The Battle of Kirchdorf 1809, A Napoleonic Batrep

Finally, I played my first game of the 2017!

For a change it wasn't Postie reffing the game nor were they his figures. Ian's been collecting his 25mm Napoleonics for quite a few years now and this was only their second ever outing. And the last game Ian reffed was back in 2011, a WWII bash, see that here.

Ian's using General de Brigade as rules, they're a bit complicated and a tad long winded, but it was his first proper go at reffing the rules so we'll all hopefully get to learn the rules over time.

There were only 2 Rejects playing, Surj picked the French outta the hat, while I was in

charge of the Austrians.

We had to set on maps blind to what the other was doing. We were given info that some terrain

needed to be captured for points at he end of the game.

The left of the field, I guess both the hills were worth points?

Surj placed all his Horse this side up against my 2 Cuirassiers.

On the right, was a bridge, which I was told to capture and in the left of the pic in the centre of the 

table was a crossroads. I placed my Austrain Grenadiers here, in Hold orders, something

I would later regret!

Surj's overloaded right flank.

My plan was to hold all my infantry first, then move forward and attack next to the 

bridge, while my left flank horse would engage anything on the opposite hill.

Surj on the other hand was only going to attack on his overloaded side.

The Swiss and French in defensive formation.

Now this is where the game went tits up for me. After seeing Surj's setup

I realised I needed to push my right forward now, and also release my other cavalry brigade 

to cross the river and attack the French flank.

I could only test to change 1 order, which I failed miserably!

We both had engage orders with our horse and moved forward to attack.

My 9 pounders on the hill.

The first Cavalry engagement went Surj's way. One of my Cuirassiers failed their morale test

to countercharge and fled, leaving these two above to fight it out.

After failing my change order test once again, I was allowed a free order change, only because Ian felt sorry for me! I turned my artillery to fire on the opposite hill, and moved my infantry on top of the hill.

Meanwhile on the opposite flank, my troops stood motionless unable to change their orders.

Here's where the battle was won and lost.

Surj charged, my Jagers moved back behind the line unit.

Next turn I failed the order move again, but was allowed to change orders

anyway. The Grenadiers were given a assault order and pushed forward.

Looking a bit dodgy!

Oh dear, Surj threw a double 6 in melee and knocked 13 figures from my unit which

then routed.

I carried on moving forward but the game was already lost on the left flank.

So the game was called a victory for the French.

Conclusion

My dice throwing ability was really crap.

While my set up was ok, giving my foot hold orders really lost me the game, I couldn't change them, if Surj and Ian didn't let me change my orders when they did, the game would have been over earlier.

It was difficult giving your troop orders on the map before you'd seen the enemy dispostion, something that Ian will change for the next game.

And it was great seeing 25mm Naps at Reject HQ!