Battle of Quatre Bras June 16th 1815

Played a game of CC Naploeonics last night the battle of  Quatre Bras from the base edition of the game.

I played the allied side on this one. From my initial reading of the battle map there are three clear problems that the allied army faces one is the forward and well deployed positions of the French guns which makes the Dutch/Belgian units under the Prince of Orange positioned on the central ridge before the town very vulnerable. The second weakness of the allied position is the forward troops on the allied right including militia and a 3 strength light unit would be easy pickings for the mobile French light units who can move into the forest and battle. The third problem would be dealing with the superior French cavalry of  general Kellermann's cuirassier brigade more than a match for the Dutch light cav.

To counter this the allies have 2 units of grenadier guards who if I could get forward intact and on time might save the day.

The Battle opened with the above pictured French guns opening up and punishing the Dutch and Belgian infantry across the river followed by an advance on the French left which drove the Dutch from the forest.

Things where looking grim for the allied cause as the French push on the left had accounted for the Dutch Guns and light infantry for relatively light causalities the last Dutch unit above was later picked off again for poor return giving the French a 5-0 lead.

On the other flank not much was happening just the odd exchange of cannon fire and the Rifle regiment had move forward into the forest on the extreme left of the allied line keeping the French pinned on their side of the river.

At this stage my plan was starting to come un-stuck but the Grenadier Guards had made some progress forward just not quick enough to prevent the Dutch line for collapsing.

Next the French Cavalry went forward with La Grande Maneuver which was countered by an allied Cavalry change and then a French Cavalry charge  leaving the French very close to victory but almost spent with a lot of below strength units in forward positions.

The battle then developed into a race could the French cavalry pick of the  last allied units before the guards completed rolling up the French line.

Unfortunately it was not to be as the remaining French Cuirassier squadron launched a do or die assault on a British battery

The end result was a 9-8 victory to the French but with the cross-roads still in allied hands and British Infantry treating the French left but there was French heavy cavalry in the British rear.

I think what cost me this one was the poor return early on of the Dutch units in resisting the opening French attacks but it was close and a late rally card which got the guards back to full strength from 4 failed to rally the guns but all in all a fun game and a well deserved and hard fought victory for my opponent