Dipping my toes into Napoleonics

On the Northern flank the chasseurs were finally able to pin down the 1st Cossacks and cut them down. Those that remained scattered to the wind, leaving the Russian rear vulnerable.

This was part of a larger French advance on the Russian line in the North. The Grenadiers and 1st Line moved forward under the covering fire of the voltigeurs and the artillery. Whereas the former only managed to slightly wound the Russians, the French cannon cut a bloody swath through the unfortune Russian 1st. Nevertheless the Russian line infantry did not break!

The Southern front saw the French 2nd and Polish line infantry fire a well-aimed volley into the halting Russian attack columns. This was supported by a furious charge from the French cuirassiers into the flank of the unfortunate Russian Guard. Even the most elite of the Russian line infantry could not hold and was mercilessly cut down, after which the remainder fled.

The French had certainly dealt the Russians a bloody blow, which made them eager to return the favour.

On the Southern front, the Russian 2nd Line infantry quickly took up square formation to guard against the cuirassiers that had just obliterated the Guard. The Russian cuirassiers found themselves outmanoeuvred and weren’t able to take any action, which meant they had to spend the turn to reposition themselves.

The 2nd Cossacks showed their worth, however, firing a carbine volley into the backs of the cuirassiers, not only wounding them, but causing some of the French elite cavalry to flee in panic! Meanwhile the Russian 2nd Line infantry continued firing into the French 2nd, not only severely wounding them, but also causing some of them to flee.

The Russian Northern front seemed in an even more precarious position. The 1st Line, having lost half their men, opted to seek cover in the woods. While exposing their flank to the French grenadiers, they set their money on the cover provided by the trees, which might shield them not only from fire, but also from cavalry charges.

Their retreat was covered by the ever effective Russian artillery firing canister into the French 1s line. After the smoke cleared, only a quarter of them remained, the rest shot to ribbons or fled in panic.

This was a bloody round for both sides! The French obliterated two Russian units. The rest of the Russian line held, however. In part thanks to the Stubborn infantry rule, but also because they rolled well on moral.

Russian return fire was almost if not just as deadly, and whereas Russian line infantry only test for moral after the loss of the first unit, the French do not have such an advantage. This meant that after the French 2nd line infantry had suffered one base of casualties, they lost another due to their failed moral test. To make things worse, the French also failed moral for their cuirassiers and the 1st line infantry.

Looking after the wounded

Who would have thought! Paper miniatures aren’t as sturdy as plastic or metal ones. Once every two rounds I find that part of a line gets loose somewhere and I need to reglue it. Still, it is more sturdy than I’d thought originally.

One final thing

I noticed that the previous post’s first image was in fact a photo taken towards the end of that. I did find another photo, which I added in its stead, although it is of lesser quality.