28MM OVER THE HILLS: MAIDA 1806

On Thursday I was at the SESWC for my latest game of Over the Hills.  I put the scenario together based on the Battle of Maida 1806.  Angus supplied the British  army whilst I supplied the French forces.  Peter and Angus commanded the British whilst Campbell, Bart and I commanded the French.  Angus and I acted as umpires.

French right wing under Comperes looking good at the start

The forces were deployed historically and both sides advanced to the attack on the river side of the battlefield (French left /British right flank) with their other forces  holding back to see what happened with the initial action.

French right wing and centre

Campbell advanced with Comperes brigade and engaged in a long range musketry duel with the British under Peter.  However Campbell soon realised that this firefight in line formation would not be decisive and reformed his troops into column and assaulted the British line.  It proved to be a disastrous decision.  The British Cheer proved decisive, and 3 of his French battalions broke and were soon joined by their detached skirmishers.  Given this debacle all that Bart and I could do against the triumphant British was to cover the retreat of Campbell’s last battalion and retire from the field.  It was a decisive British

victory.

It was another defeat for me with these rules but it was an enjoyable game.  I am playing the scenario again this week at home using my amended Black Powder rules.  At end of this report is the OB for Over The Hills that we used for the game.  You will see that I down rated the French Light infantry whose fatigue value in the rules of 12 seems excessive.  Angus has a detailed report on his blog at
http://www.edinburghwargames.com/the-battle-of-maida-1806/

French attack falters columns forced into line having failed to win

French right wing opens up on the square as cavalry rally back

BRITISH ARMY

MG Stewart                           12”  3

Adv Guard Col Kempt

Light battalion                       8B  Specialist Light Infantry, good shots
Skirmish Detachment           5B  Specialist Light Infantry, good shots

1^st Brigade Col Cole

Grenadier battalion              12C
Line battalion                        8C
RHA battery                          7

2^nd Brigade Col Acland

Highland battalion               9C
Line battalion                        8C

3^rd Brigade Col Oswald

2 line battalions                    8C
Reserve  Line battalion        8C

SPECIAL RULES

LEVELLING FIRE:  WHEN INFANTRY UNIT IN LINE FIRES AT 6” OR LESS A 1 WILL CAUSE 3 FATIGUE HITS AS LONG AS THE FFS IS 5 OR MORE

BRITISH CHEER: INFANTRY IN LINE MAY FIRE IN THE SHOOTING PHASE AND MOVE TO COMBAT CONTACT IN THE MOVEMENT PHASE.  INFANTRY IN LINE MAY ISSSUE DEFENSIVE FIRE AND COUNTER A MOVE TO COMBAT CONTACT

STEADY LADS STEADY: INFANTRY ADD +1 TO THEIR FATIGUE SCORE WHEN REQUIRED TO TAKE A TEST TO PREVENT THEM FIRING AT AN ENEMY UNIT IN RANGE

LINEAR SYSTEEM:  BUT CAN USE COLUMN OF COMPANIES AND COLUMN OF DIVISIONS (ATTACK COLUMN).  FOR FORMATION CHANGES AND MANOEUVERING THEY ARE CLASSED AS USING THE FRENCH SYSTEM.

British square holds steady

Devastating British infantry fire

FRENCH ARMY

Gen Reynier                         16”  4 + 1

1^st Brigade  Compere

2 Light battalions                 10A  Specialist Light Infantry
2 line battalions                    10B
Skirmish Detachment           5A  Specialist Light Infantry

2^nd Brigade Digonet

2 Light battalions                 10A  Specialist Light Infantry
Lt Cavalry regiment             7
HA battery                           7

3^rd Brigade Peyri
2 Polish battalions               9B
1 Swiss battalion                 8B

SPECIAL RULES

DANCING OFFICERS: +2 TACTICAL ENGAGEMENT MODIFIER WHEN MOVING INTO COMBAT CONTACT IN AN ASSAULT COLUMN.  IF THEY LOSE THE INITIAL COMBAT ROUND THE ENEMY UNIT GAINS A +3 WINNING TACTICAL ENGAGEMENT MODIFIER RATHER THAN THE NORMAL +2 FOR WINNING.

EN AVANT! A LA BAYONETTE!:  INFANTRY ADDS +1 TO THEIR FATIGUE SCORE WHEN THEY ROLL TO MOVE INTO COMBAT CONTACT (OPTIONAL).   IN ATTACK COLUMN THEY CAN MOVE 4 SEGMENTS BUT TAKE FATIGUE IF 3^RD OR 4^TH SEGMENT IS USED.

FRENCH SYSTEM

28mm OVER THE HILLS: ACTION AT THE INN 1809

On Thursday I was at the SESWC for my second game of Over The Hills.  Angus Konstam put the scenario together based on a rearguard holding scenario from CS Grants wargames scenarios.  Angus and Campbell supplied the French 1809 army made up entirely of German states troops whilst I supplied the plucky Austrian defenders.  Peter and I commanded the Austrians whilst Campbell and Jim commanded the French allies.  Angus acted as umpire and gamesmeister sending vital secret text messages to the players.  It was not always good news

A view of the Austrians holding the tributary line - in distance it joins the Inn

French allies close up on the 2nd ford

The Austrians were holding a bridgehead on the River Inn protected by a tributary of the river.  Our objective was to prevent the French allies from crossing the River Inn.   We did well initially beating back repeated frontal attacks over the fords on the tributary.  However a friendly peasant (traitor) revealed to the French allies a secret ford over the Inn and their cavalry and advance infantry crossed the River in strength.  A gallant attack by my reserve Kuirassier brigade inflcted losses on them but could not stop their continued crossing.  At the same time my battalion holding a bridge on the tributary was broken by Campbell’s charging infantry ably supported by fire from Jim’s artillery and infantry. Sadly it was a French victory as they had crossed the Inn.

First enemy attack over the ford is driven back

French allies have crossed the Inn via the hidden ford - cavalry about to square up

French allies charge over 2nd bridge and break my defenders - it was their supporting fire that did for me

Thanks to Angus for setting up an enjoyable game.  Next Thursday the Battle of Maida.  Angus has a detailed report with map on his blog at
http://www.edinburghwargames.com/battle-of-moosburg-1809/
Jim who commanded the French right wing has a detailed report on his blog at
https://jimsbattles.wordpress.com/2017/04/07/06042017/