Austerlitz : Lannes vs Bagration

It was my turn to travel over to Martins this month, carrying with me my French. We would be fighting on the Northern flank of Austerlitz where Lannes faced off against Bagration. A battle with lots of Cavalry on both sides an excellent ‘scenario’ picked out by Martin. Mainly flat ground the French would be attacking but could the Stoic Russians hold the line ? Two minor tweaks we use with these rules, giving attack columns +1 tenacity and brigades will break when only a single battalion left this helps to get a conclusion in these larger battles.

Very roughly the section of the battle we are focussing on

Sorry for the quality of the photos as seems par for the course google and blogger don’t seem to be talking to each other properly and blogger won’t upload the edited photos. I know It is an age thing but I am increasingly frustrated by technology ! Anyway enough grumpy old man moaning onto the battle 🙂

The battle starts with a clash of light cavalry, both sides cautious not to give away an advantage until their infantry arrives

Both sides begin to bring on infantry, using V&F the French surge forward in March column, the French have the numbers and although they know they will take casualties they need to close with the Russian line to score a victory.

The Russians arrive with plenty of time to form up into defensive line !

Eventually the light cavalry clash a swirl of sabres which the french eventually get the better of

The french advance and form into attack column, in their centre still screened by their light cavalry

The the Russian line prepares, french skirmishers are thrown out in advance, the french do have a couple of failed activations, so their left flank approaches the Russians first

On the right the light cavalry fight is over both sides fairly exhausted pulling back to support their infantry

French chasseurs are still fresh and await in the rear

A moment for stirring french music !, but the white rings indicate that the leading columns are taking serious damage as they try to close with the Russian line

Crash the french column break onto the french line like a wave, Both sides loose battalions who break from the combat but you can see several battalions are shaken and close to breaking

Trumpets sound Murat arrives with the french heavy cavalry

A gap in the Russian right opens up !

But on the left the Russians have the upper hand

The french are driving their advantage home on the left

Despite very stubborn resistance on the Russian left the french are able to form out into line and then attack, again both sides very close to exhaustion

Having seen off the Russian right wing and the Cossacks (revenge at last) some of the French heavy cavalry moves ominously (for the Russians) to the centre

But the Russians aren’t giving up and they fight off and break yet another french brigade

But seeing the opportunity the French heavy cavalry catch the Russians before they can form into square, not a pretty sight for Bagration. In the distance and against the odds the French infantry has held and won their right flank, the Russians at this point are broken. A victory to the french Vive L’ Emperor.

Such a fun battle, carnage, the Russians thought it was all over after a couple of turns they turned it around making the french pay a heavy price but then the french finally got to grips with the Russian infantry and the French heavy cavalry turned the tide. Not much to say other than a great game, wargaming at its best !

We have more figures to paint but hopefully we can pick up some more Napoleonic battles soon.

Thanks as always for popping by

Matt ♥️