Napoleonic Battle Report - 1815

This past Sunday I hosted a Napoleonic's game using my new version of Empires at War. The scenario was based on a theoretically one where Ney continues to pursue the allied army in 1815 after the battle of Quatre Bras.  The allies pull together to continue to fight a rear guard action while the bulk of the army continues on the road to Waterloo.

It was great to get the British and allied units on the table, specifically the Dutch-Belgians and the Brunswick units. The scenario ran with the Brunswick and Dutch-Belgian formations far forward of the main British position.  The two formations would fall back on the British line as they face overwhelming French forces.

Both the Brunswick and Dutch-Belgian commanders decided to hold their ground.  But, this left little room to back up as the French closed ranks with them.  The Dutch-Belgian formation got overrun, but significantly delayed the French on that half of the table.  Unfortunately, once destroyed, there was nothing to stop the French advanced on the British position.  Some of the Brunswick units made it back to the British line, but many did not.  Eventually the British/Allied army broke.

The British and Allies earned additional victory points (and command points) for each turn they had at least a single non-broken formation in the "middle" 3rd of the table. Final victory points was 46 for the French to 38 for the British and Allies.  Minor victory for the French.

Close up pictures below ...

Phone pictures below ...

Was great to get a game in with the crew.  I hope you are all staying safe and healthy.

Empires at War (v4.2) - Major Update

It's been a while and a lot of work but I think I'm closing in on the "final" version of Empires at War.  Play testing has been completed (but is always ongoing) - many years and revisions have gone by on this.  I'll be porting the changes over to the ACW (This Hallowed Ground) and AWI (Liberty or Death) rules over the next month.

You can download Empires at War (v4.2) here.

The core of the rules are presented in a "quick reference/crib sheet" style. Also included are a large number of army lists that can be considered a baseline for the many different nations that fought during the Napoleonic wars.

I've included pictures of the various unit formations as well to add clarity.

I'll be running a Napoleonic game this week using the new version.

Screenshots below of the core pages.

Napoleonic Scenario: Borodino, 1812

This is a scenario for my Empires at War rules but can easily be adapted for other rule sets.  This is a large scale game that scales the forces down to something a large 28mm Napoleonic collection can handle.  I also provide two versions - one that includes the fighting around Utitsa (Poniatowski's V Corps) and one that removes that part of the battle.  One could argue that the action around Utitsa isn't all that important to represent in the battle and that it is better to focus on the fighting for the "great redoubt" and the fleches.

The other benefit to removing the Utitsa part of the battle is you remove a large chunk of the non-French troops that fought in the battle - making it a little easier to achieve the forces necessary for the battle.  For the rest of the French force, it is really only difficult to not represent the Wurttemburg units - but I plan on using my Bavarian units to represent them (close enough).

The other consideration is the French guard.  They didn't take part in the battle, although there are opinions that they should have been sent it to secure a decisive victory.  I've included them as a reserve in the French OOB --- but once again, they are not necessary for achieving the forces necessary to play this scenario and frankly throw the forces involved a little over the top for the French side.  But, it is an option.

SCENARIO MAP

Below you will find the table layout and starting positions for all forces involved.

The table size is 20 feet by 6 feet if playing the full scenario.  If playing without the Utitsa section, the table is 16 feet by 6 feet.  Each small square on the map represents a 1 foot by 1 foot section.

Stream:  The stream is fordable at all points - counting as difficult terrain.

Victory Points:  Standard VPs apply, with the following additions:

• Raevsky Redoubt
  +25 points for the French if in control of the Great Redoubt at the end of the game.  +10 points for the Russians if in control of the Great Redoubt at the end of the game.  If contested, +5 points for the French.
• Fleches
  For each of the three small redoubts on the Fleches.  5 points for each held by the Russians at games end.  +10 points for each held by the French at games end.
• Utitsa
  +15 points to the side in control of the town at games end.

RUSSIAN ORDER OF BATTLE

Army Command:  Kutuzov

1st West Army (Bennigsen)

Raevsky Redoubt
2 x Foot Artillery (Very Large)

(Combined from IV, V, VI, and VII corps)

II Corps (Baggovut)
4 x Musketeer
1 x Jager

1 x Foot Artillery

IV Corps (Tolstoy)
2 x Musketeer
1 x Jager
1 x Grenadier

V Corps (Constantine)
3 x Musketeer
1 x Jager
1 x Grenadier

VI Corps (Dokhturov)
3 x Musketeer
1 x Jager

I Cavalry Corps (Uvarov)
1 x Hussar
1 x Cossack

II Cavalry Corps (Korff)
1 x Dragoons
1 x Hussar

1 x Mounted Jager

1 x Horse Artillery

III Cavalry Corps (Korff)
1 x Uhlans

1 x Mounted Jagers

2nd West Army (Bagration)

VII Corps (Raevski)
3 x Musketeer
1 x Jager

VIII Corps (Borozdin)
3 x Grenadier
2 x Musketeer
1 x Jager

1 x Foot Artillery

IV Cavalry Corps (Sievers)
1 x Dragoons
1 x Uhlans
2 x Cuirassiers

1 x Horse Artillery

III Corps (Tuchkov)
3 x Grenadier

NOTE:

The grenadiers from III corps were detached to reinforce the fleches.  These units are held in reserve and can enter the game on turn 4+ via the designated table edge behind the fleches.

OPTIONAL:

If playing with the larger scope including Utitsa:

III Corps (Tuchkov)
2 x Musketeer
1 x Jager
1 x Opolchenie
1 x Cossack

1 x Foot Artillery

FRENCH ORDER OF BATTLE

Army Command:  Napoleon

I Corps (Davout)

12 x Line/Light Infantry

1 x Foot Artillery

1 x Chasseur a Cheval

III Corps (Ney)

7 x Line/Light Infantry

1 x Foot Artillery

2 x Wurttemburg Line Infantry

1 x Wurttemburg Light Infantry (Small)

1 x Wurttemburg Chevauxleger

NOTE:

For wargaming practicality, Bavarian's could be substituted for Wurttemburg units if your collection has Bavarian's but no Wurttemburg units.  Roughly speaking, the uniforms had several similarities.

IV Corps (Eugene)

8 x Line/Light Infantry

1 x Foot Artillery

1 x Bavarian Chevauxleger

VIII Corps (Junot)

5 x Line/Light Infantry

1 x Foot Artillery

I Cavalry Corps (Nansouty)

1 x Hussar

1 x Lancer

1 x Dutchy of Warsaw Uhlans

3 x Cuirassier

1 x Horse Artillery

II Cavalry Corps (Montbrun)

1 x Hussar

1 x Chasseur a Cheval

1 x Lancer

2 x Cuirassier

1 x Carabinier

1 x Horse Artillery

III Cavalry Corps (Grouchy)

3 x Dragoons

1 x Horse Artillery

IV Cavalry Corps (Latour-Maubourg)

1 x Zastrow Cuirassiers

1 x Saxon Guard du Corps

NOTE:

The heavy cavalry from IV corps was detached to support a renewed attack on the Raevksy Redoubt.  This detachment is held in reserve and can enter with VII corps on turn 3+ in the same area (between the Reavsky Redoubt and the Fleches).

OPTIONAL:

Guard formations are optional and if used, held in reserve (can enter start of Turn 4 onward at any point along the French side table edge)

Imperial Guard (Mortier)

1 x Old Guard Grenadier (Large)

1 x Old Guard Chasseurs a Pied (Large)

2 x Young Guard (Small)

2 x Vistula Legion (Dutchy of Warsaw)

1 x Old Guard Foot Artillery (Large)

Guard Cavalry (Bessieres)

1 x Grenadier a Cheval

1 x Empress Dragoons

1 x Guard Lancers

1 x Guard Chasseur a Cheval

1 x Les Mamelukes

1 x Gendarme d' Elite

1 x Guard Horse Artillery

OPTIONAL:

If playing with the larger scope including Utitsa:

V Corps (Poniatowski)

4 x Dutchy of Warsaw Line Infantry

1 x Dutchy of Warsaw Foot Artillery

1 x Dutchy of Warsaw Chasseur a Cheval 

IV Cavalry Corps (Latour-Maubourg)

1 x Dutchy of Warsaw Uhlans