Regimental Fire & Fury - Gettysburg 1st day scenario

Game at Stephens and he selected good old dependable Rgt F&F for a smallish scenario set around lunchtime on first day of Gettysburg.

I choose the Rebels who had a reduced (had been fighting in morning action) Brigade of Veterans, a Brigade of 3 large Trained units and support from several off-table (on a ridge to rear) artillery batteries.

Union had a Brigade of mostly Veterans (only 1 Trained unit) and the Iron Brigade of Crack units (a juggernaut) with several gun batteries on table.

Rebs had only 2 Brigadiers on table with no higher commanders and so had a couple of units out of command at start, whilst the Feds had a couple of Brigadiers, a Divisional Commander and a Corps Commander allowing them flexibility of essentially four command formations.

Rebs split into a right and left wing with Union defending a central line of fences.

The Iron Brigade were set back on Union right but they had first turn and double-quicked themselves into front line right off the bat.

For Rebel right that was pretty much the death knell as Iron Brigade swept forward crushing all before them.

On Reb left the Trained Brigade twice failed to advance (falling back on rolls of 1) and failed to get to grips at all with this weaker Union wing.

On plus side the off-table Confederate guns done sterling work (despite low factors for long range firing) throughout and indeed 9 out of the 10 gun batteries were low on ammo having rolled 10s.

These caused lots of losses to Union and at one point Rebs had lost 12 or so bases to Union 10 but the onslaught of Iron Brigade and Union guns soon saw Confederate losses rise sharply and we called it a day.

I had the Brigadier on my right killed putting his units out of command and Union right had a Brigadier wounded (lost for 1 turn)

RFF such a good set of period specific rules and played smoothly and quickly (a smaller scenario than usual) with those D10 rolls being exciting and vicious in equal measure.

All terrain and figures (mostly Peter Pig) from Stephens collection

The central Union position

Iron Brigade turning Rebel right

Confederates gamely try to put pressure on Union lines

But falter at close range

Iron Brigade ganging up on weaker Reb units

Rebel left failed to get forward being repulsed by Union firing

Tough objective to take the defended MacPhersons Farm

Iron Brigade deployment area from which they leaped forward

Rebel left deployment with Veteran but weakened units 

Field Of Battle 3 - Bloodbath at Blenheim

Game today against Stephen and I used FOB3 with the Blenheim scenario I had used at club and my 10mm toys as still had everything to hand and labelled.

A much different game than at club as Stephen went into full 'Dice Demon' mode with his shooting with nearly every volley or artillery shot doing at least one hit and at least a fall back or often worse and my Morale Pool took an almighty whacking in very short order.

I did manage to take one half of Blenheim after a struggle but despite getting my Elite English foot against the second sector with a supporting unit for outnumbering I failed with 2 separate assaults with both my units repulsed and damaged, medals aplenty to French Regt Picardie.

My center was almost completely gone and my left wing badly damaged and I only managed to destroy a solitary artillery battery all game never routing a single enemy unit as my shooting was utter pants and melee not much better !!.

Only saving grace was that Stephen managed to topple 2 of his own Generals although one came back very quickly so had numerous units in Disorder and which likely saved my outnumbered right wing.

In the end my entire 38 chip Morale pool was gone and I had 'gifted' 15 cards to French who had only lost 7 (?) Morale of their 42 a truly dire performance indeed.

So an ignominious defeat for Marlborough and unlikely Blenheim Palace would ever see a brick laid !

But despite this it was as ever a great game with FOB and always good to get a scenario fought to a firm conclusion in reasonable time.

Allied left and center suffering

They did get across Nebel but crushed by withering French shooting all day

Allied right wing conducts a holding action near Oberglau

View across field 

The French (actually Bavarians) on my right face my Imperial foot

Imperial Cuirassier having to shore up center after foot units swept away

A constant drain of casualties in center

Blenheim being assaulted again but refused to fall

French left in disarray (Disorders) as control lost temporarily on their left wing

But Blenheim just proving too tough a nut to crack and losses continue to mount

Allied lines creaking under deluge of accurate musketry and canonnade

Still just cannot gain that final sector of town (with its 5 Morale boost)

Mounted in this period cannot really deal with steady foot

French action on their left became inactive thanks to the disorder caused by loss of General

Battle Command - solo SYW engagement concluded

Finished my solo SYW game with Battle Command and what a close run thing it was too and I see how enjoyable it must be for others to see me rolling dice !!

Russians pushed ahead in central area where they had a decided advantage routing or destroying units with close combats, as Prussian firepower failed to stop their charges and managing to capture the town forcing Frei Korps unit therein to retreat. 

But the Russian left wing imploded after Prussian cuirassier got their act together and completely chinned opposition horse. 

A stalemate remained on Russian right with both sides exchanging desultory volleys.

However a somewhat foolhardy charge to contact by Russian Dragoons into Prussian versions on extreme right saw them come a cropper thankfully they had reserve units to contest ground.

Both sides Morale Pools were decimated and Prussians went to zero first soon followed by Russians both sides 'gifted' Morale to each other but Prussia was first to pull the Army Morale card and yielded the field with Russians having a single Morale chip left.

Just as well for Russians as they had several units routing and another fallen Brigadier

A close run thing indeed

Fun game even solo with plenty of action and usual smooth gameplay for a solo player.

Stalemate on Russian right wing although both sides have units routing

Russians firmly across stream taking the town as Prussian center melts away

Russian left hanging in wind however as Prussian horse in ascendancy

Russian Dragoons forced back or routed by Prussian namesakes 

Another Russian Brigadier is Hors De Combat putting his command into disorder

Town in Russian hands as Prussian forces in area under extreme duress

Prussian horse have broken enemy left wing

As defeated Russian horse flee to rear with only a unit of Cossacks (!!) holding on

Russians not getting it all their own way in center

Prussia had 3 units of foot and 2 gun batteries destroyed and a further 3 units in Rout at end

Whilst Russians had lost 1 foot and 1 mounted by with 5 units in Rout 

The Army Morale roll that ended proceedings (the Prussia blue d12 need to exceed enemy d12) 

Battle Command - some further 'lonely pint' SYW action

Bit more Battle Command activity on table last night as Russian assault (I diced for which side would be nominal aggressor) continued.

Prussian center still under pressure although greatly alleviated by a Russian Brigadier becoming 'Hors de Combat' putting his command into disorder.

On Prussian right their Cuirassier did manage to initiate a charge into Russian counterparts but rather a mixed out come and Russian numbers might now tell.

On the left wing things somewhat stalemated as Prussian reserve mounted Brigade has ridden to this flank threatening the Russian horse struggling to escape woods.