The Battle of Zembin - An 1812 Retreat From Moscow Batrep

 

Seve Rejects got together for another bash with my and Lee's Retreat from Moscow collections.

Surj and Postie picked out the Russians

Richard, Steve and Dave picked out the French.

Both Lee and Richard have already posted up some pictures from the game, check them out here, Lee & Rich.

The Russian army was set up in the village of Zembin, they had to stop the French from breaking through, while the French had to try and breakthrough and leave the table edge by the road.

The French had a very good army.

Including some Guard and THE man himself, but in disguise.

While the Russian had an army made up of mainly Militia and Cossacks.

We deliberately gave the French the first move of their front brigade to get things moving

We kept it though it would have to be a great role for the French Cavalry to move straight into contact, think they wouldn't in the first move.

But didn't count on Steve's great dice throwing, he hit the best Russian unit on the tabletop, a unit of Jagers and knocked them back from the fence line, but they were punished as you can see with 4 Sock markers.

On the flanks of the village the Russians had, Cossacks

And Foot Cossacks and an artillery piece.

The Cossacks started with 1 unit on the table and two waiting to come on

The one crossed the stream and headed for the French.

While the other decided to help out the original unit on the same flank but on the Russian side of the stream.

That's a tempting charge, wonder who's card will come out first???

It was the French.....who pushed back the Cossacks!

Meanwhile on the road the Russian Militia artillery piece is also pushed back, the gunners abandoning the gun.

It wasn't going at ll the French way on the other side of the river, the cards kept coming out in the wrong order, which was very annoying for all involved.

The charge of the Cossacks, Postie took a chance and charged both units of Cossacks into what remained of the Hessian Chasseurs a Cheval and a unit of French Grenadiers.

It was close, the Hessians were destroyed but the Grenadiers were victorious and pushed back the Cossacks. 

Being as the Cossacks got within 12 inched of the French wagon on the road, the wagon was revealed to actually be Napoleon on a sledge!

The French column was able to turn some infantry and gave fire to the Cossacks in the stream, and gave them a bit of a pasting!

We were well over halfway through the game, but the poor French still hadn't managed to get the majority of the army across the stream.

After another turn or two, they did get over, Richard managed to unlimber his artillery

Lots of musketry makes lots white smoke on the tabletop.

The tried very hard to take the road, but alas they just failed at the last hurdle, time was running out and then the final death nail was when the French reached 0 on the Force Morae counter.

Conclusion

The game didn't turn out as Lee and myself thought it would, the French had almost double the amount of points that the French did at the start of the game, but due to the way the cards came out, they couldn't get their troops out quick enough to attack in force, which has to be down to me and Lee, I'm afraid, we didn't think the French would have such a hard time of it???

After some discussion I'm sad to say that our BIG upgrade to Sharpe Practice just doesn't work, Its just not manageable with 15-20 units per side, but hey they were never meant to be. 

So the search is now on for another set of semi skirmish rules that can take 15-20 units per side, if you have any ideas please let me know!!
Even though the Russians got a hard fought win in the end, the main winners were the Rejects ourselves, we all enjoyed the day fighting and chatting, even watching Lee lose his rag a few times...lol!!

Retreat from Moscow - Still more French Wagons!

 

Keep them Wagons rolling!!!

Here we have another 2 wagons for the train, I'm not sure of the make of this one, but its an older metal wagon, the horses are from Iron Gate, and the driver is another conversion of a Warbases figure, with a Warlord French head and some green stuff for a blanket.

The next wagon is from Warbases, the horses once again are from Iron Gate and the driver is an old Depot Battalion figure formally from Col Bill's, now from Warbases. It's from their C17th Inn Set.

He's the chap in the red!!

This wagon is from Depot Battalion sold as a Black Powder Era Covered Wagon.

https://warbases.co.uk/product/black-powder-era-covered-wagon/

And back once again to Warbases for this removable load. For a Large load, Wooden Barrels, Pottery Urns and Amphora 

Thanks for check in, by the way, no cows were harmed in today post!

My 3D printed Cow blew up!

 

I started sorting out a few of my boxes of figures in my new Redoubt, when I came across this poor chap.

I mean what the hell has happened to him?

Its as though the figure has burst?

And what's even stranger is the figure and base are wet and sticky?

Has anyone else seen or heard of this worrying problem. Are we gonna see all 3D printed figures blow up like this?

Any ideas anyone?

Retreat from Moscow - 25mm Battle Honours Cantinieres or Vivandieres

 

Back in June, Keith over at Bydad blog posted up some pics of some luvvly painted ladies, from Battle Honours here. I thought they would fit in pretty well with my Retreat from Moscow French.

I was a little surprised when the figures arrived in the post looking like they'd been attacked by a giant spider, but I've ot bought a lot of printed figures before, so I guess this is the norm?

Now of course I needed to winterize these luvvly ladies, so out came the Greenstuff, but halfway through I ran out, so instead of waiting for more to arrive, I used some kitchen towel and smothered it in PVA glue, which worked a treat!

I've lost most of the fab detail that was on the figures, but thought they'd like to bit a little warmer?

If you look closely at the figure on the left you can make out the circular pattern on the kitchen towel, but I think it add to the effect?

I must say I'm pleased with my new ladies, so thanks must go to Keith for pointing them out!!!

Retreat from Moscow - 25mm More French Wagons!

Here are my next 2 French wagons for my Retreat from Moscow wagon train.

Both carts are from Warbases, the left is their Hay Cart, the right is their Turnip cart, the horses are from Redoubt Enterprises.

The wagons have nowhere for a driver to sit, so I bought some Redoubt Enterprises French wagons leaders. I chose not to winterize these poor freezing chaps. The reason why was quite simple.....I'd ran out of greenstuff!

I've bought more of the green gold so may add a cloak to the figures.....but probably won't!

Retreat from Moscow - French Wagons

Its back to the 25mm Retreat from Moscow project for todays post. I did want to have a few wagons in our first big game at Broadside, but ran out of time.

My plan was or should I say is, to paint up a dozen or so wagons, so we can field a large wagon train running away from Moscow.

So here are the first two. This one is from Iron Gate Scenery with a Redoubt horse.

With a Warbases load.

The next wagon and cart load are both from Depot Battalion, sold by Warbases, The two horses are Iron Gate. 

Now the problem I found is I couldn't find French Napoleonic drivers sold singularly. Most nowadays are sold along with a wagon. Now of course, I'm painting up French figures who should look cold, preferably in a great coat. What to do?

I searched through my massive box of unpainted figures and found these two figures, which are actually, Depot Battalion c17th Century Civilians.

The big cuffed coat worn in that period looks very similar to a Napoleonic French greatcoat. I did need to file the cuffs down a little and replaced the floppy hatted heads with some Warlord plastic heads. I'm very pleased how they came out!