Batrep of the weekend - part I

A couple weeks ago, we played another game of Black Powder at our club, with my armies-in-development of British and Austrians on one side, and the French on the other. I got to command the forces of the Empereur, and my friend Rodrigo led the allied Austro-British army.

Austro-British Army:

1º Austrian Brigade:

 - 1 Regiment of Landwehr

 - 3 Regiments of Line Infantry

2º Austrian Brigade:

 - 2 Regiments of Grenadiers

 - 1 Regiment of Cuirassiers

 - 1 Battery of foot artillery

1º British Brigade:

 - 3 Regiments of Line Infantry

 - 1 batallion of Rifles

 - 1 Battery of foot artillery

2º British Brigade (arriving from reserve):

 - 1 Regiment of Light infantry

 - 1 Regiment of Line infantry

 - 1 Regiment of Scot Greys

 - 1 Regiment of Heavy Dragoons

 - 1 Battery of horse artillery

French Army:

1º Brigade:

 - 2 Regiments of Line Infantry

 - 1 Regiment of Light Infantry

 - 1 Regiment of Imperial Old Guard

 - 1 Battery of Guard foot artillery

2º Brigade:

 - 1 Regiment of French Line Infantry

 - 1 Regiment of French Light Infantry

 - 1 Regiment of Spanish Line Infantry

 - 1 Regiment of Italian Line Infantry

 - 1 Regiment of Swiss Line Infantry

3º Brigade:

 - 1 Regiment of French Light Infantry

 - 1 Regiment of Carabiniers á Cheval

 - 1 Regiment of Dragoons á Cheval

 - 1 Regiment of Bavarian Chevaux Legère

 -1 Battery of horse artillery

The Austro-British forces were considerably larger, so we balanced things by putting an entire brigade on reserve, allowed to enter the table from the 4º game turn. In game terms, this represented the allied army being caught by the french while marching to join forces (typical napoleonic french tactics), and one british brigade was still some way off the field.

This remaining brigade was to enter from the opposite side of the river, which we treated as deep, rough waters - impassable terrain. This means that the only way for that brigade to join the fray was to seize the bridge in the middle of the field.  Thus, it was a fundamental part of the french strategy to secure the bridge head, thus stopping the british brigade from making the cross and joing the rest of the allied army.

(the brigade in reserve)

Mounted Dragoons cheer profusely as french guns open fire on austrian positions.

The british 1º brigade, tasked with securing a bridge head for the arrival of their fellow countrymen.

Both forces spent the first several turns advancing and pivoting to a better position. The austrian command proved poor (as usual), while the french rushed an entire brigade to block the bridge.

On the 4th game turn, the second british brigade began to appear on the field, over a long column of units, but difficulties in command delayed the maneuvering there as well, severely hampering the chances of the allied army, which was facing a more efficient french army.

To be continued.