If you go down to the woods today…

Firstly an acknowledgement: A lot of teddy bears died to bring this game to your monitor – let’s have a moment of silence for their souls…

Right! That’s enough mawkish sentimentality, let’s get back to the serious business at hand – Killing the French!

When we left our brave boys last, they were facing up to a right rogering from the cuirassiers. Unfortunately any hope of forming square in an orderly fashion soon disappeared under the combined effects of first a moderately successful charge by one cuirassier brigade which caused a base removal, followed up by a cannonade of grape at close range from the accompanying Horse Artillery which disordered the square just in time for the heavy mob to sweep down and destroy the brave Portuguese.

but first another look at what poor old Kelly was about to have in his face:

The French Right Advances 

 

 

The French Roll into the British 

 

John P sends the first assault column into the staunch Brits while Wayne T demonstrates that his camera is wayyy better than mine and he doesn’t have shaky hands. Notable also for proof that Battlefront staff have other interests than Flames of War

Is it wrong of me to note that I still don’t think there are enough figures on the table? But then again I’m not the one who has to paint the things

Evan follows up with his division (Kelly tries to act nonchalant): 

 

Evan A of Battlefront gets into the rhythm of pulverising the British Left while poor old Kelly can’t bear to watch (or more that he was by now dazzled by the myriad of photoflashes going off left right and centre).

My Big Moment 

 

The first assault devolves into an inconclusive firefight between two brigades while my rightmost brigade manoeuvres into position to take down the Frenchy attack from the flank – Victory while fleeting was mine!

An overview of my area 

 

Here you can see the two Columns d’assault going in against my solitary brigade – thankfully it was inconclusive initially, and the Croats were about to be shown the error of their corpse robbing ways.

Kelly gets a shock 

 

The very first charge of the French hussars on the British line caught them napping (they came from a fold in the ground and the British brigade was caught before they’d formed square – the carnage was spectacular) but they were unable to stay out of the reach of the British cavalry reserve who were desperate for some glory  of their own. This was where the French were able to write down the British nicely although at some cost to themselves.

This picture is notable for showing that Kelly does actually finish basing his troops occasionally and when he does they’re ver’ nice indeed.

All hands to the pumps, we’re leaking like a sieve! 

 

This is just before everything turns to custard. The Portuguese in square on the right are about to get annihilated by the cavalry, and the only units left in good order are one brigade of Cavalry and lo and behold the valiant Spanish (safely ensconced on a nice ridge but still a little close to the ravening horde). Not an inspiring moment in the annals of British feats of arms. At least I didn’t break the rules with my incompetence: I tend to feel that there’s little use in asking me to playtest and expect historical results as a result – I’m a bit of a muppet as a tabletop commander so I’m really only useful in proofing and defining parameters.

More pics tomorrow and then something a bit different and closer to the original purpose of this blog. Enjoy!