Day
2 - In 7 hours today with another short bar break we played 7 more moves in the
game getting us to about 5:00PM in game
time.
The long struggle for Hougomont continued until turn 13 when the last of its 3 Built Up Areas fell to the French. The allied troops massed north of the chateau did not launch any attacks to recover it. The action west of Hougomont continued in a desultory style but was certainly enlivened by a disordered British square managing to cause the rout of 2 French cavalry regiments.
The long struggle for Hougomont continued until turn 13 when the last of its 3 Built Up Areas fell to the French. The allied troops massed north of the chateau did not launch any attacks to recover it. The action west of Hougomont continued in a desultory style but was certainly enlivened by a disordered British square managing to cause the rout of 2 French cavalry regiments.
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| Allied centre right before the French cavalry attacks west of La Haye Saint |
Once
Hougomont had fallen the French launched a series of cavalry attacks up the
ridge between the chateau and La Haye Saint.
This forced the British infantry into square, routed a battalion and
overran some artillery. An attempt by
the other half of Lobua’s corps to exploit the cavalry’s success was broken up
by accurate British fire.
D'Erlon's
attack was not making headway at the sunken road. So the French commanders withdrew to the
valley floor to reorganise, mass their artillery and await the arrival of
reinforcements from Lobau’s corps before once again risking an attack on the
ridge.
On
the allied left a continuing series of cavalry melees ended with some victories
for the French but they too withdrew to support the planned attack on the
ridge.
 |
| Casualties of war - no Larey ambulance for these British heroes |
The
middle guard and the old guard finally took position near La Belle Alliance whilst
I threw the Young Guard into Plancenoit just as the first brigades of Prussians
arrived on the eastern edge of the table.
The Guard Light cavalry charged and drove the vanguard Prussian cavalry
brigade of the field. Given that the
Prussians had arrived before the planned second
attack on the ridge could be launched by D’Erlon it was clear that the
French could not win and the game ended at this point. The game was declared to be a marginal allied
victory as the French had taken Hougomont and still had effective troops in the
field.
The
allied figures all came from the collection of Iain Gale whilst the French came
from the collections of Iain, myself, Angus Konstam and Dougie Trail.
All
my photos with descriptions at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bill26048/sets/72157634008989879/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bill26048/sets/72157634008989879/
A
truly great game and a very enjoyable game....Iain plans to replay the game
later in the summer.
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| End position - view from Belle Alliance |
 |
| End position - Hougomont in French hands - hang out the tricolours |
