A brisk action on the Namur 1815

Saturday gave me the opportunity to get part of the ever growing Napoleonic collection out on the table and invite Tom and Martin over for a game of General d'Armee. 

I picked a couple of roughly equal forces each of four brigades, three infantry and a cavalry and laid out a table that was fairly open with a couple of rolling hills and some walled orchards. Victoria has painted me a backdrop so the rolling hills continue off into the distance.

The British had nine battalions of British/KGL line and four battalions of Hanoverian recruits backed up by a battery of KGL artillery and a brigade of three Light Dragoon regiments.

The French had twelve battalions of line, two batteries of guns, two regiments of Chasseurs and a regiment of Veteran Hussars.

Tom took the French, while Martin commanded the British, as it was their first game I played a GM roll, offering - hopefully good - advice to both players.

Some shots of the action.

British skirmishers with Hanoverians and KGL artillery in the back

French advance and deploy their guns on a low hill in support

Gratuitous magazine-like photo opportunity

British move up to engage, rifles adopt skirmish orders and push out on the flank

En avant!

The action develops, the KGL on the left, British on the right while Hanoverians hold the orchard.

The French opposite the Hanoverians start an infantry assault

The action closes along the line, the Lincolnshire's are ripped apart by the French guns so the Gordon Highlanders take their place in the line 

The French push hard against the KGL with columns driving them back on the right while the rest of the brigade engage in line.

With supporting fire from the KGL guns the Hanoverians are able to do much better than expected against the oncoming French.

The Somerset's benefit from some hesitancy on the part of the French and are able to keep them at bay. 

Deployed giving long range support these Frenchmen suffered more Fire casualties than they inflicted during the game.

In the end we ran out of time and called a winning draw to the French, their cavalry were about to make an impact on the British right that may have had a deciding effect on the battle.

Given it was Tom and Martins first game with the rules I think that the game ran well with some good friction at key moments. 

If he was not on his holidays James would have come along too, I think he would have enjoyed some of the "Charge them in the face!" action on display today, although future games may get a bit more tactical ;) 

Oh, and the newly painted KGL chaps seen at the back here, did not fire a shot nor did they take a casualty, so that's a result for them and they can get properly committed in the next battle.