Monday, October 12, 2015

Waterloo Take Two - Part 4

Only managed two turns, but it represented a parting of the ways...

16:30 and the French launch into the attack with Jerome's 6th Division hitting Clinton's 2nd.

Along the road to Brussels Napoleon unleashes the fresh 5th Cavalry Division lead by Subervie and Lobau.  The Young Guard also go on the attack against the 1st Nassau.

Subervie's lancers disperse the Dutch Belgian cavalry and carry on into the remains of the Scots Grey.  The exhausted Greys cannot take it any more...

The Prussians launch an attack with their cavalry.  The Uhlans, even with numbers, are no match for the Guard Chasseurs a Cheval while the Prussian Hussars succeed in dispersing what was left of Jacquinot's cavalry only to find themselves being cut off as they hopelessly carried on the charge to the French infantry. 

The Orange Nassau have been cleared from Smohain as the French 1st Division moves forward to occupy it and Papelotte.

What is left of the Anglo Allied position at the end of 16:30.  They lost 24 bases that turn, including six units dispersed.  With the addition of routed units they are now broken, but no hopelessly so.

Even the Prussians have now lost two units dispersed and find the French deployed in a strong position which includes a brigade of the Old Guard in line, on a hill, covered by four batteries.

What is left of Wellington's command is not in a good way.  Can the Brunswickers and Hanoverian Landwher hold off the Old Guard Chasseurs?

No.
The Brunswickers put up a hard fight, but are no match for the Guard.

The last charge of the British cavalry was met by what was left of Pire's 2nd Cavalry division while Ney lead Jerome's troops against the British Guards.  The Guards were two off dispersing and vanished in the fire fight.  The cavalry units were both one off dispersing so no matter what the outcome they were gone.

The Prussians try a combined arms attack on the Old Guard.  The Old Guard fail to form square and the French cuirassiers put in a final counter charge in support.  Blucher leads the 18th Infantry Regiment into the attack and is lucky to escape.  Maybe if the Guard had been in square... 

The end of the 17:00 turn and the Anglo Allied army is hopelessly broken having suffered another four units dispersed. The only fresh troops they have are a Division of Dutch Belgians who, one expects, are probably thinking of changing sides.

The Prussian attacks were repulsed, but they are now working around the flank of the French position.

The Prussian II Corps has also now arrived.

The Anglo Allies have fled.

The Anglo-Allies have parted ways and the battle will now be fought between the Prussians and French.  Blucher has to hope that the French have been fatally wounded.

The French have suffered the loss of twelve units, but their morale is still high (they would have to lose another 17 before it breaks - the Prussians will break if they lose another 15 units).  The two cavalry corps are effectively spent and the three infantry corps are at about half strength.  The Guard cavalry is in only slightly better shape than the rest of the French cavalry, but the Old Guard Grenadiers are fresh and the Young Guard still have some fight left in them.  They do have a lot of artillery.

It will now be a race for both sides to deploy their forces and fight a war of attrition.  

The French just need to defend and keep their spent units out of danger.  

4 comments:

  1. An epic in the annals of Napoleonic gaming.

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    Replies
    1. Yep, exciting stuff and you've still got Free Roll superiority.

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  2. Replies
    1. They performed really well and made many charges, unlike those elite Household dudes who really didn't get into the spirit of things.

      Picton did well to.

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