Thursday 31 December 2020

French inspections for Friedland 1807

The French appear like a mist through the Sortlake woods

So the French have, similarly to the Russians, been deployed approximately 80% in formation and position. The scenario requires Marchands division to deploy in the Sortlake woods. As you can see I do have a preference for trees of some scale to help the aesthetics of elevation upon the table.

French brigade of Dragoons

Those large trees present some scale to the table

The artillery is actually still limbered however that does look like a good spot
to deploy those guns to bring some devastating fire on the enemy 

Horse artillery supporting a light cavalry brigade - Chasseurs and Hussars 

Did I mention I like trees with height?

Marchands Division consisting of the 39th Ligne, 6th Legere, 69th and 76th Ligne plus 8pdr

Marshall Ney himself with his five Aide de Camps for the battle escorting him

25th Legere to the left of this formation

A view, shall we sat a “Russian view”, of the French Dragoons. Latour-Mauborg leads
them on on a beautiful command stand from John D and via Doug M.

Colbert leads the Light Cavalry brigade


A French 4pdr Horse battery accompanies the lights. Lovely sculpts of the limber team
and riders from Foundry.  The battery itself is pure Elite Miniatures. 


So all that remains is nailing down some time with the eldest son and kicking this particular battle off.  The game will last a minimum of twenty and a maximum of twenty five turns with the French aiming to break four of the Russian brigades and the to try and break through the position to the Friedland road.

The Russians will doggedly try and prevent that and stop the French VI Corps to roll the Russian left and roll it up towards the direction of Friedland.

16 comments:

  1. A most handsome table and troops, Carlo. I like the look of the tall trees very much, but how do you keep the gamers from knocking them over?
    Timberrrr!!!! :-)

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    1. Thank you very much Peter. Those trees seem to be more likely to stick to players jumper sleeves than topple over due to the midfield bases which I like to glue them to. Timber indeed!

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  2. Beautiful figures and table. Happy New Year!

    Best Regards,

    Stokes

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    1. Happy New Year to yourself and the young family Stokes and thanks for your always kind words.

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  3. A marvellous tableful of toys...
    Here’s to the battle...


    All the best. Aly

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    1. Thank you very much Aly. There is something about a game of Napoleonics, as you well know, to get the old holiday juices flowing.

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  4. Très bien mon ami.

    Count me as looking forward to the bloodshed!! 8O)

    Salute
    von Peter himself

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    1. Thank you young Peter very much. Those Frenchmen may well have met their match this time ( he says with a wavering tone of confidence).

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  5. Great looking set up Carlo. As much pleasure laying out as gaming I bet? Happy New Year to you and family and have a great game on the day. Looking forward to the battle report. En avant!

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    1. Thanks Kevin and the very best of wishes to you and yours as well. As usual you are spot on the money on the joy of table set up as it really does make all the effort of researching, painting and basing those units worthwhile. Of course our added bonus as Wargamers is that we then get a chance to play with them!

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  6. Looking forward to seeing this develop - I really do like the look of those French Dragoons

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    1. ThankscKerry - they are a wonderful sculpt painted by Nathan and Scott from the early says of Elite Miniatures and some additions by myself. Love Elite Miniatures.

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  7. This looks brilliant Carlo. It's interesting how many of the major engagements of the Napoleonic wars saw Ney arriving on a flank or such. Friedland was one of his more successful arrivals!
    Regards, James

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    1. Thanks Fish and your comments about Ney and his propensity for being able to arrive successfully on the flanksorceherdcrequired Mordaunts often than not is certainly a great feather in his, as well as Napoleons, cap!

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  8. Lovely looking table and I agree with you about the trees - they look really great

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