With both armies set up we rolled for our generals, I was poor, Martin and Bob good and Paul exceptional. It looked like an uphill battle. All along the French lines units started to move. It looked as though the French plan on their right was to get into a firefight with the Prussian foot and then retire to allow the large amount of cavalry to ride over the exhausted foot. On their left it was a bit more cautious with an advance in the centre with the extreme left holding. Allied plan was to hold on the left and counter attack with the Austrian Cuirassiers, and on the right move forward with the Hessen-kassel and support with the Hessen-kassel and Wurttemberg cavalry.
French Advance
Allied advance
The first drama was an all or nothing charge on the extreme left Prussian unit. After a disastrous couple of dice rolls the cavalry were in contact and pushing the infantry back. Due to the position of the other French cavalry the Danish cavalry could do nothing about this and some Austrian cuirassiers had to be sent over to help out.
Across the centre a firefight had broken out all across the front. Casualties started to mount up and units started to retire or rout.
General picture
On the allied right the H-K infantry slowly pushed back the French infantry from around the wood and an Irish battalion from in front of the village retired. As this was taking place some more French units moved towards the woods and noticing this the H-K and Wurttemberg cavalry advanced.
In the Allied left centre the French battalions were retiring leaving the way open for the French Gendarmes to charge the exhausted Prussian and Danish foot. This was too much and they routed with the French in pursuit.
On the Allied right centre the Bavarian infantry had routed but this left the way open for the French cavalry following them up. However here the British had managed to bring fresh units into the line so giving them a chance of pushing off the cavalry.
The Bavarians would rout soon
After yet another set of rubbish dice the British and Dutch foot were legging it and to cap it all the British cavalry refused to charge. (They had been taking the odd hit from a Bavarian field gun)
On the Allied left it had developed into a large cavalry duel with the arrival of 2 squadrons of Austrian cuirassiers. This continued until the end of the battle with neither side giving way.
Allied left centre the French cavalry pursed the broken Prussian and Danish foot. They broke another unit of Prussian foot but floundered against the second line Danish unit Fyland. This gave the Austrian cuirassiers time to position themselves and charge the gendarmerie scattering them and slowly driving them from the field.
On the Allied right with the H-K battalions exerting pressure the H-K and Wurttemberg cavalry charged the French foot and cavalry. The infantry fought on but eventually broken to the liebgarde and the battalion behind broke as well. The H-K cavalry initially broke the French cavalry but in turn routed from the French reserves. However this exposed the French to the second line of Allied cavalry and the French were driven from the field.
This was now time to call it a day. The French cavalry on their left centre had broken the British and Dutch and had gone on to finish off the British cavalry. They were how ever now in a position to be charged by some fresh Austrian cuirassiers. The H-K infantry were still exerting pressure on the French infantry, but soon the Allied cavalry would be in a position to start charging them in flank and rear. On the Allied left a stalemate had developed between the French, Austrian and Danish cavalry.
On the left centre the Austrian cavalry had possession of the field with no French cavalry to contest it.
Overall a very good time was had by all. The rule changes worked as it encouraged battalions to close. The command dice did give some variation but not as dramatic as normal. A couple of questions did arise.
What visibility do people use in woods, that if there is any.
And if a unit charges in to a unit that is in contact with retiring or routing units. Is that a new charge or a reinforcing charge?
Anyway hope you have enjoyed it. Next game mid December. Should have some more toys by then so an even bigger game.
