Well, after the cramped, abandoned battle reported last week, I had to try to get things moving again. Bitter experience has shown that even hitherto successful campaigns can falter with such problems, and I did not want that to happen here. The game is too much fun for that (and that is the point after all).
So, now I have a central section of the battlefield, as shown last time, with too great a density of troops thereon, and two edge sections, which were populated in the usual manner by dividing the distribution of terrain table into two. On the French left, there were some enclosures, a village on the Spanish side, and some rough going. On the French right, there was another stream and a wood on the Spanish side.
The forces involved were now properly worked out. The French had eight cavalry bases, two light horse bases, seven shot and five pike bases, and two artillery bases. The Spanish had five demi-lancer bases, two light horse bases, eight shot bases, seven pike bases and two artillery bases. A total of twenty-four bases a side, with three generals (one general in chief and two sub-generals) each.
The picture shows a number of things, not least the problem of taking photographs of 6 mm figures six feet away from the camera. At least you cannot see the poor state of the painting on some of the figures. Anyway, the Spanish are supposed to be attacking, but have set up fairly defensively, largely because they are outnumbered in cavalry. Nearest the camera, you can see a substantial presence on a ridge that runs right to left, peaking where the Spanish artillery battery is. This wing has more infantry support and two bases of cavalry and is commanded by a sub-general. The Spanish were concerned about being outflanked on this side.
The centre is more lightly held by the other artillery battery and a regiment of foot, together with the commander-in-chief. On the far side, the fields and village are held by Spanish musketeers, and the rest of the demi-lancers are lurking out of sight (and cannon shot) behind the buildings (you can just see them in the corner).
The French possibly had a harder task. Their idea was to use their cavalry superiority to sweep across the open spaces on their left and roll up the Spanish centre. The hope was that this would negate the Spanish forces on their right. In the meantime, there would be an infantry assault on the hill, directed by the commander in chief, along with the cavalry and a sub-general on the French right, outflanking it.
Strategically, you might remember that the French have a problem with a mutinous army of rebels in Languedoc approaching from the south. There is a bit of an onus on them to firstly win this battle quickly, and secondly to win with as few casualties as possible. These may well be, in wargame terms as well as historically, more or less mutually exclusive goals.
The French had a bit of difficulty getting going, and only those troops under the direct command of a general have actually moved. On the far side, the cavalry has swept forward, although the French light cavalry covering them has suffered at the hands of their Spanish counterparts. In the centre, artillery bombardments have been taking place to little effect. All the action is on the Spanish left, really, where the guns and muskets on the hill have forced back the initial French assault. If you look closely, in the top right corner, the Spanish cavalry has crept out from cover. This will become important shortly.
Things started to heat up as the French eventually got moving. On the Spanish right, the French cavalry has swung back to oppose the Spanish demi-lancers. I decided on this as I did not fancy letting the demi-lancers rip on the French flank and gun line. However, the French cavalry is now running the gauntlet of musketeers in the village and fields to both the left and right. These did not cause much damage, but they did disrupt the line slightly.
In the centre, the French column of infantry and one of cavalry are moving forward, under cannon fire. Again, however, most of the action is on the Spanish left, with another assault on the hill by the French infantry, the pike of which has just been routed, and the musketeers recoiled. However, more infantry are moving up, and the French cavalry is now outflanking the hill. The main French problem is that their commander-in-chief has become a casualty.
The action proceeded. In the centre, the French infantry column in the woods has been stopped by cannon fire. On the far side, after some hesitation, the demi-lancers have charged home to devastating effect. On the Spanish left, the fighting on the hill is going the Spanish way, with the rest of the yellow-coats being routed.
Just for the avoidance of doubt, above is a closer image of the cavalry fight on the Spanish right, and the deep trouble which the French cavalry is in. The overlap which the musketeers gave the Spanish cavalry by halting one of the French bases has paid handsome dividends, as the French are now being driven back in disarray. In the foreground, the next column of French cavalry is, perhaps rather hopefully, approaching the Spanish infantry line, which is adjusting its position to give them a warm welcome.
And there, I am afraid, the photographs stop. The French cavalry attacked up the hill on the Spanish left and drove the infantry back, despite attempts by the Spanish general to flank them. The rest of the French infantry on this flank were, however, themselves routed. In the centre, combined artillery and musket fire stopped the French cavalry advancing (and they never got the tempo to deploy, anyway). On the far side, two bases of French cavalry were routed and the sub-general there was lost. At this point, French morale went to withdraw, and so, seven bases and two generals down, they did just that.
The post-wargame reflection centred mostly on the French deployment. The Spanish had focused mostly on their wings, and this seems to have been the correct decision. The French changed plan for their left halfway through the game, and switched the cavalry from attempting to outflank the Spanish centre to taking on the Spanish cavalry. This failed spectacularly, although with different dice rolls it could have succeeded. The French right attacking the hill struggled until the cavalry intervened. Better coordination here (my fault, both forces were general-controlled) could have increased the pressure. Perhaps even better, a greater French cavalry presence could have exploited the gaps more. The three bases which were stalled in the centre could have made life even more difficult on the hill for the Spanish, although I suppose they would have deployed more infantry to their left.
So an interesting, if large, game. Now, a rather depleted French force of the 17 remaining bases has to tackle a rebellious French army of twelve, with Spanish allies. I think. My notes say the mutinous French are an army plus an artillery train, but I do not believe that, as I think the second pin in Languedoc is a fleet.
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