Battle of Blasthof in 40mm -- No. 2

 This weekend saw the most gaming here at the Lead Gardens in a very long time. The wife seemed to tolerate the occupation of the dining table reasonably well for the entire weekend, (of course I sent her off with her girlfriends on Saturday night so it was clear sailing to set up another go on the Battle of Blasthof this time with the sides entering on the short sides of the 4'x5' table (see last post for the first battle)

 The French enter with their right flank passing Blasthof Farm which has been moved a little for this game to open the field a bit. Again I staged the entry of the infantry with random die rolls to activate units on the start line. 

 Also the British were given initial possession of Blasthof Bridge and a gun and the grenadiers of the 12th and Colonel Gerlach's Jagers tasked to hold it until reinforcements move up.

 This game also featured my new custom made measuring batten for "Charge" with moves and firing distances all marked on it so I could do less rulebook checking during the game.

A "QRS on a Stick!"

 Initial move saw as in the last game cavalry getting activated first. In this game the river figures much more in the game as a barrier even though I made it fordable along its entire length.

 French infantry moving in column of companies

French gun preparing to fire near Blasthof Farm

French advance while the Jagers and Hussars cross the stream to harass the oncoming column

Cavalry face off across Blasthof stream

Situation at turn three

British artillery get the range of advancing French horse and down several troopers

 The French goaded into charging rather than suffer further casualties from long range artillery, charge across Blasthof stream and up the long slope of the Blashofberg taking heavy casualties from artillery and a final blast of canister but still manage to overrun the gun.

 Meanwhile the 4th Horse send one of their squadrons across to charge the second squadron of the Royal Rousillion sending them retreating to the rear

 Unfortunately both the French squadron that captured the battery and the British face a turn of rally right in the teeth of full infantry volleys that cause heavy casualties.

 The infantry battlelines close on the bridge proper and volleys are traded.

The French Colonel Marquis de Villaroy orders an assault across the bridge...probably ill advised...

 But bravely they form up and charge across...

 While their second company engage the British downstream.

 A few survivors make it across the bridge but are easily defeated by the grenadiers.

The French loose 50% in the assault and are forced to leave the field and loose the battle.

So in debriefing these two battles this weekend, I found "Charge" works really well at this scale, though on this small table I think I will next time use half scale distances. I might even use the elementary rules for a change of pace. The I-go U-go format of the elementary game might be easier for solo play.
I also realized that in these two battles I was calling the French regiment "Lyonaise",  but it actually painted as the Lorraine Regiment...my mistake...I'm getting old and my memory is like swiss cheese sometimes. But the commander the Marquis de Villaroy is the historical commander of the Lorraine Regiment. I plan to name all the major command figures in the collection after historical commanders ( something I could only do with the marvelous and indispensable "Project Seven Years War" website as well as the equally indispensable "Not By Appointment" that many of us Horse and Musket enthusiasts rely on...as always many thanks!)