Markleeberg with Battle Command

Big lad Steven home for a few days and we managed to squeeze in a wargame using Battle Command.

I set up game based on Markleeberg October 1813 with son as French and I as the Prusso-Russo forces.

Once again this proved to be a very close and hard fought action going right down to the wire for both sides.

Both sides started with Artillery Actions and both sides artillery were complete pants !

Boy then aggressively pushed across the stream in the center whilst holding on both flanks

This was nearly his early undoing as both his flanks began to fold and it seemed I was going to turn his flanks very quickly.

But I just could not get my flanking units to maneuver to take advantage (it could have been a Cannae) and the French began to grind down my central Brigade,

Thankfully my reserves arrived just in time to shore up the center and losses mounted for both sides.

French Morale Pool was expended but so was Allied pool soon after.

In fact I was at one point 1 card down (given to French) but no Army Morale appeared and I then gained 3 from French giving a slim 2 card advantage

Just as well as my Army Morale card was turned and thankfully I did not need to test.

Both sides had to be very careful with aggressive actions as any reverse could be fatal.

Luckily for me Steven turned his Army Morale card and had to test with his D12 Commander rolling 8 but the D12 I rolled was a 12 (something I seldom see) so French yielded the field but very close as I had lost more units than French but just maintained a minimal Morale Pool.

Great game with fairly even spread of dice luck which usually is when 'dice demon' not present :-)

Russian Hussars have crossed stream to flank French 

Prussian Reserves arrive to aid crumbling Russian Brigade

Elite Cuirassier which mugged a couple of my Infantry units

French pushing deep into Allied territory

Prussians have taken town and again are ready to flank French 

View from Allied right 

Bloody action in central zone

Those Hussars just will not answer calls to make most of advance

French pushing across stream en-mass

Early action at town

Steven surveys his forces

Allied wings push as central yields (I would love to say deliberately......but........) 

French reserve Brigade arrives on their left 

Guns have been firing on both sides but to little effect

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.

  

Battle Command some more solo SYW action

Continued with my SYW game using Battle Command and Russians have attacked first pressing forward through wooded areas and across the stream in places.

Prussian volleys mostly ineffective and indeed Russian proving more potent as 2 Prussian foot units routed by shooting and melee along with destruction of a Prussian gun battery and Prussian center creaking.

Russian mounted wing on left have bravely crossed stream against superior Prussian horse which has worked out so far as Prussians Cuirassier seemed rooted to high ground (ie failed Move order). 

Early days however