EDITOR'S NOTE: Rick Walker submitted the following extensive battle description of one of his group's Napoleonic encounters. About the only thing we're in the dark on is the particular rules used. At first glance, it appears that the rules were a home brew. In any case, perhaps we can prevail on Rick to expand on them in a future article.--WS INTRODUCTION The following narrative is a report of a small battle fought over the occup­ation of a fictitious town between two enemies which will hereafter be referred to as Antagonist and Protagonist. The troops of both sides are equal in capability and emulate the Napoleonic period in organization and equipment. Using AIRFIX 20mm to 25mm scale each figure represents 30 men, and the battle scale is twenty yards to the inch. BACKGROUND The area where the battle was fought is known as the Samx Valley, a possession of the Antagonist, and has been invaded by a Protagonist unit thereby precipitating the battle. In command of the Antagonist force is General Thomas, who was good enough to share his troops with a subordinate, Col. Walker. The Protagonist is under the command of General Long. PRELUDE At 7 in the evening of December 29, 1980 General Long placed 1 battalion of Protagonist infantry into the village of Chalktown, a sure indication that he wished to engage and defeat General Thomas and the Antagonists. This early disposition was unknown to Thomas for, at the time, he was meeting with Walker, and only aware that the Samx Valley was being invaded. Arriving from the south at about 7:30 was General Thomas with two Antagonist formations, the Spearhead under the command of Col. Walker, and the main body, which he himself commanded. Their total strength was approximatly 6,960 men organized into 9 infantry battalions, 2 cavalry squadrons, and 4 batteries of artillery. In anticpation of the above actions General Long gave the order for his Protagonist units to enter the field from the north by way of the Samx Valley Highway and Powder­ville. Long's force was in two parts. The main force entering now consisted of 6000 men organized into 6 infantry battalions, 2 cavalry squadrons, and 2 artillery batteries. Earlier in the evening, Long had also selected a reserve consisting of an additional 2400 men organized into 4 cavalry squadrons and 1 battalion of infantry. The whereabouts of this reserve was unknown to the Antagonists and only General Long knew when they would become available. PHASE I (8:00 to 8:50) As I have already mentioned Long had 1 battalion occupying Chalktown because he probably thought that Thomas or Walker (and their horde) would be using the Samx Valley Highway from the south by way of Chalktown. First on the field was Col. Walker with a spearhead of infantry, cavalry, and artillery. He whipped his troops unmercifully until all 3 infantry battalions were across the Chalk Run bridge serving the Powderville Road. He knew instinctively that if he didn't get his troops out of the way General Thomas would run over him with his 6 battalions of infantry and 3 batteries of artillery. As planned earlier, Walker turned his cavalry to the right and left while 2 battalions went for the woods on both sides of the Powderville Rd. At this time the lead battalion, still on the road, was attacked by one of Long's cavalry squadrons. The engagement took place while troops from both sides were still entering the valley. In interviews conducted of the Antagonist veterans, I learned that this attack by Long's cavalry was both short and bloody, the actual engagement lasting only 20 minutes. The Antagonist's troops were not strangers to a cavalry charge, they having squadrons of their own. What was amazing was the fortitude on the part of the Protagonist cavalrymen... the first charge cost all of the men of the first section ( cavalry squadrons consisting of 3 sections of 120 men each). The defenders, having lost only 60 men, ( about 1/2 of a company, consisting of 120 men) displayed no fear and actually scoffed at the attackers. Their opinion of their combatants soon changed, however, as the cavalry attacked again... and again. When the engage­ment was over an entire Protagonist squadron had been spent at a cost of 360 men and their mounts. The oncoming Antogonist columns had been delayed, but what price glory? The- infantry battalion only suffered 180 casualties and continued their march, pausing only briefly to collect saddles and bridles in hopes of being transferred to the cavalry. So this was the beginning of the battle and clearly a small victory for Thomas and Walker; they were to find out later just how small. PHASE II (9:00 to 9:30) It was 9:00 by now and the Protagonist General was certain that the Antagonist attack would not be coming from the south near Chalktown, Accordingly, Long issued the orders for the town's occupiers to start their march towards the sounds of the guns and the victory yells of the Antagonists. Since 8:00 there had been much activity in Powderville as the Protagonist infantry, entering the Samx Valley, marched onto the field, deploying for battle so they might be ready to meet the battalions of Thomas and Walker. From 9:00 to 9:30 the Antagonists continued their march up the Powderville Rd. hoping to separate and engage the Protagonists exiting Chalktown. Local observers described the Antagonists crossing of Chalk Run as a blossom of military might... each battalion and squadron, upon leaving the bridge angled off to the right, left, and up the road in the center. With their earlier success the Antagonists couldn't engage the Protagonists too soon. Throughout this period both sides hammered at one another with artillery fire. Because both sides were firing over the heads of their own troops, the artillery fire was somewhat inaccurate. The Protagonists were successful in knocking out one of the enemy's gun and crew, while the best the other side could do was hit the broad side of the barns in the town of Powdervile. However, General Long probably felt that his indirect fire was of some good because it may have been the reason for General Thomas deploying 2 batteries of artillery and 1 battalion of infantry on the south side of Chalk Run (these units were never to see action). PHASE III (9:30 to 10:00) By 9:45 the gods of war were smiling upon the Antagonists... deployed and ready for action. General Thomas met with Col. Walker to provide him with the specifics of how the battle should be conducted and the directions the battalions were to take. All of the early Antagonist objectives had been achieved... they controlled the Powderville Road and their line extended across one-half of the Samx Valley, anchored on both flanks by hills and cavalry. Prior to rejoining his battalions, Thomas was heard to say "I've got that Protagonist right where I want him!". In the Protagonist camp things were not well. Their battle line was far from complete; on their left, 2 battalions and 1 squadron were still attempting to form a line which could link-up with their center, Also, there was no Protagonist right ...the occupiers of Chalktown were still enroute to join the center. The only optomistic news delivered to General Long this hour was that his reserve force of cavalry, 4 squadrons strong, were in the process of marching onto the field from the north, and his reserve infantry battalion was near Powderville, also from the north (his thoughts no doubt were to use this reserve to plug the gaps). For General Long this was a very serious moment, he was seen meeting with himself and was overheard saying "hang-on" to his troops. PHASE IV (10:00 to 10:15) This is what battle stories are made of... at 10:00 the Antagonist line was ' ordered to the attack. Of this attack it may be said that it was the best of times and the worst of times for the Antagonists. The first breakdown occurred when Thomas lost the initiative to long who attacked with cavalry on the Antagonist left. The cavalry dual lasted but a moment and served to force Walker's cavalry to withdraw leaving 210 mounts without MEN.On the Antagonist right, Walker had to wait while Long formed a line linking Protagonist cavalry with infentry. The initiative made the difference... Walker's cavalry attack on the right was repulsed with losses of 120 men. These two setbacks were to have a devasting effect on the overall coordination of the attack by the entire Antagonist line. Of the 6 battalions forming the Antagonist center and right only 2 battalions actually attacked. The bugles could be heard by all in the valley as the leading divisions of each battalion started their march towards Long's center. With 80 yards to go the first ranks delivered a deadly volley into the waiting Protagonists. For the briefest moment it appeared to Long that the line might hold. The tempo of the battle increased to a mad fury with both sides losing command control... and the Protagonist center broke into a full route with Antagonists in uncontrolled persuit. Both Thomas and Walker were jubulient, their apparent success in the center overshadowing the failure of any attack by their 4 battalions on the right. PHASE V (10:15 to 10:30) The weight of the Antagonist attack on the center served to eliminate the Protagonist center but also created some problems. Without the support of either right or left the success in the center exposed the flanks of the 2 attacking battalions which were now in total disorder and unable to react. At this moment General Long decided to launch his counter attack. With 1 fresh infantry battalion and 2 cavalry squadrons, Long's reserves, the 2 Antagonist battalions were overwhelmed. In their state of extended disorder it took only moments to route the Antagonist center. Of the 1440 troops engaging the Protagonists center only 600 returned to tell about it. During the brilliant counter attack by Long on the Antagonist's extended center, Thomas finally got the message to the right and left flanks to attack. Spirited they were but attack they did... the attacks were too passive to have any positive effect on the tragic situation. The attack on the Protagonist right by one of Walker's leading battalions met with total failure, they were counter attacked in the flank by Long's infentry, which had been marching from Chalktown since about With a route on both left and center the Antagonist right completly gave way under the pressure of another Protagonist counter attack. At 10:45 General Thomas reluctantly issued the orders far a withdrawl en-masse. Having suffered 720 casualties in cavalry, 2,940 in infantry, and 1 cannon with crew, the Antagonist withdrew, recognizing that the Samx Valley was now an undisputed possession of the Protagonists. The price paid for victory was not cheap for General Long... during the battle there was much firing of weapons, and also engagements too small to warrant description; General Long had lost 1,260 cavalry, 1,740 intantry and 1 cannon with crew. In summary, the Protagonist, in a 1 for 1 exchange in men and material, won territory and must be acknowledged as the victor. Samx Battle Analysis Antagonist Plan: The original plan called for. a) the occupation of the woods on both sides of the Powderville road, and b) moving north, in a battle line, towards Powderville and to engage and defeat the Protagonists. Commander's Comments: General Long, Protagonist Commander). My first real concern was the enormity of the Antagonist forces. During the first eight turns of the battle they kept coming onto the field, Walker had to be putting at least two units per turn on the Powderville read (south) in the first five Urns. Because they were moving so rapidly I had no choice but to commit an entire cavalry squadron just to slow them down long enough to form a line of defense. Those two center battalions, by the way, are both receiving the Audie Murphy unit citation for their bravery in holding as long as they did. I did, by the way, really think that either Waller or Thomas would be using the southern Samx Valley Highway otherwise I would have placed my first battalion on north bank of the Chalk Run. Col. Walker, (associate commander, Antagonist forces) I saw my duty and I did it. I was ordered to fan out and occupy the woods on the north side of the Chalk run, and I did. I attacked when I was told and I defended when I could. General Thomas, (Antagonist Commander) At the time this article was being written no comments could be collected from General Thomas, who, no doubt, is still rallying his troops. (the Author). We who participated in the battle all agree that the purpose of the battle was to have some fun regardles of the outcome. After all, isn't that what it is all about...And we did. Samx Valley Credits Players: Richard Long, Ed Thomas, Rick Walker Encouragement Department: Robert Luddy Author: Rick Walker Back to PW Review March 1980 Table of Contents Back to PW Review List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1980 Wally Simon This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles form military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com