Return to Montebello

After Jonathan (Palouse Wargaming Journal) and I played out the Battle of Montebello (see here), we tentatively agreed to a refight.  On Monday we gather around the remote table.  For this iteration I swapped sides and took command of the Austrians while Jonathan led the French attack.

Deployment and Plan

With the bulk of my Austrian forces marching on, I only had to deploy O'Reilly's command around the village of Rivalta.

My initial plan was to delay the French before Rivalta by slowly trading space for time.  Hopefully, this would win me enough time to march Vogelsang's brigade into position and deploy.  If the wargaming Gods were really with me, I might even get Schellenburg's brigade marching on and beginning to provide a supporting line.

O'Reilly's brigade with the Jagers in Rivalta, the Grenzers and Light Infantry either side and behind.  The Hussars deployed north and south of the line.

The Battle

The French, starting with Watrin's brigade, began to arrive from the east along the road.  A sharp small arms exchange started around Rivalta.  However, O'Reilly chose not to fully engage but to place his brigade on reserve orders.

Vogelsang's brigade advanced from the west and started passing through Casteggio.

Watrin developed his battle line in front of Rivalta.  However, O'Reilly used his reserve orders to backstep away from danger.  It wasn't damaging the French but it was doing two things: buying a little time; and preserving his brigade from the risk of quick collapse.
In the meantime, Vogelsang began to deploy at the T-junction.

As Watrin continued to push, O'Reilly continued to avoid engagement as much as possible and give a little ground to win a little time.  With Watrin not advancing quickly,  Lannes' cavalry arrived.

Whilst O'Reilly's plan was working well, there was one huge flaw... it ultimately relied on continually snatching the initiative from the French.
In what should be seen as a dramatic change of fortunes, the Revolutionary forces seized the initiative before O'Reilly could send out his orders and crashed into the Austrians around Rivalta.  The result was swift and bloody.  All of O'Reilly's infantry were annihilated, leaving only his cavalry to the north and south and the brigade broken!
Fortunately, Vogelsang was now deployed.  However, the line was short and looked exposed on the northern flank.  O'Reilly's Hussars would have to step up and protect the flanks.  Especially as Schellenburg's reinforcements had not yet arrived as hoped for.

Emboldened by their success, the French cleared the north of Austrian cavalry and Lannes launched his infantry into the centre of Vogelsang's line.  With weight of numbers, quality and Lannes' presence, the French quickly dispatched a battalion and 12 pounder battery.
The Austrian Hussars, with O'Reilly present, were doing a better job in the south funnelling the French northwards.

Taking the opportunity to exploit his success Lannes drove his troops into another of Vogelsang's battalions and battery.  With depressing inevitability the Austrians were quickly sent packing.  Lannes had punched a big hole in the defenders' line.  All Austrian plans were seemingly in tatters.

At this point, Schellenburg's troops marched up the road.  Would they be able to intervene before Vogelsang was broken and the battle lost?

To make matters worse, Chamberlhac's brigade now appeared in the east.
Nonetheless, O'Reilly took the opportunity to attacked an exposed infantry flank.  Unfortunately, the French foot repulsed the Hussars.
Encouraged by O'Reilly's opportunism and Lannes' exposed infantry, Vogelsang assaulted the now depleted French infantry front and flank.

The Austrian success was total.  The mixture of devastating musketry and advancing bayonet destroyed Lannes' units and killed Lannes where he fought.

While Schellenburg moved into Casteggio from the west and Chamberlhac moved past Rivalta from the east, Watrin was developing a French attack against Vogelsang's infantry to the north.  The French aim being clear... to break Vogelsang's brigade.

... and so the attack went in.  With one unit destroyed just north of Casteggio, Vogelsang's brigade was now teetering on the edge of collapse.  Fortunately, the French follow up against the columns in Casteggio were repelled.

With Schellenburg entering the fray, Vogelsang quickly moved most of his brigade out of harms way.

With another dramatic turn of luck, Schellenburg seized the initiative to deploy out of Casteggio to face Watrin's units pressing on the Austrian north.

Schellenburg's infantry fell on Watrin's infantry with the fury of the desperate.  A French battalion was overrun as the Austrians then destroyed another of Watrin's command; throwing back another.  Schellenburg was now covering Vogelsang's badly damaged and retiring brigade.
To the east, Watrin's lone unit deployed into square to guard against O'Reilly's Hussars.

Undeterred, O'Reilly launched himself and his Hussars against the square.

With Watrin's brigade now on the brink of collapse, the order went out to retire the brigade and open space for Chamberlhac's brigade to press on.
However, the order came too late!

With nothing to lose, O'Reilly's Hussars showed their skill and competence by breaking the square and riding down the infantrymen.  With this unit destroyed, Watrin's brigade was broken!

The order now went out for the French to retire eastwards in good order.

An Austrian victory!

Afterthoughts
That was a very close and exciting engagement.  Jonathan makes a great scenario designer and a worthy opponent.

This was a thinking person's game.  There were a lot of decision points and developing dilemmas.  The action was non-stop.  All of these ingredients made for the most memorable of games.

As for my plan.  Well, it more or less collapsed when I lost the initiative.  However, I had slowed the French advance a little.  I think a lot of credit has to go to O'Reilly.  First of all he survived a number melees and personally led the southern cavalry in providing a zone of control which pushed most of the French effort to the north of the line.  When Lannes did break Vogelsang's line, he was left exposed and isolated.  It was the best chance to inflict damage... and it broke the French brigade.

Fortunately, Schellenberg arrived just in time to develop a counterattack which damaged Watrin's brigade enough to leave it to O'Reilly to finish the job with a risky, yet successful, attack on a depleted infantry square.

The rules worked wonderfully.  I must highlight that clever use of the reserve rules is a necessity.  This gave me several opportunities to move units out of danger, especially early on in the game.

For anyone who gets an invitation to join Jonathan in playing this scenario... take it!

Thank you Jonathan.  Great game, great fun.

The Battle of Zom Kehl, 1761 - AAR

In a continuing series of mid 18th century clashes played remotely with the Rejects, this instalment took us to the struggle for control in the Indian sub-continent and a fictional encounter between the two aspiring European powers.

The players were sent the following blurb and map.

"Whilst the British and French battle over control of the New World and compete on continental Europe, the forces driving British and French interests in the sub-continent are contesting for control and influence.  You are all converging near the hills around Zom Kehl.  The fight for the destiny of central India is about to be fought.
"Victory goes to the side that can force the other to retire."

The game would be played with my hex adapted version of Koenig Krieg.

The Armies

The British - led by Steve and Jon
1st Infantry Brigade - 2 units of Rajput and 2 units of Levies.
2nd Infantry Brigade - 1 European Foot, 1 Sepoy, 1 Levy and 1 artillery.
3rd Infantry Brigade - 1 European Foot, 1 Sepoy, 1 Rajput and 1 artillery.
1st Cavalry Brigade - 1 European L.Cavalry and 1 Rajput heavy cavalry
Independent Skirmish Units - Mahratta Skirmish Cavalry

The French - led by Ray and Dan
1st Infantry Brigade - 1 European Ft, 1 Sikh Levy, 2 Mysore Infantry and 1 artillery.
2nd Infantry Brigade - 2 Sikh Levies, 2 Sepoys and 1 artillery.
1st Cavalry Brigade - 2 units of European Hussars.
2nd Cavalry Brigade - 1 Mysore L.Cavalry.
Independent Skirmish Units - 1 unit of native infantry levies and 2 units of Mogul cavalry.

With a lot of irregular and low quality troops, plus cavalry who can shot from the saddle, this was shaping up to be an intriguing encounter.

Deployment

The armies were constructed by Ray and Steve from army lists I supplied.  They were also responsible for their deployment on the map, which was as follows:

The Battle

The British quickly advanced all along the line.  The French advance was a little more measured with their formed cavalry swinging to cover the western flank (concern about the upcoming artillery seemed uppermost in their mind) and the skirmishing Mogul cavalry racing around on the eastern.

The French quickly pushed their native levies through the woods to harass the British Sepoys.  But having attracted their attention, the Sepoy and Rajpat units turned their ire on them.

A swift charge and overwhelming numbers proved to be just enough to dislodge the French levies and send them running.

With this initial success, the British commanders swung their mounted brigade round their flank, whilst their Mahratta skirmish cavalry started operating a hit and run tactic in the centre.  Successfully forcing a unit of Sikh levies to retire from their shooting.
Along the line the infantry continued to close as French Moguls began their harrying of the British flank.

Infantry and artillery opened up, inflicting casualties.  One Mogul unit retired after receiving a volley just as the British Mahrattas continued its hit and run promenade in the centre.
However, the action was about to get up close and personal on the western flank as the French suddenly felt emboldened to take the fight to the British.

With commanders attached and committed, the French charged with Hussars and Mysore light cavalry against the heavier British Rajput cavalry.

In this unequal contest, numbers overwhelmed weight.  With heavy losses the Rajputs were thrown backwards.

The French were quick to exploit the situation to crash into the British Hussars....

... who also took a pounding and were compelled to follow their fellow Rajputs in retreat.  However, the French Mysore cavalry was now out of control and ignored the rest of the fight.  Nonetheless, the French Hussars saw the rear of the Rajputs and put the remnant to the sword.

The situation across the battlefield.  

Seeing an opportunity to remove the British cavalry threat from the west, the French commanders manoeuvred their cavalry to confront the last of the British Hussars.
On the eastern flank, the Moguls continued to harass the British.  However, the infantry began to close.  With artillery and muskets firing, morale along the line was being tested.  All managed to stand except a French native unit.

Seeing the imminent danger the British Hussars swung round.  However, the French caught them with their charge.
Now you see them...

... now you don't!

With French cavalry success on the western flank, their hopes now turned to the east.  However, their European foot unit was cut to shreds and forced to retreat from the British European line and native units.
With their backs now to the British, the victorious troops pursued...

... and annihilated the fleeing French.

With honours seemingly even, both armies were beginning to show signs of wavering.

The French army's countdown clock was on minus 3.  At zero, an army has to take a morale check.  Four and under to pass.  For every minus on the clock there is a minus on the morale check.  The French needed to roll a one... they rolled a two!

So, victory to the British.

Afterthoughts

An interesting encounter with both sides rather unsure about how best to play their armies.  They would probably know for next time... perhaps!

With so many low grade irregular troops on both sides prone to morale checks with every hit, the battle could well be influenced by the side whose morale held better.  In this case, it was the French who saw more of their troops retiring from enemy shooting.  With equal numbers of units destroyed in melee, this was critical.  Plus, the French cavalry commander was never able to regain command of his Mysore cavalry - which ran off in search of baggage.  These all weakened the French army morale faster and further than the British, who themselves were down to 1 on the clock!

A close and tightly fought battle.

The Battle of Ceresole, 1544 - AAR

The Rejects were due to meet in Postie's shed for our first live encounter on Sunday.  Alas, Stuart has been poorly since the start of the year, and feeling worse last week had to cancel.  At this point, I offered a consolation remote game instead.

I wanted to use my Italian Wars rules again following on from my solo game (Battle of Seminara).  So, I chose to do the Battle of Ceresole, 1544. However, I am a little short of arquebusiers. So, I have co-opted some crossbowmen to fill the gaps. Hopefully, this doesn't distract too much.

Enghien at the end of the battle of Cérisoles fought between a French army and a Spanish Imperial army in 1544. Painted by Victor Schnetz between 1836 and 1837 image in the public domain.

Background

Seeing that Emperor Charles V was embroiled in a war with the Turks, Francis I of France
sought to take advantage and solve the question of control of Milan in his favour. Francis
launched an offensive in Piedmont under the command of d’Enghien, who laid siege to the
Imperial fortress of Carignano. The commander of the Imperialist forces, the Marquis del
Vasto, decided to force the issue by offering battle in an attempt to relieve the fortress. The
two armies met about 30 miles southeast of Turin.

Victory Conditions
To force the opponent’s army to break and abandon the field. Thus, deciding the fate of the
fortress at Carignano.

The Armies

Imperialists (Ray and Lee)
5 units of arquebusiers
4 pike blocks (2 German, 1 Spanish and 1 Italian)
3 units of mounted Men at Arms
1 unit of light cavalry
1 artillery battery

French (Steve)
3 units of arquebusiers
4 pike blocks (3 French and 1 Swiss)
4 units of mounted gendarmes
1 unit of light cavalry
1 artillery battery

Deployment

The following deployment was founded on combining the information from Oman and the scenarios from Sides and Warlord Games' Death and the Landsknecht.

The Battle

Both sides started advancing cautiously towards each other as their gunners took ranging shots at each other.

The French commander exercised better command and control and brought his battle line up in a cohesive manner.  The Imperialists found themselves struggling to advance the whole line but did make progress on the flanks, especially with their arquebusiers towards the French right, where they began to open up the shooting.

The French line advancing.

Slightly more hesitantly, the Imperialists begin to close the space.

The French kept their army on the move.  On both their left and right flanks, d'Enghien's arquebusiers exchanged fire with the Del Vasto's men.  Both sides' light cavalry moved into charge range on the right.

Both Imperialist and French light cavalry charged opponents' arquebusiers.  Del Vasto's men rode down a French unit as they got carried carried away in their pursuit.  D'Enghien's mounted men proved victorious in their melee and maintained control in what was a closer struggle.

With both battle lines drawn into closer proximity the air was hot with small arms fire.  Along the line gendarmes and infantry were positioning themselves for combat.

Arquebusiers exchanging fire on the French right.

While on the left gendarmes and pike approached each other.

D'Enghien and Del Vasto let loose the armoured cavalry on the left.

The clash of the seasoned warriors was hard fought.  Yet the French prevailed.  As the Imperialist men at arms morale faltered they withdrew in some disarray.  The gendarmes saw the opportunity to pursue and destroy.

However, despite their enthusiasm the horses refused to close the distance!

Meanwhile, on the right flank the French light cavalry fell on the rear of the running arquebusiers.
Now you see them...

... now you don't!
However, the riders scenting the prospect of plunder continued on out of control.

Seizing an opportunity in the centre, Del Vasto launched a landsknecht unit against one of D'Enghien's pike blocks.

The struggle was titanic, yet the landsknecht were unable to make their momentum pay.  In defeat, their spirits failed them.  With their morale undermined, they turned tail and ran.

D'Enghien quickly exploited the situation in the centre to hurl his gendarmes into the fray.  The Spanish men at arms countercharged! 

Luck and determination seemed to be with the French.  After what was a closely fought melee, the Spaniards retreated in search of respite.  Respite that the gendarmes were not willing to allow them as they pursued and fell upon the Spanish rear.

After taking another beating the men at arms fled beyond the main army.  With the fleeing landsknecht now before them, the gendarmes kept their cohesion enough to turn towards the enemy flank.

After a disastrous series of melees on the flanks and in the centre, Del Vasto decided to withdraw his front line.  However, his troops took the matter into their own hands.  With the landsknecht and most of the men at arms in flight, the Imperialist troops turned to save themselves and abandon the field of battle.

Position of the forces at the point of Imperialist collapse.

A French victory was thus declared. 

Truth be known, the Imperialist commander had already made the decision to leave the field.

Afterthoughts

I did wonder if the Imperialists had more fight in them.  However, with such high value troops in flight and the flanks beginning to look exposed, perhaps discretion was the better part of valour.

The result reflected the historical result.  Better still, the result and how it was achieved was plausible.  That latter point being particular gratifying as the rules that were used were ones I wrote.

The encounter was close.  It was unfortunate from the Imperialist point of view that the four melee defeats came in such quick succession.  This pushed their army points quickly down to zero.

An enjoyable game that advanced smoothly from a mechanism point of view and from a play point of view.

I had fun and enjoyed the players' making their decisions.