"Black Powder" Somewhere in Belgium

 

The first game of 2024!  Hey the blog is finally caught up too!  It is a pick up "Black Powder" napoleonic Game set somewhere in Belgium.  The are 4 British Brigades.  The First British Division is commanded by Spencer.  The 1st Brigade of the first division consisted of 3 battalions of Foot with a battery of Artillery.  The 2nd Brigade contained 2 Battalions of Foot with a battery of Artillery.  Aidan Commanded the 2nd Division.  His 1st Brigade consisted of 4 Battalions of Foot and a Battery of Artillery.  His 2nd Brigade was a Cavalry Brigade with 4 small battalions and one Horse Battery.

The French commanders were Kenny and James.  Kenny Commanded 2 brigades.  The 1st French Brigade contained 4 Battalions of Line Infantry and 2 artillery Batteries.  The 2nd Brigade of his was a Cavalry Brigade with 4 Battalions of Horse.  James commanded 2 Brigades.  his first Brigade contained 4 battalions of line infantry and 2 batteries.  His 2nd Brigade contained 2 battalions of the imperial guard and 2 batteries.  

The British held the town and farms to the west while the French were hidden in the woods behind the hills around the church.  The French objectives were to take the crossroads and the barn while the British need to take the pasture and the graveyard.  The Battle begins.

The French won the coin toss and began turn 1.  Kenny choose not to move and to react to Spencers Movement.  James decided to have his 1st Brigade advance up the middle road in column while the 2nd brigade began to move to the heights.  James would leave his flank wide open.

Aidan and Spencer would capitalize on turn 1.  Spencer would send his larger first brigade in a rush towards Kenny in the woods while Aidan rushed his cavalry to a position to strike on James left flank while his infantry methodically approached the heights.

Jame did not react to the Cavalry on his flank instead he advanced both of his brigades forward ignoring the threat to his left.  Kenny Still took turn 2 to wait for his moment to strike at Spencer.

British turn 2 went well.  Spencer's 2nd brigade occupied a defensive position behind a fence near the farms while his 1st brigade quickly approached the heights.  The famous 95th rifles took the center of his line flanked by an infantry battalion to its left and right with a battalion in reserve.  A well deployed line.  Aidan rushed 2 Battalions of Foot to the base of the heights facing him.  He had won the race to the hill.  He did not move his cavalry waiting to see if his trap would occur.

French turn 3.  Kenny now knew the time had arrived to strike.  He sent 3 line Battalions to anchor his flank along the river and he choose to send his entire cavalry brigade to occupy the French center by taking the heights overlooking Spencer.  Meanwhile.  James line infantry were bogged down on the middle road and he formed squares with his guard but left his artillery unlimbered and vulnerable.

This led time for Aidan to strike on British turn 3.  The British Cavalry knifed through and charged the batteries in limber assuring their destruction and proceeded to take the cemetery to James rear.  His Battalions of British foot began to volley down the hill into the guard squares pinning them in place and causing them to be disordered.  Spencer held still wanting Kenny to come into range.

Kenny would not disappoint. Kenny's Cavalry did a Brigade charge and struck the Spencer head on in cavalry charge worthy of song and saga.  Kenny routed the Right side of Spencer's line and Spencers artillery.  The 95th stood their ground but the cavalry charge continued into his reserve battalion.  And Kenny was rolling well!  But He had not won the day yet.  Meanwhile James was panicking.  The British Cavalry in his rear was forcing him to put all of his battalions into square to save them but his poor artillery never stood a chance.

The Battle for British Turn 4 was a tale of 2 sides.  Aidan had the most success he ever had on a table top game in the south but the French were winning in the north.  Spencer tried to rally his cause but realized it was too little too late.  The 95th Rifles did break 1 of Kenny's Cavalry Battalions as a small sentimental prize.  The Battalion anchoring Spencers left broke and ran but in turn broke another of Kenny's Cavalry Battalions forcing Kenny to pause his charge.  Though it was bloody Spencer did stop the charge.  Aidan pressed his advantage and continued disrupt James.

French turn 5.  Kennys infantry finally joined the charge.  He destroyed the last foot battalion of Spencer's 1st brigade but the 95th rifles stood strong and still held on surrounded in the middle of the open ground.  All Spencers reserve brigade could do is watch in horror as they defended the objective.  James situation was growing grim in the south.  He could not do much but disorder the lead cavalry brigade ending Aidan's advance. Only inches short of a French defensive objective.  Little did he know that he saved the only French points of the game.

British Turn 5.  Spencer held in place and the 95th rifles finally collapsed.  Aidan destroyed 1 of the guard battalions and almost broke the 2nd one.  He also collapsed one of James other Line Battalions.  But again this would be the end of the game.  

The French controlled one of their 3 objectives earning only 5 points.  The British controlled 2/3 of their objectives and earned 20 points.  Spencer and Aidan won the first bloody Battle.  Congrats to Aidan and Spencer.