MacKenzie Heights: The Battle

  Game set up. Russians to the right.  Cavalry is in the center riding through the village. One brigade of eight battalions to their right and another brigade of eight battalions to their left.  This brigade has massed their guns into a grand battery opposite the French.   The British are entering the field in the top left and French are entering on the bottom left.  The Russian commanders decided to concentrate against the French.  The cavalry, four battalions of infantry and one battery would hold the British.  On the Allied side there was no coordination but just a hardy handshake and a cheerful good luck.

Long line of Russian cavalry ride out of the farm towards the British.  Massed columns of infantry March out towards the French.

Russians regiments massed and advancing against the allied regiments.

The French advance onto the field with the Zouaves in front and the Line battalions to their rear. Artillery and cavalry are thrown out to protect the left flank.

Russian columns marching down on the French.  This is the first of two waves of infantry.

   The French prepare to receive the Russians. Two line battalions changed formation to double lines.

  The poor Zouave battalions are decimated by the Russian massed artillery.

  The first wave of Russians punch through the French line infantry.  A second wave threatens to out flank what is left of the Zouaves.

   The end of the colorful French Infantry.  Ground down by the Russian juggernaut.

  The French commander forgot about his cavalry.  The Russians ran up to the and destroyed them by musket fire.  A sad end to the beautiful French army.  But what if their allies?

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The British Light Division March into the field in column and deploy into line.  Artillery, both line and horse anchor the flanks.

       Against them the Russians attacked with three cavalry regiments.  They hoped to hit the division as it deployed but were unsuccessful.

Coderington's brigade of the 7th, 23rd and 33rd Regiments formed into line and destroyed the Russian cavalry one regiment at a time.

  British firepower then silenced a battery on the hill.  With little opposite them the way into the farm looked open.  But by this time the French had been destroyed and the Russian player was turning the entire army against the  outnumbered British.  It was at this time the French and Russian players devieded to call the game and retire.

  So the battle ended.  Personally I would have liked it to have gone on for a couple more turns.  There was very little in front of the British who could have taken the hill and farm.  I think the French were devastated by their defeat and the Russians just happy to not face the British rifles and artillery. 

  All in all a good scenario and one which I am sure we will try again.  All players agreed it was a balanced game and all had great fun.  Perhaps we will see this one again!