A Large Seven Year War Encounter.

 I think its nearly three years! since I used some of my Seven Years War collection in a wargame. So yesterday at John's constant harping on I got some of my collection out. Sadly I'm useless at creating a scenario, I have never been able to create something that could be even mildly interesting. I leave that to John. So instead I set up a fairly open battlefield and went for a set piece battle between the French and Austro/Saxons. It turned into quite a tense affair. I opted to leave a cavalry reserve off table that had to be diced for as and when it was requested. The dice was to determine what would arrive, if at all. 1 meaning the reserve wasnt coming and 6 meaning a cuirassier brigade would be arriving. The scores in between were for either dragoons or simple cavalry.

 We tend to use Blackpowder two for the SYW after we gave up on the Honours of War rules.

 Naturally I chose the poor French led by a cart bound Marshal de Saxe. The Austrians were commanded by a lovely female hussar courtesy of the Willie range. I thought we should adopt a more diverse society even in wargaming battles.I allowed the Austrians to have two grenadier batallions and all the Austrian line to be classed as 'large.' I soon learned I was too generous as when it came to fire fights the extra dice proved critical to the game. John attempted to be very aggressive on both wings, but failed twice to move his right wing which should have allowed me to capitalise on his failure. Unfortunately most of my brigadiers were only 7's and the left wing commander also failed his order throws.

 On my right wing the Austrians were more successful and came on against what I thought were my best troops.I was to be disappointed as one after another of my regiments reeld back under a murderous fire from the Austrians.

 I did manage to 'shake two of his regiments and went for a daring'follow me' move using my Wild Geese. Bad idea. The wild geese were literally cooked and with them being shaken the entire right wing of the French were lost and in retreat.

The image below shows the dice roll I threw for my Irish to test their morale.
                                         Guess what, snake eyes isn't very good!

 On the left wing [French] the Saxons had decided to advance flanked by a brigade of cavalry led by some Saxon cuirassiers. I managed to stop the cuirassiers with firepower, but the Saxon dragoons charged into and through my Arqubussiers du Grassin and into the Regiment du Corse who had thrown a double six and blundered forward out of control. Although I shook and broke the Saxon cavalry I lost both my only light troops but also the Corsican's.

 I rolled for my cavalry reserve and managed to get a couple of French Dragoon regiments. The subsequent dice to see where they would arrive plumped them on the wrong wing! Even with the loss of his cavalry John marched his Saxons forward in a large block. Somehow I managed to hold them up and as my light cavalry moved onto their flank and actually forced him back.

To cover the loss of the infantry on my right, I sent in my reserve cavalry intending to charge the shot up Austrians. Ah the best laid plans?

 As I charged with successive dragoon regiments they were shot up and although they were able to actually fight the brigade was effectively spent very quickly.

 Below is an image of the regiment Deux Ponts getting to grips with some Saxons. They were the last regiment remaining on my left wing. Although it sounds like the French were well beaten the Austro/Saxons were also in pretty bad shape but somehow John had managed to rally some of their causalities whilst the French continually failed to do so which caused the collapse of my army.
 It was a great game and very exciting.
I foolishly thought at one stage that I could break the Austrians with uncoordinated cavalry charges. Clearly there is nothing like an old fool.

                                                My wagon train legging it off table.

I had to take this image of a lovely building created by Andy Copestake of Old Glory fame many years ago. A great piece.

On Tuesday John and I are having another crack at the entire Antietam battle, except this time I will be the Confederate and will take my camera.