The Battle of Svolra 1812 - A Napoleonic Batrep.

 

I'm a bit late posting my report from this game, I just couldn't find the time to get the post started, fingers crossed I can remember what went on??

Lee posted a short video on his Youtube channel, here.

5 Rejects met up at Reject HQ for our first game for what seems like months. Someone (and that'll be me) had all his wargaming gear stored in the shed when he moved. So there wasn't any room for a game. Now that's all in its new home it was time for a game. Postie chose to do a 15mm Napoleonic game using his own version of General de Brigade.

We picked tickets out of the hat, Lee and myself picked out the French, with me in command, while Smiffy and Steve picked out the Russians with Steve as their commander.

OOB

French

2nd Corps - Marshal Oudinot

6th Division Gen Legrand (part of)

1st Brigade 26th Legere 4 Battalions

2nd Brigade 56th Line 4 Battalions

3rd Brigade 19th Line 4 Battalions

1 Heavy 2, Light Artillery

9th Division - Gen Merle (part of)

4th Brigade 4th Swiss 3 Battalions, 3rd Provisional Croatian regt  2 Battalions

5th Brigade 1st Swiss 2 Battalions, 2nd Swiss 3 Battalions

2 Light Artillery

From the 6th Corps

20th Bavarian Division

6th Brigade 2nd Line 2 Battalions, 6th Line 2 Battalions, 2nd Light Infantry

1 Medium Artillery

2nd Corps Cavalry

7th Brigade 23rd & 24th Chasseurs a Cheval 

8th Brigade 7th & 20th Chasseurs a Cheval, Chevauleger - Lancers

The 20th Chasseurs a Cheval Lancers

Russian

1st Army of the West

2nd Corps - Lt Gen Baggovut

4th Division - Prince Eugene of Wuttemburg

1st Brigade 1st & 2nd Tobolsk, 1st & 2nd Volhynia

2nd Brigade 1st & 2nd Kienenchug, 1st &2nd Vilmarisrand

3rd Brigade 4th Jagers 2 Battalions, 24th Jagers 2 Battalions

1 Heavy & 5 Light Artillery

17th Division - LG Olsuffieff

4th Brigade 1st & 2nd Riazan, 1st & 2nd Belozersk

5th Brigade 1st & 2nd Brest, 1st & 2nd Vilmanstrand

6th Brigade 30th Jagers 2 Battalions, 48th Jagers

4 Heavy & 11 Light Artillery

From the 3rd Corps

1st Grenadier Division

7th Brigade Pavlovski Grenadiers, Ekatmeroslav  Grenadiers

From the 2nd Cavalry Corps

8th Brigade Pskoffski Dragoons, Moscow Dragoons x 2

From the 3rd Cavalry Corps

9th Brigade  Marioupol Hussars

From the Cossack Corps

10th Brigade Bachkir Cossacks

From towns and Villages

11th Brigade 1st, 2nd, 4th & 6th Battalions of Opolchenie

Postie said it was a meeting engagement, where both sides had to attack, the winner would be the one who scored the most points at the end of the game. You scored points for units destroyed, killing leaders, routed units, routed and disordered brigades and enemy flags captured.

Unfortunately for us, we lost the first dice throw to see who would set up first.

My command had loads of Elite Swiss, so these would need to get into melee.

We quite sensibly left our cavalry in column in the centre, just incase they overloaded one flank. Which id exactly what Steve did, putting all their horse facing our right.

Lee's command also had some Elite's, this time they were Legere units

I didn't want to mess around to much so I put all my line units into column, yes they'd make an easier target for artillery, but they'd move quicker. The white markers are a first fir e bonus, that's removed funnily enough, when you first fire!

The Russians had the first move, Steve pushed his Cavalry out to our right, which kinda buggered my plans up straight away, if I moved to far forward to atttack I'd be offering my flank to the cavalry??

Our 3 Horse turn to move over to our right to hopefully attack their cavalry, but they're a few moves away.

I moved my columns up, the right most column anchoring itself to the woods.

On our left, we decided that Lee, would go for the hill, with his Legere in skirmish followed by his artillery, if we could get a hold of the hill he could command our left flank?

Hello, we didn't expect that on turn 2, French reinforcements, well Bavarians, but they'll do!!!

Not sure what to do with them though???

And what's this? Russian reinforcements as well?

Four units of Russian Opolchine, right out on our left flank.

Hmm? Also some Russian Cossacks on our right???

The Bavarians looking rather snazzy in the cornflower blue coats. The green marker means the unit is in march column, giving them more movement on the road. But you don't wanna be caught in march column by any cavalry, that's for sure!

Cossacks lurking on the hill, looking for an opportunity......

My artillery trying to hit the advancing Russians.

My plan was to try and hit 2 columns onto one line unit, but I kept a gap between each unit just incase I had to go into line.

The Russian gun's fire onto a unit of Swiss that then fail their morale test and move back.

Lee and Smiffy begin their titanic tussle for the hill.

Its not really what I wanted to do but I moved the Bavarian's off the road ready to force a defensive line against the oncoming Russian cavalry and Cossacks.

Getting closer....

Lee unlimbers his guns on top of the hill, but will they still be there next turn?

There's a lot of open ground for both sides to move into on our right.

I didn't think he would, but Steve moved his infantry line forward, which meant any attack my flank wouldn't be in danger as he'd blocked off his cavalry.

Steve also moved his far right unit at an angle, ignoring our artillery and Lee's troops just out of shot on the left.

There were lots of shts fired by both sides over on Lee's side of the table. the small blue dice are casualty dice.

Setting up for the charge.

I'd not seen this in any of our previous Napoleonic games, Russian Jagers charging French Legere and artillery.

One of our guns had already been forced to limber up and move away as it took casualties and failed its morale check.

And I'm in....taking casualties as I charged in.

Fingers crossed 

For all our melee's

A shot down the right hand side of our flank, showing the French charges.

I think our right flank is ok??

The mess on the hill...

That looks better, there are now 2 holes in the Russian lines!

2 v1 it was always on the cards

This melee was even better as the Russian unit routed, hence the red marker.

Postie consoles Steve, as Smiffy points out his plans.

Smiffy moved some infantry and guns around our left flank, to try and force Lee's hand as Lee started to push forward in the centre.

In another surprise move, Steve moved his left flank forward in line, I think it was so he could shoot at my columns?

Smiffy charges before Lee could as the Russians won the first move, he also knocked back another of Lee's artillery.

More charges from both sides, on my left, right of centre of the whole tabletop.

Come on Steve, I dare ya!

Lee brings his Cavalry into the centre, just to halted the Russain advance or threatening an exposed flank?

While still battering Smiffy on the hill.

Lee takes a chance and crashes some of his colours into the Russuan lines.

While I go in again on my side.

Steve loses out on the dice throws.The blue marker means they have captured the enemies flag, while the black marker means the unit has lost there colours!

Steve's Brigade has lost many casualties so was forced to take a Brigade check. Which he passed by the skin of his teeth!

Time was running out, so the game was bought to an end.......but who had won?

We all had units still in the fight and units that hadn't fought or fired in the game?

Postie added up the points and it was as close as we all thought....

It might be me, but I don't think Smiffy and Steve were impressed with the result???

It turned out that the French had won a narrow victory 12 points to 9. Well I'll take that a wins a win after all.

Great game, it was a bit of a slog to be honest. I'm not keen on meeting engagement games, I prefer an attacker and defender game. When the sides have near equal numbers its difficult attacking. We lost a hell of a lot of troops before we made contact but didn't have the 3/1 or  3/2 superiority in numbers, so it was always gonna be a close one.

Well done to all involved!