The Battle of Neufield Bridge

Spring had come early but the armies were eager to leave winter quarters and take the field. Both generals had studied the maps and both had reached the same conclusion. If the Dominion moved quickly to seize the bridge at Neufield, they could grab the initiative, setting the Origawn rebels on the defensive. If the rebels could blow the bridge however, everything was up for grabs.

The armies' advance guards approaching the bridge, passing by meadows of new growth grass and  fields awaiting plowing. 

Moving swiftly under General Lannigan's eye, the Rebel cavalry has seized both ends of the bridge. Unsupported by the Princess Louise Hussars who have been sent over the river, the NorthWest Mounted Rifles dismounted and opened fire in hopes of holding the enemy until the Dominion infantry could come up. 

    

As the battle developed, observers began to wonder about Douglas's plan, or if he had one. Later reports blamed the absence of the usual staff which was perhaps a bit harsh on the engineer sergeant who was filling in because he had a note pad. It is below us to repeat comments overheard about the mess dinner held the preceding evening. 

The Rebel's biggest issue was the bottleneck between the farm and the bridge. The general talk afterwards was that the owner should never had been allowed to build that close to the bridge even if the house had come first.(?!) 

B company of the Hochelaga Fusiliers, not having received orders to hurry to the front, interrupted their approach march to brew up while listening to the rumble of the artillery fire and the pop pop of the rifles. At last, the cavalry, which had been getting the worst of a long range firefight with the  Rebel infantry holding the farm, received orders to mount up and flank the enemy. It was down to the Mount Royal battery now to stop the Rebel sappers from blowing up the bridge.

At least the Dominion artillery fire was accurate. General Lannigan had to ride forward in person to steady them at their work. Belatedly the Dominion infantry was ordered to advance on both flanks.

The sun was setting low when General Lannigan decided that he couldn't risk the artillery fire any longer. If the explosion wasn't powerful enough to break the bridge it should at least damage it and in any case he felt comfortable of holding the bridge till dark.  There was a muffled roar and a piller of smoke as the sappers scattered to the shore. When the dust settled there was a gaping hole in the middle of the bridge's roadway. It could be temporally patched to allow infantry to cross but it wouldn't take artillery or wagons anytime soon. Soon the Dominion bugles could be heard sounding the recall.

A set back for the Dominion but the campaign season stretches ahead.

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Note: Any resemblance to the Blasthof Bridge scenario in Charge! is due purely to me adapting it for my purposes.

Next up: A discussion of the table, the scenario, my sudden revelation on the grid and rules etc and on my revised plans and so on. Probably posting the first bit  late Wednesday or on Thursday.