Neal and I are getting into the Lassalle set of rules, we have played about three successive smaller games (Brits against French) at his place but I thought that as the wargames table is just about there now that maybe we should give it a go with a slightly larger game.
My usual set of rules for the Napoleonic period is General De Brigade and I still like them, they seem to regularly have a 'realistic' result but do still require a bit of rule perusal during the game. Now't wrong with that but Lassalle seems to get there - well, easier and after a day at work the less head stress the better. If that is dumbing down then so be it but though the mechanisms are slicker, the end result seems the same. You pays your money and you takes your choice.
So 15mm French (me) Vs Spanish (Neal).
Photo number two shows the objective, the white tents on the Spanish side. My plan was simple (like me), best infantry on my right attacking through the woods (top photo), mass artillery in the centre to stop Neal shifting reserves and defend my left flank with cavalry and a battery of horse artillery. Overwhelm the crappy Spanish in front and capture the objective.
Neal's plan, sit on his arse as far away from me as possible, let my French wear themselves out marching over to his side and hope I have a hernia reaching all the way over the table! It was more subtle than that but I'm writing this so there.
As can be seen from the above pictures Neal's Spanish cavalry moved across the shallow river in an attempt at flanking the French left while his right hand infantry brigades pushed on towards the town with the idea of being able to assault the French centre as it advanced. The French cavalry deploy to prevent the flanking manoeuvre.
Some views of and from the Spanish lines.I know one of those units is an Austrian Grenadier battalion but you know!
As the Spanish cavalry crossed the shallow river the French counter attacked and drove them back.
Now looking at the pictures above of the French infantry debouching from the wood and falling on the Spanish line it all seems to be going swimmingly, the dragoons are there to force the Spanish into square then off we go. Nope the dragoons charged in, Neal threw the spawniest dice ever while mine were crap and as the blood was up I just charged straight in with all my infantry in column instead of wearing the Spanish down a bit first and going in with fresh troops.
A before and after shot of the Spanish Grenadiers counter attacking a worn Hessian battalion and disposing of them in quick order. A few Spanish units were roughed up but the shame of it!
The situation at the end of the game showed the French having almost broken through the Spanish left after taking a bit of a pasting. With the Spanish centre coming under increasing amounts of canister from the two batteries we agreed that with darkness setting in the Spanish would withdraw to fight another day. Not quite a victory but too close for my liking.
Dave.
