The Battle of Brownsville - An ACW "What If" AAR

The Rejects assembled last weekend for our first game of the year in the shed.  Postie had arranged a fictional American Civil War engagement based in 1862.  In simple terms the Confederates were advancing and the Union troops were reacting and marching to meet the incursion.

Lee, Mark, Ray and Steve led the Rebel offensive.

Dan, Surjit and I commanded the Union defense.

The figures were a large variety of 15mm.

The rules were Fire and Fury amended to use 2d6 instead of d10.

The Deployment
Standing on the Union side of the table, looking left.  The central corps is marching off the heights. On the far flank by the river, Dan is marching on. He immediately faced approaching rebs already deployed in supported line.

Looking towards the Union right flank, the rest of the centre and Surjit's command march down to meet the threat.

A view from the Union right flank down the length of the battlefield.

All the confederates are on the right in the photo and mostly in march column.

The Battle

All along both lines the troops advance quickly.

With a few to the right starting to shake out into line.

On the Union right flank, Ray was quickly advancing his Rebel brigades while Surjit tried to deploy against the attack.

The Confederates moving quickly and aggressively occupy the woods nearby and within charge range.

Meanwhile, in the centre and on the Union left both sides are bracing themselves.  In the meantime, the Union have been able to use their superior artillery to disorder and reduce some of the Confederate elite units.

The Union centre is able to deploy along the road whilst Surjit moves to threaten the Confederates in the wood on the right flank.

After manoeuvring into position and having to take artillery casualties, the Rebels now seem poised to assault all along the line.

Steve takes two of his Confederate brigades and launches them at Dan's defending blue coats.  Dan's defensive fire causes some Rebel disorder.

Which is sufficient to help Dan win both melees and push the attackers back.

In the centre, Lee charges with elite brigades at the Union line.  The Rebels take casualties going in and are disordered.

The Confederate brigades, being depleted from artillery fire and defensive infantry fire, are overwhelmed.  One is entirely wiped out and the other retreats in disorder.

And on the Union right flank, Ray hurls his Confederate troops out of the woods and into Surjit's blue line.

However, the Union defence is too determined and stubborn.  The attackers falter with one retiring out of range and the other left exposed.

It was more or less at this point that the Confederate commanders had a meeting and agreed to cede the field to the Union.

So, a Union victory.

After Thoughts
The onus was on the Confederates to attack, which they did.  Although they had a qualitative edge, numerically the sides were even.  This made for an extremely difficult job for the Rebels.  This job was not helped by the amount of casualties and disorder they suffered on the approach and when charging.

On that last point, I think that an unintended result of moving from a d10 (which made for very random and sometimes extreme results) to 2d6 meant that the dice result was smoothed towards the more probable 6,7 and 8.  These results coming up more often had the effect of making a shot with artillery or small arms more likely to result in the target being disordered and often taking a casualty.  It made for a less random and entirely irritating experience, but the consequence was that it was very hard for the Confederates in good order.  I'm not saying that the 2d6 should be abandoned, just that attackers need a quantitative advantage over defenders, as just a qualitative advantage is not enough - especially if most of the quality is blown away before it can close.

We often end I game of Fire and Fury with some questions and dissatisfaction. It was the newest Reject, Dan, who made the clearest observation that perhaps what we need is a new set of rules for ACW.  I have my thoughts on the matter with Black Powder or Bloody Big Battles as high on my list.  Any suggestions?  Remember, the rules must cope with BIG games.

Nonetheless, it was an enjoyable game and the earlier than usual finish meant that us Rejects could sit with tea and cake and have a grand old new year catch up.

Rematch at Agnadello, 1509 - AAR

After playing and losing with the Venetians in our first outing of the Battle of Agnadello (see the reports from me and Jonathan), Jonathan reran the game but with sides swapped.  Would Jonathan lead the Venetians to victory? or would I take the French to another win?

This was a busy game. So, you may want to get a cup of tea and sit back and relax into this.

Looking at the battlefield from my, French, point of view.  The King's command on the left, including the artillery.  Chamont leading the French right with Gascon crossbow units, Swiss pike and gendarmes on the far right.

It did not take long to realise that the Venetians were not going to sit on the defensive behind the irrigation ditches.  With both armies advancing, Carpi's pike blocks were quickly within striking distance of Chamont's troops with one pike block charging through a vineyard against a Gascon crossbow unit.

Carpi's pike quickly routed the Gascons...

... and carried by their success launched into Chamont's Swiss on the right.  At this point my money might have been with the Swiss.

However, the Venetian pike deal a hammer blow to the Swiss and send them reeling backwards.  Fortunately for the French, the struggle took the momentum out of the pikemen.

Sadly for Chamont and the French right wing, Carpi orders his other pike unit into another unit of Gascon crossbowmen.

The match is very uneven.  The Gascons are forced to retire.  However, the Venetians are relentless in the pursuit...

... and throw the crossbow back in disarray.  Luckily for the French, the pikemen have momentarily the need to catch breath.

This gives Chamont the opportunity to give the Swiss their head and assault the rightmost 

Venetian pike in the vineyard and successfully throw them back into the ditch.  However, the Swiss, seem unusually reluctant to follow through with their success.

Meanwhile, the centre sees the king's Stradiots tussle with the Venetian skirmishers and send them back towards their lines.  Plus, the French artillery prove their worth by dispatching Carpi's light cavalry.

Small wins for the French considering the damage that Carpi's pike units had caused.

The king's pike and gendarmes slowly advance on the French left wing.

Carpi, on the Venetian left is clearly an aggressive soul.  Grabbing the initiative, his leftmost pike (French right) is hurled at the hesitant Swiss.

The melee is bloody and protracted.  However, despite taking significant losses the Swiss manage to force the Venetian pike back into the ditch, but are too exhausted to pursue.

However, Carpi's most advanced pike charges and destroys the remaining units of Gascon crossbowmen.

It is at this point that Alviano charges out of the woods on the French left and...

... mauls the surprised Stradiots.

With Chamont's command decimated and Alviano's pike moving into striking distance in the centre, things are looking desperate for King Louis.  So, born out of this desperation Chamont with his gendarmes on the far right couch their lances and thunder into Carpi and his men at arms.

The gendarmes crash into the Venetian heavy cavalry and send them reeling and vulnerable to pursuit.  With their tails up Chamont leads his cavalry after Carpi.

What now occurs must go down in the annals of the Great Italian Wars as the longest, hardest and most bitterly fought clash of arms.  The epic struggle sees many brave men at arms fall.  The gendarmes appear to have Carpi within their grasp as the heap of Venetian dead climb.

But with a last titanic effort, Chamont's gendarmes are repulsed... but not mortally damaged!

With the same sense of desperation, Chamont's depleted Swiss do what the Swiss do.  They charged the Venetian pike again.

But now the boys from the mountains have found their vigour and martial spirit.  The Venetian pike is pushed back and the Swiss pursue.

Again, the Carpi's pikemen are forced to retire.  However, the thinning ranks of the Swiss are unable to capitalise on the situation.

Meanwhile, the king sends his leftmost pike into Alviano's men at arms.

But Alviano prevails and the pike are repulsed.  However, Alviano is unable to control his heavy cavalry who ride past the pike and into the French king's gendarmes.

Despite their impetus, the Venetian cavalry is unequal to the French gendarmes and are driven back in disorder.  With their rear to the pursuing enemy, the Venetians are...

Photo courtesy of Mr J Freitag

... destroyed to the man.  

Alviano makes good an escape to the nearby Stradiots.  However, the king and his gendarmes have their blood up and see an opportunity to decapitate the Venetian command.

... and do so mercilessly.

The Venetians now struggle to control the initiative as the battle swings towards the French.

Chamont leads his gendarmes into the handful of Carpi's remaining men at arms.

The view of Chamont versus Carpi from the Venetian point of view.  The clash is on the Venetian left.

The fighting is too one-sided and the result bloody and decisive.

 Carpi flees to the nearby pike unit.

Which has to now try and fend off another Swiss attack.

The combat is determined, but the Swiss are held.

However, the cost is high.  The Venetians have had enough.  With Alviano dead and French gendarmes controlling the flanks, the Venetians now decide to try and leave the field and avoid a massacre.

A French victory!

After Thoughts
This was a battle of two halves. Jonathan had clearly reflected on the Venetian situation and decided to come out and attack... and it nearly worked.  His left wing led by Carpi tore the French right apart.  I really thought that I and the French were heading towards a humiliating defeat.  Even the renowned Swiss seemed incapable of effective combat.  However, where the Venetian punch landed hardest and deepest the support was too distant to exploit the hole in the French line.  It finally came down to the most feared arm of the French Renaissance army to turn the tide, the heavily armoured gendarmes.

This was a tremendously exciting refight.  Everywhere one turned there were decisions to make and action to execute.  A fabulous game.  Jonathan handled the Venetians superbly and for a long while looked good for the victory.

This was such a great game to participate in, all I have left to say is... wow what a buzz!

Reckless at Agnadello, 1509 - A Battle Report

Last Monday I took up Jonathan Freitag's invitation to go head to head with him via Zoom in a refight of the Battle of Agnadello.  Hit the link to see Jonathan's briefing for the game.

For no other reason than I enjoy playing the underdog (some might call it a masochistic streak!), I chose to command the Venetians.  Jonathan therefore commanded the French.

I have to confess that, after having studied the briefing material that Jonathan sent, I had absolutely no clue about how I was going to play this.  My only vague thought was to not be too passive and therefore effectively hand the initiative to the French.

The Venetians were deployed in defensive positions behind irrigation ditches.  Carpi's wing on the left behind the forward ditch and, the commander, d"Alviano and his wing behind the second ditch.

Being inclined to a more aggressive stance in order to take the fight to the French before their reinforcements could arrive, Carpi was given the order to advance over the ditch.  The artillery opened up with minimal effect and the Stradiots positioned themselves in front of the French artillery.

Likewise, Alviano's pike approached the ditch and the cavalry on the right started crossing.  All hoping that the skirmishers might screen and harass the French king's troops on the road.  It sounds like a plan, but it was really more a principle for the game established on nothing more than a state of mind!

The French right, Chamont, bounded forward with the Swiss pike block, charging Carpi's pike on the left as it struggled to climb out of the ditch.

Having been thrown back by the Swiss, Carpi decided to charge the Swiss with the damaged pike block in the hope of catching them disordered and in the ditch.  Alas, the struggle again proved to be beyond the Venetian's ability and were swiftly repulsed.

However, Carpi's Stradiots quickly bounded forward to despatch the French artillery and pursued the stragglers towards the French rear.

On the far left flank, Carpi now decides to take matters in hand and hurls his men at arms at Chamont's gendarmes.

The melee proved to be protracted and bloody, but in the end the French prevailed and Carpi fell to the sword along with the rest of his troops.  The Venetian left is looking rather exposed.

Just then, as if to avenge the loss of their commander, Carpi's central pike block charged the Gascon crossbowmen...

... swept them from the field and then turned their attentions on the next.

Which, having been roughly handled by the Venetian pike, rout from the field.  Ha!  So much for the fabled Gascon martial spirit!

This success forces the French king to turn a pike block away from his general advance.  Perhaps things are looking up?  Alas, as events will show, this was probably the highpoint for the Venetians

Alviano's pike blocks now move out of the irrigation ditches to stiffen the centre while his men at arms and Stradiots start to emerge from the woods on the right.

However, Chamont's Swiss charge out of the ditch on the left.

After initially repulsing the Swiss assault, their own was overcome.  Carpi's wing is looking very thin.

On the right flank, the King has deployed his gendarmes behind a light cavalry screen.  His intention is clear.  He aims to charge and eliminate Alviano's men at arms.

... and charge he does.

With Alviano's men at arms beaten by the armoured impact of the French gendarmes, they are driven into the woods.

Meanwhile, on the left flank, Chamont sends the Swiss forward to finish of the leftmost Venetian pike block.

However, the Venetians hold firm and with a last great effort throw the Swiss back.  Alas, they expended all their energy in the push of pike and had nothing left for a pursuit.  Thus the exhausted Venetians fall foul to Chamont's gendarmes charging into their flank.

The Venetian pike is mauled and rout.  The Venetian left has now been well and truly torn apart.

It is all about the flanks now.  On the Venetian right the French King seizes his moment and launches the gendarmes into Alviano's exposed flank...

Jonathan helpfully pointing to the King's charge.

... and sweeps the Venetian men at arms from the field, who leave their commander dead amongst the wreckage of his army.

Note the empty space where once stood d'Alviano and his men at arms.

With that act, the Venetian army's resolve crumbles and, in rout, leave the field to the French.

A French win after a thoroughly enjoyable game.  Well done Jonathan.

After Thoughts
This was a fine victory for Jonathan and the French.  He played a smart game.  I, on the other hand, came into the game without a plan.  Then once I made my first aggressive moves, I committed myself to that approach.  The hope being to concentrate on eliminating the French right under Chamont with the weight of my forces.  However, I merely disordered all my own units and didn't move the rearmost pike blocks forward quickly enough.  Having punched a hole in the French centre with the Stradiots and the pike, I then did not have anything coming up behind them to exploit the situation.  Ultimately, I played a reckless game with forces that in numbers and quality were at a disadvantage.  The biggest advantage that I did have, terrain, was the one that I gave away.  Reckless and, on reflection, quite stupid.  But, this must not take away from the fact that Jonathan played his army well to capitalise on my decisions and to make his own luck.

Nonetheless, I was buzzing after a very entertaining game and convivial evening with an excellent host.

Thank you Jonathan.