French Revolutionary Wars Batrep - The Battle of le Champ Glissant 1796

Last Sunday Richard put on another game using his quite brilliant rules for the French Revolutionary Wars. it was a 2 v 2 game, Surj and Lee were the French, while Newbie Reject Steve, who we met at Broadside last year and myself played the Austrians.

It was a very different start to our usual games, Richard cam up with a very clever idea to 

create a little Fog of War. 

Firstly we were given cards with brigades on, we could place these on any 24 x 24 tile our side of the table face down.. The French had to place there's first and we set up to them. But as we did we were told that this was possibly not the final looking table top some brigades and terrain could possible move??

We were then given a pack of cards and told to pick 12 cards, which both sides did. Then the 24 cards were shuffled and 3 cards were then given to each side. We could then pick and lay a card and add, remove and move terrain and brigades of infantry.

After each card is laid you pick a replacement for the next turn until all the cards are gone.

Halfway through the Terrain Fog of War

Our plan was load the centre of the French line with as much extra terrain as we could.

But the trouble was as we did just that, the French had the chance to move terrain back.

After the terrain movement phase was over, it was time to turn over our cards and then place the troops.

Our plan worked as the French had to set up 3 brigades in 1 24 x 24 inch board.

So that should give us time to set ourselves up, ready for the French columns!

The Austrian centre, again the terrain movement worked well for us, with a hill and wood to defend or was that for the French to attack?

The Austrian left, we placed our cavalry brigade on the left, hoping theirs would be that side.

We guessed wrong!

But I was quite happy with that fact as I knew it would be difficult for the French to advance

with them in that positon. So we could possibly hold up the whole brigade facing them.

During the first turn, the French can be seen moving out at an angle, so we could see where they'd be attacking. We moved to plug the hole in the front line.

Steve was in charge of the light troops in the woods and the right flank.

Unfortunately the French Cavalry  out on our right flank would pin our infantry on the right.

We're looking strong, but I'm not liking the look of all them French!

What's Surj gonna do on the flank?

Lee straightened his column's, it looks like he's gonna wait until Surj's troops on the far left of this pic catch up, so they can attack all at once....GULP!

Steve moves over the wall, (which we picked out and placed in the Terrain turn)

Just to tempt the French Hussars to come forward and show their hand.

Column's move 7 inches, you can move 2 actions per turn. 

Is that less than 14 inches away?

Phew! Yes but only just.

Lee's other brigade moves up to the hill. Both brigades took casualties on the way in, but we were forced to fire at the skirmishers out front, instead of those tempting looking columns.

The waiting game on our left.

We've not used any cavalry in Richard's rules yet, I'm very tempted to try a charge???

The French

Surj & Lee

At the end of the turn, there's a voluntary move phase.

The French used this phase to move their two skirmishers covering their columns, back out of the way, So their columns can charge next turn.

And charge they did!

Steve (in the woods) rolled well and held his line in the melee. I didn't. and was pushed back.

Steve also lost his artillery on the hill.

We knew it would happen, just got to try and form a second line.

My artillery fires on Surj's troops, who fail their morale and become Anxious 

This was my que to take a chance and see what the Hussars could do. What better target an anxious skirmish unit?

And I'm in!

Trying to reform and make a decent defensive line behind the hill.

The French Dragoons make their move.

What you gonna do Steve?

Steve moved his unit around the woods to stop the column.

I managed to reorder most of my troops, ready for the next attack.

My Hussars beat the French skirmish troops, who can be seen running away, at the top of the photo.

I carried on the charge, unfortunately for me, into a Grenadier unit in square!!!

Well, you can see from where my Hussars are in the pic, that the melee didn't go very well!

They even lost their flag in the fight.

And to make matters worse the Hussars went through two units, knocking them down from Steady to Anxious. Just what we needed!

The French are getting closer.

Steve moves his infantry into squares. Not sure the French will attack now.

Lee moves to the edge of the hill with his columns

Steve enters the woods, to halt the French advance.

A terrible site to see!

Surj moves in for the attack.

But we'd run out of time, we'd been playing for over 8 hours, with a break for sausage and onions

sarnies in the middle. 

But who has won?

It was as close as close can be, but the French just pipped us to the post by 1 measly point.

I knew it was close but nobody knew how close, I had hoped it would swing to us, because I knew we had battered them in their attacks. 

Analysis

Losses to Austrian Forces:

1st Division - 10%

2nd Division - 0%

3rd Division - 37.5%

4th Division - 0%

Cavalry Division - 37.5%

Army losses - 12.5%

Losses to French Forces

1st Division - 21%

2nd Division - 43%

3rd Division - 33%

4th Division - 0%

Cavalry Division - 0%

Army losses - 23%

Richard posted this info on his blog, although the French won the day, they were severely mauled nearly losing 25% of their army to our 13%!

Although I lost the game, it was one of those games where It didn't matter who won and lost, it was just a pleasure to play in such a fantastic game. Well done Richard and well done to the other Rejects for helping make such an awesome game!

For more on this great game check out Richard's blog for the ref's point of view and Lee's blog for the French point of view.

Here's a pic of the markers at the back of the units.