An encounter battle for the Grand Alliance, using Pike and Shotte

For our Skype game this week I thought I would try something a little different.   A couple of days before the game I allocated Steve and myself the following forces, 2 brigades of infantry (8 battalions), 1 brigade of cavalry (4 regiments) and a medium gun.  Prior to the game we each set out our order of march and rolled one dice for each brigade of infantry.

1 or 2 lose a battalion

3 or 4 stay the same

5 or 6 gain a unit

For the cavalry, roll a dice for each unit within the brigade

1 or 2  Unit is small size

3 - 6    Unit is standard size

For the placement of the terrain I turned to the late Stuart Asquith's book on Solo Wargaming.  On the afternoon before the game I rolled dice to see where the terrain would be and then sent a photo to Steve.  Each of us therefore only had a few hours to think of a plan before the action started.  Of course that plan would go out of the window once we began to roll dice!

 The terrain over which the battle would be fought, viewed from the French side.  The Comte de Salle Forde would attempt to march off the far end of the table along the road to the right.  Graf von Grommit would attempt to do the opposite.  The stream (other than at the road) is fordable for all except artillery.

Both commanders opted to lead their columns with cavalry, (2 units for the Allies and 3 for the French), intent on attempting to prevent any interference with the advance of the infantry.

The two cavalry vanguards advance

The Comte marched with the infantry, leaving the cavalry brigade commander to take charge of the vanguard.  Meanwhile, von Grommit decided today would be the day he would accompany the vanguard, leaving the cavalry brigade commander to take care of the rearguard.  At first, von Grommit kept to the road, but he then saw the French cavalry making for the low hill to his right.  Momentarily forgetting he was commanding cavalry, he gave the order "prepare to receive horse" which somewhat confused the allied troops.  Fortunately, the regiments of Fugger and Erbach were able to form line before the French cavalry charged home.

The Ciurassier du Roi charge Fugger

Fugger were unable to stand against the French charge and had to fall back, the Cuirassier followed up and a second melee took place.  This exchange was very one-sided.  The Allied cavalry, already weakened, were broken and driven from the field 

Erbach were tussling with regiment Aubusson.  Their cause was not helped by the disorder inflicted by a volley from the Languedoc infantry regiment which the Chevalier d'Ecoles had brought forward. 

They too were bested and fell back to try and re-organise.  Unfortunately for them, Aubusson swept forward and caught them before they could rally.  Another brief clash and the second Allied cavalry regiment fled from the field.

The position just before the destruction of the Allied cavalry vanguard

Somewhat bemused by this rapid change of fortune, von Grommit looked for the supporting Hessian  infantry brigade of von Stalheim.  The advance of the Hessian infantry had been somewhat disjointed. No clear orders had been received, only a general instruction to advance along the road.  Slow progress by the lead unit had meant slow progress for all and eventually von Stalheim had decided to speed progress by taking some units off the road and across country.  However, the decision had taken too long.  By the time the infantry tried to advance they found the cavalry melee on top of them and once their cavalry had routed they could only stand to face the enemy horse.

A rough line was established on the hill, but the right flank was open and the Palatinate regiment had to turn to face the Cuirassier.  d'Ecoles' infantry was now pressing forward.  In the lead were Languedoc and to it's right, Rouergue, with Toulouse and d'Humieres following. Rouergue came under fire from both Erbprinz and Lowenstein and due to heavy casualties its ranks began to waver.  Sensing an opportunity, the commander of Erbprinz  ordered a charge.  In spite of its casualties the French unit fired a good volley at their attackers, inflicting significant loss.  Perhaps disheartened by this, the attack was not pressed home with vigour and the French infantry prevailed.

As Erbprinz routed back they were charged by  Aubusson and driven from the field, pushing through their support unit, Wartensleben in the process.

Rouergue rout Erbprinz

Aubusson complete the destruction

To the right of Erbprinz, Lowenstein were in a desperate struggle of their own.  They had been charged by the cavalry regiment Talmont and were struggling to hold their ground.  Slowly the cavalry began to break up the infantry formation and then the dam burst and the Hessians routed.

Lowenstein rout

On the crest of the hill von Grommit and von Stalheim surveyed the scene.  Wartensleben and Palatinate were desperately trying to hold back the French cavalry.  The only reserve available at the moment was the combined grenadier battalion.  The remainder of the infantry and cavalry plus the artillery were snarled up on the road, struggling against troops routed from the field.  There was only one option, von Stalheim would have to buy what time he could, while von Grommit took charge of the retreat of the remainder of the allied force.  Truly a day to forget.

This was just one of those games that occur from time to time when the dice dictate lady luck deserts one side totally.  Von Grommit rolled high dice when he wanted to move and low dice when he was in combat; the exact opposite of what was required.  Nevertheless, Steve and I had a good laugh about it and no doubt, if we played the game again, events would pan out differently.  The random terrain and adjustments to troop numbers seemed to work well and could feature in future games.