The Action at Taubental

As promised, here is a brief update and a few snaps from yesterday's game.

Andy Moran came over for his first taste of Horse and Musket gaming, and I think he might be hooked!

We did have a great game, Andy taking command of the Astrovian forces (with Pils Holstein allies) whilst I handled the Vaubarians!

Here is a reminder of the map layout:

The forces were as follows:

Astrovians (deployed on near edge of table to left of river)

Commander Reichsgraffen General von Schwarzenatter

Astrovian Infantry Bde commanded by Brigadier von Jung - Regts Frankl; Schrodinger; Wittgenstein

Pils-Holstein Infantry Bde commanded by Brigadier von Wagner - PH Leibgarde; Wolfsheim; Braunschweig

Irregular light infantry: The Karavani Croats

Cavalry - commanded by Brigadier von Trapp - Klammer Kuirassiers; Czardas Hussars

1 Field Gun

Vaubarians (deployed on top edge of table to right of river)

Commander Markgraff Karl von Orff

1st Infantry Bde commanded by Brigadier Schweinsteiger - Leibgarde; Dremel; Breitner

2nd Infantry Bde commanded by Brigadier Maier - Electoral Grenadiers; Ratzinga

Dismounted Dragoons - Muller (begin game in the farm)

Cavalry - commanded by Brigadier von Hoeness - Vogts Cuirassiers, Podolski Hussars

1 Field Gun

I decided to have a very slight difference in the make up of the forces to create some tactical problems. The Vaubarians fielded only 5 infantry battalions, against the combined 6 battalions of Astrovians and Pils-Holstein. This was slightly offset by one of the Vaubarian battalions being Grenadiers and thus classed as elite. In terms of light troops, the Vaubarians were also better quality - the dismounted dragoons being trained regulars, and the Karavani Croats being raw irregulars.

In both cases, the hussars began the game off table and their arrival (time and position) would be diced for from turn 3... in the end, both arrived in a similar position, the Podolski Hussars on the northern table edge just above the farm, the Czardas Hussars a couple of turns later in the gap between the woods and the farm.

The game swung to and fro and a gentlemanly draw was finally declared at the end of 12 turns, with both sides severely battered and neither in a position to force the issue and seize all key features of the field. So both would withdraw under cover of darkness, to fight another day.

The casualty returns were as follows:

Astrovians lost 69 infantry and 6 cavalry.

Vaubarians lost 39 infantry and 12 cavalry.

This includes figures routed/ retired and from the table.

On paper, it looks like a Vaubarian victory, but the position certainly to a degree favoured the Astrovians at the end, although they had yet to cross the river at any point.
Andy grasped my embryonic rules rather well, and got to grips with the tactics of the era very quickly, so that's a very positive outcome... and augurs well for future games.