Battle of Sanguetta, Game #2

Following the battle a week ago, Wednesday, between Brian and Stephen (see Battle of Sanguetta 1497), Mark joined me for a replay of this scenario in a one-on-one remote game on Friday.

Mark chose to take command of the Papal Army under Giovanni Borgia. I would command Vitellozzo Vitelli's Army. With hidden deployment, I set up Vitelli's Army before Mark joined. When Mark logged into Zoom, he faced a green cloud in the background with his army components laid out before him.  Hidden under the green cloud was Vitelli's Army.

Vitelli's Green Wall

After recovering from the surprise of not seeing his opposition and commenting that he expected to see my deployment in order to make on-the-fly adjustments to his dispositions, Mark set out his army.  I think he was joking.  The green veil was then lifted.

Borgia's deployment in the foreground.

When the veil lifts, Borgia's pike blocks are positioned abreast while Vitelli's pike blocks are deployed with a gap between the two formations. Vitelli could be in trouble early if his left cannot get into battle quickly.  For clarity, Borgia's Army carries the blue VBU dice.  Vitelli's Army carries the red VBU dice.

Let's see how the battle played out.

With Vitelli on the gentle hill, Borgia takes the initiative and advances out of the open woods.  On Borgia's Right, his missile troops cover that flank as Vitelli moves down from the hill along the road.  

Borgia's Center advances.

View down the battle lines.

With two pike blocks advancing upon Vitelli's center, the Papal pike block quickens its step and charges into the enemy guns.  The gunners really have no chance.  The Papal pikemen overrun the guns as the gunners break for the rear.  Barely breaking stride, the pike block pursues.  Continuing forward up the hill, Borgia's pike block contacts the Italian pike block in the center of Vitelli's line.  Seemingly unprepared for enemy contact, Vitelli's Italians are driven back viciously with great loss.  The Italians are pushed back, tumbling down the gentle slope of the heights.  Despite having the Italians backfooted, the Papal pike chooses not to pursue. 

Papal pike charges the guns... 

and then drives back Italian pike.

While Vitelli's Center appears to be crumbling, he presses forward on his left.  His Men-at-Arms attack Borgia's massed crossbow.  The crossbowmen are driven back.  The skirmishing harquebusiers fall back along with the crossbow in sympathy.

Vitelli's MAA drive back the enemy.

Seeing the Papal block hesitate, the Italians draw up the nerve to counterattack.  Pressing back up the hill, fighting is fierce.  The Papal pike block is driven back.  The Italians push on.  In continued heavy fighting, losses mount to both combatants but the Italians waver.  With one more push from Papal troops, the Italians have seen enough and break toward the rear.     

Heavy fighting in the center...

as the pike blocks grind each other down.

Witnessing the destruction of the Italian pikemen, Vitelli's second pike block wheels to better bring the enemy to bear.  In the distance, Borgia's MAA work their way around the enemy right.  In the foreground, Vitelli's MAA continue to pressure Borgia's Right.  Vitelli's MMA sweep around and strike the crossbow.  The crossbowmen are scattered as the MAA move into the Papal rear. 

Vitelli's MAA empty the Papal rear
after destroying enemy crossbow.

With the enemy right collapsing, Vitelli's second pike block pushes forward toward the center.  As the pikemen approach the enemy, the Papal pike charges into Vitelli's pikemen.  In very heavy fighting, the two blocks grind each other down until both formations are cut in numbers by two-thirds.  Finally, Vitelli's pikemen are forced back.  Exhausted, Borgia's pike block fails to follow-up.   

Vitelli's pike heads back into the center.

Push of pike grinds down both combatants.

Battle situation as battle breaks down
into a number of smaller clashes.

Seeing the Papal rear devoid of troops, Vitelli swings his MAA about to bring the enemy guns into sight.  Vitelli strikes the Papal guns before they can respond to this new threat.  The guns are easily overrun.  If Vitelli can quickly swing around, he will be able to lead a charge into the rear of the enemy Landsknecht pike block.  Whichever commander destroys the next enemy unit, the spoils of war and victory fall to him.

Vitelli free to roam in the Papal rear.

Vitelli overruns the guns!

Unfortunately, time has run out for Vitelli.  Borgia leads his MAA into an attack against the remnants of an enemy pike block as it retreats.  Wavering, the pikemen can take no more.  The pike block dissolves and the battle is over.  

Borgia breaks the enemy pike block.

Borgia, the Papal Army, and Mark are victorious!  Well done, Mark!

While the battle began with a strong push by Borgia's Papal Army in the center, its hesitation after successfully driving the enemy back gave Vitelli just enough time to regroup and launch a counterstroke.  Vitelli made a valiant attempt to rebalance the fight by emptying the Papal rear of troops.  The race was then on to break the enemy's will to fight.  Unfortunately for Vitelli, it would be his army that was the first to collapse.

Great game!  After a dismal start, Vitelli fought back to see victory almost within his grasp.  Still, it was not to be and Borgia (and Mark) emerged victorious in a hard-fought battle.

Mark is a very tough foe.  In a one-on-one battle, I am unsure if I have ever won against my formidable opponent.

Maybe next time, my friend.