Freeman's Farm, 1777

The opening set up for the historical Freeman's Farm scenario from Saratoga, a game from GMT's "Battles of the American Revolution" series. This is the version from the tri-pack that was released last year.

Waterloo 20 with My Wife

Night, June 16th. Through heavy fighting, the Allies have been forced out of Quatre Bras and the Prussians from Ligny.

I've persuaded my wife to do some reading on Waterloo. She's chiefly reading Bernard Corwell's Waterloo: The History of Four Days, Three Armies, and Three Battles and may progress on to some other works, including a volume of personal accounts of the battle. To help her understand the situation and choices facing Wellington and Napoleon during those four days, we're playing through Waterloo 20 from the GMT Fading Glory set.

Getting Serious about GBoH Alexander

Five sheets of counters for this and my wrists are starting to show signs of RSI finally from years at keyboards. Progress has been slow but I am determined. Issus and Raphia call.

Fontenoy 1745

After several weeks playing the hypothetical Melle scenario from BAR Fontenoy, David and I set up the Fontenoy historical scenario from Vae Victis' The Victories of Marshal De Saxe. to play on our next gaming night.

Wargaming Night - GMT Germantown - First session

Initial setup positions

Thursday evenings are wargaming night around here, and this past Thursday David and I tackled GMT's Germantown from their Battles of the American Revolution series. Game scale is an hour per turn, units are battalions with some brigades, 200 yards per hex. Given that I was slightly more familiar with the rules, I took the Americans and David played His Majesty's troops.

Turenne's 1645 Campaign - March 1645

I didn't get to it last week, but this week I am playing Won by the Sword, a game simulating operations during the Thirty Years War.

The Campaign of 1645

Turenne's army preparing to leave Phillipsburg and begin the campaign of 1645. Won by the Sword. I'm planning to start this in the coming week, assuming I finish my game of Nine Years.

Under the Lily Banners

Mercy's Bavarians surprise Turenne's French at Mergentheim

I have been interested in the wars of Marshal Turenne and the French armies from the end of the Thirty Years War to the Nine Years War. This is an overlooked period in gaming but an interesting one as it comes during the conclusion of the Pike & Shot Era. There are significant changes in tactics and advancements in weaponry during this period that make the various armies very different. These are the early wars of Louis XIV and were marked by the overwhelming presences of two French generals, Turenne and Condé.

Rossbach: The Battle

11:30 and Frederick is on the move

I hinted that the Prussians had made a subtle, but serious error in my previous post. In this entry we'll see what they did, and how that combined with another unfortunate happening led to a surprising outcome at the Battle of Rossbach.

The League of Augsburg

The map for Nine Years, a strategic/operation simulation of the war

After I wrap up Rossbach, I'm going to take a break from the Seven Years War and return to an ealier time. Namely, the Nine Years War, fought from 1688 to 1697.

Rossbach: The Flank March

The aftermath of the French attack on Schortau

Historically, Rossbach was a Prussian triumph, a battle fought not just against inferior French and Imperial troops, but by Frederick against a pair of French and Imperial generals who probably had no business being on the field.

That may not be the case on my table.

Rossbach: Prelude

Rossbach: Prussian initial approach and retreat. Because Frederick might have been aggressive, but he was no fool.

The battles of Rossbach and Leuthen in 1757, during the Seven Years War, are like something from a movie.

Battle of Kolin: Prussia's Glory II - 5

Finishing up the game. The Prussian attack fails and the Austrians manage a marginal victory.

Battle of Kolin: Prussia's Glory II - 4

The Prussian attack is finally underway. Cavalry from both sides battle it out on the east side of the map while the Prussian infantry begins its assault.

Battle of Kolin: Prussia's Glory II - Cavalry Fight

At around 2PM, Zeiten's hussars swing into action, striking the right of Nadasdy's hussars northwest of Kutlirz. The charge is successful, eliminating and driving off much of the Austrian light horse. Zieten presses his advantage into a sweeping charge. Meanwhile, the Prussian second line cavalry wing under Krosigk along with a brigade of dragoons from Hulsen's wing smash into the left side of Nadasdy's formation.

Battle of Kolin: Prussia's Glory II - 3

Halfway through the game. Fortunes of War, poor Command Determination rolls, and Croat light infantry have seriously messed with the Prussian's plans. 

Battle of Kolin: Prussia's Glory - Croat Sniping

63 Croats snipe Prussian column causing disorder

The optional rules really make this game system shine.

One of the major differences between the Prussian army and the Austrian army during the Seven Year's War was the Austrian use of light troops. Frederick though that using irregular infantry was dishonorable and cowardly, and refused to employ them. This led to situations during campaigns and battles where his troops were at a disadvantage in terms of reconnaissance and in fighting in constricted terrain.

Battle of Kolin: Prussia's Glory II - 2

Zieten's hussars clear the route of march for the slow moving Prussian infantry.

Battle of Kolin - Prussia's Glory II 1

Trying a video AAR. People seem more interested in watching than reading. Forgive my sloppy video skills; I'm just learning how to do this.

Fleurus Two Times

I find the Pike and Shot period of warfare fascinating. Like the Napoleonic era and the American Civil War, it was a period of rapid evolution of warfare coupled with a time of dramatic political and social change. There's a lot to learn and understand about the wars of this period, and I keep getting drawn back to it.

Protestant and Imperial positions at the start of Fleurus, Pike & Shot Campaigns