This would be my first game of Black Powder ... and wow what a game! Each side had 5-6 players so commands were allocated by a lottery. I drew General D'Erlon, so the 5 divisions of the mighty 1st Corps (42 battalions of infantry, 8 batteries of guns and 4 regiments of cavalry!) were under my command.
That's more than 8,000 figures (20mm plastics) on a 24' x 12' (7.32m x 3.66m) "E" shaped table.
A view, from the Allied ridge of La Haye Saint and the 95th Rifles in the sand-pit. Hello Sharpe! In the background you can see my 1st Corps, starting at the road and extending east across to the far right French flank.
A view along the Allied lines. The little chits of paper behind the units were essential notes of what division/brigade each unit belonged to.
The ridge opposite the centre of 1st Corps with the Belgian 'militia' standing in clear view.
A view West along the Allied line. Hugoumount is just out of shot to the left.
Simon busily finishes off the army lists and rosters. A big "Well Done" for organising and running things so smoothly on the day!
1st Corps begin the attack ... sort of!? One division launches a ferocious attack on La Haye Saint and the Rifles, but second division (commanded personally by D'Erlon!) blunder off to their left. The third and fourth divisions advance on the ridge and are hammered by artillery then musket fire.
We wanted to press the attack as quickly as possible because Simon was keeping us in the dark about when then Prussians would arrive on our left flank. In the meantime Alan and Mike began to move some of the reserves and Guards across our rear to try to occupy Plancenoit before the Prussians.
Here's Steve (Picton) removing the 95th Rifles after they were crushed in a lightning attack by the French. However, the brave defenders of La Haye Saint, commanded by Rob Broom (a.k.a. "Silly Billy" - HRH The Prince of Orange) held out ... but only just!
Later, the battle for the farm continues (troops in buildings are very difficult to dislodge in BP) whilst D'Erlon finally manages to get his second division heading for the ridge.
The Duke of Wellington (Ken) has a light sabre moment with a tape measure!?
The rest of D'Erlon's infantry push on towards the ridge, all the while keeping an eye on the left flank for any sign of the Prussians.
Simon keeps an eagle eye on proceedings around Hugoumount. Just as in the real battle, our commanders launched a series of attacks and counter attacks to capture the chateau.
The French left flank (Plancenoit is just out of shot to the right). D'Erlons cavalry divison (lancers and hussars) face some British/Belgian hussars, whilst to their right a divison of Ney's (Phil) Cuirassiers slaughter the rest of the Allied light cavalry.
The attack around La Haye Saint and Wellington's centre continues.
More of 1st corps try to dislodge the stubborn Dutch and British infantry.
Success! Several Allied battalions are defeated and routed, but wait - is that Allied cavalry being brought forward to help plug the gap?
D'Erlon and his divisions about to take the ridge.
What's this? The Prussian have arrived. Alan and Mike have pushed the Guard cavalry out to screen the village whilst the reserves and Guards make haste to capture the buildings and halt the Prussian advance.
'Ware cavalry!! The french form square to avoid the cavalry but in doing so present ideal targets for the Allied muskets and cannons.
Ooops! These chaps don't make it in to square in time. Things look bad for D'Erlon's 2nd infantry division....
....but wait! Simon's timely intervention helps us to avoid a dreadful rules blunder. The French can (and do) form square. However, with 1st Corps having taken the battle to the Allies all day they had suffered huge casualties and were starting to look a little fragile.
Back in the centre the guard maintain the advance, whilst on the flank the battle continues to rage as the guards hold on to Hugoumount.
At about 6pm I had to depart. The French Guard were making an attack on La Haye Saint and massing to assault the ridge. The rest of the Guards and Ney's cavalry were holding the Prussians in check, so it looked like the French could pull off a close victory!? Vive L'Emperor! (...and they did indeed prove victorious!)
Many thanks to Steve for inviting me along, and many thanks too to my very sporting opponents (mainly Steve and Ken on the ridge) and also to my fellow French generals! A special mention must also be made for Steve's wife Tracy for providing a super lunch :o)
All in all, a superb and extraordinary day of gaming.
