RUSSIANS WIN FRIEDLAND!

HUZZAH! HUZZAH! HUZZAH!



Victor of the field, Count Bennigsen now faces the difficult choice of continuing to give Bonaparte battle here at Friedland or falling back to the Neimen and meeting up with more Russian arms.

The Russian General Gortchakov pressed hard on first General Grouchy then Marshal Mortier to take Heinrichdorf, then scatter the remnants of the Cavalry Reserve and VIII Corps. This left Marshal Lannes with the difficult choice of either taking Sortlack (possible, but a long-shot) or recovering from an extended position and giving Emperor Bonaparte time to assemble the Imperial Guard and re-position I and VI Corps. With the loss of the access of Heinrichdorf, I Corps would have to round-up the scattered parts of VIII Corps and hold the French Left while the Guard, VI Corps and a recalled Marshal Murat (from the seige of Konigsberg) fell on the Russian Left. Ultimately the Russians would have to choose to continue their stand at Friedland or take the wiser course of falling back to the Neimen, victorious, but bloodied all the same...

Tale of the game:

We started a tad early (as all players were present and keen to get back into action!).


The Trophies were on hand for the conclusion of the action.




By the end of Turn Eight the Russian Right Wing had dispatched another cavalry force and was threatening to break through in force to reach Heinrichdorf.



While on the Russian Left, the advance was stalled then re-formed.

First the Pavlov Grenadier Guards were caught by the French Heavy Cavalry under Nansouty (in personal command). While the guards were chasing away a pesky French 4-pounder batter (that had not scored a hit on these Guardsmen) the thunder of hoofs came from their right, too late to form square they were struck from within their flank lines! Still they were guardsmen and withstood three rounds of melee before collapsing. Undeterred the French Heavies then slammed into two successive formations of Gallitzen's Light Cavalry, without thier General to support either of them they too were scattered towards the rear (though not butchered like the Pavlovs). Again Gallitzen was busy with rallies. Into the gap rode the Cossacks under Platov.

Now the French Heavies were blown and disordered. Rather than face an attack in their flank, they chose to recover. Along the way they were hit multiple times by Russian Cannon of Mazovski's command, still in squares at the center of the field.

Once the Cossacks were denied an easy target they chose to take a more paced advance, thus giving time to Gallitzen to rally the Light Horse and permit more arriving troops time to take up positions. This lack of charge also permitted the French Heavy Horse to rally, and the timely arrival of Polenz with Saxon Heavy Cavalry sealed the fate of the lead formation of Cossacks...

The Cossacks were smashed by a twin charge of Saxon and French Heavy Horse. The Saxons halted while the French continued on ... sending the entire division of Cossacks to flight. Following this charge the Heavies managed to keep control and slammed into a distraught Light Cavalry (that had failed to break a square of French Grenadiers). Upon completing this quick action the Heavy Horse reformed and charged into Russian Guns (scattering the gunners) and finally halted by Gallitzen's light Horse which had just barely enought time to rally.

Behind this heavy charge ran a column of Grenadiers (whom had formed square once the Light Cavalry attacked) and a columns of Legere, which had smashed a Russian Square and was now pressing in on Sortlack town.

The Russians under Markov was thrown into some confusion and during this the Light Cavalry was scattered beyond his command. Platov was overwhelmed by having all of his Cossacks fail at one moment and two thirds of them were seeking their own way over the Alle River...



But the tipping point had come on the Russian Right.



With massed batteries now in position to sweep all before them they proceeded to destroy four more French formations, two cavalry and two Infantry columns were dispatched by cannon and bayonette. Heinrichdorf was now defenceless and the Russian Infantry was sweeping into the town. Along the way General Grouchy had been captured (during an ill-fated cavalry charge into a heavy battery) and three other French commanders were injured in close combat!



My pontoons were finally constructed, but were not to see action as this battle was all but won at the tip of Russian bayonettes!



Here they are all finished and ready for use, watching a remnant of the Right Wing cossacks fleeing from the field.


Here we see more of the carnage on the Russian Right (note the dead in the far right corner)!


A French Grenadier Square, the last link between a dominant Oudinot and a failed Grouchy/Mortier....


Lannes final view of the field of action, having to withdraw is always a hard choice to make.




All said and done this was a fantastic finish to my three-year journey from Austerlitz to Friedland!

(remember that if you click on an image you can see a larger version of it)

Thank you to the players whom took part in this battle, Jeff was declared the Russian winner and Sam was declared the second winner!

In the end all those players whom have taken part in Austerlitz, Kelly Jones (for the hosting back in 2004!) whom was unable to continue with the games and I have the utmost respect for and wish to honor his memory by continuing the play and expanding the hobby wherever I go! Mike,Ian, Scott and the crew from Victoria also from Austerlitz.

David, Jeff, Mike, Alexander and Rebecca for Auerstadt.

David, Mike, Peter and the Dak-Kon crew for Eylau.

and finally Jeff, Peter, Alexander, and Sam for taking part in FRIEDLAND.

anyone I missed just take your own bow now.

Thank you one and all!

My Title?

Just a bit of fun...

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Sir Murdock the Querulous of Lardle Midhoop Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

Boyardvina troops start to take shape.

The Principality of Boyardvina lies to the east of The Duchy of Mieczyslaw; these three formations of infantry, one of dragoons and a small battery shall constitute the 'observation' brigade that should start actions against Mieczyslaw later this year (indeed, it may see action later this summer!).


One formation of the infantry is not shown in the picture, since the picture was too blurry to even try to post.

All in all there are 18 companies and 4 squadrons coming with that light battery.

Day ONE of the Friedland battle.

Though it started a bit late, due to work circumstances of one of the players, the battle progressed very, very well.

I was most pleased with the tabletop presentation of the troops and of how much faster play proceeded with the new magnetic 'tags' on the cadre troop stands.

I had finished off the flocking of the engineers and decided to toss a bit of flock on the new artillery 'supplies' markers that I also made up.



Then after rising, I made sure that the family was well fed and watered so as to not have them complaining while I was in action at the tabletop.

Jeff was the first to arrive with the second player Pete coming a bit later, we feasted (I had meats, cheezes, a variety of each, some meat pies, a selection of fruit juices and tea all lined up to feed the hordes (in case the turnout was unexpectedly large)) then advanced to the table and laid out troops and began action.






As expected it was very hot, after deployment we did a small break and got the fan operating in a better location. Also the weather broke in our favor and some clouds rolled in to shade us much better.

After deployment, I got a shot to show the view that Marshal Lannes would have had, while watching the display of Russian arms assembling before the River Alle and beyond the city of Friedland in front of him. The assembly was not unmolested, however being outnumbered at least 2:1 in all arms made the French careful in their attack postures, only one foray was permitted on the left (in pursuit of some defeated Russian cavalry) and on the French right a column of Light Infantry was rushed into place to cover the flank and managed to push away some Russian Jaegers in the process!




My new engineers also got the start to their first field works in preparing the ground for three pontoon bridges to be set over the Mulenfluss.



Later, by turn 7, the engineers were assembling the materials for putting the pontoons into the water, overseen by none other than Count Beningsen himself.



For the Russians on the left General Gallitzin was the busiest, with a few light cavalry formations being blasted by a very lively French 4 pounder that was handled with extreme urgency, taking a great risk in remaining to the very last in order to hammer one group of Russian cavalry and send it routing to the rear!



Gallitzen then calmly rode back and rallied these men, so as to make them ready to fill in later.



By turn 4 the French Cavalry Reserve had been shoved back by determined Russian action and the French artillery had taken a pounding. However the Russians could not advance very quickly due to the continued resistance of the French cavalry.


On the Russian left actions had gone more slowly, this was due mostly to the Russians needing to arrive onto the field from the cramped confines of Friedland itself.



By far the most impressive unit (strange it is also one of my favorite paint jobs, isn't it supposed to be the other way around, were the worst painted is the best performing?) in action on the Russian side was the Pavlov Grendadier Guards.



They marched rapidly out from Friedland, then hurried into a position in front of the remains to Gallitzin's cavalry. Three times they came under close (point-blank range twice!) range fire of a French 4-pounder battery and not once was the fire lively enough to even ruffle their feathers!



The commander of the left, Bagration (player:Pete) did have some ruffling when Jeff his fellow player came up with the best comment of the day:

"I have destroyed on of the enemy formations, I note that you have ~ as yet ~ destroyed none ... my prince."



The Muhlenfluss contined to be a thorn in the Russians plans as both the Right and Left wings were forced to carefully co-ordinate their movements so as to permit their arriving troops enough room to deploy. By turn 7 this was extremely difficult for both, as on the Russian Left an Infantry Division had formed squares and their commander was not responding to calls to 'make a hole' for the arriving Cossacks to pass through. While on the left cavalry casualties had created all sorts of new room to deploy, sadly it was at the expense of a full unit of light cavalry.



By turn 7 (or about halfway through the alloted game turns) neither side had used any free rolls ~ for my part it was mostly due to very good luck early in rolling many 7's, 8's, 9's and 10's! just whenever needed on the 'defence'.




The first, fast chance for the Russians was now over, the real meat-grinder remains to be played out! Next sunday, 10 June 2007.



I certainly hope for at least as good a turnout!

On the eve of battle...

I am always a bit nervous on the eve of any major tabletop battle that I am hosting.

At the moment the nerves are also about the attendees...sigh summer is always so full of activities for many that the prospect of an indoor game is not as pleasant.

Ultimately since the gaming location is inside my 'outdoor' shed space we will have all the sounds and smells of the outdoors and have a place in the shade (it will get very toasty tomorrow with daytime highs near 26 degrees celcius!). I must remember to power up the fans once we start to game.

Anyway, onto the images.

I only have to flock the engineers and toss some flockings under the loose boards sets I made for simulating pontoon supplies and that project will be done on time.



I think the jitters are less since I do not have to finish painting 100's of figs in time!

Here are the engineers just after the gloss coat (done last night, late and I was too tired to write).



The tabletop is all ready with the troops all laid out in deployment readyness.

Here is Lannes surveying the landscape before Friedland.



Here is a shot of the whole of the battlefield as seen from behind the French positions (I cut out the mess in the background). The distance from the far side of Friedland to the near edge of the French lines is 8 feet and the large table width (too much to fit in the picture) is also 8 feet! A total of 56 square feet of battlefield action area!



Must get that flocking done and off to bed ... cheers!

Pontoon crews nearing completion.

I find myself with a 'bonus' paint day!

Other items that were planned have been cancelled and I have taken the time to put in major finishing works on the Engineers.



Only flesh finishing and highlights are left to be done!

I may even have all the items done with time to spare?!?

Working on the pontoon gang!

More paint was put on the engineers for the Friedland battlefield (and beyond).



I have tried to set-up the units as having uses will all sorts of different armies, in such a way that I can tell which crews are working with which officers.

Also I did a short little playtest with my son and one of his friends. The friend had to leave early and my son lost some interest, but I did get to refresh my memory about the Napoleons' Battles game system.




I've also gotten to field test the new tags on the units and I really like the speed that it adds in not having to re-check movement or basic combat stats.

It was a large project to re-engineer all the charts and tables to match the 25mm scale (as the game was designed at 15mm scale and multiplying everything by 1.5 in your head in the heat of action is a non-starter).

Only a few more days to go and this last batch of crewers will complete a three year odyssey from Austerlitz to Friedland.

Looking ahead:

In the near-term there are the engineers and pontoons to finish for Friedland.

Then to game out FRIEDLAND, June 3 and June 10.

The next project on the horizon is in connection with the Wars for Arcadian Glory, initially this will probably have some games in connection with the Emperor vs. Elector materials that are building now.

Part of this project will be the building of more tricorne troops, many of which have been drafted, but await 'training' with flash cleaning, base coats etc.

The long-range goal will be to put together something active in the Seven Years War era of action.

The only difficulty I have is that I yearn for a more 'open' campaign. One that will allow the players to experiment and take off (eh!) in directions other than the strict 'historical' battles...

To that end, in the past, I had put together a map for use in a Sport of Kings game for use with Age of Reason, and borrowed from that material. Only I put it on a much nicer tableau.



The recent Emperor v. Elector posts have been about developing a map for use in the game and it made me recall my earlier works on this map.

I am hoping to be able to use a larger game concept for the future Wars for Arcadian Glory with my fellow gamers in Duchy of the North and Saxe-Bearstien.

More pontoon works.



The bridge decks and supply sets are finished.



Now only the engineering crews need to be painted in time for Friedland.

One week to go!

Bridging the rivers:

A large part of the battle of Friedland was the pontoon briges over the Rivers Alle and Muhlenfluss.

To complement my growing 25mm armies and permit them to have the needed engineering efforts, I have been working on three pontoon bridging sets. Along with some sappers and miners to 'represent' the working engineering crews.


So far the efforts have worked out quite well, considering I have only had about 5 hours to work on all of it.


Today was a big day, since a fellow gamer was out to do some work on his tricorne troops for the Duchy of the North. He did a lot of flash cleaning and prep work along with some fantasy figs that should all be finished tomorrow night!



For my part the pontoons all got three layers of browns and an inking so that tomorrow I can finish them all and get a major work done on the engineers.

Camera! MIA

Arrgh!

I had a great time planning out and preparing a number of new items for use at the 1813 meeting engagement.

The players thought that they were of use in getting off to a fast start, including having the table cloth to cover the hills (after taping them down).

The French were defeated, HUZZAH! Although the Russians were very close to a collapse in having a cavalry force that was badly crunched on their left.

Sadly I do not have the pics to show from the table right now as I forgot to bring my camera!

I know that two other players were snapping pics and I will post some once the dust from Friedland has settled...

Boundaries.

I think what is needed for the Emperor vs. Elector game is to establish a time period (fix a 'year' for the start date at least) and to decide the troops mustered for the observation armies (for each side) and then what 'muster' can be added.

Also it would be good to know the maximum limits of troop deployments the various tables (on three continents) can handle; if they wish to host battles.

The main job of getting a player for the Emperor (or Empress) and for the Elector is vital to setting all other parts in motion...

EMPEROR vs. ELECTOR

During conversations this weekend, since the Hordes game was overcome by a Hallmark holiday and others having a variety of difficulties the numbers were 'gone' for the continuation of the game, that Blubear Jeff and I had (mostly about Tricorne Wars rules changes // ideas and the WAG that he has been planning) we came to a point where the "Emperor vs. Elector" game was the topic of discussion.

After some peripheral ideas about force compositions were made I hit on the idea of having the 18th C bloggosphere commentators taking an active role in our little idea.

The concept sees at least two willing players take on the central roles of the Emperor and the Elector. Others can then 'join-in' on either side as the War Council or the Ordinance Committee or some such designations so that collections of players can get involved. The location would be a 'team' blog site that would allow each side to taunt or cat-call or offer threats back and forth. Also it would be a central spot to clear all the information relating to the campaign.

Our first vision saw the play being operated on a 'number line' approach with a 'no mans land' in the center and 3 or 4 'contest zones' where battle will be given. The winner of the 'battle' controls the 'zone' and can the attack into the next zone.



Many details still need to be 'worked out', since I thought we could access such a wide variety to informed and lively opinion about the subjects regarding supply, morale, support services and sundry with the others here in the bloggosphere it would make for a fun group kreigspeil, interactive discussion space and a place for those whom may not have too many local players to participate 'virtually' with other tabletop gamers (and at least read the after action reports, troops musters, see table photos, etc.)

Ultimately if we run into a snag that cannot be solved thru discussion, heated argument, logical analysis or other written means then we can resort to the various online dice rollers to 'randomize' the possibility.

This will allow for fast start to tabletop actions and still permit online players to 'take part', even if only in a 'virtual' sense.

Loads more to do, chat etc about all this, however the first most important question is:

"Are there any weBlog 18th Century game players out there whom would want to take part in such a net based game?"

"Are there 2 players willing to take on the central roles of Emperor or Elector?"

...


...


...


Well are there?

Attraction to the table?

What does it for you:

When you first saw or became connected to the hobby?

When you had some of your own troops?

Now that you have many troops and are looking to game with them more often?

I ask as I am working with at least 2 others to develop something that will help to attract as many new players as possible.

For me, the answers look something like:

I was first attracted to the color and with a few games the size of the battles represented. I really enjoyed a number of 15mm Nappy's batts games that I played and a few of the Age of Reason ones in 25mm. I needed to move away from close proximity to all these players whom had fantastic 25mm collections, and so have had to start building my own.

When I finnaly had some troops, back when there were many others gaming, all I wanted was to get my guys into battle on the tabletop (thus the reason why I chose Saxons, since they faught on many sides during the 7 years war period). It was always frustrating to know that a game was coming up and to be told that no, the Saxons were not needed...sigh.

Now I find that I am looking to revive the actions of the past with the games run with the others whom had the large number of minis, but rather than a one-shot game (even though I am enjoying the bicentennial Napoleonics I have been doing over the past few years) I have been wanting to have the tabletop actions connect into a greater whole.
Somehow...


What are the views and thought of others on this topic?

Forces Planning for FRIEDLAND:

I have had a closer look into the troops needed for the FRIEDLAND game and decided that I do have enough, just, to do the early (short) FRIEDLAND game as presented by the Avalon Hill game scenario book for Napoleon's Battles.

On table at the start for France:
Lannes CIC
near Heinrichdorf:
Grouchy
(Grouchy's 2ic most likely and I am trying to find out whom this was in 1807) with 12 FrLC, 12 FrLC and Fr4#
Nansouty with 20 FrHC, 16 FrHC and Fr4#

near Posthenen: (probably Lannes starting location)
Oudinot with 20 FrGN, 20 FrGN, 20 FrGN, 20 FrLT and Fr4#

Arriving (in A4):
0730 Frescia with 12 HdLC
0800 Dupas with 16 FrLN, 16 FrLN, Hd4#, Marshal Mortier
0900 Dombrowski with 16 PdLN and Fr12#
0930 Beaumont 16 FrLC
Colbert 12 FrLC
1030 Sokolnicki 12PdLC

Arriving (in C1):
0800 Polenz 16 SxLN, 12 SxHC
0930 Verdier 24 FrLT, 24 FrLN and Fr12#
1100 Espange 16 FrHC, 12 FrHC

The Russians are all (on table) in the original Napoleons' Battles tabletop, however the planned table I have for the game is smaller (see the map layout below).

On Table available:
Bennigsen
Bagration
Gortchakov

Left Wing:
Markov with 20 RsJG, 16 RsJG, 16 RsJG, 16 RsLC, and 2 Rs6#
Constantine with 20 RsGJG, 28 RsGD, 24 RsLN, and 2 RsG12#
Mazovski with 20 RsLN, 16 RsLN, 2 Rs12#, and Rs6#
Gallitzin with 12RsLC, 12 RsLC, 12 RsLC, and Rs6#

Right Wing:
Lambert with 16 RsLN, 16 RsLN, 16 RsLN and 2 Rs12#
Uvarov with 12 RsHC, 12 RsLC, 12 RsLC, 20 RsCLC, and Rs6#
Kollogrivov with 12 RsGHC and RsG6#

Nearby and able to enter the game table top on short notice (one or two turns):
Left Wing:
Somorov with 20RsLN, 20 RsLN and Rs12#
Platov with 20 RsCLC, 20 RsCLC, 20 RsCLC and 2 Rs6#

Right Wing:
Sacken I 16 RsGN, 20 RsLN, 16 RsLN, Rs6# and 2 Rs12#
Lavrov 20 RsLN, 16 RsLN, 2 Rs6# and 2 Rs12#
Doctorov 20 RsLN, 16 RsLN and Rs12#

FRIEDLAND

After some considerations I have dusted off my copy of Napoleon's Battles and are reviewing elements. It was ostensibly designed for 'new' players, with loads of rules, all laid out in Avalon Hill numbered format. A sample set of diagrams and some support counters.

Napoleon's Battles
Napoleon's Battles
Napoleon's Battles


I've found a map that covers the ground fairly well, though I'll still likely search for some other historical maps to confirm the details.



I am starting to confirm my troops, and it looks like I will be needing to build 3-4 pontoon bridges...the makings are in the works.

Another little problem has cropped up, the other table that worked so well at the Eylau game will not be available, so I have scrounged around what I have access to and found a desk that is only 3/4" lower than the main table [seen in orange in the map diagram] in height (but has a rounded leather top making the 'edge' dangerous to the minis with risk of falling off higher) [seen in red in the map diagram] and an old tabletop, that is plenty large but has no legs on it right now (the legs are crummy), so I must consider buying another set of folding legs to put it into use. Along with the tabletop space, the 'game' space has been more closely measured, I have a space 10' by 14' (though the 14' can be a bit longer, but I need to have some room to store away things).

Strange as it seems I am planning to have the table set up with the 8' width in the 10' dimention, simply because the other dimention (when the two largest tables are combined) is also 8' and the troops are mostly accessed from the sides of the smaller table and the long 8' edge.

I had the thought to ask readers here what they thought of the Nappy's Batts rules set, if they used other rules sets (for Grand Tactical battles of the period) and what sort of map / troops / historical researches they may do when planning a re-fight like I am?