Bats Over the Alps

Happy Halloween!

With thoughts of bringing the 1799 Russians to the table for their Baptism of fire and Halloween upon us, I return to Christopher Duffy's Eagles Over the Alps for inspiration.  For today, on Halloween, I will be thinking about Bats Over the Alps.  Checking the Painting Log, the tally shows that I may, indeed, have enough Russians painted from which to build a mid-sized battle.  Cavalry strengths are a little light but in Northern Italy and Switzerland, few may be enough.  I have some research to do.

Before thoughts can turn toward the Alps and a fight in the high country, the gaming table sees a long absent return to the Spanish Reconquista.  This time, my interpretation of the 23 OCT 1086 Battle of Zallaqah hits the table.  I missed the anniversary by a week.  More foresight is needed.  Interesting situation started by a great Christian heavy cavalry charge.

Anyway, battle briefing and QRS have been distributed.  First game is set for Monday in a remote game with five of Postie's Rejects.  I expect a few more iterations of the battle before clearing the table.  In most of these games, there are typically only two commanders per army.  With five players, I wanted each to have a personal commander on the field.  Having only four command stands total in the collection meant hurriedly pushing more command to jump ahead into the painting queue.  With a little luck, this work will be finished before Monday's action.

Last Saturday saw me take to the field as a Redcoat in a five-player F2F Zulu War game using Chris Leach's Battles for Empire II (BfE).  I do not recall playing these rules before.  One player played a game at Enfilade! con back in May and enjoyed the game.  None of the others had played BfE either. 

Despite a general unfamiliarity with the rules, we picked up the broad concepts quickly and fought the battle to a satisfactory conclusion.  Especially satisfactory for the British.  

The British objective was a punitive expedition to lay waste to a Zulu strongpoint. There were two British commanders facing three Zulu commanders.  Both British columns marched onto the field as my column on the left headed toward the high ground opposite the Zulu kraal.  No sooner had I reached the table than the British CiC marching with the right column ordered both companies to go into square and await the enemy.  What?  How can we possibly take the objective with our feet pinned to the ground?  Well, I duly went into square pivoting my square to offer support to the other British square.

British columns form square.

I sent my dragoons up onto the ridge to keep an eye on enemy movements but quickly fell back toward the safety of the square when the Zulus bounded over the ridge.  My dragoons dismount and form into a firing line.

Dragoons fall back and dismount.

The Zulus came on in wave after wave.  The first couple of waves were destroyed on the approach but finally, a wave reached my square.  On my front, casualties were very high among the enemy.  The other British square saw less success against the enemy who began encircling that square.  While fighting off the enemy on my front, I also lent support to the adjoining square to prevent complete encirclement.  British firepower was awesome.

Zulus reach my square!

By this point, sufficient enemy Zulu casualties were inflicted to break the enemy.  Still with time aplenty, the Zulus reconstituted four units from the Dead Pile and brought them back on table.  These reinforcements joined into the fray and managed to break the rightmost square while mine held on, repelling all comers.

British square encircled!

Even with the breaking of one British square, Zulu casualties were piled high.  The battle ended in a convincing British victory.  Saturday sees a return engagement but this time, the theatre moves to the NWF.  Reports of rapid painting of Afghans reach British HQ.