Surprise Encounter and Bautzen 1813 - Lasselle battles

 Game 1  - Surprise Encounter

One of last weeks battles had nt completed by finishing time so the players did the last three turns this week to see if the Allies could prevent the escape of the French wagons.  

In this game the French deployed to protect the whole road with their cavalry guarding the bridge. The Allies attacked strongly towards the tail of the baggage train with their cavalry and the Prussians.     

French stretch out along the road 

As the Allies advanced the French also attacked in an attempt to disrupt the advance and create as large a buffer zone as possible. This slowed the Austrian advance in east but allowed the Allied cavalry to threaten the baggage. Sadly the Prussians became very tangled in the woods and played little part in the action.     

Prussians lost in the woods

The Allied threat to the baggage forced the French into squares and also forced them to redeploy their cavalry to protect the wagons. There was a tense few turns but the French were able to extract the wagons and see them to safety on turn 8. French Win     

Baggage under threat

 

Game 2 - Bautzen; French vs Germans 

In this scenario the Allies are falling back from a defeat at Lutzen when they are attacked and form a rear guard holding a village and ridge line. The French must capture both to win but do have a Guards brigade to help them out.

 

The Germans spread their forces fairly evenly between the two objectives and awaited the French attack. The French for their part massed almost all of their troops against the town with just guns opposite the hill. 

As the French advanced their guns provide effective and destroyed a German battalion, forcing the rest to seek  cover in the woods and behind the hill. 

 

Guard attacks

The narrow French frontage allowed the Germans to abandon the hill and instead move to flank firing positions against the French attacking the town. The attackers threw wave-after-wave of attacks into the town but all were beaten back and heavy fired poured into the French columns. 

The town stands firm

Losses were heavy on both sides, including the German cavalry being routed by the heavier French horse. As we hit turn 6 both sides reached breakpoint and the game was a bloody stalemate as both sides withdrew. Game drawn.