Game 76 : Ligny : 16th June 1815

This was the classic 1815 battle of Ligny. It was, and would be here, a difficult battle for the Prussians. We played a variety of options, but in essence, the French would have the Corps of Vandamme, Gerard & the Guard, supported by Pajol, Exeleman and Milhaud. The Prussians would have the I, II & III Korps. Bulow's Korps would not be fielded as it would be all over and the same went for part of D'Erlons Corps and Lobau. We also expanded the rules to include skirmishers being deployed as companies from the parent line battalions for the French and also skirmish companies drawn for brigades for the Prussians. We also restricted the ability of "light battalions" to fully deploy into skirmish order. This detail can be had by writing in, but needless to say the systems work well and give you exactly the feel you might expect.

As always, I will leave the reader to look up some suitable map. You'll also be lucky in that the deployment of both sides were nearly totally historical. This has been a theme lately that we find the deployment mimics that used historically. I take some comfort from that as it leads me to think that the system is working well. 

 This is looking at the right side of Ligny. We also played the villages as being passable through by units on orders such as Manoeuvre providing the villages were not occupied by another unit in a combat formation.

This is the start of Vandamme' attack on the villages of St Armand on the Prussian refused right flank. The aim of the assault is to attract as many Prussian troops to this sector so that the centre of the Prussian line is weakened in numbers straight from the start of the battle.

 This is the I Korps cavalry deployed behind Ligny in the centre. Most of this formation would move to the right and get sucked into the combat for the St Armand villages.

On the Prussian left, the Prussians refused the option on advancing on the initial open French right flank south of the brook. The rationale that was because the brook was unfordable to guns, Prussian in this area might be defeated in piecemeal fashion. The plan adopted was to line the north bank of Ligny Brook and transfer as much as III Korps as possible into the centre.

This shows Pajol and Exeleman holding the French right flank. A lot of time was spent "watching" until the attack on Ligny itself started, then this whole flank advanced to cross the brook and keep as many Prussian units fixed in position.

This is looking from the high ground behind Ligny, in the Prussian lines, looking towards their right flank at St Armand. The infantry battle is in full swing. It is a bit of a grinder and more and more Prussian units are being committed to hold the position.

This is Gerard's attack on Ligny itself. It is nearly a Corps action with all 3 Divisions involved in the attack. The Corps would eventually drive out the Prussians, retire to recuperate and allow the Guard to move through the village itself.

The assault on Ligny from the French side. Prussians are positioned to reinforce and also to attempt to counter attack on the flank of the village.

Thieleman's III Korps pours onto the battlefield and marches immediately to the centre to take up a second line position in the centre.

St Armand falls to the French. This allows Vandamme to move along the flank of the village and threaten the high ground behind Ligny itself.

The Prussians on the high ground are caught in a pincer as one of Gerard's Divs advances to the left of Ligny to join up the attack with Vandamme to the right of St Armand.

The advance on the high ground picks up pace and the French Guard have now passed through Ligny to start their assault on the reserve Prussian line in the centre.

Vandamme has secured St Armand and now breaks through to the second Prussian line and also flanks the high ground which forces the Prussians to withdraw form that position. The main highway from Quatre Bras to Namur is now in imminent danger of being cut and the Allied armies will lose communication form each other.

The French Guard continue to pass through Ligny, including the cavalry and artillery.

The Old Guard Divisions of Grenadiers and Chasseurs are now advancing out of Ligny to assault the Prussian reserve line. They are now supported by Exeleman on their right, Milhaud and his Cuirassiers on their left and the Guard Cavalry immediately behind.

Milhaud charges a Prussian gun line. Some batteries, already weakened, withdrew but this unfortunate battery was cut down! Prussian infantry were forced into square to survive the attack.

The French Guard are about to fall onto Prussian infantry forced into square. Its really over now!

To the right of Ligny, the French Young Guard also get into the fray. All along the line, Prussian infantry, forced into squares, are being attacked by French Guardsmen. The Prussian army now retires!

All in all, this battle followed history quite closely. Although the French have the kit, it takes time and planning to dislodge Prussian infantry deep in their villages. We played 40 turns for the game, another record for us as being the longest.

Lastly is the casualty list, quite a bloodbath in some respects.

French Formations	Losses %			Prussian Formations	Losses%
	Infantry	Cavalry	Artillery		Infantry	Cavalry	Artillery
Imperial Guard : Drouot				I Korps : Ziethen
Friant	14	-	13	Steinmetz	31	-	-
Morand	2	-	16	Pirch II	50	-	-
Duhesme	3	-	0	Jagow	1	-	-
Guyot	-	0	0	Schutter	15	-	-
St Maurice	-	-	4	Roeder	-	14	-
				Holtendorff	-	-	40
III Corps : Vandamme
Lefol	10	-	3	II Korps : Pirch I
Habert	6	-	0	Tippelskirch	21	-	-
Berthezne	20	-	0	Krafft	0	-	-
Girard	6	-	22	Brause	8	-	-
Domon	11	0	4	Bose	33	-	-
III Corps Artillery	-	-	9	Jurgass	-	3	-
				Rohl	-	-	41
IV Corps : Gerard
Pecheux	18	-	25	III Korps : Thielemann
Vichery	18	-	0	Borcke	11	-	-
Bourmont	14	-	13	Krausneck	0	-	-
Maurin	-	12	29	Luck	25	-	-
IV Corps Artillery	-	-	130	Stulpnagel	0	-	-
				Hobe	-	0	-
IC Cav Corps : Pajol				Monhaupt	-	-	4
Soult	-	1	0
Subervie	-	2	13	Not engaged
				IV Korps : Bulow
IIC Cav Corps : Exelman				Hake	0	-	-
Strolz	-	6	0	Funck	0	-	-
Chastel	-	14	46	Losthin	0	-	-
				Hiller	0	-	-
IVC Cav Corps : Milhaud				Prince William	-	0	-
St Alphonse	-	10	13	Braun	-	-	0
Delorts	-	6	21

 Here we all are, happily we also survived the beer and curries. Next up it is back to the Peninsular, the battle of Ocana in 1809. I'll let you look it up!

Game 75 : Rivoli II

This is the second battle of Rivoli. We had different players for this one and if anything, the battle was more intense. I've selected some pics to give a feel of the frenetic attack and riposte in this battle.

The above shows the Austrians undertaking an advance across a broad front. This has the advantage of initially stretching the French and making it difficult for Napoleon to concentrate any sizeable force. The woods, as in game 1, provide a good defensive anchor for the French centre-left.

On the far French left it is business as before with a small Brigade trying to defend against a superior Austrian force with ample light infantry, Grenzers. This cat and mouse battle would rage all weekend until the Grenzers were eventually dispersed. This sector, in fact all the sectors, became notorious for Austrians suffering officer casualties. The Grenzers on the left lost all 4 officers!!

Intense action in the centre. Initially cavalry attacks followed by an infantry assault. All Austrian attacks were checked, but none of the attacks broke. It meant that there were no opportunities for the French to try and exploit.

The French right flank we turned early in the battle. Reinforcements arrived and deployed to face this threat. Again, a battle of attack and riposte, by both sides, would meet with some success but, alas, no significant breakthroughs for either side.

This is the centre after the Austrian attack is repulsed and reforms up ready to ponder their next moves. Subtlety was not available in this sector. It tended to be mutual hammer blows!

The French have stabilised their left but there is no possibility of an advance in this sector as they are still badly outnumbered. Hiding at the back of the village area becomes the order of the day as the battle dies down. This battle was very even and ended up in a draw. The French held the field, the Austrians would withdraw without being molested.

	Play Test 2			15 Austrian Officers
French Formations	Losses %			Austrian Formations	Losses%
	Infantry	Cavalry	Artillery		Infantry	Cavalry	Artillery
Emperor Napoleon				D’Alvincy
Joubert	-	-	13	Lusignan	-	-	4
1st Brigade	19	-	-	Infantry Brigade	19	-	-
2nd Brigade	7	-	-
Cavalry Brigade	-	4	-	Reuss	-	-	100
				Infantry Brigade	8	-	-
Massena	-	-	4	Cavalry Brigade	-	27	-
1st Brigade	9	-	-
2nd Brigade	12	-	-	Vukassovich	-	-	13
				Infantry Brigade	5	-	-
Rey	-	-	29	Cavalry Brigade	-	38	-
1st Brigade	10	-	-
Cavalry Brigade	-	0	-	Koblos	-	-	0
				Infantry Brigade	8	-	-
Leclerc	-	-	17
1st Cavalry Brigade	-	19	-	Ocskay	-	-	4
2nd Cavalry Brigade	-	3	-	Infantry Brigade	14	-	-
				Cavalry Brigade	-	31	-
				Liptay	-	-	13
				Infantry Brigade	12	-	-

The losses were higher than the first battle, a reflection of the greater amount of intense fighting. I listed the number of Austrian officer casualties as this is high for a battle of this size. Very bloody!

The next battle will be the Battle of Ligny, new armies, new terrain and some rule new adaptations.

Enjoy! (forgot the pic of the players- getting old!)