The Viereckstal Campaign: Chapter 6 (part 1)

 // The Battle of Essigford, part 1 //

As described in the previous instalment, this is based on scenario #9 from Neil Thomas's "One Hour Wargames". To fit with my rules I shortened this to 8 turns with the defenders required to exit one unit at the end of turn 2, one at the end of turn 4 and a third at the end of turn 6. The attackers must exit two units by the end of turn 8. The result will affect the set up for the next battle fought along this road.

Forces are as follows, played at a lower level with units representing companies and troops rather than battalions/regiments and squadrons.

Tattemberg (attackers)

Major Verbockt (CinC): Command rating 4, Inititative points 3

• Schwarzberg Dragoons, two dismounted troops of 1st squadron (Quality 3)
• Schwarzberg Dragoons, one mounted troop of 1st squadron (Quality 3)
• Bratensosse Jager, one company (Quality 4) which may divide into two platoon

Captain Kirschwamm: Command rating 3, Initiative points 4

• Schwarzberg Dragoons, two mounted troops of 2nd squadron (Quality 3)

Rolling for character attributes, Verbockt appears at least the equal of his peers, with above average leadership and independence. His honour and wealth are somewhat scant and he is no doubt thankful for the benefits of significant patronage. Kirschwamm is a fascinating character blessed with well developed leadership skills but these are hindered to some extent by below average education, independence, aggression and courage. Lucky for him he is from a wealthy family!

Gallia (defenders)

These are fellows we met previously at the initial action of the campaign, fought over the farm at Braunsgrat. Major Mantelwenden is in overall command of the rearguard with infantry of his own Sechshugel regiment and the Chassuers de Poulet. Supporting him is a squadron of hussars commanded by Captain Clement d'Eclair younger brother of the recently deceased Major d'Eclair, a wealthy and independently minded junior officer whose attributes are mostly of an average nature, other than a lack of personal courage that he is seeking to overcome as it unbefits a hussar and his brother's memory! He will purposefully lead from the front today in the hope that "seeing the elephant" will reveal previously undiscovered battlefield bravery.

Major Mantelwenden (CinC): Command rating 3, Initiative points 4

• Sechshugel Regiment, two companies of 1st battalion (Quality 3)
• Hussars d'Etranger, two troops of 4th squadron, one with lances (Quality 3)

Captain d'Eclair

• Hussars d'Etranger, command troop of 4th squadron (Quality 4)
• Chasseurs de Poulut, one company (Quality 3) which may divide into two platoons

We saw the deployment of the armies in the previous instalments, so lets pick up at the end of turn two, with the Gallians withdrawing the sabre armed troop of hussars from Mantelwenden's command. At the main ford Verbockt had pushed the mounted troop, one his dismounted troops and a platoon of jager across the stream, opening up with some harrassing musket and rifle fire with the Gallians responding in kind. 

The key action of the turn was the charge of d'Eclair and the command troop of dragoons over on the easrtern flank, seeking to give Kirschwamm's dragoons a bloody nose as they forded the stream at the kleineford:

The dragoons baulked at sight of the onrushing hussars and fell back across the ford. This was not enough to prevent d'Eclair making contact and the resulting melee saw the lead dragoon troop fall back even further as the hussars crashed across the ford

Turn 3 began with a coordinated attack on one of Mantelwenden's infantry companies. The dismounted dragoons began with musketry to inflict disorder before the mounted dragoons drew their sabres and charged. There was some desperation in this as the musketry results had been disappointing so the odds were not in favour of the horsemen. Nevertheless the dice fell in favour of the chargers, just, ad the infantey were put to flight. An attempted pursuit by the dragoons fell just short however in a return to normal Tattemberg die-rolling performance, scoring only 7 on their dAv + d12 distance roll:

As the routing infantry receded into the distance, the now disordered dragoons found their exposed left flank being charged by lance-armed hussars. 

Despite their significant advantage, the hussars were not blessed with overabundant fortune. The dragoons were routed but not destroyed and the hussars' pursuit roll saw them pulling-up short of their target:

In the meantine, over to the east, d'Eclair had managed to extract his hussar troop back to the friendly side of the kleineford, with a fresh troop of dragoons close behind while their comrades were recovering from the disordewr inflicted in last turn's melee:

Here is a view of the battlefield as turn 3 came to a close. There is a lot going on and the Tattemberg forces are being held at bay for now, but the next turn will see a second Gallian unit withdrawn and the scale of the task increase.

Turn 4 was slightly less dramatic, with the Gallians consolidating their defensive line. The routing infantry company was sacrificed as this turn's withdrawal leaving Mantelwended with one line company, one chasseur company and two hussar troops. For Tattemberg, Verbockt now has the majority of his men across the stream. At the main ford his fatigued dragoons are regathering their order while over on the flank the two troops under Kirschwamm are again pressuring d'Eclair who has reformed his hussars on high ground. 

Time for a break with the battle at the half-way point. Although using just six compact units and two commanders on each side there is no lack of incident and matters feel in the balance...I'll aim for a conclusion tomorrow. Keep the comments coming!