Battle Report For Wrg 1685 1845.docx

Battle Report for WRG 1685-1845 A 28mm Napoleonic Wargame A short game to relearn the basics of these rules. The two armies were French and British, and the deployments and the rosters are shown below:

British Napoleonic No. in unit

Name

Reg/Irreg

Type

Morale

Weapon

1

CiC

1

Brig Commander

16

Inf Btn

Reg

Line Inf

Vet

Musket

16

Inf Btn

Reg

Line Inf

Vet

16

Inf Btn

Reg

Line Inf

16

Inf Btn

Reg

Line Inf

1

Brig Commander

16

Inf Btn

Reg

Line Inf

Trained

Musket

16

Inf Btn

Reg

Line Inf

Trained

16

Inf Btn

Reg

Line Inf

Trained

16

Inf Btn

Reg

Line Inf

Trained

1

Brig Commander

Skirmishers "N"

Pts/fig

100

Tot Pts

Notes*

100 0

50

50

4

5

84

Musket

4

5

84

Trained

Musket

4

4

68

Trained

Musket

4

4

68 0

50

50

4

4

68

Musket

4

4

68

Musket

4

4

68

Musket

4

4

68 0

9

Light Dragoons

Reg

9

Dragoons

Reg

Light Cav Heavy Cav

50

50

Trained

10

90

Trained

10

90 0

1

Brig Commander

50

50

16

Inf Btn

Reg

Line Inf

Vet

Musket

4

5

84

16

Inf Btn

Reg

Line Inf

Vet

Musket

4

5

84

16

Inf Btn

Reg

Line Inf

Trained

Musket

4

4

68

16

Inf Btn

Reg

Line Inf

Trained

Musket

4

4

68 0

Art Bty:

0

2

Medium Guns

Reg

Art

1

Medium How

Reg

Art

3

Limbers

Reg

Art

Trained

12

Gunners

Reg

Art

Trained

2 pairs horses

40

80

40

40

5

15

5

60 0

TOTAL

1555

195

French Army of the North Napoleonic No. in unit

Name

Reg/Irreg

Type

Morale

Weapon

Skirmishers "N"

Pts/fig

Tot Pts

1

CiC

100

100

1

Brig Commander

40

40

16

Inf Btn

Reg

Line Inf

Vet

Musket

4

5

84

16

Inf Btn

Reg

Line Inf

Vet

Musket

4

5

84

16

Inf Btn

Reg

Line Inf

Raw

Musket

4

3

52

16

Inf Btn

Reg

Line Inf

Raw

Musket

4

3

52

Notes*

0

0 1

Brig Commander

40

40

16

Inf Btn

Reg

Line Inf

Raw

Musket

4

3

52

16

Inf Btn

Reg

Line Inf

Raw

Musket

4

3

52

16

Inf Btn

Reg

Line Inf

Raw

Musket

4

3

52

16

Inf Btn

Reg

Line Inf

Raw

Musket

4

3

52

1

Brig Commander

40

40

12

Lancers

Reg

Trained

10

120

12

Dragoons

Reg

Trained

10

120

0 Light Cav Heavy Cav

0 1

Brig Commander

40

40

16

Inf Btn

Reg

Line Inf

Vet

Musket

4

5

84

16

Inf Btn

Reg

Line Inf

Vet

Musket

4

5

84

20

Inf Btn

Reg

Line Inf

Raw

Musket

4

3

64

16

Inf Btn

Reg

Line Inf

Raw

Musket

4

3

52 0

Art Bty:

0

3

Medium Guns

Reg

Art

1

Medium How

Reg

Art

4

Limbers

Reg

Art

Trained

16

Gunners

Reg

Art

Trained

2 pairs horses

40

120

40

40

5

20

5

80 0

TOTAL

1524

Turn 1 The French won the roll off for the first turn, so took the first bound.

The French Artillery needed to take a Reaction test as they intend to shoot. This is a Reaction to First Opposition Test, and as this was the first opportunity to see what the

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quality of the French Brigadier looking after the infantry and the guns (right of centre of the line) was a die was rolled = 5, giving a Bold Brigadier. This actually meant that the Artillery test was automatically passed as they needed to beat a -1 on a D6. Moving into the shooting phase the artillery shoot, shooting at up to 700paces at a dispersed target, as the British column has skirmishers out front, requiring 6’s to hit with the guns and 5’s for the howitzer. The guns rolled 2,2,6 and the howitzer 5, inflicting 2 casualties on the British column. This will give the column a Reaction Test at the beginning of their turn. As there was no other shooting or any hand to hand in the first turn the French moved.

The French start their advance across the table.

And so to the first British turn. Beginning with the Response Phase, the Artillery needed to take a test as they intended to fire upon the advancing French. The British column on the left of the line also had to take a test as it received casualties from the French artillery fire. The Brigadier in the centre with the guns rolled a D6 to see what his quality was = 5 which was Bold. The Left flank infantry’s Brigadier rolled a 2 making him Cautious. The Guns Reaction Test was to beat -1, so this was done automatically and no dice was rolled. However, the trained column on the left had to react to 2 shooting casualties, and needed to beat a 2, rolling a 3 they succeeded, allowing them to act as they wish. The guns firing at just below 600 paces, needed 6’s to hit the dispersed skirmishers in front of the column and the Howitzer needed a 5. The guns rolled 5,5 and the howitzer a 1 scoring no hits. As there was no more shooting or hand to hand the British moved.

The British at the end of turn 1. Note the casualty marker at the rear of the yellow flagged infantry column near to the wood.

Turn 2 The French column that came under fire had a test for being fired on (even though no casualties were caused). Their Brigadier had to test for quality rolling a D6 = 2 which made him Cautious. The French column needed to beat a 1 as they were fired on with roundshot. They threw passing the test. The French cavalry could not charge the British cavalry as they were still on the reverse slope of the hill. Only two of the French guns and the Howitzer could fire at the same British column as the battery was partially covered by the cavalry advance. The range was still 500 paces and the guns need a 6 to hit whereas the Howitzer needs a 5. They rolled 5,1,1 missing that turn. As there was no more shooting or hand to hand the French moved.

The British turn began with some small arms fire from the skirmishers in front of the two columns in the centre of the table, as well as more artillery fire. However one of the columns had already taken a test for first opposition so did not need to test again. The remaining column did need to test though. As their Brigade commander was cautious, they automatically passed the test as they needed to beat a 0 to do so. The British shooting from the artillery was at a range of 340 paces so was still with roundshot at the dispersed targets. If the French continued their advance they would receive canister fire next turn. Needing 6’s with the guns and 5 with the howitzer, rolling 5,4,3 the guns missed their target again. The skirmishers could not actually hit their targets as they would need to be at 100 paces to have a chance with a 5. At 200 paces they cannot hit the dispersed targets. No further shooting or hand to hand, so the British moved.

The British cavalry have kept behind the crest of the hill so the French could not charge them yet. On the right flank and in the centre the British formed lines in order to get their better firepower into play.

Turn 3 The right hand French column was now within range for its skirmishers to fire at the nearest British skirmishers so indeed needed a test for First Opposition, which they automatically passed being veterans with a bold commander. The French guns continued to fire roundshot at the same British column, needing 6’s and 5 for the howitzer against the skirmishers protecting it. They rolled 6,3,2 and a 5 for the howitzer scoring 2 hits. The French skirmishers had 2 dice requiring 5’s and scored 4 and 3 on the same target. The British column needing to beat a 2 for reaction to shooting casualties rolled a 2 and the skirmishers halted. No further shooting or hand to hand, so onto the manoeuvre phase.

The French Dragoons advance onto the top of the hill on the right and in the centre finally getting to close range. On the left 4 battalions skirt the woods but keep behind the cover of the hill.

Finally we got to a few British tests for meeting First Opposition. A line and 2 columns on the right of the British line, the infantry line in the centre, and the Light Dragoons on the hill who attempted to charge the Dragoons that had just come over the crest. Both the right hand infantry commander and the cavalry commander threw 5’s indicating they were both Bold. All the right flank infantry required to test passed as they had a Bold commander giving them a -1 to beat. The line in the centre needed to beat a 1 as they could’nt actually see the commander at this time. They rolled 4, so were fine. The Light dragoons attempting to charge needed to beat -1, so they went in, moving their initial charge move in the Reaction Phase. The British shooting started with the line on the right. As they could’nt hit the French skirmishers as they were still at long range, the next unit to fire was the skirmishers on the right at the French ones, 2 elements needed 5’s, scored 6,2 for one hit. Just to the right of the British guns the columns skirmishers fired onto a French column needing 6’s to hit, rolling 6,4 causing 1 casualty. The central line fired on to the 2 groups of skirmishers covering the following columns, needing 4’s to hit and scoring 6,3 on the first (1 hit) and 6,5 on the second for two hits. The skirmishers from the halted British column fired on the skirmishers directly to their front needing 5’s to hit, and rolling 6,4 scoring 1 hit. The British artillery opened up on the skirmishers to their front, just from the two guns as a British column has strayed into the danger zone of the howitzer. The guns needing 5’s to hit rolled 6,4 for 1 hit. The French reaction to shooting started with the column on the right, having received 1 casualty they need to beat -2 to continue – Easy. Indeed all 4 columns in the centre pass without the need to roll dice. The Raw column on the left that took a casualty only needed to beat a 1 and rolled 5 passing the test.

The first hand to hand of the battle was with the Light Dragoons charging the Heavy Dragoons. The British Light Dragoons scoring 2 advantage points for charging whilst the French Dragoons scored 1 for being uphill. Therefore the British had the advantage and their 3 elements rolled 4,1,1 for 1 casualty, whilst the French only have 2 elements rolling 6,5 for one casualty as well. As the hand to hand was a draw, it continued into another turn as a melee. The British manoeuvre phase saw the reserves starting to move up on each side of the centre, and all the battalions forming line on the right flank.

Turn 4 The French had some tests for charges. The Veteran Infantry column on the right trying to initiate a charge on the mauled British battalion. They needed to beat 4 to go in and rolled a 1, meaning that they could not move closer to the British line. On the left flank a raw column attempted to charge one of the British lines once again needing to beat a 4, and rolling 3, temporarily stopping the advance. The French artillery once again fired roundshot at the same British battalion, now in line (normal target), needing 5’s for the guns and 6 for the howitzer, rolling 5,3,1 and 5 for the howitzer inflicting another casualty. The columns skirmishers fired at the same target and rolled 5,4 when 6’s were needed. The 2 columns advanced in the centre fired their skirmishers at the central British line needing 5’s. One column missed rolling 2,1 but the other rolled 5,5 for 2 hits. The fourth column in the centre fired its skirmishers at the British artillery needing 6’s, scoring 1 hit with a 6,3. The hit on a gunner, when another 6 was rolled. The now halted raw column on the left fired at the line needing 5’s to hit from the skirmishers, rolling 6,2 killing another of the Kings men. This bought up 4 shooting tests, the line on the right needing to beat 1 rolled 6 and were fine. The artillery also needed a 1 and

rolled a 4. The central British line needed to beat a 2 and rolled a 2, meaning they became shaken and must retire at least 25 paces next bound. The smaller battalion had been mauled for three turns now rolled a 6 and therefore was able to continue as it wanted. The ongoing melee on the hill saw the advantage points for the Light Dragoons disadvantaged as the Dragoons had upslope, Heavy Cavalry fighting others and 2 elements reinforcing the melee. The British needing 6’s with their 3 elements and the French 4’s with their 4 elements. The British rolled 5,2,1 for no hits whilst the French rolled 6,6,4,1 for 3 hits. The British lost taking a test needed to beat a 6 which they couldn’t so routed. As the Light Dragoons routed during the French bound they moved in their own response phase and in their manoeuvre phase next bound.

The British now had a few problems to sort with the Light dragoons in rout and several French columns approaching the British firing line. The British Heavy Cavalry declared a charge on the French Dragoons that beat the Light Dragoons on the British left flank. As they were attempting to charge a friends pursuers they needed to beat a 3 to succeed, so the 4 thrown was a welcome sight. The Light Dragoons took their initial rout move and headed for the gap at the end of the British Dragoons charging line. With the charge being successful the British moved on to their shooting phase. Starting on the right hand side the line opens up on the skirmishers on the hill, needing 4’s to hit. Having rolled 5,5,4,3 three casualties are inflicted on the French column. The second line unit fire on the halted Raw French column once again needing 4’s to hit the skirmish line, causing 2 casualties by rolling 1,2,4,4. The third line fire into the same column throwing 1,2,3,6 causing yet another casualty making it three casualties on the column this turn. The fourth line fires into the flank of the column advancing on the guns needing 4’s to hit the dense target at long range. Rolling 4,5,6,6 four casualties were inflicted. The artillery fire into the same target, with the guns firing canister at the skirmish line needed 5’s, rolling 1,6 inflicting 1 more casualty. The howitzer holding its fire as the British line was still in the danger zone. The shaken British line can fire at the 2 French columns advancing on it as the line was unsteady, throwing 2 D6 on the first rolling 3,4, and one on the second rolling 5, inflicting one hit on each column. The French then had to take 5 reaction tests from shooting casualties. In the centre the first column had taken 1 casualty this turn passed automatically as they were Veterans and French meaning they had a -2 to beat, as indeed did the next column. The column in front of the guns had taken 5 casualties still needed to beat 2, rolled 4 and continued onward. The raw columns on the left flank, both having suffered 3 casualties needed to beat 3. The one nearest the wood rolling a 6 continuing, but the column on the hill could only manage a 1, forcing it to halt.

With no hand to hand actions to be fought, the British moved with the infantry in the centre having to retire shaken, forcing the line behind them to retire as well, The infantry on the right advanced, and the Heavy cavalry charged into the French Dragoons. What was left of the Light dragoons left the table.

Turn 5 The Dragoons on the hill tested for being charged and as they were pursuers they needed to beat a 2, rolling 6 they stood on the hill to receive the British Heavy Cavalry charge. Two columns in the centre of the table both declared charges on the Shaken British infantry line. One automatically passed but the other needed to beat a 1 as it has a Cautious General, having rolled a 3 it was fine. On the French left 2 raw columns attempted to charge a British line, needing to beat 4’s, throwing 2 and 4 neither could charge. The French Dragoons receiving the charge at the halt fired on the charging British Dragoons needing 5’s to hit, rolling 2,6,6,6 scoring three hits on the chargers. The French artillery fired on the infantry line again, still needing 5’s and the howitzer 6, scoring 1,1,4,1. Bad miss. The right hand column’s skirmishers fired again at the line needing 6’s and scored 4,5 for no hits. The two central columns held fire this turn as they were charging and obviously did not want to be slowed down to collect their skirmishers. The last column in the centre in a firing position used its skirmishers to fire at the guns needing 6’s, scoring 6,6 for two hits. The additional roll 4,6 meaning 2 more gunners bit the dust. Near the hill on the lelt flank the skirmishers fired on the line needing 5’s scoring 5,6 for 2 casualties. The adjacent French column adding another element requiring a 5 and getting a 2, not changing the situation. The skirmishers on the hill fired onto the last British line needing 5’s, rolling 1,5 for 1 casualty. This meant that 4 British units had to test for shooting casualties. The one on the right needing to beat a 1, rolled 4 so was fine. The next unit in line needing to beat 2 only rolled a 2 giving it a retired shaken result for next turn. The guns needing a 2, rolled a 5 so passed the test. The

heavy cavalry having taken 3 casualties as they charged in on the Dragoons rolled a 6 and continued to charge into contact. The British Heavies having charged in to disordered Dragoons who were uphill had the advantage on the French. The British needed 4’s to hit whilst the French needed 6’s. The British rolled 2,4 for 1 hit, whilst the French rolled 3,4,5,6 also for 1 casualty, resulting in another drawn melee. During the manoeuvre phase the Dragoons lapped round the open flanks of the British Heavy Cavalry, and the French columns made contact with shaken line infantry.

The French cavalry lapping round the British Heavies.

Onto the British response phase, and with the British line continuing to fire and the French columns already having charged, the only reaction test was for the shaken British line receiving the 2 charges. It needed to beat 2, rolling 2 it failed and broke, routing directly back they burst through the British line to their rear disordering them. The French final charge moves took them into the freshly disordered line. Starting from the right the British lines continued their withering fire. The first unit required 4’s, scoring 2,5,6,6 for 3 hits. The shaken line on the right flank required 4’s scoring 2,3,3 for no hits. The third line needed 4’s scored 1,3,4,4 for 2 casualties. The French column in front of the British guns took enfilading fire from a British line needing 4’s to hit scoring 1,1,5,5 for two hits, permanently shaking the French column. The artillery adding two more hits to the column with 6,6 when 5’s were required. The last British unit that could fire fired 2 elements at a French column that had come down the hill in the centre needing 4’s to hit rolled 1,5 for 1 hit. This lead to 4 shooting tests for the French. Starting with the last one hit which was raw, it needed to beat a 1, the 2 rolled being enough. The column enfiladed, and cannistered, needed to beat a 1 as French columns advancing are very reliable. However it rolled a 1 forcing it to halt. The raw column which had been halted last turn now needed to beat 4 and rolled a 6. At the end of the French line on the left flank the raw unit needed to beat 5, and rolled a 3, retiring shaken. The Cavalry melee continued with the British having 2 elements against the French 3, with the French now gaining the melee advantage. The British rolled 4,4 for no casualties and the French rolled 2,4,5 for 2 casualties. The British reaction test being automatically failed the Heavy Cavalry routed. In the centre 2 French columns hit a disordered line. The French having the advantage. Against the first column the British scored 3 for no casualties and on the second column 1,2,3 for no casualties. The French scored 2,3,3,5 for 4 casualties. The British line routed. During the British manoeuvre phase the cavalry and the line took their first rout moves whilst the other line continued its rout.

At this stage the game was drawn to a close as the French had broken the British cavalry and were making good headway in the centre. Indeed it appeared that the raw French columns on their left flank were in a position to upset the trained British lines facing them.