An Heroic French Retreat
In this entertaining scenario, the French were in retreat. They had hurriedly prepared defensive positions around a village and were trying to make their escape off table. They were hotly pursued by a brigade of Prussian infantry with attached artillery batteries. Meanwhile their escape route was to be blocked by a regiment of beautifully attired Bavarians.
The French held the Prussians off admirably. A unit of Zouaves performed heroics in defence, being wiped out almost to the last man. A French line battalion made a well executed fighting retreat to the relative safety of a walled garden under heavy rifle and artillery fire. A regiment of Hussars 'demonstrated' in front of the advancing Prussians and, after losing one third of their number, decided to make a 'charge to the rear'.
Ultimately the Prussians - and their slightly less enthusiastic Bavarian allies - kept up the pressure and forced the Second Empire defensive ring further in on itself, winning the day for the pursuers.
As a postscript, the shattered Hussars did manage to hurriedly escort the French commander off the board to avoid capture, which was, perhaps, a much less finale héroïque to the engagement than had been hoped for.
