his Cuirassiers. A   ‘Follow Me’ order is duly made and in they come. My brave Grenadiers form square, however it is a ‘disordered square’ so the Cuirassiers are allowed to beat me up and I sustain 5 losses. Its not looking good.  I roll break test my break test.

The 2 green dice below with Russian Eagles on them are 6s’ and so I pass! Woohoo…Russians are so STAUNCH!! The Cuirassiers retire and in my turn the square moves to the rear 6 inches and is now hidden behind the unit in line.

Now that was a ‘Get out of Jail Free’ card.

Further south I send 2 Cuirassier units into light cavalry who they counter charge. The cuirassiers as expected to win, and to not sustain enough casualties to be shaken so they perform sweeping advances which clear out the batteries, shaken infantry and more cavalry. This would my columns to advance with far less risk. Tuchkov died like all brave Russian Corp Commanders should…leading an attack!

A Big gap has now been made. In top of picture the Guard are taking it to the Westphalians(although the Westphalian Guard did take out a Russian Guard unit!).

The Poles and Westphalians are now retiring into woods and the lone battery is about to get a battalion in  the flank.

End Game. A Grenadier battalion has formed a square in the road in woods to stop any cavalry coming down it. Skirmishers are in the woods and a  line of guns with Grenadiers are facing retiring enemy in woods. The Cuirassiers and Cossacks plus some battalions are headed up to help out in the fleches. Brent has sent the Guard into join the Militia in woods beating up last of the 57th and secure not only woods but threaten French advance on the other side.

To the North.

This was obviously where the Russian push was going in…..

Eugenes troops behind Borodino…..Neys troops exiting woods.

A lack of French troops evident in the North.

Russians pushing through, there are French cavalry and artillery moving to oppose on the rear support table. But, Game called as Russian Victory in the North.

And the Centre…..

French pushing to left of redoubt.

Ney has cleared Jager and now advancing.

Eugene has been pushed back.

And in the Fleches Davout is fighting in woods and Fleches….there was some very noisey yelling going on around here all day. Periods of very good…or very bad dice rolls depending on your side!

The long reach of Ney. Russ on the attack.

Gorki Fleches with view down table.

The best defense is…attack.

Ney and Davout throwing everything in.

And the end……..Mark removing last of his combined Grenadiers…the Vistula Legion is joining in but there are a lot of shaken and damaged units…… in the woods the Russian Guard are now beating back Davouts troops…..and the game is called.

View from table end….

And that was our 2 day refight of The battle of Borodino, a Russian Victory.

The plan now is to refight in March 2021, with players swapping sides.

So now I can stop working on Russkies for a while.

Whew.

A big thanks to the Bowling Club and to Kevin and Murray for manning the bar and providing the bbq saturday night.

Over the weekend of 7-8 November 2020, 19 gamers and a barman gathered at the Seatoun Bowling & RSA Club in Seatoun, Wellington, New Zealand to refight the battle of Borodino.

The Battle would be fought over 24 foot of bespoke terrain boards specially designed and built by the crazy Mr Paul Weakley(6 interlocked boards, each 6′ x 4′). This was supported by another table the same size for the French reserves and a smaller 24′ x 4′  wide table for the Russians.

The players were drawn from around NZ with our core Wellington Group, our clone group from Auckland along with players from Tauranga, Whanganui, Levin and Christchurch. The French side included the The Woolshed Gamer and Valleyboy who will be posting reports as well.

The troops were basically the official orbat for the battle, halved, so on show were:

Russian:

• 94 battalions(2,256 miniatures)
• 34 Cavalry regts(10 Cossacks) (around 400 miniatures)
• 27 batteries (each 3 guns – 81 guns)

French:

• 108 battalions(12 Guard) (2,592 miniatures)
• 39 cavalry regts(4 Guard) (around 470 miniatures)
• 36 batteries(7 Guard) (each 2 guns – so 72 guns)

I have asked Napoleon(John Hutton) and Kutusov/Barclay de Tolly(Paul Weakley) to write a short version of the battle each and will post when they do.

Otherwise this report is naturally biased from my viewpoint as Bagration/Tuchkov/Duka.

Paul had been planning this battle for a some time. We have been planning and undertaking the painting of the Russians, since we started with virtually none. So it has been an exciting project. Who put hands up to paint Russians? What units would each paint? Then the purchase of books, figures, more painting and sending shipments of figures to Fernando Enterprises in Sri Lanka for some of us. Then basing them on their return, sourcing movement trays, sourcing and painting the fleches, and many nights practicing with the rule amendments we made to Black Powder 2 rules specifically for the game and then having the local guys here in Wellington practice storming fleches, fighting in heavy woods, then light woods, then cavalry battles to get ready for the Big Game!

I still don’t know what the French plan was but the Russian one was straight forward and is below.

• In the North Paul W with Stephen and Steve would launch an attack on the French left flank. This force included a brigade of Guard infantry, Guard cavalry, 1st Cuirassier Division, Platov’s Cossacks, the 8 Jager battalions from 2nd Corps and the 2 battalions of Guard Jager. They had 7 batteries, 3 being horse artillery.
• In the Centre we would hold! Baggovouts(Graeme) 16 Musketeer Battalions and their 2 batteries would move south to form a 2nd line behind Paul N, Nick and Mark.
• In the South Tuchkov(Me) and the 2nd Grenadier Division start with the Militia/Cossacks in support. Duka and 2nd Cuirassiers move in support. The Jagers of the 27th Division(Brent) are in the heavy Utitsa Woods. The Moscow Militia to move in support(during test games appeared to me best place for them, the limited move in woods, skirmish formation and extra morale save made them perfect) and a Musketeer brigade as well. Paul and I felt the French would press hard through the woods and prepared for it. Off table were 2 support batteries which could be used once 2 batteries had been destroyed.

So away we went!

French turn 1 and Davout moved brigades(plural!) into Utitsa woods. Jeromes Westphalians raced from reserve to flank them in the woods. The Poles were not expected until turn 3. Elsewhere a French Grand Battery appeared opposite fleches while the woods in front of the Redoubt were being contested. On the French left flank the French under Eugene advanced on Borodino village.

Now the Polish Prince Poniatowski was played by the delightful Kerry Thomas from Tauranga and his outstandingly well painted Murawski Poles. I first met Kerry when we played the Leipzig refight a few years back(2013) and I was Marshal Victor and we single handedly won the battle for Napoleon(well…that’s my recollection anyway!). The Westphalians coming through the woods were commanded by Johnathon from Christchurch, who also had Montbrun’s Cavalry and 3 heavy batteries trailing the Poles. Looked like we were going to have some fun.

To my right Brent from the Auckland Group was commanding the 27th Division(John had moved to Auckanld and joined them, whereas Nick then moved from Auckland and joined us in Wellington!) Once the Milita decided to move , they passed to Brent – we had decided for the game when troops moved into your sector, you took over command. Much tidier! I commanded my 12 battalions of the 2nd Grenadiers and their 2 light batteries plus 4 units cossacks and I later stole the 2nd Cuirassiers off Brent(they were my figures after all!). To the right of Brent was Mark commanding the 2 Fleches with 6 battalions of combined Grenadiers and the batteries in the fleches. The batteries of the 27th were supporting him.

I shall report the battle in series pictures taken on my phone. When Napoleon and Kutusov file their reports, will make a separate post with pictures from the better camera’s when they are sent.

The first picture below is the briefing from Paul Weakley on the terrain and what the features meant as far as movement effects.

This is my command on southern flank at Utitsa. 2nd Grenadier Division supported by Karpovs cossacks. Militia are on support table behind where photo taken from. Poles can be seen in woods with Davouts first units in woods to right. French table in background where rest of Poles plus Montbrun’s Cavalry and Westphalians heading my way!

A look back down table from the North where can see Dohtorov’s troops guarding the Kolocha with the Gorki fleches. Eugenes troops on the right…..and briefly….open terrain in the North!

The centre peice of the Russian line, the famous Raievski Redoubt with a heavy battery in possession with the 12th Divison and 4th Cavalry Corps to its rear.

Bagration fleches with a brigade of 2nd Combined Grenadiers in support.

In the North Eugene sends his 2 light cavalry brigades rushing out wide.

Back down in the Utitsa Woods, the Westphalians and Davouts have started mixing it with the 4 Jager bttns in there. In back of woods a brigade of the 27th is preparing to join in and the elite Militia bttns are sllooowwwlllyyy making their way to join in. I have stolen Duka’s Cuirassiers off Brent.

In the centre French infantry clear Jager out of light woods.

As per plan, Russian Jagers make a fighting withdrawl from Borodino Village leaving Eugene’s troops in the open. View from Gorki fleches.

Eugene’s flanking light cavalry brigades run into Russian Guard Cuirassiers….and friends…its not pretty.

Now I started losing track quickly as to what was going on elsewhere…..but I gather 2 brigades of French infantry, including one of 5 legere made a charge towards the Redoubt….only for Nappy to throw a paddy and demand they retire. I think this is the photo of some trying to disengage. Another French grand battery being formed in rear.

This is the Utitsa woods…..what a mess…..troops everywhere. I think this may have been the French plan…..swamp the woods….or play in the swampy woods…..but it seemed a magnet.

French have retired from field around Redoubt…and a long distance artillery duel commences. A favourite Russian ploy…we get more shots at long range…French at medium…so … we stay at long range where possible.

And in the north….the Russian flank attack is in full swing. The brave French advancing on them are Delzons 13th Division. Goldie finished them on the Friday before game…I provided flags and even painted the Eagles for them…..they were in a perfectly sound defensive position..and..Nappy…yep…he rode past again…demanded they advance in a manly manner and stop skulking…..it doesn’t go well…..the whisper is the ‘Ghost of Delzons’ can be heard at night on the battlefield….crying for his lost men.

The Russian moving gunline of jager/horse batteries with cavalry support worked a treat. With the brigade of Guard infantry providing the close quarter muscle.

Am sure Russians aren’t meant to be on French reserve table…Nappy…yoohoo….

End of day 1 we had a BBQ, just beating the Southerly Storm that was coming in(for those outside New Zealand, picture south of us is water…lots of cold water…so a southerly storm is not overly welcome)

And that was the end of Day 1….

Day 2 got interesting……

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The best laid plans of mice and men…..

So I was having a birthday in late August….so organised a game on a saturday…..my partner Anita had already organised to be away for 3 days that weekend with her high school girlfriends for their annual drinking session…this year in Raglan.(all NZers would be thinking..Raglan…whats in Raglan?)…we were all excited…Anita got to drive up in her mates new Maserati…..daughter at home was moving out prior weekend…so Terry is home alone for 3 days……woohoo…

and then…..daughters flat move delayed 2 weeks…..an outbreak of the plague happens in Auckland so some the girls can’t make Raglan…so they cancel it……I don’t get why a handful of plague victims shuts down a whole country…..I am assuming part of Governments re election plan……keep everyone scared s***less……

So on with the game…..instead of playing in garage moved it to lounge…..scenario loosely based on Sheveradino Redoubt battle….the day before Borodino…..

So the Russians would be defending redoubt with 3 brigades of infantry(each of 4 bttns)…2 being musketeers and 1 Jager. The redoubt on the small hill had a position battery in it and the 2 musketeer brigades also had a battery added..

The French players each started with 5 bttns and they had 2 batteries in total.

At some stage Poniatowski’s Poles would make an appearance on the southern flank of the French….various reserve formations would make an appearance…infantry and cavalry and then towards the end of the game, I would get 5 Russian Cuirassier regts to play with, cause its my birthday!

Game started at 9am and finished at 3pm with refreshments break 12ish.

Pictures below tell the tale…..

Da Boyz! French side to left of table…..Russkies on the right

Redoubt with me to the rear…thats Bagration! Massed French advancing…..

Russian right….a number of Russian commanders started facing firing squads……Pauls Musketeer brigade meant to be holding vollage with Nicks Jagers adding skirmishing cover…..yet Roberts brigade has thrown them out…..my Combined Grenadiers arriving to the left……

From bottom to top……French have taken village….Pauls been pushed back to table edge…cavalry brigade has arrived on table in support…..beside redoubt my combined grenadiers have obliterated 5 bttns and moving onto next 5…..which they would soon also obliterate….on the otherisde of the redoubt…French columns advancing behind skirmish line…and at far end of table…Russian Hussars are trying to ride through a non-existant gap between village and woods. Steve was ordered to use them to force advancing French into square so guns/columns could take care of them…. such ineptitude has not only resulted in him being shot, but he has been transferred out of my Russian 2nd Army in Borodino refight to the 1st Army! Russ looks like he is thinking up an overly cunning plan….

A bit further into the game….of the 15 French bttns sent against my 5 combined Grenadiers….this is whats left….my 5 untouched…am awarding myself a medal….elements of 2nd Grenadier Division have now arrived so Paul has something to play with…he’s lost everything else…. Roberts French still intact…just.

So Steve and Nick have lost their initial brigades, and I have sent them the last 2 brigades of the 2nd Grenadiers. The Hussars are sitting in far corner disordered and getting shot to pieces by infantry. The NKVD is trying to catch up to Steve and shoot him. French played very patient controlled battle on this side. Lots if attacks going in…French Cuirassier’s now on table and closing in, and Poles starting to come out of southern woods.

End of game on Russian right…..French have a ring of cavalry…infantry all gone…..and I have 5 regts Cuirassiers on table!

On Russian left not so good…the Grenadier brigades taken a battering…I had sent 2 regts Cuirassiers to assist…..but we would be withdrawing….but a Russian victory as the French hadn’t even assaulted the redoubt..the aim of the game! By this stage Nick had joined me and we were enjoying a scotch.