Game 3
Henry McLaughlan, French 1815. Objective: capture redoubts
Richard Goyder, Prussian 1815. Objective; defend redoubts.
At the outset of this extremely hard-fought engagement, both sides advanced in a spirited fashion, intent on achieving their objectives. The French 1st Division reached their objective first, capturing redoubt B and settling down to defend it.
At the other end of the central ridge, the Prussian 3rd Brigade had also ascended the ridge, securing in their turn redoubts C and D. As the Prussian infantry deployed, they became aware of the approach of a strong French force, their 2nd Division, from directly in front, as well as the French troops around redoubt B. The Prussian c-in-c, His Excellency Graf und Baron von Hinundherundsoweiter, was informed of the loss of redoubt B and led his reserve 2nd Brigade forward to recapture it.
On the Prussian left wing, 2nd Cavalry Brigade advanced with the intention of menacing the flank of the French 2nd Division. However, the French c-in-c had placed all his cavalry on this flank and the Prussians soon found themselves facing overwhelming odds. Nevertheless, true to their orders, they attacked the French dragoons to their front, forcing them back.
On the opposite flank, the French 3rd Division, despite being held up longer than expected by difficult terrain, captured the nearest redoubt, A, and deployed to defend it. They could already see the Prussian 1st Brigade and 1st Cavalry advancing rapidly towards them.
Soon fighting was general all along the line. The French 2nd Division formed attack columns and threw themselves at 3rd Brigade. A battalion of the Prussian 14th Infantry broke and fled. But the line held. The French attack was blunted. Two French battalions disintegrated and Private Boettcher of 2nd Elbe Landwehr captured an eagle. Part of a French battery was overrun. Gradually, the French 2nd Division fell back out of the gunsmoke, beaten.
Elsewhere, things were not going so well for the Prussians. The beleaguered 2nd Cavalry Brigade, despite their initial success, were assailed in front and flank by French cavalry. First the hussars, then the dragoons broke and ran. The French dragoons halted to reform, leaving pursuit of the beaten Prussians to their hussar comrades.
Across the battlefield, the 1st Prussian Brigade, supported by 1st Cavalry Brigade, moved to attack the French 3rd Division around redoubt A. The cavalry threatened the French infantry on the heights, but the French commander coolly refused to form square and the Prussians declined to attack them, to the fury of their leader. The Prussian infantry, however, were not so easily cowed. With bayonets fixed, they pressed forward. The French fired at close range, blunting the Prussians’ advance, but the latter doggedly deployed and engaged in a musketry duel. Casualties mounted on both sides. Unhappily for the Prussians, they were also within range of the French artillery on the hills to their front and left flank and so suffered even more heavily than their enemy. In time, their ranks began to crumble and the gallant brigade was forced to retire.
The last Prussian attack was led by their commander in person, leading his 2nd Brigade in an all-out attack on the French 1st Division, coincidentally also led by their c-in-c, around redoubt B. Inspired by their gallant commander (only recently recovered from a severe bout of sympathetic pregnancy) the Prussians surged forward with a cheer. A couple of French battalions broke in the face of such aggression, but the remainder held. The French threw in their reserves. The firefight ebbed and flowed on the crest of the ridge. At the crucial moment, a French musket ball brought down General von Hinundherundsoweiter and he was carried, wounded, from the field. The heart seemed to go out of the Prussian attack and 2nd Brigade fell back.
Both sides were exhausted, and had suffered heavily. Redoubts A and B were in French hands, with C and D still held by the Prussians.
| Points | French | Prussian |
|---|---|---|
| Casualties | 22 | 20 |
| Colours captured | 30 | 20 |
| Guns captured | - | 3 |
| Objectives | 10 | 10 |
| Total | 62 | 53 |
More Lone Warrior Tournament Two
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