Another excellent game using Shako II at Stephens.
He set up the scenario from Fields Of Glory supplement covering the action at Plancenoit during Waterloo battle 1815.
I used my Prussians against Stephens French buggers.
Scenario set up is such that it allows attacks versus Plancenoit by Von Hillers Brigade from first couple of turns and my Regulars indeed took one of the town sectors (4 in total) but my Landwehr failed miserably against other sectors especially the Church which has +2 defence.
Pretty hard for lowly Landwehr to win as even rolling a 6 they fail if defenders roll 4+.
I sent my Cavalry under Prince William of Prussia to try to outflank Stephens right which they initially succeeded in doing by completely destroying the French Cavalry arrayed against them but not without loss.
However they then reverted to defend orders and I failed to exploit their success properly as my ADCs failed to get across in time to convert the Princes orders (they either died or went slowly ! seems they were too busy with local wines and wenches ?).
I also tried to conduct a flank manoeuvre on my left with Von Ryssel Brigade but this was slowed by the stream and a lack of deployment room.
Indeed Von Ryssel had to halt as Hillers Brigade went demoralised and then broke (in Shako this means entire command removed from table).
A large wooded area in centre meant it took the units of Von Losthin took ages to advance to contact and the move around the wood by Von Hake Brigade was also slow.
Losthins troops manfully attacked the French positions on the large hill but again the Ladwehr proved incapable of the task whilst their Regular colleagues overran an Artillery Battery and a French foot unit causing the French formation to go demoralised.
But French reserves arrived in shape of a Young Guard and then an Old Guard Division just as Losthins formation dissolved due to auto-breaking.
As the scenario 12 turn time limit expired Prussians had failed to break French lines and Old Guard had not been committed to action.
Super game again using these fun fast playing rules.
Von Losthins Brigade approach the woods
Von Hiller outside Plancenoit
Prince Williams Cavalry prepare to advance
French defenders on hill and their Cavalry
And their defenders in Plancenoit (trust me they are in there)
Von Bulows direct operations (Rysels Command stand visible at rear for arrival of turn 1)
Von Hakes Command stand ready to arrive on turn 1 to rear of Losthin
Von Hake flanking the wood as Prince Williams cavalry ride to glory on right
Where the cavalry engagement swings in their favour
Hillers troops come a cropper against town as Ryssel tries to march to left
Progress slowed by stream (not two green marker indicating Hiller demoralised)
Hakes command comes under long range Artillery fire
Annoying French Skirmishers contest stream crossing
As Hillers Landwehr waste themselves assaulting the Church
Ryssels command assume defensive posture
Hakes command contesting the hill at game end as French reserves arrive (Old Guard in distance) note Losthins command has disappeared (ie Broken)
