Post by Eric Farrington on Mar 22, 2021 13:19:02 GMT
I know nothing about the Napoleonic Wars. If it wasn't in a Sharpe book then I really know nothing about it! However, as a Wargamer it is the 600 pound gorilla in the room. I have always had some interest in the big battles, the tactics, the pageantry and the big hats! However, that has easily been countered by the historical details, the many rule sets, basing, and the lack of a Nappie mentor.
Therefore, to help me get a feel for the world of Nappies, I bought the Blucher and 100 Days game late in 2018, and played in early 2019. I really liked the ability to use cards instead of models, and it gave me a high level introduction to the period without getting bogged down in the minutiae of it. Plus, the rule set itself was very user friendly and gave a good balanced game. Therefore, I broke it out again for some more gaming this year as a palette cleanser and to do something completely different.
Prussian forces are maneuvering to try and enter France and bring the war "home" to their enemies. However, French commanders have been alerted and have moved 3 Corps to intercept them. The two forces meet and a battle is fought near the border.
Forces:
Since I know nothing about the period, I decided to go completely "ahistorical" for our outing today. I took the cards from the 100 Days box for the Prussians and the French. I shuffled them, and I drew 18 cards for each army, 6 into each Corp.
Prussians
1st Corp
Foot artillery
Landwehr Cavalry
4th Silesian Landwehr
Infantry regiment #11
2nd Elbe Landwehr
Foot artillery
2nd Corp
Infantry Regiment #15
Horse Artillery
Infantry Regiment #9
2nd Silesian Landwehr
1st Pommern Landwehr
Heavy Artillery
3rd Corp
Heavy Artillery
Infantry Regiment #29
Infantry Regiment #27
1st Silesian Landwehr
Infantry Regiment #14
3rd Kurmark Landwehr
An infantry heavy force with a decent amount of artillery support. A mixed bag of units for sure. The Third Corp seems like the Prussian heavy hitter.....
French
1st Corp
1/12 Rome
2/11 Logarde
2/Grenadiers
2/7 Piat
2/9 Jamin
Heavy artillery
2nd Corp
1/10 Grengoult
2/10 Dupeyroux
Maurin Light Cavalry
1/1 Quiot
1/4 Pegot
2/2/ Aulard
3rd Corp
4 Soult Light Cavalry
1/19 Bellair
1/14 Hulot
2/8 Corsin
1/ Chassuers- Old Guard
Heavy Artillery
The French came with plenty of line infantry as well! However, it looks like the French have the cavalry advantage, even if it is only one unit.
I am not using any personality cards for this game.
Mission
Both armies have 2 Objectives placed on the field. This will just be a straight up battle with both forces trying to break each other OR secure their objectives behind their enemy lines.
Set-up
The board is a 6 foot by 4 foot board. The French and the Prussians both have some heights on their side of the board. The French are on the West, and the Prussians are on the East. There is a small pond and swampy region on the northern side of the center line of the board. Other than that, there was very little terrain of interest.
One interesting thing in Blucher is that both sides set-up using blinds! You place the cards face down, and they are not revealed unless they shoot, or move into view. Therefore, when we look at the board we see 18 cards per side with their national flag on the back.
The Prussians have the 3rd Corp deployed on their right, then the 2nd and the 1st is on their left. The French have the 2nd on their right, then the 1st in the center, and 3rd Corp on their left.
You can read the rest of the battle and the results on my blog.....
bloodandspectacles.blogspot.com/2021/03/battle-report-blucher-prussians-vs.html