Third Battle of Trasimene

In reparation for the defeat Flaminius suffered in the First Battle of Lake Trasimene (see Lake Trasimene), David and Mark (Romans in Game #1) swapped sides with Chris and Tony (Carthaginians in Game #1) to refight this battle.  Recall that Hannibal and his Carthaginians won Game #1.

Before the game began, the battlefield appeared as,

Battlefield

with armies deployed as,

Army deployments

Will Chris and Tony turn the table and secure a Roman victory in this rematch?  If you have not tired of Trasimene yet, please read on to find out. 

The battle begins in similar fashion to the previous two.  That is, the Gallic warbands come screaming out of the hills and down toward the lake.  Unfortunately, only one of three warbands actually reaches the enemy.  The other two warbands stop short.

The one warband successfully carrying on into the enemy hits the lead hastati.  Surprised by the sudden attack out of the mist, the hastati buckle and rout into the lake.  Seeing the debacle to its front, Flaminius leads his principes into the fight.  Quickly the enemy are driven back.  Crisis averted, for now.    

Gallic warbands rush toward the lake.

Flaminius counterattacks and drives the enemy off.

Farther to the west, Roman heavy infantry turns and advances away from the lakeside.  Having encountered the enemy, the principes are forced back.  Watching the principes retire in front of its position, the hastati, now to the principes' right, turn and engage the Gauls.  This action drives the warband back into the hills.   

Principes advance quickly and then retire just as quickly. 

Hastati finish the job!

Having successfully countered the first warband attack, Flaminius begins a march inland.  Not much ground is covered before enemy light infantry attacks.  Not expecting a second, sudden attack out of the mist, Flaminius and his heavy infantry are driven back to the lake.  With his back to the lake, the Romans fight heroically.  The enemy is driven off having suffered greatly.  Flaminius' legionaries have suffered, likewise.

There is no rest for Flaminius, though.  As quickly as one enemy is vanquished, another takes its place.  This time, Spanish scutarii attack.  Weakened by its earlier, exhausting efforts, Flaminius' principes are driven into the lake.  Flaminius narrowly avoids a similar fate.  Flaminius slips away to join triarii to the east.  In the defile, Hannibal seals the exit as heavy infantry fill the canyon.       

Flaminius attacked...

and is driven back to the lake where he makes a stand.

Flaminius attacked again!

Principes destroyed as Flaminius slips away.

Moving quickly over to the triarri, Flaminius encourages these fine, heavies to avenge the loss of their countrymen.  With Flaminius at the head, the triarii advance. Shifting back to the Roman Left, the situation has stabilized as the enemy cavalry are content to remain in the woods. 

Flaminius leads triarii foward.

The battle quietens on the Roman Left.

All is not quiet in the defile, however.

As Carthaginian heavy infantry advances down the defile, two large bodies of heavy infantry clash.  First, a block of Roman legionaries is driven off in great disorder.  As one legion retreats, a second moves up to continue the fight.  Weakened from its recent combat, the Carthaginians sustain heavy casualties and are forced back.  The Romans do not pursue. 

Heavies clash in the defile.

Showing grit, the Romans force the enemy back.

With a momentary lull in the defile, action returns to Flaminius along the lake.

Without wasting a moment, Flaminius leads an attack against the scutarii. Roman cavalry come up alongside in support.  The enemy is dispatched quickly.  Flaminius is caught up in pursuing the vanquished foe.  His pursuit carries the triarii into a second scutarii.  This enemy is driven off as the one before.  Still Flaminius pursues.  Again, a third enemy formation is encountered.  Fighting into the woods and uphill, Flaminius is unable to easily dislodge the enemy.  In the fighting, Flaminius falls.  Seeing Flaminius go down, the triarii break.   

Flaminius attacks...

and attacks...

and attacks before falling in battle.

With the start of a new turn, players roll for initiative.  Hannibal wins.  Tony, as Flaminius, asks for his one game initiative reroll.  I point out that since the Roman CiC, Flaminius, is dead on the field, there will be no reroll.  Tony replies, he thought that might be the case but tried to slip it in, anyway.  Nice try!

Holding the initiative, Hannibal advances his heavy infantry farther into the defile.  Carthaginian and Roman heavy infantry clash once again.  After a prolonged melee with casualties mounting, the Carthaginians are pushed back.  The Romans pursue but the chase is stopped short by a depleted body of enemy heavy infantry.  The Carthaginians stand firm.  The Romans suffer heavily and are forced to retreat. 

Seeing two bodies of Roman legionaries turn their backs and run, Hannibal pushes on.  The Romans are caught from behind and scattered.  Seeing that all is lost in the defile, the remnants of Flaminius' legion surrenders.  The battle is over. 

Heavy fighting in the defile.

Romans retreat and Hannibal pursues.

Caught from behind...

What remains of Flaminius' legion surrenders.

Dead Pile

Victory to Hannibal again!

Congratulations for providing an exciting and well-played game by all.  David and Mark get battle honors, this time, but the attritional nature of this battle meant that the lead was going back and forth throughout.  The turn before Flaminius' Army broke, the score was knotted at 7-7.  Only with the collapse of the Romans in the defile did Hannibal seal the victory.  Had the Romans managed to grab initiative on T6, the outcome may have been different.  Very different.

Another magnificent and closely-fought game!

Thanks fellas!

A fourth battle test is up for Monday.