Shadow of the Wolf - Part 2

We returned to the second & third session last week. The lines had not really come to grips yet, this  has been a game of maneuver so far, but all that's about to change. People are going to die & young Clemency Wolf's curse on the valley will reap a strong harvest.

Rules in use are General d'Armee, Austrians & French in 1809. Table 14'6 x 6, back boards not in use. Deployment was interesting; Deep reserves on the table edge, engaged formations up to 12" on, Light cavalry, skirmishers & artillery up to 24" on - it worked. 

This is an over view looking roughly south east from the French extreme right.
In the fore ground two Austrian brigades converge on Friant, in turn a French heavy cavalry brigade is moving to secure the right flank & spoil the Austrians ability to exploit their superior numbers. The horse battery seals the flank of the heavies from Austrian light horse of screen to the right. This area will see an eruption of violence soon enough...      

Meanwhile back on the Austrian right their initial numerical advantage has been skilfully overcome by the French.
The rough handing of Von Hammer & Mayer's light cavalry brigades by French artillery & Cuirassiers has caused a mess here. Retreating hussars, uhlans & chevau legere has disrupted Von Riess attack stalling it and the deployment of supporting batteries. Time to rebuild & attack - all the while under fire from three French batteries.   

French Cuirassiers returning to their lines to rest their horses & wipe their sabres.  

To the left of the above scene Austrian attack columns near their target. The French pull off a difficult trick here; pulling a depleted battery out of the line & inserting a fresh one. Skirmishers trade shots & insults.   

Le Grande Batterie in the French centre has not really delivered yet. It has however controlled the ground as the Austrians are yet to venture into the killing field in dominates - Area denial.   

The Austrian centre left now has the support of a brigade of Grenadiers with a 12lb battery & begins to deploy for an attack. 

Old Glory French horse battery on the French right.
Get those plumes!

French Cuirassiers on the French right.

More French Cuirassiers on the Right.

Nice close up of Austrian line battalion.
We still need to get flags for both armies - sounds like a few tiresome evenings work.

Friant takes a minute to pose for the camera - "Bonjour Monsieur".   

Wurtemburg brigade in the centre - so far not engaged. Note hand painted flags by Tony.
The block of wood is worth a comment at this point - these are attractive accessories with an engraved name plate showing the general's name for ease. When flipped over like this it means the brigade is "hesitant" for this turn.
We think it's rather elegant system.   

French Old Guard Chasseurs a Pied, 40 strong!
One of four such battalions in deep reserve. 

Another French general posing for the camera - not sure who this time.

French Carabiniers regrouping behind the lines on the French left after defeating the Austrian light cavalry.  

Pretty regiment of French hussars behind the French left, we have another three regiments of French hussars to be painted.

French Voltigeurs screening the village on the vital junction.

Panning out from the shot above as the lines close.
Note the recycled battery now in the rear resting.  

Panning out further still to behind the supporting Austrian battery dropping long range round shot on the Frenchies! 

Von Hammer & Von Reiss disentangling their mess before mounting an attack.

Horn's brigade is strung out between two objective junctions along this the road. They are mostly sheltered from massed enemy artillery by a long low hill.

Austrian battery from Horn's brigade up on the low hill bravely trading shots with the French Grand battery.
Grenz skirmishers to the fore.

Austrian battalion supporting a foot battery.

Nice shot of the abbey as the Austrian left makes contact with Friant's French.
Smoke indicates a firefight has erupted.  

Ruinous artillery fire drove off this lead Austrian battalion which retreated with heavy casualties. 

Friant's French boys in line await the Austrian onslaught.

Grenzers take well aimed shots at French lines & artillery crews, but not without losses.
A white marker indicates 1 casualty, a blue one 2 casualties, a 3rd and a base is removed. 

This is a beautiful model - more to follow as we speak!
Here the Austrian centre begins to move forward now that the left looks to be getting the upper hand.
God I hope they are or these lot will get rolled up by rampaging French Cuirassiers.    

An Austrian general directs fire from this foot battery.

A good shot of the Austrian heavy cavalry reserve brigade.
Massed Austrian Kuirass await the order to advance.  

I think these are Stipsic's Hussars - very colourful.
This is a large formation in GdA terms at 32 strong.  

Austrian general wipes his brow; all this leading from the rear is a tiring business!

Another Austrian general & ADC who seems to be distractedly amused with sheep worrying - a serious offence in the UK. 

A handsome chateau at the end of a suitably majestic long drive. In time the trees will grow to provide a long shaded avenue approach to this well appointed country home.
I should be in property sales. Doh! I am.     

From the French extreme left looking south west.

The delays on the Austrian right at the hands of French heavy cavalry & guns mean that this village & junction have been reinforced by another brigade so any attack here will be doubly difficult for my Austrians.
Well played Frenchy!  

The scene to the west of the above shot. The Grand battery keeps Horn's boys honest in the dead ground while another French brigade eyes up the gap and junction opposite... 

Looking south west over the Wurtembergers to Friant's battle.

Friant's thin blue line braces of impact. 

The French prop up Friant with this lot of Heavy Metal sneaking around to flank the Austrians. 

This battery has run low on ammo once and traded shots with Austrian counterparts since turn 1.
They are exhausted & have taken very severe casualties.
Time to pull them from the line - grown up wargaming in motion - please applaud now!    

The long view from south east to north west. 

Good overhead shot as the lines close.

Finally the Austrians close with Friant who has repulsed numerous charges with volley & canister.  

Froon's Infantry breaks through throwing back this line.
A battalion of LDW contact the mighty Ironheads of the 8th Ligne as the proverbial hits the fan.
This fight would soon see Friant's brigade retire and the french heavies fail to disrupt the attack. 

Action on the other flank settle down for a while. Meyer's lights would overrun the French horse battery but pay the ultimate price at the hands of the French Carabiniers.
Bottom left Austrian Grenadiers with 12lb battery move up slowly to reinforce the attacks here.  

Successive Austrian charges are repulsed by artillery & fresh French. eventually the French battery is destroyed & the attacks can resume relatively unmolested.   

The Austrian centre & grenadiers moves up to attack.

French Guard cavalry deploy from reserve to sweep around that village to fall upon the Austrian attack columns.  

This French brigade is launched at the junction ahead by the small farm.

History in the making...
Horn has kept his brigade safe behind this low ridge & the French Grand Battery has failed to exert itself, until now.
For some reason the Austrian commander here, (Me...) moved Vogelsang's battalion up as shown above.
The sheer shit storm of fire that hit them is shown by the two double 6's shown above!
They suffered grievous casualties, failed various tests & were flung back over the river.
Next we had to make two Destiny rolls for nearby generals. Result...
General Horn took TWO howitzer shells to the chest, needless to say he didn't make it.        

Frau Horn laments the tragic, if messy, loss of her husband. His remains were scraped into that urn.   

Here we have a pretty picture of  one of Tony's battalions. The hand painted flags are rolled metal welded onto pins and drilled into the model's hand - yes these are 10mm. Brillaint work.    

Here we leave the game for this update. We play again tomorrow night, possibly to a conclusion.

I hope you are finding this of interest? Please follow us if you haven't & comment with feedback, it's much appreciated by the boys & I. Pop back soon for the next instalment. 

Best wishes,

Jeremy