Battle of Lubino (Valutino) : 19th August 1812

This week saw another ‘big’ Napoleonic battle out in the shed with the French facing off against the Russians. After a little research I came across the Battle of Lubino which neatly fit our collections and gave a potentially interesting tactical battle. 

In a nut shell the french are chasing the Russians, Ney attempts to pin them but Barclay De Tolly takes up an excellent defensive position. If Junot had bothered to enter the battle the french May have secured a significant win but without them Ney struggled to outnumber or out manoeuvre the Russians who held their position long enough to get away.

A number of helpful maps can be located on the web and there is a useful scenario with some OB which can be adapted.

Our set up, very much historical with the Russian division on the ridge with reserves being brought forward to defend the position. You’ll note I reduced the streams down by one given the space needed in 28mm. One key feature of the battle seems to be the marshy ground meant that the significantly superior french cavalry couldn’t really make an impact. To give a feel of this the marshy areas and woods are difficult terrain for the cavalry which also can’t reform in those areas bringing down their effectiveness. the french objective is the tow which would block any further retreat for the Russians.

No point hanging about Ney pushes forward his leading infantry knowing that he will need space to bring on reserves and it will only get harder to take the ridge.

The Russians defenders open up on the attackers and start to bring up reserves across the stream

French light cavalry face off against Cossacks across the marshy ground

Ney brings forward his first wave of reserves, whilst the leading French start to move up onto the ridge

French dragoons arrive but are also forced to move to the right where the marshy ground will restrict them

The french infantry now assault across the ridge and start to drive the defenders back

The light cavalry clashes across the boggy ground, eventually the Cossacks get the best of it

The spectacle of the french infantry advancing to battle

The thin Russian line starts to break up, but there is not enough space for the french to bring their superior numbers to bear

The french start to drive over the ridge, the Russians bring some light Uhlans forward to hold the flank, the Russians have also managed after several delays to bring forward their final reserves into Lubino, they are just in time

French heavy cavalry from Murats corps arrive and move onto the ridge

The dragoons now seek revenge agains the Cossacks in the marsh

The Russian reserves take up a defensive position on the second ridge

They watch their compatriots being driven back into the stream

The french heavies see off the Uhlans but then fail to make any further progress failing to activate !

The french are still pushing forward with a number of regiments now crossing the second stream

The battle is finely balanced……..

The final Russians in the valley are chased off but the assault up to the village will be a tough business

The leading French make a final drive up the hill but are beaten back by the Grenadiers, the defensive position is now too strong for the remaining french in the time they have

On the right flank the french cavalry has finally made it through the marsh but it is too late and with the french heavy cavalry stubbornly refusing to move off the hill, we called the battle as a win for the Russians as they had held out long enough.

A fun battle and the scenario played out really well giving both sides lots of challenges. We may try this one again in the future ?

Not much painting but I have finished a couple of basic buildings which I picked up off eBay.

A second barn as well

Another day walking out in the Lakes

That’s it for now…..thanks as always for checking in

Matt❤️

2nd July 1863 : Little Round Top

Well the title gives it away rather. For our battle this weekend and seeing as we are pretty close to the start of July I dug out another Scenario for Gettysburg. Shout out again for Brad Butkovich’s Summer storm book which always provides great inspiration, and in fact this scenario is pretty much straight out of the book, I just had to squeeze the terrain a bit.

On site ‘research’ back in March from the top of Little round top

The artillery position on Houck’s Ridge

Looking from Devils Den back up to Round top, I’m pretty loose with translating real details on to the table but you do get a sense from visiting how this is quite a small area.of course there is much debate about timing of the attack etc which I won’t go into here.

Translated onto the tabletop, Historically and in the scenario it is a tough ask for the Confederates they appear to have left their artillery behind. They were of course really only trying to find the end of the Union line and turn it rather than the frontal assault which it turned into. From some of what I have read Hood pulled back at the end of the day as he felt they had achieved their objective ? But that is obviously not the case with hindsight. At the start the only Union troops in position are on Houck’s Ridge, General Warren has realised the danger and is pulling in troops to extend the line.

Law’s Alabamians advance towards Big round top. (Worth noting they had been marching pretty much for 12 hours or more before the attack !)

Robertson’s Texan brigade faces Devils den it pretty obviously not a good place to attack, rather they attempt to pin Wards troops while the rest of the Confederates outflank the Union line

Vincent brings his brigade on from the North including the 20th Maine, really I could have done with them failing to activate ….wishful thinking !

The Texans are now pinned against Devils den, and come under fire from the rocks

Law swings his troops through the trees on big round top, hoping to catch the Union forces un prepared

Confederate reserves Bennings Georgians arrive and push forward but their path is king of blocked by the Texans who are stuck in a fire fight at Devils den 

The Union reserves are being brought onto round top and Vincent prepares for the attack

The Alabamians surge through the woods on the right

The advance is definitely bogged down at Devils Den repeating history !

The confederates crash into the the end of the line

After fierce fighting the 20th Maine are wiped out ! History is rewritten, Chamberlain is killed. But the Confederates crash into the famous 16th Michigan ? Who hold the left flank of the Union line and thus win Gettysburg and save the Union and the war ?

The benefit of wargaming is the Union General can advance off Houcks ridge to start to outflank the Rebels, this couldn’t really have worked historically as there were more troops to the left and it would probably have exposed their flank too much, but it forces the confederates to fold back their line around the triangle field

The Texans at this stage have take a real beating, although they are holding their position all their regiments are pretty much exhausted and it is surprising to both sides that the Brigade hasn’t broken. Some good Valour tests by me and a card used to save a failed fortitude test !

Eventually the assault starts to stall as the regiments begin to take increasing casualties

The final nail in the coffin when the Alabamians eventually fail a fortitude test and the brigades disintegrates, the confederates only have one viable Brigade now fighting and the Union reserves are pretty fresh. An almost historical win for the Union.

A very fun if occasionally frustrating battle, tough for the confederates who had their noses in front for a while or at least until the Alabamians faltered in the woods. Given that we played with fairly historical troop numbers it perhaps isn’t surprising the Union can hold Round top. Historically of course Warren and Vincent didn’t know the size of the force attacking them and the trees would have provided more visual cover which doesn’t work on the table top. Any delay (which didn’t happen in our battle) to Vincent arriving or the other Union reserves and the line would have been rolled up fairly easily. If nothing else it shows how this was a very close run thing on the day.

Setting up today for a Napoleonic battle tomorrow but that’s it for now

Many thanks for checking in as always Matt ❤️

Sicily 1943 : the Italians get a run out

The relentless pressure of Holidays is getting to me now but I did squeeze in a game at the weekend, a chance to give the Italians a run out in Sicily. As my opponent is an infrequent gamer I set a simple scenario the Americans needed to break through. The challenge is giving the Italians a chance with out simply making them useless, plying bolt action on this occasion I gave them 1 point lower leadership but kept the rest of their stats as regular.

Half the Italians are on the table already, the Americans get a preliminary bombardment and assault from the left seeking to break through the Italians lines.

A closer shot of the Italian defenders, spread out but a greater concentration in the centre

The Americans advance along the two forks of the road

But also move onto the rocky hill to the south, American paratroopers lead the way towards the church but get badly mauled in cross fire

Both sides have some reserves the Italians have managed to find a Semovente assault gun which faces down the American Sherman

The American advance grinds forward, with the Italians taking the greater casualties

But they are still holding for now

The American concentrate at the fork in the road, but those attempting to cross the open field at cut down, and finally the Sherman is knocked out and burning seen to the right of this picture

As time and turns are running out the Americans make a dart for the finish line

The Italians through everything into the defence, even trying to block the road past the fork !

Leading from the front the American Commander is nearly killed but just survives, in a twist of fate both American infantry units within reach of the ‘end zone’ fail to activate 😀 but in an underhand and suitably  sneaky way the Americans run the antitank gun over the line. A great game and fun to play, the Italians held their own, with the leadership giving some challenges especially when reserves failed to arrive when ordered. Technically it was an American victory as too many Italians had given their lives defending a fairly worthless piece of Sicilian countryside, but only a minor win could be claimed.

We are back from our family holiday in Pembroke, Wales. Beautiful beaches nice beer and food and some history to boot

Tenby where we were staying has some impressive medieval walls around the old town centre

Tenby itself has a small castle on the hill

We also visited the much bigger Pembroke Castle , birthplace of HenryVII

We had a trip to Manorbier where a lovely castle overlooks a stunning beach

We also walked across to the 1870’s gun fort overlooking Tenby harbour and coastline, now fairly derelict inside but still an impressive location, not sure why we were building forts like this in 1870 ? But I believe it replaced an earlier Napoleonic structure which might have made a bit more sense.

For those that love them I have also been out in the lakes, a shot here of Sca Fell from the west

The van parked in Wasdale, for those unfamiliar with the Lake District this is one of the most famous views you will see

and finally to prove that the sun doesn’t always shine….in Cumbria, be prepared for the weather !

Thats it for now two more games in the diary over the next few days and hopefully some painting although I haven’t had much of a chance recently.

Thanks as always for checking in

Matt ❤️