Napoleonic progress

In between he gaming nights at Dave's I have manged to find some time to paint up more of my own Napoleonic collection. Still rather modest compared to most, but seems to be coming along nicely. First up is  the allied cavalry, the Brunswick Hussars, these even managed to make it into the game and caused some devastation to my French infantry.

Brunswick hussars

Brunswick Hussars

The unit still requires a flag, but so far my efforts have been in vain. The figures are all from CGM and the bases are from Warbase. To support my Austrian troops I have also completed a unit of Dragoons, Baron Franz Levenher. These figures are all from Warmodelling / Fantassin. I like the pose of these figures but the metal is very tough and makes cleaning up the figures prior to painting a bit of a chore.

Baron Franz Levenher

Baron Franz Levenher

Allied cavalry

So far the Warmodelling and CGM figures are a decent match size wise, though I may not mix them in the same units, though that's just a personal choice. After concentrating on these it was time i did some of their opponents, namely some Westphalians. Why Westphalians, well because the fought in both the Danube theatre and in the Peninsular, nobody else was doing them and I quite like the fact that they weren't the best troops that Napoleon had.

I've used a list from Nazfiger which details X corps of which the Westphalian division was a part. It will give me 2 brigades of infantry, includes the Grenadiers and Jaeger Carabiniers. There are also a couple of attached cavalry units including some Cuirassiers.

The first units are 2 battalions of the 5th infantry regiment. these figures are a mix from Warrior miniatures for the line, the elite companies are from AB I think? the other unit is from the 1st infantry regiment. these figures are from Old Glory. The flags for all the units are from Warflag.

1st and 2nd battalions, 5th infantry

1st battalion, 1st infantry

Westphalian attack columns

Next up is a few extra additions to the Austrians. Another infantry battalion, this time the figures are from Warmodelling. These were not my favourite to paint and there were some significant differences in the size and bulk of the figures, but I suppose all shapes and sizes would have enlisted. Like the cavalry the metal was brittle, I even snapped one of the muskets after painting much to my annoyance. Also I completed an artillery battery, these figures are from Warrior. I have left the artillery piece loose from the base so that it can be attached to limbers when I finally get around to painting some.

Austrian infantry

Austrian infantry

Austrian artillery battery

I have also just finished painting up a couple of brigadiers for the Westphalians as well as the Grenadiers. After this I have one more Westphalian infantry battalion, some Austrian Jaegers and a French Chasseur regiment to paint.

1809 Somewhere in Germany part 5, the Finale and defeat

Well on Wednesday we got to finish the last few moves of the game. To say my position was precarious after last week was an understatement as from the first roll the Austrians won the initiative and continued to drive in my right flank

collapsing flank

This caused yet another of my battalion s to break, only the church was acting as a bulwark. As fast as I could the troops on my left flank were trying to cross over to hold the line. However they had their own problem as the Brunswick Hussars continued to cause havoc before blown horses forced them to retire.

Brunswick Hussars continue their carnage

The remnant flee for it

Back in the centre things were getting worse, the decision was made to save the artillery and they were limbered up to begin moving off the battlefield. However due to routing units in my lines I had a large number of morale tests to take. Those battalions that had been going toe to toe with the Austrians saw their courage finally spent and fled from the foe. Suddenly the whole brigade need to test and promptly failed. In one move 4 battalions out of the 5 dispersed and were removed from the field.

The panic setting in (red dice)

C-in-C left rather isolated

The Guard has broken!! (well not actually guards)

Victorious Austrians

At this point we called the game, quick order changes were given to my left flank brigades to fall back while I would try and hold the Church to give everything else a chance to flee. Despite the defeat I have really enjoyed this game. I am growing to like the General de Brigade rules, a lot more complicated than say Black Powder which are fine for a club night, but give a good feel for the period. I need to work on the order system as I often got caught out not realising certain actions were unavailable depending on brigade orders. At one stage the Westphalians ended up advancing into a position where they had to test for morale due to a routing unit and promptly faltered.

Hopefully over the weekend I'll get some pictures put up of the last few Napoleonic units I've painted up.

1809 Somewhere in Germany part 4, collapsing flanks and dodgy orders!

On Tuesday night I popped over to Dave's for a continuation of our Napoleonic battle. The title of this post will soon become very clear. First the dodgy orders, to those who have followed the earlier battle reports will know that my Cavalry brigade had done some sterling work on my right flank, routing the Austrian cavalry from the field. They had since retired back to my lines to prepare a counter attack against any breakthrough on my front line.

Retiring French cavalry after a job well done

Now a new order had come through from Corps command. My victorious cavalry were required to the south of the battlefield and promptly continued their march straight from the field of battle. My one advantage in the game suddenly taken away. With the loss of cavalry support those pesky Brunswick Hussars became a real threat as will be seen later.

Over on my right flank, once more Neal drove his Austrian infantry against my lines and this time he smashed a rather larger hole. Suddenly the whole brigade required panic tests and a couple of units began to falter against the sustained pressure.

The hole appears

Neal then followed up his advantage by trying to roll up my lines. The first succeeded in launching its attack but this time my faltering troops held their nerve. His other attack was quickly repulsed as a supporting unit poured deadly fire (double 6) into the attackers to protect the flanks of their comrades.

It was now over on my left flank that I had to get my troops moving with all speed, first to check the Austrian reinforcements and to shore up my centre. It was at this time that the Brunswick Hussars began their move. charging towards my advancing lines. Deciding to receive the charge and pour in fire from 2 battalions I though I would be able to stop them. Neal passed their morale and they crashed home, what carnage they caused ripping Frenchmen apart.

Austrian reinforcements

Black hussars charge

7-1 kill ratio

So as the night ended things were not looking good. My right flank is collapsing and the reinforcements have been checked by the Hussars (and I bloody painted them). Next week all being well i.e. it's not too cold, I think will be the concluding instalment. It will take some timing to extricate my troops, especially saving the artillery .

Collapsing right flank

 It doesn't make a pretty picture does it!