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| French regiments take the bridge and pontoon bridges to link with the Italians |
What a great fun game…and before anyone ask the title of the list is not advertising a Scenic Tours trip down the Danube!
Peter organised a superb 1813 scenario where a combined French and Italian Corps looked to extract itself from a Russian/Prussian and Austrian force intent of preventing them escaping to the western theatre of operations. With several villages and points to defend the French had to determine where to stand and when to run.
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| Part of the setup with Martin and Peter looking on |
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| Out of sequence, thanks blogger, but Prussians advance on the table |
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| Love those Cigar Box mats |
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| Austrians on the ridge look on as the Italians set up a line of defence |
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| Great view of the tables |
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| A large Russian battery enters the field |
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| Peters Austrians appear to the east |
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My French around the town stone bridge and the hastily set up pontoon bridge. I have
been told I cannot blow them so if all goes well I will still lose troops from the rearguard |
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| Out of sequence again however a nice view of the size of the table |
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The busy hands of Marty getting a horde of Russians and Prussians on
the table. It was great to have him back playing Napoleonics |
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The first French troops cross whilst confusion reigns around the pontoon where hesitant
brigades hood up the planned withdrawal |
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| A great view of the second defensive position near the bridge |
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| Prussian cavalry |
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| Italian defensive lines lead towards the escape route west |
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| Great view from the ridge where the Austrians look down awaiting their moment |
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French reserve artillery on the hill, Old Guard standing in for line, as well as a
Dragoon Brigade to the front |
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| Cossacks lead the way forward seeking some easy pickings. Perhaps an unaware screen? |
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| Another great look across the table |
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| Italian cavalry and infantry set up |
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| Hesitant seemed to be the status for this brigade for too much of the early battle |
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| A nice view of the built up garrisoned buildings in the town |
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| Troops cross over the bridge whilst the pontoon is vacant… |
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| French troops manoeuvre to counter the sustains arrival on the flank |
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| A closer view of that Italian defensive line |
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| Prussian forces on the move to…oh wait…hesitant. Thank goodness |
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| Blogger out of sequence again. The Prussians have taken the church and push on |
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The French defenders hoped to hold on for more than a turn however with a bit of extreme
luck each way they were quickly expelled |
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| Nice view of the attack |
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| Chris did a great job on painting up these club buildings |
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| Prussians take the church and surrounds |
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| Happier times for the French defenders, each one a catholic as well 😉 |
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| Peter and Coxy looking at the state of play |
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| Great look at the church and surrounds |
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| This battalion would be the anchor of a fighting withdrawal after the garrisons fall |
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The Austrians on the right with Prussians and Russians at the top of the table. The pocket is
closing rapidly and still no Franco- Italian forces have made it off the table |
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| The Italians stretch out across the road however they look very thinly spread |
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| Reserves approach from the east |
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Confusion still reigns with hesitant brigades and not enough troops
getting across the river to assist the Italian Division |
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| Love these resin haystacks - anyone know where I can buy them from? |
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| Martin manoeuvres his troops with, dare I say it, Prussian precision |
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| This was to become a bit of a trend on the French side |
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These wood and built up ground areas are very clever. Peter has cut
draw liners, dry brushed and glued sand etc where appropriate. These
Look fantastic and I’m very keen to replicate them myself |
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These Cossacks, unfortunate lads, were really the owner victims of the Reserve 12pounder battery on the hill. They did little else unfortunately
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| So that’s what the pontoon bridge was set up for. Finally we have activity. |
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| Russians move slowly up to take on the Dragoons and batteries position |
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These buildings were gifted to the club by one of Mark H’s friends very generously.
Big Chris painted them for the club and made each one an individual piece of art. |
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| The French first brigade across the bridge turns to support the Italians ensconced in the village |
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| Richards French manoeuvre up towards the road |
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At the top of this picture the French who were defending the church move back towards the river
line. The artillery has been roughly handled by their Prussian counterparts and will cease to be able
To stand and support the infantry. A bit of a mess really. |
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Austrian columns on a “Forwards Order” hit the village whilst the cavalry
Commander decides he may see how that fighting turns out. |
At this stage the game is going very well for the Allies.
The French I’m commanding have succeeded in losing the Church strongpoint, having their foot artillery decimated, sent troops at a pedestrian rate across the river and only managed to falter and scare off some Russian wild men Cossacks on pretty ponies!
Richard has set himself up to defend the villages and delay the Austrians however the enemy numbers are great. It will be a difficult task ahead…
