Reminiscing

On Mother's Day, Nancy and I (and Milo) packed up the car and began our 450-mile road trip to meet two of my sisters in Manzanita, Oregon for a week on the coast.  Curiously, a few days before the trip, the photo above popped up on my PC as Bing wallpaper.  Coincidence or not?  Anyway, the photo in the wallpaper shows Ecola State Park.  In the background can be seen famous Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach.  Cannon Beach is a small resort town eleven miles north of where we stayed in Manzanita.  We visited Cannon Beach a couple of times during our stay.

Ecola State Park looking north from Cannon Beach

Nancy and Milo in front of Haystack Rock
(a very windy day!)

When I was young, the Oregon Coast was a much-requested destination for a summer family vacation.  Mom especially loved the coast, and Cannon Beach was at the top of her list of places to visit.  With mom's passing in January, we figured it fitting to return to the place she treasured as we thought about her and her impact on our lives on Mother's Day.

Haystack Rock and Cannon Beach looking to the north.

I could tell many tales about those early adventures exploring Cannon Beach, Haystack Rock, and the always fascinating tidal pools from more than 50 years ago.  The place has changed quite a bit in those intervening years.  What was once a quiet town is now a bustling tourist magnet.  The magnificent Haystack Rock, however, remains the same.  Returning brought back many happy memories of my time as a young lad.

For now, a selection of photos from our latest adventure.

Manzanita Beach and Neakahnie Mountain.
View from our AirBnB.

Sunset over Manzanita Beach.

Dogs exploring (Milo in the middle).

Arcadia Beach

Back home, we enjoyed the flowering crabapples trees in full bloom before we left for the coast.  Blooms were a week or two early this year.

Although hobby time has been much constrained this month with travel and the arrival of house guests the next two weeks, perhaps some painted figures will roll out from the painting desk soon.  We will see.

Testing

Blogger seems to have lost the ability to pick up my post feed, and the thumbnail widget no longer appears in Blogs Followed widget.

This is a test as I troubleshoot.  My previous post went almost completely unnoticed without the thumbnail "tickler" in the widget.

FRW Austrians in Casquet

May is turning out to be a busy month but not so busy on the wargaming front.  Nancy, Milo, and I returned from a week on the Oregon Coast where we met two of my sisters and their families to enjoy some sun, wind, and even a little rain.  Good to reconnect with family, talk about our younger days together, and even take on a little exploration.  With house guests the next two weekends, finding time to dive back into hobby activities might be fleeting.  There is a playtest session on deck for Monday so that should be fun.

With Montebello still fresh in mind and thoughts of Marengo up next, no surprise that more troops for that theatre might meander through the painting queue.  No surprise at all!

Out from the painting desk are three battalions of Austrian infantry in their pre-1798 uniform and headgear.  Mustering out are two battalions from IR51 and one battalion from IR33.  All battalions are Hungarian regiments in their distinctive blue pantaloons.  Figures are from AB Miniatures.  39 figures to add to the completed tally.  Hooray!  Why only one battalion from IR33?  Well, I have exhausted my ready supply of Austrian figures!  There are still enough figures in The Lead Pile to field more artillery and at least one combined grenadier regiment.  Next up are likely some Russian infantry from a 1799 grenadier regiment.  Possibly a return to Biblicals before the Russians are coming.  We will see.

I wrap up this post with a photo from the bluff overlooking the three-mile crescent beach at Manzanita where we stayed.  While I am no active member of a local tourism board, I may share some more photos of our recent travels to the Oregon Coast as a diversion in another post.

The Prussians Are Coming!

Yes, the Prussians are coming as painting returns briefly to the fledgling FPW project.  With the IV Corps nearly completed and only needing to field the 71st IR, perhaps the Prussian contingent can no longer be accurately described as "fledgling."  Can it? 

Mustering out from the painting desk today is the 86th Fusilier Regiment.  These 48 figures are distributed across three battalions of 16 figures each.  Figures are Lancashire Games 15s.  As I have said many times before, great figures and a pleasure to paint.  Do I still have enough to paint and field the lagging 71st IR?  I reckon I might but need to paw around in The Lead Pile to confirm.

On Wednesday I joined Peter in a remote game WWII aerial game as he kicks off a Battle of Britain campaign.  I took the attacking Luftwaffe in this scenario.  I will allow Peter to tell the tale of the RAF and their encounter with the Big Bombers and their escorts.

I am beginning to come to grips with Blood Red Skies.  Peter even sent on a WWI variant to entice me to bring my WWI collection out on the table.

Montebello For Four!

Round four of the Montebello replays took place last week.  The three previous accounts can be read at No Duke of Montebello, Still No Duke of Montebello, and Lannes Is Still Dead.  Rather than seeing one-on-one contests as in the previous three games, Game #4 pits two against two.  Chris and Dave B (DB) take command of the Austrian Army while Dave C. (DC) and Dave G (DG) take command of the French Army.  There are a lot of "Dave's" on the field this day! 

As a reminder, the table and opening positions look like,

With Austria leading the series two games to one, can Lannes and his French Army pull out a victory in Game #4?  Let's find out!

Elements of Lannes' command, under Watrin (DC) arrive onto the battlefield along the highway and approach Rivalta.  While most of the French are content to drive down the road, units break off to the north entering the rye fields while other units climb the heights to the south.  Without being under immediate attack, O'Reilly (Chris) places most of his command on Reserve to await the attacks he expects will develop.  His artillery quickly limbers and retires to the crossroads in the rear.  Jaegers are positioned to protect the southern flank.

Watrin arrives.

O'Reilly does not wait long to see attacks develop.  Up through the rye advances the 40th line.  Austrian light infantry unleashes withering volleys into the French as they move north of Rivalta.  Casualties are horrific.  Seeing the French waver, Austrian hussars are sent in against the enemy.  Like a cat among the pigeons, the 40th is cut to pieces as the Austrians fall upon their prey.  Not a good start for Watrin's attack!

Fight for the rye fields...

does not go well for the French!

While the destruction of the 40th was unexpected, perhaps its attack is only meant as a diversion to the main attack against the defenders of Rivalta?  If so, then this ploy produces some good results.  The grenz defenders of Rivalta are ejected with great loss and scatter to the winds.  O'Reilly, a second battalion of grenzers, and the light infantry continue to hold the rye fields to the west of Rivalta.  Watrin prepares for another push against O'Reilly as Vogelsang (DB) brings up his Austrian division to Casteggio and the heights to the south in support.

Clearing out Rivalta...

as the Austrians fall back on Casteggio.

Vogelsang forms a solid defense.

With Watrin leading the attack to the south of Rivalta, a second assault goes in against those stubborn boys of the light infantry to the north.  Watrin's attack pushes the grenz out of the rye and then scatters them in pursuit.  To the north, a familiar scene unfolds.  The Austrian light infantry unloads another punishing volley into the attackers.  Coming out of reserve, a body of Austrian hussars charges into the disordered infantry.  One battalion of Frenchmen is cutdown but the supporting legere form square and repel the attackers.  Still, French casualties are horrendous.     

Heavy fighting near Rivalta

Watrin's follow-up pursuit against the grenz brings his men into artillery range.  Fire from Vogelsang's light battery near Casteggio tears through the French ranks.  Maintaining their composure, the French discharge their muskets and the hussars to their front disappear.  Watrin advances to the crossroad.  Casteggio is within sight.    

Coming under artillery fire!

Watrin receives reports that Lannes (DG) has reached the battlefield.  Lannes is bringing up infantry up quickly to Rivalta while his hussars swing out to the south.  Vogelsang continues to shore up a defensive position at Casteggio with one battalion coming forward to support O'Reilly's guns.

Lannes brings up his troops...

as a solid Austrian wall awaits.

Sensing that Watrin is over-extended, O'Reilly sets his hussars into action.  First, a squadron of hussars swings around to catch the weakened 6th legere to the west of the rye.  Remaining calm, the interlopers are driven off as the legere forms square.  Not getting off so easily, Watrin and his light infantry are attacked by O'Reilly and his other hussars.  While one body of hussars is sent away, the second squadron breaks through and destroys the legere before it can form up into square.  In the heavy fighting both Watrin and O'Reilly are killed and both commands are broken.  

Withstanding cavalry attacks from every direction!

The destruction of O'Reilly and Watrin.

Lannes leads an attack into the rye!

With an island of Austrian light infantry remaining fixed in position in the rye, Lannes sets himself to dislodging these stalwart defenders from their place on the field.  Attacking through the rye, Lannes leads a supported attack into the enemy.  Bringing to bear overwhelming force, those brave Austrians are cut down.  The path to Casteggio is now open!  Remnants of Watrin's Division press on to the west as Victor and Chamberlhac (DG) are seen finally reaching the battlefield.  Unfortunately for the French, reports of Schellenberg (Chris) reaching Montebello filter in. 

Destruction of Austrian light infantry.

The French press on!

As Chamberlhac leads his division toward Casteggio, Victor rides off to take over command of Watrin's Division.  Well, what is left of Watrin's Division, that is.  Lannes presses on toward Casteggio while Vogelsang prepares his division for what lies ahead. 

French reinforcements!

Vogelsang needs not wait long.  First, O'Reilly's battery is overrun at the crossroads and then Chamberlhac leads his light infantry in attacks against the defenders positioned in front of Casteggio.  One Austrian battalion is destroyed and a second falls back.  The French suffer too.  One battalion is destroyed in their efforts.

Fighting in the outskirts of Casteggio...

sees some French success.

Schellenberg emerges from Casteggio to the north with his dragoons leading the way.  The remnants of Watrin's Division, on the outskirts of Casteggio, are ridden down in quick succession.  Seeing Schellenberg's success to the north, Vogelsang orders a vicious counterattack in front of the town.  Attacking with support, Vogelsang drives the enemy back.  There appears no chance that the French can make anymore headway toward Casteggio on this front.

French success short-lived as Austrians counterattack....

as the French are driven back...

and destroyed.

With Watrin's Division broken and seeing much of his old command dead on the field, Victor can do more with this brittle formation.  Lannes' command is not in a much more favorable situation.  His command is unraveling too.  In one last effort to throw the jaegers out of the stronghold of Cascina il Giardina, Lannes sends in his hussars.  The jaegers are evicted from the farmhouse and the French take the high ground.  Still, with Lannes nearly at his breaking point and Casteggio firmly in Austrian hands, Lannes has seen enough.  He orders his command to withdraw from battle.

Fighting at Cascina il Giardina...

leaves the farm in French hands.

Casteggio firmly in Austrian control.

In a four-and-a-half-hour session (and late-night for the players), the Austrians can claim victory.  Congratulations to Chris and DB!  Well-played, my friends.  My condolences to the other two Dave's, DC and DG.  You fought hard but it was not to be on this day.

Looking at the Butcher's Bill, losses were roughly even.  O'Reilly and Watrin's commands nearly ceased to exist.

Butcher's Bill

In Retrospect

What are the key takeaways from this action?

• O'Reilly's conduct was the key to Austrian victory.  Of the four games played, Chris steered O'Reilly to best outing yet.  Not only did Chris manage to keep his advance guard in the fight longer, he crippled Watrin in the process.  O'Reilly, alone, blunted the fighting power that Watrin's Division possessed.  The light battalion situated in the rye field to the west of Rivalta gave out much more than it took in the hard fighting.  A swift use of hussars to attack these weakened formations sealed Watrin's fate.  Well-played, Chris!
• Vogelsang's command took up a strong position in and around Casteggio.  Deployed on the high ground, in depth, attacking such positions would have been difficult even with fresh troops. 
• While we hate to bring it up, DC's dice rolling performed up to the standard we expect.  That is, his dice were terrible!  His troops had difficulty hitting the broadside of a barn and any morale tests needed were invariably failed.  Still, DC is always gracious even when the dice are against him.
• Reinforcements.  Both Schellenberg and Victor arrived on the last turn possible in the variable reinforcement schedule.  In the historical battle Victor arrived just in time to turn the battle by pressing on with his fresh division.  In this game, Victor arrived but not in the nick of time.  He arrived much too late to bring his powerful division fully into play.  Had Victor arrived three turns earlier, he may have been in position to assault Casteggio before Schellenberg could pass through Casteggio and overcome the river obstacle.  Faced with fresh and better quality opponents, Vogelsang may have experienced a much harder fight.
• Finally, in perhaps a moral victory, Lannes made it through this battle uninjured!

Very enjoyable game, guys, thank you!

Battlefield Lull

While it has been a busy week, not a tremendous amount of progress on the hobby front.  With nature throwing a switch, temperatures have climbed dramatically in the last week.  What that sudden change in atmosphere triggers is that my workload flips from indoor activities to outdoor activities.  Yardwork jumps to the fore as the garden and lawn spring back to life.  Infrastructure such as sprinkler systems and lawn maintenance equipment need adjusting and a general clean-up is required after putting everything away back in October and forgetting about it.  Cycling back on the roads is seeing a marked increase as well as I test out both body and bike for the upcoming campaigning season.  With that shift in direction, wargaming has seen a bit of a lull. 

Heavy fighting at Casteggio

There was one game on the week's docket.  That remote game, on Tuesday, saw a four-player refight of Montebello.  Tuesday's Montebello witnessed the fourth playing of the scenario, and it was another good one.  With experience from the previous three games and having increased player numbers, I figured the battle might be fought in two sessions.  Well, we managed to fight to conclusion in one long four-and-a-half-hour session.  Everyone was likely exhausted after that mini marathon.  The fellas in England certainly endured a late night.  I finished curating the game photos this morning.  Hopefully, I can sit down and tap out a battle report in the coming days.

On the painting desk, I did manage to produce a second Russian infantry regiment of two battalions for the 1799 project.  Like the Russian regiment produced earlier, these figures are AB Miniatures.

These two, thirteen figure battalions march out as Musketeer Regiment Dalheim.  As expected, the AB sculpts are marvelous.  On the painting desk is a third Russian regiment.  The third regiment will muster out as a grenadier regiment with its short mitre hats.

Painting output was down in April compared against the first three months of the year.  Without going back to painting seasonality analysis and tendencies, I suspect that seeing a drop in April is normal.  We will see if painting ticks up in May.

The lead photo captures a snapshot during the Montebello game with the French attack on Casteggio in the foreground and the detritus of the game room in the background.  The large screen in the background monitors the game in session.