Followers of this blog will know that for a good number of years I have used the 'Shako' rules for fighting battles in the Napoleonic period. During this time, I have looked at a number of rules sets, trying to find a 'better' feel to how the battles run. Recently, the 'General d'Armee' rules by David C R Brown, has attracted my attention and after watching a few videos on you tube and reading various reviews, I decided to take the plunge and purchase a set. The first trial run was a scenario from the 1813 scenario book published by Reisswitz Press to accompany the rules. The scenario is based on the battle of Lutzen and concerns the tussle for the villages of Gross and Klein Gorschen, Rahna and Kaja. General Souham commands the French defenders, a force of 4 brigades of infantry and one of light cavalry with attendant artillery. Attacking him is General Zeithen, also with 4 brigades of infantry, two brigades of cavalry and attendant artillery. To win, Zeithen has to capture 3 of the villages, or two villages and an area of high ground on the French right. The French win by denying the Prussians victory.
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| Map from the scenario book |
My apologies for the poor quality of the photograph. The French can deploy no further forward than Gross Gorschen, the Prussians 6" in from their table edge and no nearer than 12" from Gross Gorschen.
Souham deployed with a brigade of infantry in and around each village, the brigades at Rahna and Gross Gorschen each having the benefit of a battery of field artillery. The French cavalry were due to arrive on Turn 3. Zeithen deployed his troops across the battlefield. Pirch's brigade was to attack and secure Gross Gorschen,;Losthin's brigade to push through the gap between Gross Gorschgen and Rahna and Jagow's brigade was to attack Rahna. Pirch and Jagow each had an artillery battery attached. Starkenfeld and Mutis were due to arrive with their cavalry on turn 3 and Horn's infantry a turn later.
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| Pirch's brigade ready to attack Gross Gorschen |
The Prussians began their attack and their tightly packed columns soon began to suffer casualties from the French artillery. Their cause was not helped by some hesitancy from Jagow which meant his stationary units were pounded by the artillery. Pirch edged to his right, hoping to escape the galling artillery fire, but the 2nd battalion of the 1st Silesian regiment continued to suffer casualties. The 1st battalion of the Silesian regiment did charge the village, but were repulsed by the 1st battalion of the 14th line. Meanwhile, the Fusilier battalion of the 1st Silesian regiment and the Silesian Grenadier regiment were moving to attack the two battalions of the 19th line covering the left flank of Gross Gorschen. Pushing back the French skirmishers they attacked the French line regiments, but were stalled by the defensive volleys.
On the Prussian left, Jagow had managed to begin to advance, but his artillery was still obstructed by the infantry, meaning they lacked it's support. Losthin's advance drew some of the attention, but both brigades suffered significant losses.
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| Veran's brigade garrison Rahna |
Zeithen's spirits were raised by the arrival of his cavalry. He immediately ordered Starkenfeld and Mutis to drive back the skirmishers on the flank of Rahna and then advance to the high ground. The Silesian Uhlans were keen to obey and quickly saw off the skirmishers. However, their enthusiasm got the better of them and they charged the battalions of the 22nd line who were deployed at the foot of the high ground. These relatively newly raised troops formed square and drove back the uhlans with ease.
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| The Uhlans riding to defeat |
The discomfiture of the Prussian cavalry opened up an opportunity for Souham. His cavalry were outnumbered, but, they could attack their opponents before they could recover. Laboissiere seized that opening. Placing himself at the head of the Baden Dragoons they charged forward to attack the Prussian cavalry. Ably supported by the 10th Hussars, the dragoons were victorious and Jagow began to glance nervously towards his left as his cavalry supports were driven back.
At Gross Gorschen, Pirch felt he had at last made progress. His artillery was now deployed and was pounding the village, the fusiliers and grenadiers had pushed back the French flank and were in position to attack the village. Even more important, the French artillery, which had caused so much damage had at last been silenced, but at a terrible cost. The Prussian skirmisher screen had been shredded as it tried to pick off the French gunners and the 2nd battalion of the 1st Silesian infantry regiment had been destroyed in a suicidal final attempt to overrun the guns. He ordered the 1st battalion of the 1st Silesian regiment and the grenadiers to attack Gross Gorschen, hoping to at last overcome the determined defenders.
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| The end for the 2nd battalion 1st Silesian I R. |
After a final salvo from the artillery the Silesian infantry charged, at least the 1st battalion did, the order to the grenadiers did not get through. The Silesian infantry attacked gallantly, but once again were driven back. Pirch had done all he could, his brigade had been broken on the rock of the French defence of Gross Gorschen. It was just as well that Zeithen had moved Horn's reinforcements to the right to bolster the attack.
Meanwhile, against the odds Jagow had achieved some success. Supported by artillery the infantry of the West Prussian I R had attacked the village of Rahna and driven off it's defenders. One village captured, only two more required !
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| The West Prusssians attack |
It was at this point that we called a halt. The scenario length was given as 20 turns and we had managed fewer than 10. Given that two French brigades had not been committed and one Prussian brigade was all but lost, the decision went to the French.
How did the game play? Well one positive aspect was the command system. It had the benefit of having more order options than 'Shako' and it introduced more 'friction' into the command process. The accent is definitely on deciding on you priorities each turn, as you are unlikely to be able to do everything you want. The rules cater for different qualities of troops and commanders, (but then most modern sets do this anyway).
One 'clunky' aspect of the rules is the charge phase which we had to keep referring back for, plus the brigade morale states. Looking at the message board on the Too Fat Lardies website a new version of the rules may address the first of these items and also streamline a few other things. Which goes to show that no matter how much play testing you do some areas of a new rules set will probably need revisiting.
Will we use them again? Well our next game will be another General d'Armee scenario. We will see how things work out second time around.
