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Tuesday, May 28, 2024

Bassignana With The Rejects

The Battle of Bassignana was back on the schedule this week after a two-week hiatus.  For details of the earlier battle and a battle briefing, please visit Return to Bassignana.  As a reminder, the battlefield and initial army deployments are as shown in the photo below: 
Initial deployments
For Monday's game, I enlisted three of Postie's Rejects to test their mettle on the fields of Bassignana.  Richard would take on the role of King Emanuele III commanding the Austro-Piedmontese armies while Lee (Maillebois) and Steve (de Gages) would split the Gallispan Army with Lee commanding the French Wing and Steve commanding the Spanish Wing.  After fielding a number of questions in pre-game correspondence, players took the field.  For Richard's battle account, see Face to Face with Better Generals.
Gallispan Center looks on at the Piedmontese
situated across the Tanaro River.
On to battle!

With the Spanish holding the initiative as the battle opens, Steve puts both de Gages and Arambou's brigades in motion.  Those two formations march toward the bridge over the Tanaro River.  The river is low so fording this obstacle is possible.  Dice behind each unit denote current combat effectiveness.  Color of the dice delineates to which brigade a unit belongs.  White cotton balls signify a first fire bonus.

The Piedmontese King reacts by calling on Liguane's Brigade of Dragoons to redeploy from the far-right wing.  This redeployment will take some time especially given Liguane's hesitation in responding.

Seeing the road to Bassignana lightly defended, Arambou sends his cavalry across the river to attack the King's cavalry positioned on the heights.  What may seem like a rash move is initiated to protect the Spanish infantry as they cross the Tanaro in column.  Not content to stand idly by, the Piedmontese cavalry counter charge hitting the Spanish cavalry.  As in the historical battle, the Spanish cavalry are caught as they emerge from the river.  The Spanish cavalry is driven off as the Piedmontese horsemen carry on.  Unfortunately, the Piedmontese cavalry is raked by canister as it moves forward toward the bridge.  The King's horsemen are crippled by this sudden blast but they press on.  

Still, into the long columns of Spaniards splashing through the river they come.  With few organized horsemen remaining, the Spaniards drive the Piedmontese off.  The Spaniards breathe a sigh of relief but success is short-lived.  From the woods to the east, Piedmontese light infantry appear and send volleys into the densely packed Spanish infantry columns.  Casualties are high as the surprise attack stops the Spanish dead in their tracks.  Maillebois orders de Montal to move up on Arambou's left while de Grammont advances upon Chiesa de San Germano under the protection of an artillery bombardment.      
de Gages' Spanish advance toward the river.
Cavalry clash!
Piedmontese cavalry pay the price in driving off the enemy.
Canister!
Surprise!
The woods are alive with Piedmontese light infantry.
de Montal covers Arambou's left
 as the French cross the river.
de Grammont advances on the left against
Chiesa de San Germano and its Piedmontese defenders.
Having seen off the King's cavalry, Arambou replaces his wavering infantry with two fresh infantry regiments to deal with the harassing light infantry.  With the Piedmontese cavalry driven off, the heights are left undefended.  Seeing opportunity, de Gages and de Montal coordinate attacks against the defenders of Rivarone.  After bitter fighting, Piedmontese militia is ejected from the village and de la Chiesa's remaining infantry regiment is compelled to fall back from Rivarone.  The entire Piedmontese center is compromised unless d'Aix's Brigade can shift to the east to relief this quickly building pressure.
Spanish driving off enemy light infantry!
Defenders ejected from Rivarone.
Piedmontese Center gives away.
The Piedmontese Guard from d'Aix's Brigade heeds the call for help and moves out from the relative safety of Montecastelle.  Immediately, they are pressed into action.  Attacking into the French near Rivarone, the guards are repulsed.  The guards rally and go in again.  Again, the hardened Frenchmen drive the guard back a second time having suffered heavy casualties.  Can the guard muster enough strength to attack a third time?  No!  Continued French artillery fire finally causes the guards to break for the rear.    
D'Aix sends a second regiment east to plug the hole.  It moves up alongside de la Chiesa's remaining infantry regiment and together they make a stand on the high ground overlooking Rivarone.  Fighting is vicious as the Gallispans try to take control of the heights.  The Piedmontese fight on but their numbers are thinning as de la Chiesa's Brigade breaks.
Heavy fighting in the center...
ending in de la Chiesa's Brigade breaking.
In front of Bassignana, the Spanish begin to form up for an assault against the town.  To prevent interruption from Liguane's cavalry moving quickly to the front, de Gage launches spoiling cavalry attacks against Liguane's cavalry as they move up to Bassignana.  In a series of charges and counter charges, Liguane's Piedmontese cavalry are driven off.  The King and Bassignana are isolated!
Spanish form up for the assault on Bassignana...
while Spanish cavalry drive off the enemy.
With Liguane's cavalry scattered, Spanish cavalry drive toward the pontoon bridge spanning the Po River.  The Spanish reach the bridge before Schulenburg's Austrians can cross.  The King and the defenders of Bassignana find themselves nearly surrounded and cut off from the pontoon bridge.  The King chooses to defend the town.  Arambou leads the assault into Bassignana.  The King is driven out!  Not giving up just yet, the King leads a counterattack back into the town.  Unfortunately, his attack is repulsed.  
Assault on Bassignana.
Seeing his army in tatters and little hope of Schulenburg crossing the Po to rescue his beleaguered army, the King escapes to the west to fight another day.

Well done to Lee and Steve for their decisive and relentless attacks against the King's positions.  While several formations saw heavy damage in the fighting, none of the Gallispan brigades ended the contest broken.  The King saw two of his brigades broken in the fighting and salvation from the Austrians on the north bank of the Po dashed.

Richard put up a good fight but it was not enough on this day.  While the outcome may look dismal for the King and his Piedmontese, this result mirrored the historical result quite closely.  No need to lament a loss when you manage to replicate the historical result.  Richard is up for the challenge and willing to give the battle another try.  In a couple of weeks' time, the Rejects can reconvene on my field of battle.

Thanks fellas or another very entertaining game.  As always, much appreciated!

Be sure to check out Richard's observations on the battle.

Game lasted about three hours.

56 comments:

  1. Excellent report of an entertaining game Jonathan. I'm already planning the next game. Fingers crossed for better luck too.

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    1. Thank you for making it all possible. I look forward to seeing what you may try next time.

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  2. Well done project with the second play! Determination did pay off, interesting game.

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  3. Great write up Jonathan. Very interesting battle.

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    1. Thank you! The battle was very interesting, indeed.

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  4. A very good report and a cracking game, game three should be very interesting.

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    1. Thanks, Donnie! Game #3 sees a new cast of characters.

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  5. Another exciting account. I'll be very interested to see what Richard does differently next time, if the players assume the same roles.

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    1. I am definitely going to assume the same command Lawrence. I have to at least better this result.

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    2. Exciting game too! I will be very interested in seeing what tricks Richard pull out of his bag next time.

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    3. Richard, perhaps splitting the command with a luckier player might help?

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  6. Superb game. The Gallispans really kept the pressure in Richard

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    1. Thanks, Neil! They kept the pressure up, relentlessly.

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  7. A fascinating battle and a very clear report. Thank you. I find these refights of the same battle, with the opportunity that players have to rethink their tactics, very interesting to reflect on.

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    1. Very much appreciated! Like you, I find that refighting the same battle with different players and using different strategies and tactics quite fascinating and insightful.

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  8. Another exciting action there Jon, with a real sense of the too and fro of the battle. Nice to see how the cavalry were used too:). As always the game looks lovely!

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    1. Thanks, Steve! The activation system with the non-phasing player able to interrupt allows for constant swings in momentum.

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  9. Thanks for another entertaining report Jon, a different result from last time but just as hard fought. My impression is that the Spanish cavalry played a greater role than previously but I really need to go back and read that report. Clearly preventing the Austrians intervening was a critical move. I feel the King could complain to Marie Theresa that the would have won had not een let down by Schulenburg :-)

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    1. You’re welcome, Brian! Very different result from the last playing, for sure. The Gallispans concentrated most of their efforts against the road to Bassignana in an aggressive manner and this approach paid off.

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  10. If you keep this up, I suppose you'll be able to call yourself a "Virtual Reject" (such an honor!).

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    1. Is being Rejected virtually any less heavy than in-person?

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    2. Oh, I like that. Virtual reject.
      You've definitely earned it with the amount of hosting you've been doing. I assume there is some sort of ceremony with robes and sashes followed by food.
      I shall attend. ๐Ÿ˜

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    3. If there is a ceremony, proper, it remains a secret to me as well.

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    4. Jonathan,
      I think we all agree you are King of virtual Hosts.....
      Stew is auditioning as your court jester....☺
      Neil

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    5. Stew would make a fine court jester.

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    6. LOL. I'd like that actually. i get a fancy suit of clothes and the ability to say witty truths behind the safety of being the fool. ๐Ÿ˜

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    7. You are a wise and clever jester.

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  11. It's a good looking and fun game as always Jonathon. Better luck for the king next time. ๐Ÿ˜

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    1. Thanks, Stew! Did you attend Kublacon in the Bay Area?

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    2. Nah, I get intimidated by Kubla because it's so big now. But more practically it's held at an inconvenient weekend for me because i usually have a famiy thing and recently I got hit with some big expenses making hotels stay an unaffordable luxury. I don't think I'll be able to make any out of town conventions this year. more sad for me.

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    3. Well, there is still in-town, in-house, and possibly even remote gaming?

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    4. exactly. i have a game scheduled for next week actually, and i'd love to sneak in again on one of these remote games when the schedule and space opens. maybe in July?

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  12. Exciting photos of a very interesting battle report. Back from France I would recommend our latest battle report on our blog. Cheers!

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    1. Hi Andrรฉ, hope you enjoyed your trip to France. I will visit your blog and read your latest battle report.

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  13. Another cracking game Jonathan…
    And a very enjoyable AAR….

    All the best. Aly

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  14. As always, a great report Jon! I had already read Richard's version and the two seem to tally well - The King seemed to go about his work with stoic determination and accepted his fate without complaint!

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    1. Thanks, Keith! Richard is a very cool commander under battlefield stresses.

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  15. That was a great game and report Jon. Well done to Lee and Steve. Sounds like you kept up the pressure well in a co-ordinated fashion. Wonder if the Two Dave’s and I will be able to pull off a similar feat tonight!
    Chris/Nundanket

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    1. Glad you approve, Chris! Seeing how you handle the scenario and your opponents will be fun to watch.

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  16. another splendid looking battle Jon ๐Ÿ‘

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  17. Well that was a corker and no mistake carried along with fine pictures and description of the action.

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    1. Thank you, Phil! Another battle coming up for play in about thirty minutes.

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  18. I have not counted the number of positive compliments regarding this latest effort, but the total appears substantial. Any additional kudos I could offer would probably be lost in the din of praise.

    Curious about the identification tags noted on the units. Could you remind me of the rules used. Also, are these tags created for each wargame or are they part of the collection?

    Curious as well about the logistics of your remote hosting. You and the self-labeled Rejects are separated by some distance, are you not? How did you work around the time difference?

    Related to that question, how involved are the remote players? Do they roll dice? Are they just commanding "their" troops, albeit from a great distance? How is the potential of boredom avoided as players wait their turn?

    Thanks in advance.

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    1. Hello Anon,
      Well, you came very close to giving a kudo. Kudos to you!

      Unit labels are printed and affixed for each battle to reflect that battle's OB.

      On remote gaming, I am situated on the US West Coast in Pacific Time Zone. The Rejects are all in England so most of the year we are eight hours apart. Game time for them is typically 7pm local. That makes an 11am start for me.

      Involvement and boredom for all of the remote players are probably questions better answered by them but players roll their own dice and I attempt to keep the sequence of play interactive so no one is drifting off to sleep during the game. My success on this front probably varies but I keep trying to improve.

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  19. Another spectacular table and gripping ARR. Thanks Jon!

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  20. Another great game and report, thanks Jon! Richard is no pushover I'm sure, so Lee and Steve must have done really well to win so decisively. We tried to emulate them in our attempt at the game, but were not quite so successfull..!

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    1. Thanks, David! Richard is a smart player but often unlucky with the dice. Steve and Lee played up to their usual excellence.

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  21. Another fine version of this battle/game. I look forward to version and 'Richard's revenge'?!
    Enjoyable comments from other bloggers too!
    Looking at the early photos it seemed like a huge left hook by the Bourbons. Interesting that the centre was where the breakthrough occurred. I presume that the Sardinian-Piedmontese weakened that to support the former?
    Regards, James

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    1. Thank you, James! I agree that the commentary is where the really interesting tidbits are found. Richard’s Revenge is slated for next Monday but another battle is on the docket for Friday.

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