The Viereckstal Campaign. Chapter 9 (Part 3)

 // The Battle of Vierecksbrucke //

// Turn 4 //

Another turn concludes and I can report on the progress of each army.

A number of melees characterised events, with none prioving decisive but each advancing the narrative of the battle in its own way.

In the centre, the right half of Kedenchypz's brigade charge into the Clafoutis regiment who had been softened up by a barrage by the 4-pounder battery

The gabions proved insufficient protection and the Clafoutis were defeated. Their morale cracked completely and the Fleischkuchen Grenadiers swept into the Gallian lines.

Hurriedly, Vipernoir rode to the front of his battalion of chasseur companies leading them in a countercharge into the grenadiers

The fighting was close but the grenadiers just edged it. Vipernoir and his men bounced-off and gave ground

The centre is becoming more chaotic by the minute!

To the east, with the centre looking so shaky Boudin orders the Hussars d'Etranger to charge the Tattemberg dragoons, leading from the front and hoping for a breakthrough

Boudin's hopes were dashed by a narrow loss in the fighting. While his hussars held their nerve, Boudin himself suffered wounds during the fighting. He remains in his saddle, but only just..

This flank remains in the balance. Weinachtsbrucken resisted the temptation to countercharge, opting to rally disorder from the dragoons. The left wing of Kodenchypz's infantry fell back in the face of musketry from the Clafoutis second battalion and cannister from a 12-pounder section.

West of centre, the Sechshugel 1st battalion takes its chance to charge into the dismounted dragoons, who are suffering badly in the musketry duel with the Chatgeuse regiment behind their defences.

After a fierce melee the dragoons rout, leaving Von Trapp with a problem on the right flank

It is finally time for the Salzenpfeffer Musketeers to be brought into the action. The veterans cooly shoulder their way past the fleeing dragoons and deliver a volley into the Sechshugel battalion, checking their advance and restoring some degree of balance

On the extreme western end of the line, the Trinketstadte light infantry remain locked in an unconvincing exchange of fire with 2nd Sechshugel and the Chasseurs du Poulet. Both sides favour rallying away disorder lest they become too vulnerable to a charge

It does feel like this flank is in the balance. Much may depend on what the Salzenpfeffer can achieve, but in the central position Vipernoir's grenadier reserve remains fresh and uncommitted. Two jager companies have consolidated in the western woods to provide support to the Trinketstadte light infantry...and shouldn't Sir Tim's light cavalry squadron turn up sometime?

Another exciting series of events. Interestingly, we haven't yet had a "long" turn so far in the battle, and only had one such turn in the preceeding Battle of Marschfurt. These turns can often provide decisive, so let's see what happens in turn 5. The Gallians really need to see the Tattemberg attack significantly disrupted or they will need to urgently consider a withdrawal across the river while the crossing remains defensible and the army in relatively good order after a little under an hour of fierce combat. Should the bridge become blocked by routing troops it could all get distinctly sticky very quickly.

---oOo---