The Marauders trip to the Wargames Holiday Centre has fired our enthusiasm for big games & the General d'Armee rules. We've decided we need more toys, more trees & more roads so they are on the Christmas shopping list and next years few shows we'll visit. Funnily enough I am going to sell some bits too if I can sort myself out on ebay again.
Deployment & tour of the field.
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| View across the field looking south east from the Austrian rear. |
Our 1813 battle is set in Saxony, south of Liepzig at Starkenberg & the nearby village of Tegkwitz, it is entirely fictional! The Emperor of France confronts the Army of Bohemia; basically our whole Austrian collection is pitted against a comparable French force. There are three objectives to contest by capturing & holding them. Firstly, the town of Starkenberg in the centre, the village of Tegkwitz nearer the Austrian lines. The third objective is a hill south east of Starkenberg closer to the French lines. Other than the objectives a win will need to be earned by body count & strategic position.
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| The French front lines & reserves. |
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| Looking from the French right almost due west. That's Starkenberg with the tower in the centre. |
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| The Austrian lines. Chris elected to lead with light cavalry, the Advance Guard & an infantry brigade, the rest is is reserve. |
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| The Austrian 2nd line & reserves. The Grenadiers are still arriving. |
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| The Grenadiers will fill this eventually fill this space, I think there are nine battalions of them. |
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| Deployed in depth, brigades of infantry, light cavalry and heavies at the back. |
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| Two Austrian cavalry brigades await their time. |
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| Austrian heavy cavalry, 2 x 24 Cuirassiers, 1 x 24 Dragoons, Elite Miniatures. |
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| Austrian light cavalry advance on favorable ground, 36 Hussars & 36 Uhlans, Elite Miniatures. |
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| We need some Austrian limber teams but it seems so far down the list it may never happen. |
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| Grenz from the Advance Guard move up. |
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| Lead elements on the Austrian right under my command approach the outskirts of Tegkwitz. |
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| Starkenberg. |
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| Tegkwitz is occupied, now I just need to hang on to it!!! |
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Civilians head for the dubious sanctuary of the church...
The roof is a bit too dusty for my liking! |
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| A walled farm house with formal gardens, quite a prized piece of real estate I should think. |
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| Gunners water their horses. |
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| Hessen Homberg Hussars, Stipzics Hussars & Uhlans who's name escapes me right now. |
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| Starkenberg about to be hotly contested. |
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| Grenzers & LDW attacking, not the best kit to assault with! |
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| Saxon infantry with a French light cavalry brigade in support clashes with Austrian infantry just east of Starkenberg. |
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| Lead elements of both opposing brigades about to enter Starkenberg. |
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| Light cavalry melee, the Austrians are driven off by a concerted French counter charge. |
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| Austrian rear lines revving up eager to be released. |
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| Jaegers & Voltigeurs duel as the masses close west of Tegkwitz. |
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| The centre, looking south east with Starkenberg centre stage. |
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| This about to get messy. |
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Austrian battery on the extreme right punishing a French battalion which has stepped out of line to threaten it.
Elite Miniatures. |
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| Trying to make sense of it all... |
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| Tegkwitz is ours! |
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| Here they come... |
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| French skirmishers doing their thing. |
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| This large French brigade seems intent on taking Tegkwitz back for the Emperor. |
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| Poles move up to attack the Austrian Advance Guard outside Starkenberg. |
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| Saxon brigade in the front line attacking with a French brigade in support. |
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| French Hussars holding that hill, just about! |
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| Westphalians with attached Portuguese Legion hide in dead ground. |
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| The 3rd Hussars resting their horses & regrouping after their exertions. |
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Bavarians in reserve with the heavy cavalry reserve behind the Emperor who's up that grassy knoll...
"Dallas loves you Mr President!" |
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| Fluff! Guns & caissons move up in the French rear. |
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| The French reserve cavalry. 2 x 32 Dragoons, 1 x 24 Cuirassiers. |
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| Action on the French left. |
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| Polish gunners hope to drive this lot back with canister. |
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| Polish voltigeurs wait behind their battery. |
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| Saxon lights deploying, these I are Von Polenz Chevau Legere I think? |
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| General view of the centre from the French right. |
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| Firefights erupt as the protagonists close the range. |
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| Poles & Advance Guard face off west off Starkenberg. |
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| French rear table & reserves. |
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| Good overview shot. |
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| French left and centre. |
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| The fighting around Starkenberg - it's all kicking off just as we hit bedtime! |
That's all for this initial post! We return to the fray next week with hopefully more action as this one builds up in ferocity. I might also include an Orbat for each side.
Lastly & most importantly Tony Laughton might be about! I'm very happy to say I saw him to exchange bank notes for superbly painted Old Guard Chasseurs a Pied over the weekend, he's much better but still not his former vigorous & virile self. Get well soon my friend.
Please feel free to comment as usual. Very best wishes,
Jeremy
