Defence in Depth

It may be a while before I get another game in, so I decided to roll up a scenario from Neil Thomas' One Hour Wargames book. The result was number 23, Defence in Depth, which has an outnumbered force trying to delay a larger attacking group. The set up has several woods, and the attacker is not supposed to have local knowledge, so cannot enter them. This was great for the defenders, as they were able to put a speed bump...er... I mean militia unit in the woods who would have to be shot out, rather than expelled through melee.

Militia in the woods face the might of the Confederate army.

Looking from the Bourbon right, there is one gun and one dragoon regiment to guard the fords.

 Two of the defending units had to be militia grade, so that was easy enough for the skirmishers, who are militia, and then it was decided that the cavalry would also be militia status.

The Viejos Murados hold the built up area (BUA).

 The other two units rolled up were an infantry unit and an artillery piece. The infantry were placed in the built up area, the artillery to cover the centre of the table.

The militia take cover behind their favourite trees, prepared to delay the advancing enemy.

 The attackers had to get 3 units off the enemy table edge.

In the first turns the Confederates sent two units towards the far ford as the central ford was covered by the firefight at the woods.

The Dutch St Amant regiment moved up to the bridge while the Allied artillery bombarded the BUA

The Miquelets were feeling brave as they crossed the ford to cover the Starhemberg regiment. Unfortunately their fire was ineffective.

Part of the solo scenario on this was that no unit was allowed to cross the central ford until the militia unit had been neutralised. This led to a prolonged firefight between the Osnabruck Regiment and Rivers' Regiment on one side, and the brave militia on the other.

The St Amant regiment cross the bridge. They would charge the BUA in the next turn.

Repulsed! The St Amant Regiment is sent backwards by the Old Purples!

The Miquelets are regretting their last ineffective volley - the Mahoney Dragoons rout them!

At the same time the militia finally breaks. There's only so much a bunch of farmers with guns can take!

St Amant charge the Old Purples and roll a perfect 100 on the percentage dice. The Spanish unit is pushed out of the BUA.

Now the central column crosses the river to make its way off the table.

But at the same time the militia dragoons do it again. Starhemberg's boys are sent packing!

With no enemy to its front the Spanish artillery is wheeled to deliver enfilade fire into the flanks of the Confederate infantry.

Disaster -the general is killed! He had a telescope and still didn't see the roundshot coming!

The Spanish general rallies and turns his dragoons. Can he get them into the action in time to prevent the breakthrough?

The artillery continues to do damage to the marching Austrians.

While the St Amant and Viejos Murados continue their murderous duel.

 Several moves later and the Austrians and British have left the table. For victory only one more Confederate unit needs to get through - the St Amant regiment opposed by the Spanish infantry.

Two last crashing volleys and there is no more opposition!

They take a shot in the flank from the artillery - one more hit and they are routed, meaning a Spanish victory.

But they are now shielded by the woods, and the dragoons are too far away.

The Dutch leave the table and it is a near run Confederate victory.

A great game. Man of the match went to the Militia unit, that stod like a Stonewall for ages in their woods. The Dragoons were a close second.
I used my Featherstone-style Marlburian rules for this one, which rely heavily on percentage dice, and they worked really well. Simple to use and fun to play. I have a couple of amendments to make to the firing table, which I started playing mid game, and they worked much better. Otherwise, things went very smoothly. I'll give them their own rules page on the blog when I've amended them.

Nate