Swedish Horse Carabiniers

More Swedish cavalry painted, this week the Horse Carabiniers, which together with the Cuirassiers I showed here previously will make up the Heavy Cavalry Brigade of this army.

I did a few conversions here as well, basically turned some of the heads to varied directions, to make them livelier, and gave the trumpeter his instrument of office, in place of a sabre.

Swedish Cuirassiers

Another unit of cavalry painted for the Swedish army. The first of a couple units of heavy cavalry: the Cuirassiers.

There is a single pose of the cuirassiers in the Hat Swedish Cavalry set, so in order to creat some diversity I repositioned several of the heads - they're originally all facing their right.

For the trumpeter, I did a conversion using the body of a carabinier, so to have a unarmored torso - I'm assuming the swedish trumpeters did not wear cuirass, as the norm of the other armies of the period.

I also converted his hand to carry a trumpet, and painted his helmet crest white, same of the officer - here again, I'm not sure which color the trumpeter's crest should be, but I've seen some visual references of the officer's white crest, and decided to do likewise on the trumpeter.

Battle of Saltanovka - Part II of II

We finished the first part of our battle report with the Russians halting their push on the Saltanovka village, as they watched the build up of French forces in the area.

The battle on the outskirts of the village of Saltanovka.

The Russians decide to probe the other flank, and Paskevitch's division is ordered forward to take the village of Fatova.

Above, the French watch as the Russian columns march forward, followed close behind by their heavy cavalry

The Russians advance quickly toward the village, and their infantry ford the river unnoposed on both sides of the bridge. The Russian Cuirassiers stand close behind, waiting for an opportunity to also make the cross. The outnumbered French choose to hold their ground where they were, rather they split their forces to try and delay the enemy.

Above, French Infantry face the Russian grenadiers on the village of Fatova. 

Sensing the growing danger to his right flank, Davout dispatches the Young Guard to reinforce Fatova, and the battalions march at double pace to relieve their besieged countrymen. French artillery opens fire in support and lay havoc on the Russian columns still trying to cross the river at the left side of the bridge.

On the village of Saltanovka, the fighting dies down slowly. The Russians now have the advantage of numbers, with the Young Guard ordered elsewhere, but alas, the threat of French cavalry lingers on, and fatigue mounts accross the ranks, making the prospect of another advance an enterprise of questionable judgement.

The Young Guard arrives at Fatova and is immediatelly unleashed against the Russian infantry brigade that bravely crossed the river under relentless artillery fire. The brigade is then ordered to hold their ground at all costs, buying time for the grenadiers to clear the village off the French infantry still resisting there. 

As the situation on their right flank deteriorates, the French order their Cuirassier Brigade there, leaving the Dragoons on Saltanova, to deter any attempt on advance from the Russian infantry at that site. Meanwhile, the Russian Hussars on the bridge, unable to push through the French square, finnaly break under heavy artillery fire.

The Young Guard hit hard at the Russian infantry, breaking a brigade, but also suffers heavy losses. By the time the French Cuirassiers arrive to support, the Russians already have a hold on the village of Fatova, and are hastily pushing their cavalry cross the bridge. The brigade of French Cuirassiers and Grenadiers a Cheval charges the enemy heavies, and carnage ensues, with both brigades sustaining horrible losses.

In the end, the French fail at pushing the Russians back from Fatova - both sides are exausted, and the forces under Davout fall back to reform just out of the village.

The game ended in a draw. Both armies broke at the same turn, and calculating victory points we realized the Russians had 1 point advantage overall - a minor lead in this scenario, insufficient to claim a victory!

Battle of Saltanovka - Part I of II

Last saturday we played a game of Black Powder at our club, the first of the scenarios of the Clash of Eagles supplement - the battle of Saltanovka.

The supplement illustrates this battle with these words: 

" Bagration's intention to join the First Western Army by crossing the Dnieper River at Mogilev has been thwarted by the French under Davout. Bagration decides to throw Raevsky's VII Corps at Davout's positions, if the French are weak then Raevsky will easily succeed through weight of numbers. If the French prove stronger than thought, then Raevsky can fight a delaying action giving Bagration time to cross the Dnieper elsewhere."

We had to do some adjustments on each army's forces, as I don't have all elements included on the army lists given - napoleonic history freaks may cringe reading this report, as a lot of units are not what they where in the real battle!

Above, our table at setup, with the french infantry positioned on the northern banks of the Saltanovka river, holding the namesake village to their left (right side of the table) and the village of Fatova, to their right (left side of the table).

The rest of the french forces (a brigade of infantry and a divison of cavalry) was to enter the game on later turns. The russians start the game with everything off the table.

I was in charge of the French, while my friend Leon took command of the Russian forces. Our game began with Kolubakin's forces pushing onto the table straight towards the river, attempting to ford it and hold some ground in the northern banks, thus allowing cavalry to cross the bridge safely.

Above, russian hussars and cossacks rush for the bridge while the Russian infantry fights a bloodly clash with the French over the banks of the Saltanovka.

For a moment, it seems the Russian Cavalry will succeed at grasping a bridgehead.

But a French battalion is dispatched to form square at the foot of the bridge and hold the enemy cavalry at all costs.

On the Russian left flank, facing the village of Fatova, Paskevitch's divison marches to sight of the enemy, but then halt their advance at several hundred yards of the river. There is a single French infantry brigade positioned to oppose them if they attempt to push through the bridge. 

On the second game turn, the Young Guard arrives and is directed to support the efforts at Saltanovka, where the river is turning red with French and Russian blood, as the armies wear each other down in bitter struggle.

The French cavalry arrives on turn 3, and is also dispatched to that village, since the Russians so far have not made an advance on Fatova.

Masses of French Cuirassiers and Dragoons ride ponderously towards the enemy. With such a mass of horses poised to strike, it'd now be foolish for the Russian Infantry to cross to the northern banks here.

The battle on the Saltanovka village, once the Young Guard and French Cavalry arrive. 

The French infantry facing the Russian regiments on the banks of the river are ordered to fall back, so to entice the enemy to advance and cross the river, making themselves a target for the French Cavalry - but the Russian commander sees the danger and holds his ranks!

Raevsky decides it's time to exploit the much weaker French right flank, at Fatova.

Stay tunned for part II of this Battle Report!