Young Brigadiers take to the field:



The boys chose to all fight together from the same side.

So I gave them two Russian Infantry and one Allied (Russiand and Austrian) Cavalry Division(s) to work with. Total 6 units with three batteries; two horse and one foot. My son cajoled the other two boys into letting him 'command', collectively they worked on the map doodle and deployed troops.

This left me in command of the French forces, one Division of 2 units Infantry, one with 'light' infantry and a cavalry division which I shorted two stands in the Chasseurs.

Once plans were set the action began, our girl player arrived just as the units were all deployed and so she 'joined' my side, I showed her the plans and set her to command the forward 'heavy' infantry which had a foot battery deployed and was not to move forward until turn 3.

The cavalry young commander with the mixed Russian dragoons and Austrian Hussars (chosen because of thier bright colors) ended up doing excellent execution.

His first charge was into a square, but he only lost 1 casting and had to fall back (no surprise and I prepared him for the worst along with explaining why the horses would not 'press home' such an attack into a steady square!), the follow up was with a horse battery, which scored a hit, this after a terrible rally attempt - that killed a man! The Russian Dragoons then broke the square and took the French Eagle!

Meanwhile the French foot gun had been pounding away at some exposed Russian infantry, then at the advancing troops until it was time for the advance...then the French Infantry formed up and charged into the rear and flanks of the mass of Russians trying to reach the crest of the central hillock.

The Russian moves were seen by the French high command who launched the Chasseurs and Dragoons into a rapid flank move to the extreme left of the French position. This resulted in a mass of combined arms, both Infantry and Cavalry arriving at the same time at the top of the central hillock, a vicious hand to hand resulted in half of the Russian Division being shattered and their flag taken, the other half retreated and their commander chose to call for a withdrawl (at least it was not a rout!).

We declared the engagement a draw and parted.



Observations:
Of the young commanders the Cavalry one had the most action and seemed to grasp the game the best, indeed my son withdrew and left the field to his command as soon as the French Cavalry reached the base of the central hillock.

The most colourful uniforms and quickest action is what will draw in the young players, though a good set of descriptions at the start of the game can also 'set the stage' for a good game also.

I think that some new young men may have discovered a different pastime than the 'computer'?