After the recent drawn battle, General Douglas (Red) was ordered to destroy the bridge over the Blutaip River near Lawson's Inn. Having gotten word of this plan, General Lannigan (Blue) decided to prevent this vandalism.
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Dominion fire continued to wear down the Republican cavalry, while the Dominion cavalry took post to interfere with any future cavalry charges.
By this time, both sides infantry were engaged in a firefight across the entire field but especially across the bridge. As long as the blue soldiers could dispute the bridge, the Dominion Sappers could not lay their charges.
As Lannigan watched his cavalry disintegrate while the infantry disputing the bridge were wavering after heavy losses, he decided to throw his reserve of infantry into the fight. They inflicted heavy losses on the Highlanders, forcing them to fall back. The day was not over yet.
Alas for Lannigan, while he was issuing orders to his right wing infantry to wheel and attack the bridge while chasing off the remnant of the Highlanders, his army collapsed. All he could do was order the infantry to cover the retreat. Already he could see the Dominion Sappers at work.
Notes: 54mm figures. Infantry and artillery crew mostly converted homecast figures from commercial moulds, plastic guns, cavalry mostly conversions of Britain's figures.
Rules: home rules available here: Defended Border.
Huzzah! Now that was a game worth waiting for. A genuine pleasure to see this on the blog, Ross. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteEric
My pleasure in everyway.
DeleteCracking looking game, I had thought the Blues were going to win but they couldn't see it through and the bridge is no more! Really enjoyed this one.
ReplyDeleteI think the Dominion artillery takes the pennant for most effective units.
DeleteGreat looking game and interesting rules, win , win in my humble opinion.
ReplyDeleteAlan Tradgardland
Thanks.
DeleteAlways a joy to see your troops in action!
ReplyDeleteFor me too.
DeleteI was interested to see your latest rules, Ross, not least as I had got mired down in the Napoleonic complexities of my own rules at Blasthof Bridge earlier in the year. Yours are refreshingly, and inspiringly, simple and elegant -- but have I missed any incentive for troops with rifles to actually charge into contact, or is that a deliberate feature of the combat you are representing ? All the best, Nick.
ReplyDeleteNick, after decades of searching out memoirs and first hand accounts as well as books by historians better informed than me, I eventually came to the conclusion that while cavalry (and 'native' spearmen' ) often attempted to "charge home" (hoping that the infantry would panic and run before contact ) most infantry "charges" in the open were an approach to close range followed by a firefight. About the only time they got to hand to hand was when storming a fortified position or a breech in a wall.
DeletePS: That's why I changed my short range to 1/3 for infantry rather then 1/2. Even 1/3 is probably too far but on a bad day, my brain can handle multiples of 4" easier than fractions)
DeleteThank you Ross, I had wondered if something similar was the theory behind it, and it is most helpful to hear your explanation of the mechanism.
DeleteIn this period the cavalry frequently resorted to dismounted action, something already common in the ACW. On the other hand, in the Franco Prussian war the cavalry charge still was a preferred tactic and one which often led to them being slaughtered.
ReplyDelete