Today, we had our last club game before Christmas and the New Year. We decided to do a Beneath the Lily Banners game, and welcomed Andy Mcmaster to the game. He does Imagi-Nations with such well known personalities in wargaming such as Henry Hyde! Although some of the troops he used were not entirely covered by BTLB, he used his 'Savage Swans' together with some Alte Fritzburg allies. He fought alongside my Franco-Bavarians, our opponents being Ian's Austrians and Lawrence's British.
The Swans, on our right flank.With only light horse and Dragoons supporting his infantry, would he cope with the Austrians? (For more on this side of the battle, please go to Andy's blog: Another Slight Diversion)
The Alte Fritzburg infantry (in Green)
Opposite, Ian's Austrians.No lack of heavy cavalry here!
On the Swan's left, my French, supported by a Bavarian Cavalry brigade.
Lawrence had some good Danish horse opposite mine.
His 3 British battalions on their left.
On the first turn, I threw a '1' on my D10, meaning my men would not move this turn!
The Swans were luckier, and decided to advance their infantry while putting their lance armed light horse on their right.
My Bavarian field gun fired, it was all I could do!
The Danish Kuirassiers were not impressed!
The British began to climb a steep hill overlooking my positions.
The Swans sent their Dragoons to support their light infantry...
An Austrian Kuirassier brigade was bearing down on them!
My men finally got moving on turn 2.
Even my French infantry! - The Bavarian gun now had the range...
A squadron of Danish Kuirassiers was hit and retreated to the rear.
The rest of the Danish horse supported the Welch fusiliers.
These, being in column, were charged by a squadron of french regiment Cosse, but drove them off with fire.
The French horse retired to safety.
The Welsh now formed out into line.
The French squadron charged again, and got into contact, the ragged volley of defensive fire missed!
Another Cosse squadron, and a Danish Guard cavalry squadron charged each other.
The remaining Danish Kuirassier squadron and my Bavarian regiment D'Arco refused to charge, and just glowered at each other!
Meanwhile..The Swans' light infantry retreated from the advancing Austrians.
The Austrians cavalry broke one of the Swans' dragoon squadrons...but the second dragoon squadron attacked them as they pursued.
Amazingly, Regiment Cosse beat the Danish Guards! - the squadron which had charged the Welch fusiliers were destroyed, however.
These retired, not to fight again today!
Back with the Swans, the dragoons beat the Austrian Kuirassiers and an Alte Fritzburg battalion shot down another Austrian squadron, which fell back.
The Austrian infantry now advanced.
The elite Swan infantry moved to extend the Alte Fritzburg line to face them.
Gotta love that winged mascot!
I finally got my dragoons to dismount to try to stem the British advance
Regiment D'Arco finally charged!
They beat the Danes, who retreated, badly cut up.
The second squadron of Danish Guards now chased off another French squadron, but then got shot to pieces by Regiment Irlandoise du Dillon
The Swans light lancers broke another Austrian Kuirassier squadron.
But, they were now faced with a fresh, elite, Austrian Kuirassier brigade, while they were blown.
The Austrian infantry was winning a firefight with the Alte Fritzburg infantry.
So, as the game ended, it was clear the Austrians had beaten the Swans, and even though my cavalry had, more or less, beaten the Danish cavalry, the British and Danish infantry remained.
It was a close game, and, (probably?) - an Austrian victory (sigh!).
