State of the Painting Desk

After more than a fortnight away scrambling around the Peruvian Highlands, I return to the painting desk.  In my absence, the painting desk lay fallow and the gaming table quiet.  With much activity on the home/work front following my return, I was unable to get in even one short painting session in this week.  Hopefully, I can make some time for a painting session or two this weekend after wrestling the yard back into shape following two weeks' neglect.

What is on the painting desk this morning?

State of the Painting Desk

Well, in the background are three battalions' worth (36 figures) of French Line infantry for the 15mm Risorgimento project.  After fielding a few French battalions of Freikorps, When the Navy Walked, and Lancashire Games, I turn to the large pile of unpainted Old Glory French.  The Old Glory figures are much more dynamically posed than the others and offer an interesting contrast.  Sculpting is quite good but many of the bits are molded fragilely.  Already, one officer's handgun has been lost.  I am interested to see how these figures fit with the three manufacturers mentioned earlier.  My Old Glory Austrians and Sardinians are very handsome and I see no reason why these French should not be as well.

In the foreground is a sample of five offerings from Zvezda in their 1/100th (15mm) line of plastic WWII vehicles.  The pieces snap together with only a bit of glue and the results are good.  The few other vehicles on hand for this project are molded in metal.  Once painted, I will make a comparison.  An assortment of fifteen such kits were picked up about a month or two ago when they were offered on discount.  

Winner in Ray's Contest!

Just before I left for vacation, I received notification from Ray (of Don't Throw A 1 fame), that I was a winner in his recent give-away.  Outstanding!  I departed before the package could wind its way from the U.K. to the U.S.A. but it was found in the large mail bag upon my return.

What did I win?  Ray sent a hand painted, limited edition, dismounted cuirassier from Foundry's ECW range.

Excellent, eh?

I do not know if Ray followed my earlier lament about placing a Foundry order and not receiving the special figure but if he did, Ray, you have a great memory!

Did that posting influence the Give-Away draw?

Ray, if you are reading this, THANK YOU for the great gift!

One-Hour Wargames (Miniature Rules) Review

Marco is a well-known reviewer in the boardgame community and I find his game evaluations balanced, insightful, and entertaining.  While Marco reviews and plays primarily hex and counter wargames, he expands reviewing to include a review of Neil Thomas' One-Hour Wargames rule book.

While I have and enjoy Thomas' Wargaming 19th Century Europe, I have not picked up a copy of his One-Hour Wargames.  What I found especially interesting in Marco's review is his definition of a miniatures wargame.  Marco makes the argument that miniatures wargaming does not necessarily require miniatures.  Miniatures wargaming could include figures, blocks, paper soldiers, cardboard counters or anything to denote the basic maneuver unit.  What then makes miniatures wargaming distinctive from the traditional board wargame?  The difference, as Marco makes it, is a classification between discrete and continuous systems.  That is, a miniatures wargame is not governed by discrete grid with movements, ranges, etc. defined by this grid but played in continuous space.  Gaming in a continuous system allows greater tactical flexibility and nuances not present in a hex game. 

So, when I play Commands & Colors: Ancients using miniatures, according to Marco, I am not technically playing a miniatures game since movement and combat resolution is based upon a discrete system of hexes or grids.    

I must ponder this definition.  

In the meantime, if you have about 30 minutes and are interested, take a look at Marco's review of One-Hour Wargames.

Lunchtime View

The view from my spot on a terrace while I enjoyed lunch after a hard climb up Huayna Picchu (peak in the background).

A more complete travelogue will be pieced together once I return.

Battle of Raab 12:30-13:00

Austrian guns on the heights

With cavalry action around the Upper Bridge in tumult (see Grouchy's Ride), attention turns to the center and the exploits of Seras and Durutte.

French battlefield view

As the French launch attacks into the Austrian center positions, the Austrian Reserve guns placed on the Szabadhegy Heights target the 1/102 Line that only recently gained the walls of the lower Kis-Megyer complex.  The batteries find their target and the French suffer moderate casualties becoming shaken.

French targeted by artillery

In the gap between the Kis-Megyer Farm and the church, the 2/53rd Line supported by the 1st Legere go in against IR 19.  The attack hits the disordered 1/19 IR and French skirmishers easily compound this advantage.

French attack between church and farm

The weight of the French attack is too much and 1/19 IR retreats back up onto the heights, demoralized.  A number of Austrians surrender.  The supporting Austrians in 2/19 hold their ground but become disordered as their comrades pass through them.  

Austrians repulsed.

To Seras' left, Durutte's boys go in once again against the defenders of the farm.  Led by the 22nd Legere with support from the 23rd Line, French repeat an earlier failed assault against the stronghold.  The fighting is vicious as first the legere and then the Austrians become disordered in the close assault.  As in previous attempts, the balance finally swings in favor of the defenders and the French attack is checked.  The hard-fighting 22nd becomes shaken as it withdraws back across the Panzca.

Legere attack Kis-Megyer

The defeat of the the 22nd's attack forces a panic test upon Durutte.  With very bad luck, Durutte fails his low-level panic test.  The entire division falls back across the brook.  Attack orders now revert to defend as Durutte reorganizes his division.

Durutte panics!

On the Austrian left, the still demoralized Insurrectio cavalry under Cumaier scatter, never to see the battlefield again.  As the Austrians make rally attempts, only 1/2 Joseph Hussars and 2/Wesprimer cavalry fail to rally.

With French cavalry on the east bank of brook in wavering state, Mescery launches three counterattacks; all against Grouchy's dragoons.

Austrian cavalry attack!

Above the Upper Bridge, 1/5 Ott Hussars with support from 1/Bascer Insurrectio attack the shaken 2/30th Dragoons who tentatively hold a small bridgehead on the east bank.  With the 1/30th Dragoons shaken, their fellow horsemen will lend no assistance in the clash.  The 2/30th is destroyed under the initial impact and the Austrians plunge into the 1/30th Dragoons.  The dragoons become demoralized and fall back across the brook.  The victorious Austrian cavalry break off the attack and retire back to their own lines, shaken.

Sabers clash

In the second cavalry clash, the still disordered 1/2 Joseph Hussars, hoping to capitalize on their advantage, strike out against the demoralized 2/Italian Dragoons.  The dragoons will stand for none of this and retreat back across the Pancza leaving behind a number of Italians in Austrian hands.  The Austrians are unable to follow up.

In the third charge, disordered insurrection troopers have their eyes set on finishing off the remainder of the demoralized Italian dragoons.  Luckily for the dragoons, the 1/9 Chasseurs intercept the Insurrectio before they can reach its intended target.  In the clash, the Insurrectio break off the attack and fall back demoralized.  This act likely saved Grouchy's life!  Having lost one dragoon and two more formations demoralized, Grouchy tests for panic.  With chaos all around, Grouchy maintains his composure and chooses to fight on.

Positions around Upper Bridge at 1300

Back in the center at the Kis-Megyer Farm, the vacation of the east bank by Durutte allows the retaking of the lower farm complex by Lutz.  Those hard-fought French gains are now lost.

Austrians retake farm complex

Having rallied the grenadiers, Kienmeyer personally leads the veteran Austrians once again into the breech against the church.  With Seras and the 1/53 Line defending, this position will be a tough nut to crack as demonstrated in an earlier attack.

Grenadiers assault church

In the initial attack, the grenadiers become disordered but make a second effort to overcome the defenders.  This second attack is repulsed and the grenadiers begin to waver.  Sensing the fragility of the assault, Frimont personally intervenes in an effort to rally the grenadiers and encourage them to one more attack.  Under Frimont's encouragement and leadership, the grenadiers rally.  Back into the breech!

Grenadiers against 53rd Line

In this third assault with both Kienmeyer and Frimont at the fore, the grenadiers are bloodily repulsed.  In the close combat both Frimont and Kienmeyer go down with injuries and are carried from the field.  This is too much!  Kienmeyer's division panics and falls back to the Szabadhegy Heights to lick their wounds. 

Kienmeyer's division panics as leaders are lost

Thus ends the 1300 turn of the battle.  Both sides experienced success and failure during the 1230-1300 turn.  At the cavalry battle centered around the Upper Bridge, both have taken and given much punishment.  Grouchy still maintains a toe hold on the east bank but that hold is tenuous at best.  Still, Andrasy's cavalry are on the brink.  If the French can somehow cause a second panic check upon Andrasy, his battered formation may be gone for good.  Can Eugene spur Colbert's light cavalry back into action?  That may be the key to a satisfactory outcome for the French.  Can Mescery thwart another French cavalry assault across the Pancza?  That result might force Grouchy to call off his attack.

In the center, taking up good defensive positions has been the key.  Durutte failed in his attempt to storm Kis-Megyer while Kienmeyer failed in wresting control of the church back from Seras.  Losing both Kienmeyer and Frimont in the assault on the church throws in a few complications to the Austrian command structure.  Ex-Kienmeyer's division may not be back in operation for at least one hour.  Luckily for Johan, pressure on Kis-Megyer has been at least temporarily removed from direct assault from the west.  More troublesome to Johan is that attack from the south is now possible.

French view of battlefield at 1300

Closer inspection of Kis-Megyer at 1300

At 1300, Pully's French heavy cavalry can be seen approaching the battlefield from the west.

Roman Infantry in 6mm

I had one packet of Baccus Republican Roman legionnaires in the The Lead Pile and inspired by a recent Commands & Colors game added these 96 figures into the painting queue.

All of my other Republican Roman legionnaires wield either the pila or spear.  As a change, these fellows carry the gladius.  With 96 figures across 24 strips, I was able to field four stands of medium infantry for the game.  All figures in this quartet of stands received the red treatment; red tunics and red shields.

That was a worthwhile diversion!

Battle of Raab 12:30-13:00 Grouchy's Ride

Archduke Johan's HQ 1230
A dispatch rider from Mescery arrives with the following message:

From Mescery, cavalry left wing 1145am

Your Excellency, my command has repulsed another French attempt to cross the Pancza in strength.  Casualties mounting and my cavalry are fatiguing. A large enemy cavalry formation seen approaching the Upper Bridge.

Turning to FML Frimont, the Archduke seems pleased with the performance of Mescery's predominantly insurrection troops but urges Frimont to retake the church in order to relieve pressure against Kis-Meyger.

From the Archduke's vantage point up on the Szabadhegy Heights, the picture of the unfolding battle is more clear.  Opposite the Archduke's HQ in the valley to the west, Eugene has no such view and must rely more heavily on the a stream of dispatches.  With the sound of battle escalating on his far right, Eugene surmises that Grouchy has reached the Pancza and is beginning his attack.

When the battle was last joined (see 1200-1230), the French cavalry were positioned to push across the Pancza Brook with Grouchy's dragoons.  In the center, both the church and the lower Kis-Megyer complex had fallen into French hands.

Battle Overview 1230

In the center, much of Seras and Durutte's divisions rally and are poised to press the Austrians again.

On the right, Colbert rallies the 9th Hussars and 7th Chasseurs while reorganizing his command on the west bank of the Pancza.  While Colbert awaits orders, Grouchy wastes little time in bringing his cavalry across the Pancza.  The 30th Dragoons make their way across the brook above the bridge while the Italian Dragoons pick out an approach below the bridge.  Following the Italian Dragoons, Seras' 9th Chasseurs cross to the east bank as well.

Grouchy's attempt at forming a bridgehead is not unchallenged by Mescery.  Laying in wait, the Austrian cavalry counterattack every French attempt to cross.  Mescery's hope is to catch the French before they have had time to form up after negotiating the difficult stream passage.

Austrian attacks along the Pancza

First, the 2/5 Ott Hussars strike the 2/30 Dragoons.  Both cavalry formations are supported; the Austrians by Insurrectio cavalry; the French by two more squadrons of the 30th.  In the clash, the 30th Dragoons become shaken but the Austrians break off their attack and fall back in disorder.

Cavalry clashes around the Upper Bridge

As the Italians cross, the 2/Italian Dragoons draw fire from Hadik's battery.  Those two squadrons of heavy cavalry are shaken by the incoming artillery fire.  To make any headway in the bridgehead, Hadik's battery must be silenced.  In the attack against the 1/Italian Dragoons, 1/2 Hussars rush into two squadrons of the Italians.

Hussars strike!

The already disordered Italians become shaken in the impact but do not break.  With the Italians shaken and sensing the need for personal intervention, Grouchy crosses the brook in an effort to rally the wavering dragoons.  At great personal risk, Grouchy rallies the dragoons forcing the Austrian cavalry to break off the attack and return back from whence they came. 

Grouchy rallies the Italian dragoons

Having restored the morale of his Italians, Grouchy presses the heavy cavalry forward and into Hadik's guns.

Grouchy vs Hadik's guns

Overrunning and capturing the guns, the Italians breakthrough and destroy the remnants of 1/Wesprimer Insurrectio cavalry. 

1/Wesprimer Insurrectio destroyed

Continuing to lose cohesion as they charge forward, the Italians reach 1/2 Joseph Hussars who only moments before they were locked in combat against. 

Grouchy vs Austrian hussars

This time, the hussars stand firm and repel the tiring French.  Exhausted, Grouchy and the dragoons break off their attack and fall back but do not reach the relative safety of the Pancza.

Repulsed!

In the third engagement, the 2/Wesprimer Insurrectio cavalry strike Seras' 9th Chasseurs as the chasseurs attempt to form up to the left of the Italians.  In the following lengthy clash of swords, the Hungarians are driven off leaving half of their comrades in French hands.

Despite the setbacks against Grouchy below the Upper Bridge, Andrasy's mostly green Insurrection cavalry do not panic but maintain their positions on the field.  With Grouchy exhausted and isolated, will Mescery be able to mount a counterattack?

Next we turn to the fighting in the center.