Monday Night & Blood the New Recruits

All f my new troops - three Spanish infantry battalions, Regiment Alsace and the two squadrons of Spanish horse - were all put into the field last night for their first fight.  Some had been out previously but failed to reach the enemy and discharge their muskets.  Not this time.

 

Facing the rather nice Prussian troops raised by Chris I had twelve battalions and fourteen squadrons.  Chris had ten battalions and nine squadrons and four field pieces (which were a problem for me). 

 I decided that the field was not going to allow anything subtle and so all the horse were massed on the right and the main infantry attack to go in on the left using two large woods as flank protection.

I have to admit that the infantry in their three ranks and three lines does have excellent appeal.  Almost universally this style of formation has received good reviews but it is taking a while to learn to use. 

 The horse fought almost from the start and the superior numbers of French troops told in the end.  At the close of play the French held the right flank and were pinning down a significant number of Prussian battalions trying to prevent their flank from being rolled up.

It was a different story for the infantry.  The French first line, comprising of Spanish, French & Germans, found it difficult to get to grips with the Prussians.  The Prussian artillery were tearing holes in the lines and  by the time the French opened fire their numbers had been depleted sufficiently to deliver anything other than poor volleys. 



However, luck was on their side as the Prussian morale proved brittle and forced the enemy front line to fall back.  Pressing on the Spanish in particular put a great deal of pressure on the enemy sufficient to allow the French second and third lines to come into effect and eventually to rout the enemy on the left.
Prussian morale proved susceptible again as they looked around and decided that the field was lost and retired.

My thanks to Chris for providing an entertaining game that was in the balance until the very end.  I'm also grateful to Mark for handling the French horse with such aplomb.

As ever the rules used are the Grimsby house rules.