Changing of the Guard--Enter Beowulf

So my six year old gaming rig died about three weeks ago.... the old Nvidia 8800 GTX graphics card(s)[I had two!] just gave out.

And so it was with great sadness I announced the death of an unknown soldier--random Dell XPS 720 and disappeared from online life and gaming for three weeks. 

She served me well for a long time... and oh how I hated hauling this damn thing and its inch thick plastic casing around between moves.

And with this blog I am pleased to announce the launch and commissioning of a lovely new gaming rig....  

The live-in painting assistant and artist extraordinaire's penchant for naming her computers has apparently rubbed off:

I Give you Beowulf 

To give some scale, I ordered some Prussian Musketeer Officers to man the fighting top. 

Some additional perspective

The Official Changing of the Guard:

Enter Beowulf

Hougoumont Playtesting

Saturday we meet for a small mechanics test.... and a chance to put the new Hougoumont on the table.  

The British-Allied skirmishers in the surprisingly managed to hold up Jerome's Division for two hours due to failed Elan tests that sent the French attack columns recoiling to the rear.  

Managed to get the woods under French control and started charging against the converged Guards in Hougoumont itself and feeling out/seeing how we might model this part of the battle next year.

New Years Plancenoit

For New Years General von Wendt and I got together (after I managed to dodge Rose Parade traffic!) for a nice game of Empire V with an eye towards trying out some close combat mechanics for built-up areas imported from Revolution to Empire, particularly the Savage Street Fight mechanic.  Such a test required a proper setting and so we set up for Plancenoit. 

The area the table should roughly represent (we ended up using less space than this as the cavalry was omitted).

We had three brigades of Prussians on hand and set up for the initial assault on Plancenoit itself at around 6:30 p.m.  The 8x 8 figure battalions of Young Guard (stand-ins as no one has painted Guard yet) occupied the town proper and Lobau's VI Corps (two divisions, 9x 12 figure battalions) took up positions to the North of the village.  As we lacked the proper cavalry, and there really wasn't a historical need for it--Domon and Subervie's Divisions stand off against IV and II Corps reserve cavalry to the north of Lobau's defense line, but nothing decisive came of it--we axed the cavalry and the game was played as an infantry combat.

VI Corps deploys in Order Mixted

The Young Guard defending Plancenoit, (the walls are standing in for structures)

The Contest is opened with the Prussian's taking the initiative....

and it is used for a brave charge of landwehr cavalry to their doom.

Lostin's 15th Brigade arrayed in columns attempts to charge into the battalions in line at the heart of the French formations, but withering French musketry and faltering elan result in a series of musketry duels.  The French have further managed to achieve local artillery superiority to the North and canister further reduces the Prussian columns.

Not all is going according to Lobau's plan.... chance seems to favor the Prussians this day as opportunities to exploit the close combat victories are missed and the Prussian columns are allowed to regroup and reorganize for another attack.

In Plancenoit Hiller's 16th Brigade finds greater success.  The fighting in the village and outbuildings along the Lasne creek is murderous.  The Prussians managed to close and gain a foothold in the outer houses.  The fighting here would last for an hour and half as both sides continued to feed men into the fight.  In the end the two Silesian Landwehr battalions break as they near 50% casualties, but not before they wipe out the I/3rd Tirailleurs (100% casualties) and half of the II/3rd Tirailleurs.  The Prussians continue to pour in reinforcements and the remains of the 3rd Tirailleurs likewise run leaving the Southern section of the village in Prussian hands.  Colonel Pailhes of 3rd Tirailleurs at one point estimated he lost 480 men in the space of a half our, and caused at least as many casualties amongst the Prussians.   

A Silesian Landwehr battalion debouches from the town block in disorder and is immediately charged and routed by the I/3rd Voltigeurs.

The small copse of woods to the Northwest of Plancenoit becomes critical in the French defense.  the disciplined fire of the I/1st Voltigeur's has broken up 3 Prussians assaults from the Northwest all while withstanding over 2 hours of artillery fire.

General de Brigade Chartrand believes the Prussians have over extended themselves and are ripe for a counterattack from the woods that could restore the entire defense.  There is only one unsupported landwehr battalion preventing an assault from storming the flank of the Prussian battery that has been bombarding the stronghold of the Plancenoit Church and then crashing into the flank of the attack columns preparing to assault the Church.

Chartrand calls up the II/1st Tirailleurs from the reserve and orders the I/1st Tirailleurs to charge home against the single landwehr battalion that is preventing the overextended Prussians from losing their entire attack front.

The Pas de Charge begins and Vive le Emperor! rings out.... the nervous landwehr unleash their volley too soon, the effect minimal... and yet the I/1st Tirailleurs falter--their courage fails them.  The elite men of the Imperial Guard lose their nerve to a rabble militia and halt to unleash a ragged volley.

The time is 8:30 p.m.

Lostin's 15th Brigade's losses and fatigue have begun to affect morale and it causes disorder in the ranks as men head for the rear.  The brigade has nearly broken itself against the French formations.  Bulow orders Lostin to break-off the attack and reform.  The French, focused on holding out are not able to pursue.  Hake's 13th Brigade (looking surprising a lot like 15th brigade as we only have figures for 3 bdes on the table at once!) is brought up from the reserve to plug the hole and keep up the pressure.  In front of Plancenoit Ryssel's 14th Brigade advances to support the assault of 16th brigade.  However due to the broken up advance of Hiller's attack, Hiller's right wing, still hung up on the woods, is blocking Ryssel's attack.

Gen. de Brigade Chartand again seizes the initiative and orders the I/1st Tirailleurs to charge the landwehr battalion that is holding Hiller's line together.  The moment has not passed, fate could still cover his men in Glory in the Emperor's name!  The Pas de Charge again rumbles from the drums.....Vive le Emperor!.... except the men of the I/1st Tirailleurs were not the Young Guard of old... these men clearly did not love the Emperor--he asked so little of them, they had but to scatter farmers in tattered uniforms and second hand muskets and in return the Emperor would give them a place amongst the Elite of his Guard and a chance at immortal glory--but these men never loved the Emperor....  

Teutonic courage prevailed.  An aura of determination, hatred, and revenge radiated from the men of the III battalion of 1st Silesian Landwehr. This time they kept their discipline, their volley was well placed and a quarter of the front rank of the oncoming French fell to the ground.  The I/1st Tirailleurs again faltered....

And then they broke.....

A view of Honor and Glory... and the I/1st Tirailleurs running in the opposite direction

Meanwhile the failure of I/1st Tirailleurs allowed Hiller sufficient time to launch his assault on the church strong point.  Another savage street fight erupted, but the landwehr had the upper hand and there were no reserves to support the battered II/3rd Voltigeurs which had been under artillery bombardment for more than 2 hours. The Voltigeurs broke after 3/4ths of their number had died in defense of the church.  The Prussians had almost turned the French right flank.

The I/3rd Voltigeurs attempted to immediately retake the church, but their assault was broken up by Prussian musketry as they attempted to scale the stone wall surrounding the church.  As the shots began to tell, their courage wavered and then broke before they could close with the Prussians.

To the North Lobau was faced with a decision.  To the South he saw black flags in the churchyard, which could only mean the Prussians had almost taken the village.  He could withdraw one division to support the town or he could attempt to advance and outflank the Prussians.

Having already broken one Prussian brigade and with only 3 landwehr battalions covering the Prussian center, Lobau ordered the Corps to advance.

But all did not go according to plan.  In the center the French almost managed to catch the Prussian heavy battery in the flank, but timely moves by Hiller's remaining landwehr cavalry prevented this.  The heavy cannons were then turned on the advancing French at close range and the right column of the Order Mixted broke.  

On the French left, the charge was met by more rabble in line... but to late did the French see these were not the ragged uniforms of Landwehr, but the Crack troops of the 10th Infantry Regiment (1st Silesian) come to avenge their countrymen that had broken themselves assaulting these Frenchmen only an hour before.  A murderous volley rang out and tore through the French formation.  The men of Lobau's corps had been under constant assault for the last 4 hours.  The casualties had mounted.... and they could go no further.  The Prussian volley destroyed the French resolve and the entire brigade broke and ran before they could close.

The French Flight.

Final Positions

Final Positions--The French hold on the north edge of the village.

The time is 9:30 p.m. News of the defeat of the Imperial Guard arrives and the rout of the Armee du Nord becomes general.  The French fall back under the darkness hoping to stay ahead of the Prussian's that hound them as they flee back to France.

Battle of Freeman's Farm

On Saturday we managed to pull together terrain and figures for the battle of Freeman's Farm (a.k.a First Saratoga).

I did a bit of scrambling to put together a scenario for our AWI rules- Flint & Steel.  Table was 6' x 12.5' and scaled at 33yds = 2 table inches.  OOB was set at 1 to 33.  The map is below.  I will release the map, OOBs, and scenario briefings in a subsequent post.

And Fate smiles on the cause of Liberty once again, or does it?

Scouts from Morgan's rifles have sighted three British columns leaving their camps on the Hudson and heading inland.  General Benedict Arnold moves to intercept.  Morgan's rifles along with Dearborn's light infantry take up positions amongst the light woods south of Freeman's Farm.  Brigadier Enoch Poor's brigade is ordered to move to support.   

The time is 1 p.m., the leading British column under Brigadier Hamilton arrives, hurried by Gen. Burgoyne himself.  The 9th foot covers the advance into Freeman's farm.

 Morgan's riflemen open up on the 9th foot surprising and disrupting their advance, however the drilled British infantry manage to give as good as they get.

The elements of Enoch Poor's brigade advances.  The 1st and 2nd Connecticut advance along the left, while in the distance the irregulars of Fraser's "advanced" guard enter Mcbride's fields.

Dearborn's Light Infantry charge the skirmish line of the 9th foot and force them to retreat, catching the 21st foot in road column, and sending them into a disordered flight.

The field of victory after a well timed attack!

Enoch Poor advances with the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd New Hampshire.

On the left the 1st and 2nd Connecticut Militia has a rough going at Coulter's Farm.  The Loyalist militia, Brunswick Jagers and British Marksmen beat the militia to the cover of the light woods, the defenders of Liberty were caught in the open.  

The time is almost 2 p.m. General Enoch Poor has arrived to support Morgan's advanced corps.  The General takes the initiative and rushes the 1st New Hampshire into a charge, taking the 20th Foot in the flank as they form into a skirmish line.  Once again British discipline saves the day for Hamilton, and the 20th Foot make an orderly, if hasty, retreat

The 1st New Hampshire clears Freeman's Farm, but to their left they can hear the British splashing across the creek.

The time is almost 3 p.m.  The Connecticut Militia is starting to crumble.  The Cook's 1st Connecticut manages to drive off the Brunswick Jagers, however Lattimore's 2nd is slowly being torn apart.  The 2nd has managed to largely suppress the elite British marksmen, but the Indians of the Confederation had a blood feud to settle.  Every shot told and the Americans remained in a constant state of disruption. 

The 1st New Hampshire is routed as the 9th foot, fresh and rallied, comes crashing out of the woods.  Benedict Arnold attempts to rally the Continentals, but is swept up in the rout.

The time 3:30 p.m. and the situation on the American left is becoming desperate.  Brigadier Fraser has stirred himself and the battalions of converged light companies and grenadiers are about to sweep the road of the American Militia and cut off the American line of retreat.

Hamilton send forward the 9th and 62 foot against the Continentals to decide the issue.

The 2nd and 3rd New Hampshire and the 2nd New York crash into the skirmish line of the 62 Foot, forcing them to run.  However, the sight of the fleeing Redcoats sends the Americans into a disordered charge!

General Poor is unable to keep order and the Americans crash into the orderly ranks of the 9th Foot.  However, the 9th Foot has been fighting, retreating, and rallying, and charging for almost 4 hours.  British discipline crumbles and the 9th foot once again runs for the rear in a disorderly mob.   

And yet further disaster befalls Hamilton.  Hull's volunteers, 300 men from Learned's Brigade, order by Arnold to advance through the woods in support of Enoch Poor come crashing out of the woods to the east of Freeman's cornfield, greatly distracting and disconcerting the 20th foot.... which ends in tragedy for the British.  A rifleman from Morgan's 11th Virginia spots a mounted officer desperately attempting to bring order to the retreating British behind Freeman's farm.  A shot rings out and Brigadier Gen. Hamilton falls from his horse.  The sight of their leader falling in battle as he attempted to restore order cases the rout of the 62nd and 21st foot. 

The Continentals starring down the remaining Redcoats

 But all the gains the American's make at Freeman's farm are for naught.  Gen. Fraser has broken the Connecticut Militia and they are streaming south.  The time is 4 p.m. and Brigadier Gen. Learned's Brigade is just beginning to arrive.  On the far right of the American position, Gen. Riedesel's Hessian column is spotted.

General Learned's advanced elements form up to delay Fraser's advance.

Riedesel's Hessians advancing to the sound of the guns.

General Arnold realizing both of his flanks are now in jeopardy orders a retreat.   The British have been delayed in their advance inland to outflank the fortifications and Bemis Heights, but were not defeated.  The American's suffered 200 casualties, the greatest burden falling on the 1st and 2nd Connecticut Militia, both of which eventually routed.  The natives of the Iroquois Confederation accounted for 50% of all British casualties inflicted. The British suffered 270 casualties and lost General Hamilton.  The majority of the loses fell on Hamilton's brigade, which ultimately saw two battalions rout from the field.

A tactical victory for the British, but not without significant cost, and the strategic result still hangs in the balance.  Burgoyne must hang onto the ground he has taken and then continue his advance inland to out flank the Bemis Heights fortifications.  However Morgan and Poor's Continental are almost completely intact and General Learned has 1,200 fresh Continentals about crash into Fraser's brigade.

Do the American's simply retreat? Can Learned hold Fraser?  Does Arnold try for Glory and attempt to smash Fraser's elite advanced guard between his three brigades?  Is there enough time before the remnants of Hamilton's brigade and Riedesel's Hessian's arrive?  --An interesting premise for a future scenario.