An insignificant skirmish 1854

 

Following on heals of the Russian victory in the Bulgnack River I thought to fight out another battle in the Crimean.  This time I would have my French have a go against the Russian masses.  The scenario would be a French brigade in a delaying action against a Russian Brigade.  The French were outnumbered and had to hold the position as long as possible to delay the Russians.  

The French were deployed with the 3rd Zouave regiment, 6th line  and a battery would hold a stone wall to delay the Russians.  When forced back they would join the 50th line on a small ridge for a final stand.  The 1st Chasseurs d'Afrique held the left flank. Please note each French regiment was of Two battalions each.

The Russians would attack in the same manner as the last game.  After all it worked so well!  The 32nd Kazan Jaeger Regiment on the right and 31st Ouglitch Jaeger Regiment on the left each of four battalions and with a attached battery would sweep forward and drive all before them.  The Cavalry would sweep the right flank clear and outrank the French position.

The Russians swept forward and spent command points to double their moves.  (Note first move was entering table then second move was moving forward).  This brought them up the French line but it allowed the French to get an volley into them.  (If you spend a command point the other side gets to fire at you). With their first  move the French not only fired but fired a second time spending their command points.  They not only out a number of hits on the advancing columns but silenced the Russian batteries which had unlimber within range of the Zouave's rifles muskets! 

The Russian cavalry doubled their move to close with he enemy cavalry.  The Chasseurs counter charged and in the melee defeated the Russians and drive them back into the second Russian cavalry regiment! Into the mass of confusion charged the aggressive french!

By this time the the Russian columns had crossed the stone walls.  Although I should have withdraw I decided to fight it.  The French gave a volley before it was a clash of bayonets.  In the center two Russian battalions defeated one of the Zouaves battalions.  Climbing over the wall it was the high point of the Russian advance.  To either side of them the remaining French held strong and drive off the attackers.  To add insult the two French reserve battalions were now advancing to plug the gap in the center.

In the flank the French cavalry charged into the disordered mass that has once been two cavalry regiments and chased them off the table.

At this point the Russian commander called it and ended the game.  

What was different this time?  First off I remembered to have both sides use their command points!  The extra rolls from the French out brought morale markets in the Russian columns to hurt them in close combat.  In addition the extra range off the rifled muskets took out the Russian batteries before they could inflict damage.  

A good fun game on a rainy afternoon.