The Battle of MacKenzie Heights 1854 - A Fictional Crimean War Batrep p1

Seven Rejects met up at Reject HQ on Saturday morning for a day of gaming, fun and general pi$$ taking.
Postie the GM had set up a fictional Crimean War battle, named The Battle of Mackenzie Heights.
The sides were:
Russian C/O L/G  Kretzinski- Fran
Russian Cavalry 2in C MG Khaletzski -  BigLee (See Lee's batrep here)
Russian Inf 3inC MG Schelkanov - Ian

British C/O  HRH Duke of Cambridge- Ray (Me)
British 2inC LG Sir George de Lacy Evans - John
British 3inC BG Scarlett - Surj

The Battle of Mackenzie Heights 10 Oct 1854


British, French and Turkish forces have been digging siege trenches around Sebastopol since September, after their victory over the Russians at the Battle of The Alma, cavalry scouts have been sent out to locate any Russian forces in the area that could be a threat to the siege lines or may try and reinforce Sebastopol.
Messengers have hurriedly arrived at headquarters with news that Russian forces have been seen on Mackenzie Heights 8 miles North East of Sebastopol. A large scouting force is quickly assembled to investigate Russian activity on the heights.
Thus the scene is set as British troops begin to arrive at Mackenzie Heights and discover Russian readouts being hastily prepared for defence, artillery and Infantry can be seen manning the partly completed defences. the British commander at this point turns to his Aide de Camp and says "I think we shall be attacking again old boy! Prepare to advance!
At the same time on the heights the Russian commander turns to his Aide and confidently says "We can win this Battle today, for they have Surj on their side, (Sorry Surj, see the Battle of Samsat)

So let battle commence.........................

The Initial set up

The 2nd Infantry Division commanded by LG Sir George de Lacy Evans 

with the 1st Dragoons commanded by BG Scarlett on the hill

 A close up of the artillery of the 2nd Division.

The 1st Infantry Division led by HRH the Duke of Cambridge

The 79th Highlanders lead the way followed by the 93rd Highlanders

The Russian, busy trying to finish their redouts.

The Russian right.

 The Russian left, note the three stands of pioneers busy trying to complete their work. 

Each turn the Russians had to throw an average die for each base of pioneers, the number would be recorded and added to try and reach a certain number. When reached (later we found the No to be 20) the extra piece of redoubt would be complete.  

             

The 1st Dragoons, Surj's only troops on the table at the start of the game

The 30th Foot along with the 55th and 95th, made up the 2nd Battalion of the 2nd Infantry Division

 The 53rd Don Cossacks on the extreme Russian right. An 18 figure regt that has 

been split into two units, one of 12 and one of 6 figures.

Before we decided who would go first Postie told us there would be a roll off, If the British won the roll they were allowed to re-deploy their troop up to 2 foot in, now this was extremely important, as the British were in march column and it would take us a few turns to redeploy for battle, giving the Russian a few free turns to complete their redoubts. As the Brits were attacking we had a +1 to our die. So as the CnC it was up to me to throw, I threw a 2 giving the Brits a 3, but poor Fran the Russian CnC also threw a 2, giving the bonus to the Brits who quickly redeployed for battle.

A now, very depressed looking 3 Russian's

The Higlanders now redeployed.

My artillery setup to give fire to the Don Cossacks on the hill, who are threatening my flank.

The entrenched Russian's, the grey stones denote a sheer face on the hill.

 John's command advance with the Rifle Brigade out in the front, John made a mistake, pushing the artillery out in the front, the Russian's gave fire and destroyed one of the medium guns

And there's the whole where they used to be!

 Fran's 1st Brigade on the right of the hill 4 units of the Vladimir regt.

 The Highlanders advance toward the newly arrived Russian re-enforcements

Ian's 2nd Brigade 4 units of the Kazan regt and the 6th Schutzen skirmishers.

 John other medium gun gets hammered and loses 2 figures from 4 and gets pushed 

back after failing its morale.

 A closer look at Ian's re-enforcements.

 An overall shot of the heights, coke and Pringles!

Aha! British re-enforcements, I'd been hoping these would turn up, 

the 1st Infantry Division 1st Brigade...The Guards!!

The Scots Guards lead the column, followed by the Grenadier Guards.

And finally the Coldstream Guards

 

The Rifle Brigade move up and give fire to the Russians in the open, 

 An awesome site, I didn't fancy attacking that!!

The entire  British front line shoot at the redoubts, using their superior firing range to 

the best of their ability. The white markers denoted that the unit has not yet used its first fire bonus.

Russian Heavy artillery pounding the Highlanders.

BigLee moves the Don Cossacks over the hill towards the wood, 

just what I didn't want him to do!!!

The Battlefield

 A close up of the 53rd Don Cossacks

Decisions, Decisions??

Each turn we had to throw for initiative, the indecisive Russians won it several times, 

but didn't know what to do. Give the Brits first movement and first fire 

or go second and have the ability to react to out movement.

Damn....more Russians

BigLee's 6th Cavalry Division, 6th Hussar Brigade. The 11th Keiv Hussars 

and the 12th Ingermannland Hussars, with a Horse Artillery battery. 

Lee had a choice, he could either keep the units as they were 2 x 24 figure regts 

or split them into 4 x12. He chose to go the XXL way and left them as 24 figures.

And just look where they turned up???

Behind the British right flank!!!

p2 later this week