1812 Napoleon's Invasion of Russia

1812 era Russians made their first appearance on the club battlefield last night. Unfortunately, they weren't successful. 

On their left flank their Lithuanian Uhlans were routed and a horse artillery battery was captured by some incredibly brave French Hussars. On their right flank an incompetent brigade commander failed to advance his command on a number of turns, complicated by the fact that their supporting cavalry didn't seem to do much, save engage in some elaborate dressage!

The centre of the line held out reasonably well, but started to crack as the French moved excess forces in from the flanks to aid their frontal assault.

Never mind. The Russians, merely retired from the field of battle, leading the French invaders further into the endless vastness of continental Russia.

French Revolutionary Wars - French vs Russians

Three games at the club on Monday night. Two Flames of War and a very interesting game set in the French Revolutionary Wars - French vs Russians in 1799.

First Bull Run, 21st July 1861

With hindsight, it was a bit ambitious to stage a refight of the Battle of First Bull Run in just one evening, but we gave it a go anyway.

Initially the Confederates made the unusual decision to retire their front line, possibly to reduce the exposure on their right flank. Either way, this enabled the Federals to push forward in the centre. Reserves began to arrive for both sides, but we had to curtail this aspect of the game, as we would never finished it before the end of the evening.

The Union forces made a breakthrough in the centre of the line, but the Confederate left flank managed to break a Federal brigade through successful musketry. The climax of the game was the emergence of Brig. Sherman's large brigade, arriving from the other side of the Bull Run. They smashed into the Confederate right flank, forcing the Southern gentlemen to manage an orderly retreat, to fight another day.

Unfortunately, Jackson's Brigade never got into action, as they spent the entire game rushing over to their left flank, Jackson missing the opportunity to earn himself the epithet 'Stonewall'.  Another unusual episode in the game was when a small Federal cavalry unit captured a limbered Confederate battery intact and carried the guns back to their own lines!

Rules used were Second Edition Fire and Fury.