Echo of Borodino - 2012 re-enactment

Gingerbread House

We had many visitors over during the recent xmas season, making posting time unavailable.

We did do up the family gingerbread house again.

Gingerbread house 2012

My youngest son has started a rumor that next year we will build a castle ... then discussion turned to using gingerbread soldiers to garrison it ...

Maloyaroslavets - Dak-Kon Convention Game

For the Dak-Kon convention this year, I had decided to run a Fast Play Grand Armee game of Maloyaroslavets.

iPad photo from Eric - my opponent in this game where I commanded the Italian/French forces

I had the task of also being a presenter and co-host of the event, which had role-playing, card game and other board game activities going on at the same time.

The game was ready to start on time, there was only me as the player though.  I thank my middle son, Victor, for getting things going in coming forward to handle the miniatures for the Russians.

He wasted no time in driving hard at the important center village of Maloyaroslavets - pushing out 1/2 of the Italians in there.

Here we see Maloyaroslavets village, 1/2 taken by Russians, the top of the hill still held by Gilleminot and his Italians

By turn 3, the Russians had formed a solid line facing off the town and had driven off one light battery formation.

overview of the situation in Turn 3

closer view of the Russian lines

Russian assault gets into Maloyaroslavets

Russian far left, the Cossacks had driven off the French light batteries, now the Cossacks were to have to hold back ... something that Platov is not well known for!

 Italian cavalry had become halted on the south side of the one bridge over the Lusha river causing some 'back up' of the traffic flow ... a thing that could undo the whole French/Italian position!

The light cavalry arrived, getting in each others way in the process

Turn 4 was a short 2 pulse turn, that I did not get any pictures from, it was a critical time for the Russians, as they did not roll very many command dice, so they ended up having one division stuck in a hold on the critical access road.  I really like this scenario for the requirement of BOTH SIDES to have to use up their command functions to keep troops moving with the potential for bad things to happen from a lack of movement!  This is a part of what I call important to good generalship, seeing where the important action is in the moment and dealing with it as best you can.  Sadly it was beyond Victor to keep on top of, and ultimately he did not have the CD's to spare!

Through turn 4 and early turn 5 the French were sending out the light cavalry into their left wing, to go along the far side of the Russian right.  It was during turn 4 that a new adult player, Eric, came onto the scene and took on the command functions for the Russians to 'help' Victor.  It was his choice to redeploy Platov and his Cossacks to cover the left wing.  He could also see that at least one division of French were moving on the far side of the hill to flank him on the other side.  The end of turn 4 was also the arrival of Kutuzov and the three massive heavy reserve position artillery batteries.

Unable to contain himself, Platov charged into the Chasseurs of Ornano, only this time the Chasseurs were set for the charge!

the wild Platov strikes at the Chasseurs

The Cossacks of Platov were not prepared for the engagement

Turn 5 was to be a three pulse turn, neither of the commanders had enough CD's to keep on top of their troops.  This turn was also to be the one where my elbow would catch on the top of my church steeple and send the model tumbling over breaking off the steeple (look closely at the church in later images and you will see either no steeple or the broken sections of it).

Overview of the field from the Russian side (backed up troops that have not yet arrived can be seen in the foreground)

Overview from Russian left

One of the problems the Russians had, beyond the interrupt in troop arrivals, was a retreat by the leading brigades that blocked off the forward artillery then the division got a 'hold' order without enough command dice (CD's) to make it change.  This would prove to be fatal to the Russian cause in this game as they could not act while French artillery were able to get into position.

Kutuzov assembles a grand battery on the far south of the battlefield, while (seen in the top left corner) brigades are blocking the forward artillery

French Divisions were seen moving from the Russian left flank

The blocked Russian batteries were unable to fire on the opposing French/Italians

Platov's Cossacks were to be thrown into the fight again on the Russian right, to only the result of slowing down - just barely the Chasseurs, there were Cheveauxleger coming up also ... so the Russian right was going to have to be re-positioned.

Cossacks were used to slow down the French on the Russian right

Turn 6 was to be another 3 pulse turn.  Now the Russians were having to re-position, they had been unable to break into the other half of Maloyaroslavets, now with light cavalry on their right and French divisions coming on the left, the whole line of the battlefield was totally in action.  Certainly the first time since a game of Austerlitz I have ever seen this much action all across the whole line of battle.

Russian right flank formed up to receive the onrushing French

Now the Russian guns were able to fire, they were faced by equal French batteries, coming off the worse in the exchange

Russian left, now a division of infantry had formed up to block the French light cavalry

It was during the decisions of turn 6 that caused the Russian commander to commit his final infantry Division, Kovonitzen of III Corps to the left flank and halting the light cavalry that proved to be the game ending decision.  As the French commander I still held Lecchi and the guard division (with infantry and dragoon brigades) in reserve.  I am constantly reminded of Bonaparte's plans to constantly keep one division back from the fight as much as possible (I was having to put CD's on Lecchi all the time to keep him from going over to the attack on his own).

By pulse 2 of turn 7 the situation on the Russian left had collapsed, most certainly the French were going to get though that flank.

Field overview from the Russian left

Field overview from the French left

In the center, the Russian guns had been 1/2 destroyed, now the weight of French artillery would overcome all troops on the first 'slope' or 'level' of the hill south of Maloyaroslavets.  The French had Lecchi and the Italian guard to move into the open ground, while the Russians had no reserved divisions to use to halt this at all.

Russians were being driven away to the south of Maloyaroslavets

The 'back' side of the central hill showing the Italian guard, Lecchi's Division ready to move into the open ground

Platov's Cossacks had shot their bolt, only a remnant barely enough to keep the division as counting as 'effective' and permitted to stay on the table (in a game sort of way) and thus keep the 'score' close - ultimately there was no more Russian cavalry to face down the marauding French horse on the left and nothing at all to challenge the Italian Dragoons of Lecchi.

Russian left facing destruction at the hands of French light cavalry

View from far French right looking towards the open center

The end of turn 7 after 3 pulses had a score of French 3: Russian 1; this was the first moment when there was any score at all, as other brigades had all been successfully pulled back from conflict before they were utterly destroyed.

Turn 8, my opponent could see that he could not stop the French, though he was willing to stay on - only to see if they could be prevented from dominating the south river line.

Ultimately the Russians were unable to even really slow down the French, they were able to keep 1/2 of the town of Maloyaroslavets, yet even Eric was able to see that there would be no way to stop the French here and Kutuzov would have to withdraw the grand battery and move off the army 12-20 miles to the south - thus OPENING the way for the French to move on the Kaluga road to Smolensk ... what a change of history that would have been!

Victory!  Eugene's view of the Russian center, with French infantry on the open ground to the south of Maloyaroslavets

Final score French/Italian 6 : Russian 4 with the French holding 2/3rds of Maloyaroslavets and all of the hills up to the south stream, there were NO RUSSIANS on the north side of the Lusha tributary.

The ragged Russian left, only wounded battalions left to cover the retreat

Ornano's hard road, littered with the Chasseurs in order to open the French right and win the way to Kaluga

Just past midnight, south of Maloyaroslavets, Lecchi and the Italian guard hold the high ground with three massive heavy batteries, Guard Dragoons and Guard Infantry, all ready for action.

RESULT:  French Tactical victory, not an outstanding victory though certainly enough to have convinced the Russian commander Kutuzov to have withdrawn and open the way for Bonaparte to use the Kaluga road to Smolensk

Eric and I pose for a photo after the end of the game

Thank you to Victor for starting me off in the game (playing solo is dull at a convention) - he was patient with so much table-talk happening.  Over and over again new folks would stop by and talk about the game, history, tactics. leadership, strategy etc.  Because I also cast and paint most of the troops there are also painting technical talk that happens.

Eric was a good sport in taking over for Victor and good on him for sticking with the battle to the end.

You can see more of Eric's pictures, taken with his iPad, here.

Garden Wars AAR I

September 3, 2012 saw a pair of Garden Wars games.  The first was a meeting engagement with supporting forces, between my newly finished Italian forces and my Russian veterans.  As before we used SHAKO (version I) rules at double scale.

Situation:  Russia before Borodino.  Russian Divisions with Cossacks must hold the extreme right flank of the army positions against the Army of Italy, with a supporting division of allied and French troops.

Russian command in the center of the crossroads

Russian divisions were posted in the town, to block the one bridge, known crossing, and open ground to the left of the town - linking communications to the next sector of the Army.  On the right flank - extreme distance - were a force of Cossacks.  All troops in contact with the river may search for unmarked ford spaces, on a roll of 1-2-3 river is non-fordable, 4-5 fordable with a halt and disorder, 6 fordable with a halt.

Deployment of the troops (map from Battle Chronicler)

After seeing the Russian deployment, the French (ok mostly Italian) forces are arrayed in their marching order with commands given to them for the assault.  The objective is to gain the far back of the river and dominate the bridge and crossroad, thus breaking the right flank of the Russian Army at this river.

Right from the start there were 'detections' (we use cardboard 'blanks' to show where divisions are until they are within 3 yards - 108" of enemy formations). The Russians out in the open and French Light and Heavy Cavalry formations became visible.

The wide view of the field, Russians are on the near side of river, French on the far side

French to the left, Russians to the Right and in the town.

By turn two most formations were visible and the artillery had begun to fire.  Russians scoring hits on the Chasseurs and the French Heavy Cavalry artillery getting setup.

Cossacks explore the river line

The Cossacks determined that the river area in their front was not cross-able (rolled a '2').

The whole French and Italian and allied column

Army of Italy, Eugene at the head of the columns

Meanwhile the French and allied division was closing in on the bridge, followed by the Italian Legion.  We permit commanders to 'move' HQ during the game by their not being able to use the ADC's and issue order changes for two moves.  Here Eugene is marching just behind the leading French and allied division leading the Italian forces into battle (for the first time - no this is not the Eugene model that I sculpted ... that one is not finished yet).

Army of Italy in columns of march

Over on the French right, the Light Cavalry, consisting of Lancers, Chasseurs and a 'provisional' horse battery were racing towards the river line to seek a crossing point.  This 'provisional' battery was the one that the French had captured from the Russians in a Garden Wars game last year ... my eldest son wanted very much to capture it back!

French Light Cavalry and a 'captured' Russian Horse battery

This Light Cavalry force wasted no time in finding a ford and crossing it!

Finding a ford immediately and crossing it the French Light Cavalry were lighting fast!

The Russian division facing them also wasted no shots as they managed to deliver shot into the Chasseurs on both turns scoring kills at long range.

Russian Lines and Jagers prepare to face the Light Cavalry

While in the center of town the artillery was prepared and the troops distributed to what the Division commander thought were the best choices, as French and allied infantry columns closed in.

Center of town with Russian batteries and infantry

For the early part of the battle, the critical factor would be control over the bridge, and both forces were bent on keeping it for themselves.

The Bridge from the Russian side

The Bridge from the French & allied side

The vital bridge turned out to have a weakness, unseen at the start of the battle, for a force of French voltigeurs discovered a fording point that was masked by the watermill from the Russian guns, now the fight for the town would have a whole new dimension!

The army of Italy could now choose where to make the crossing ...

Meanwhile on the French left the heavy cavalry horse battery had begun to punish the Cossacks on the far side of the river.

French Dragoons and Hussars, with a horse battery to the left.  In the distance are the Cossacks

French Hussars of the Heavy Cavalry force, watching Cossacks in the distance take artillery fire

The Light Cavalry did not waste a single moment and struck directly at the Russians facing them.

French Light Cavalry Brigade strike first

Though a square was formed, it was facing nearly twice as many horsemen, the end square failed - the horsemen pressed on and took out the attached battery, then struck into the next line which also formed square!

This time the square held, bouncing out the Lancers that drove over the other square and took out the battery.

Battle Chronicler report of the situation after the 8th Lancers had been repulsed

Over in the center, the Russian batteries were dealing out fire and death on the Italians.

Russian Division holding the town sector

Now at the end of turn 4, start of turn 5 the French Light Cavalry was in disarray, the Lancers did not rally right away and the Chasseurs had been in the first charge and was now still 'blown'.

Light Cavalry in disarray

Over on the Russian right flank, the Cossacks were taking ever more casualties ...

Cossacks are taking more casualties

These casualties were coming from the mouths of the horse battery of the French Heavy Cavalry force facing them on the opposite bank of the river ...

Italian Horse Battery in action, Cossacks can be seen distant at the top left

Situation in the center ... before the Chasseurs charged

Now the French Light Cavalry is hurled one more time into action, the Chasseurs had a fantastic target!  There was one Russian battery that had no 'covering' force any more, they were facing away to the flank (firing at the Italians moving in).  Such an opportunity was not to be missed!

Chasseurs a Cheval were triumphant over the Russian battery

With this destruction of the battery, only one artillery force remained to the Russians and it was now under threat from the French columns that had crossed the river on the other side of the watermill!

The town was now invested with French, seen to the top left are the columns (between the buildings) and to the right are voltiguers starting to fire on the last Russian battery overlooking the bridge!

While it was on Turn 5 that the Russian Grenadiers started to arrive, they would take some time to come from the backfield of the Russian position.

Here on Turn 6 the situation in the town was dire ... French forces were now across the river in force and were outflanking the remains of the Russian division that had been tasked to hold the Town, on the other flank the French Light cavalry had penetrated the open ground and destroyed two thirds of all artillery that the Russians had for holding the sector.

Russians in the town were now hard pressed to hold their ground.

Russian Life Guards Cavalry (seen in lower left) are arriving ... would it be in time?

Turn 6 Situation as seen along the River Line

Far Flank of cavalry

The Army of Italy commander, Eugene, was now also calling back to him the Heavy Cavalry.  For clearly the Cossacks on the far flank were not about to cross the river and the horsemen could cross at the ford that had been found, covered by the town from the approaching Russians, and be able to strike deep into the Russian center or either flank as desired.  With these horsemen across the river, the crossing would be ensured and control of the town guaranteed.

While neither main force had met each other, the Army of Italy was winning the race into the town.

Army of Italy on the move

By the end of the turn the Army of Italy was preparing to cross the river via another ford that had been found beyond the bridge.

Italian Velites had found another ford - the river would prove no real obstacle in this battle

With the investment of the town, now French line troops were firing on the last artillery battery, and surging onward into the Russian center.

The town sector was fully invested by French troops

 Turn 7 was to be 'short' but not so 'sweet' for the Russians in the town square, for now they were being harassed by Italian artillery across the river and volleys from the troops in the town!

The square in the square was coming under fire

 The hard fighting in the town continued, the Russians stubbornly refusing to give ground, the French and Italians were still positioning to make the move on the Russians.

Over on the far flank, the French Heavy Cavalry was at last getting into motion as the ADC messenger had arrived.

The Russian Guards had also reached detection range on the French Light Cavalry and now were deployed in their marching columns.

Russian Grenadier Guards and Life Guards Cavalry

Turn 8 was to also see the arrival of the Russian Dragoon force.  This would add a horse element to the Russian left and a horse battery which would counter the marauding of the French Light Cavalry.

Russian Dragoons

The fight for the town was now at fever pitch, for the French drove a column into the rear of the battery and onward into the flank of the covering infantry line.

I am having troubles posting more to this blog post (something has happened to the pictures), so I shall end here and pick up in a new posting.