The Action in the Plattville Valley -1753

The Grand Duchy of Calvados and the Electorate of Furstenburg-Lederhosen have had an uneasy truce during the cold winter of 1752.  With spring approaching and the improvement in the weather both sides start planning their summer campaigns  They turn their gaze to the small principality of Malbec situated on the borders of the two sparring nations. 

The Principlaity of Malbec would not normally attract such attention other than it is is Europe's main source of  Schnupftabak (snuff) - 'Chevalier pour Homme' - a much sort after after dinner indulgence for gentlemen of society and which attracts a high price on the International Snuff Market.

A gentlemen indulges in some after dinner Chevalier pour Homme  

The prime area for cultivation is centred on the Plattville Valley and the Elector and Duke are determined to seize the area to control distribution and the price of this annual snuff crop. 

Each side send a small force consisting of  6 infantry battalions, 3 cavalry squadrons, 2 Light Infantry companies and one battery of artillery (2 guns). 

The only map available of the area available to both sides was obtained from the Schnupftabak Newsletter published in Southampton. 

  

The game will feature at the forth coming war game show in Sheffield over the weekend of May 18-19th and will feature my old school 40mm Prince August figures and will use the Horse and Musket rules from Donald Featherstone's book - War Games - Battles and manoeuvres with model soldiers with minor modifications. 

Unit sizes are planned to be:-

Infantry 20 figures plus 2 Officers

Cavalry 10 figures plus 1 Officer

Light Infantry 10 figures plus 1 Officer   

Rule modifications identified 

1. Infantry can fire in two ranks rather than single ranks

2. Artillery only use a single dice for ranges over 18" and two dice for under 18"

3. The musket ranges to be reduced to represent smoothbores rather than the rifled muskets in the original rules. New range bands will be 0 - 6" (deduct 1), 6 - 12" (deduct 2) 12 -18" (deduct 3) 

4. Cavalry and Light Infantry test for officer casualties using one coloured dice in 3 rather than the standard 1 in 5 used by infantry.  

  As a  prequel to the Plattville Valley action I have set up a small game for the Ilkley Old Schoolers to have a go at these classic rules.  

I will post after action reports and photos shortly..... 

Reinforcements arrive

I received a small parcel over the weekend - a kind gift from Jim Duncan 

The parcel contained some moulds, a few infantry figures, as well as 9 Mounted Cuirassier   

These gentlemen will form a new squadron in the Electors army.   

Fontenoy

It has been a while since I posted anything on the blog so here is an update on my demo game I put on at the York Show (Vapnartak).  It was a very busy show but I did get time to get a copy of the Wolfenbbuttel War by Charles S Grant. 

The game featured  my Prince August 40mm armies with traditional Old School terrain. For rules I used a set published last year - Maurice by San Mustafa - so it was a case of Old School look and feel new School rules.     

The game went down well and as with previous outings I received many complementary comments about the Old School set up as well as plenty of question about Maurice which are a pretty good fun set of rules.  

Here a few pictures of the game

Return to Petreville

We played the second Petreville scenario from the Annexation of Chriaz using the Charge Rules.  This is a hard game for the relief force as not only are the numbers evenly matched by their attack is constrained by the narrow terrain 

General D'Euan pushes the bulk of the Duchy of Calvados forces forward but decides to advance on both sides of the River Cressay and use the South Bridge to re unite his forces for the final assault. 

The action hots up on both sides of the river. The Sbrinz are able to drive back the Calvadorian skirmishers but are unable to stop the Livarot Regiment as they are driven off with 50% loses. 

In the centre the Royal Boussin trade volleys with the Leibgarden.

'Advance' cries Colonel Roux as he leads forward the Bechemel Hussars to the attack

The Hock Regiment forms up ready for the Hussars attack 

However the Dolcelatte Dragoons counter charge and after 2 furious rounds of melee drive the Hussars back.  

In the final action of the battle the Livarot cross South Bridge form up and advance against the factory only to be blown away by a tremendous volley from the combined grenadiers companies garrisoning the works. 

General D'Euan decides to pull back his battered forces and call it a day. 

Blasthof Bridge

Having finished the second Petreville game on Friday (report to follow) my son Max was keen to play a  game. I decided to reach for the classics as being the right way to introduce him to Horse and Musket gaming. So we set up Blasthof Bridge, from Charge, and again used the elementary Charge rules as with our previous game.  

Max took command of the Imperial army and the role of Kornberg the dashing, impetuous, cavalryman.  The Imperial army deployed as per the book.  

I took command of the Electoral army and took on the demeanour and countance of this much maligned warrior - Soubise. 

For this game I offered very little advise to the young pretender but he showed a sound judgement. He  moved all his cavalry across the River Blast to form, in his words, 'one big unit of cavalry so he could beat mine'    

With movement stick in hand he moved his troops around with a the air of a pro. The stick was marked in 6 inch bands. None of those new fangled metric measurements as they teach them at school.  

His initial artillery shots were all misses (he threw three ones in a row). But on his fourth shot he hit. He rolled for effect - a six. One of my guns is bowled over.  

With one of my guns out of action Max now attacks with his cavalry. The melee is decisive with my cavalry losing heavily. 

My situation was not good - so I pushed my infantry across the river to join their comrades I had already moved across in an earlier turn. 

United my Infantry advance hoping to sweep away his outnumbered infantry on to victory. My advance commenced....

...only for his infantry to retire unveiling his re positioned artillery.  With no choice I gritted my teeth and continued my advance hoping that he would roll low for his musketry and cannister.   

He did not ......The Electoral Infantry fell where they stood.  With my loses now totalling over 50% the game was up and I conceded defeat.   

A couple of Maxs' friends are interested in having a go at this Wargaming lark - so perhaps it time for so more Ilkley Young School games. 

Action at Petreville Part 1

'Alarm, alarm' cries Etouffee as he calls the company to order.  With just a single company at his disposal this was going to be dammed tricky. Still there where opportunities even in this situation for a resourceful commander to get noticed. Perhaps a glorious, but futile defence, would get his name mentioned in dispatches and perhaps even notified on the bulletin board at Imperial Headquarters.  

Meanwhile the forces of the Electorate of Fustenberg Lederhosen mass for attack. With 3 regiments of infantry, a combined Grenadier regiment supported by a Cavalry regiment confidence was high that victory  would be easily gained and with it the stores holding the fine 'Sauce Chaud de Petreville' used through out the courts of Europe and a key Strategic bargaining condiment at the gastronomic peace talks that would follow the campaign.

The Electoral forces assault is supported by the Stollen Jager Corps (mercenaries hired from a small duchy north east of Prussia). These are lead by the well dressed and rather dapper Captain Stokes  - a veteran campaigner and all round good chap.

Mayor Etouffee decides that rather than trade volleys with the more numerous enemy to station his forces behind the ramparts ready to repel any attackers as they came up the assault ladders.  

The Sbrinz lead the way and gallantly scale the ladders. The melee along the wall is long drawn out affair with both sides taking heavy casualties   

 With the ramparts cleared the Sbrinz storm across and melee the thin line of defenders holding out in the central courtyard.  With loses reaching 60% the militia are forced to surrender but not before a final melee is fought between Etouffee and an Sbrinz infantryman.  The Electoral player rolls a 6 - the tension mounts as Etouffee himself shakes the dice and rolls it across the table. It spins around like a top before settling on a 5.  Etouffee has survived, an although captured, is assured of a bright future once a an officer exchange can be made after the campaign has finished     

Leading the way Etouffee marches at the head of the Saint Augur Militia who are granted the full honours of war for their gallant defence and leave with flags flying and shouldered muskets. 

The Annexation of Chiraz

Having seen Little John recent games using his 40mm Prince August figures with the classic Charge rules. 

http://littlejohnslead.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/battle-of-st-michel-second-attempt.html

 He has used the teasers from Charles S Grant Raid St Mihel booklet. I thought it was time I did the same  based on the Annexation of Chiraz book.  

I plan to play teasers 1, 3, 4 and 5 using the Charge rules.  My units consist of 40 foot figures and a Mounted CO. These will be broken down into 2 * 16 man companies and one 8 man grenadier company. The Grenadier companies can be combined. Cavalry will operate in 11 figure squadrons. With 2 units making a regiment.   

All Officers, standards etc will count as foot figures and will count towards volley fire/melee etc.      

So this lunchtime I  set up my table ready for a game on Friday.  I have set the table to be able to play  teasers 1 and 4 - back to back. 

The early morning sun shines on Petreville (OK its the spot light in my basement). It is a pleasant scene looking south across the village and the Arsenal

The Arsenal is garrisoned by a company of the Saint Augur militia . Who task is to protect the Arsenal. Here 2 guards are seen vigilantly watching the approaches from the North 

On this bright morning the local clock strikes 9.00 o'clock and the change of guard can be seen under the watchful eye Mayor Etouffee who keeps the garrison on their toes with his fiery language.  He turns muttering how this posting to the back of beyond leaves him cold and his frustration with inaction is clearly etched across his face. 

   

A wagon with a weeks production of Pepper Sauce leaves the Arsenal and the driver is bid farewell by one of the local ladies of the night. 

Mayor Etouffee lifts his head as the breeze from the North brings the heavy sent of an aroma oh so familiar. A smile creeps across his face as he turns and shouts - 'There is the smell of cavalry sh*t in the air my friends,  I think today will be quiet tasty after all'