Ted Haskell's Wargamer's Profile Worksheet (The Courier, 1971)

    I have been thinking about the spectrum of our Hobby, which is to say specifically (mostly) Historical Miniature Wargaming. One of the great (and sometimes frustrating) things about it is that it has so many potential facets to it. I plan to ramble on some more about this, but as I was contemplating the subject, I recalled a one page article on the subject by Ted Haskell, titled as above, from the original NEWA Courier. So I decided to check out the basement files (yep, I still have ALL of those great issues , and rather easily found it in Volume III, No 5. I perhaps remembered it so well because that was just my second issue, and I devoured it, cover to cover - the whole offset printed, spine stapled 30 pages of it.

Teds article was almost more of a drawing - all handwritten! It was in tabular form, as seen below. In the original, each box contained a description of that level,. I tried, but I couldn't reproduce it in a legible fashion, so I'll present it in list form. The idea was that you would then take the grid and place a mark in one box for each of the 5 categories (thus allowing for a 4.5, say)

	HISTORIAN	CRAFTSMAN	COLLECTOR	RULESMITH	GAMESMAN
5
4
3
2
1

HISTORIAN

5: Well versed in 5+ Armies, 5+ periods, 5+ battles, or combination;

     Large Private Library, files

     Some original sources

     Loves History!

     Professional Historian

4: Well versed in 4+ Armies, 4+ periods, 4+ battles, or combination;

    Small Private Library

    Public Library

    Secondary Sources

    Personal Files

    Semi-Pro Historian

3: Well versed in 3+ Armies, 3+ periods, 3+ battles, or combination;

    Public Library

    Personal Files

    Professional Magazines

    Amateur Historian

2: Well versed in 2+ Armies, 2+ periods, 2+ battles, or combination;

    Public Library

    Magazines

    Files

1: Well versed in 1+ Armies, 1+ periods, `1+ battles, or combination;

    Reading only

CRAFTSMAN

5: Troops - Original Designs, Casts, Converts, Paints very well

     Terrain - Original Designs, Builds, Paints very well

4: Troops - Casts, Converts, Paints with shading

     Terrain - Builds, Paints with shading

3: Troops - Converts, Paints details "finished"

     Terrain - 3-D Topography with purchased materials

2: Troops - Paints with many colors; "semi-finished"

     Terrain - Maps as game boards (re; Shambattle); Avalon Hill

1: Troops - Spray Paint; "rough detail"

     Terrain - Chalk, Blocks, books in piles

COLLECTOR

5: Troops in 5+ Periods, 5+ scales, or combination

    Accurate and artistic pieces

     Made to Order

    Superlative Painting

    1000+ figures

4: Troops in 4+ Periods, 4+ scales, or combination

    Accurate castings

    Excellent painting

3: Troops in 3+ Periods, 3+ scales, or combination

    Good castings

    Good painting

2: Troops in 2+ Periods, 2+ scales, or combination

    Production castings

    Average painting

    Cardboard stands

1: Troops in 1+ Periods, 1+ scales, or combination

    Toy style castings

    Passable painting

    Production painting

    1 to 100 figures

RULESMITH

5: Complex: books

    Games 8 hrs +

    High Skill %

    Low Chance %

    Multi-level, large team play

4: Complex: book

    Games 6-8 hrs

    Medium Skill %

    Medium Chance %

    Multi-level, small team play

3: Complex: Pamphlet

    Games 3-6 hrs

    Medium Skill %

    Medium Chance %

    Multi-level, 2-4 players

    

2: Simple: 2-5 pages

    Games 3-6 hrs

    Medium Skill %

    High Chance %

    Two-level, 2-4 players

    

1: Simple: "Back of a Postcard"

    Games 1-3 hrs

    Low Skill %

    High Chance %

    Single level, 2 player

GAMESMAN

5: Plays Often

    2 games/week+

    Legalistic and Statistical

    Plays for blood@!

    Loves Math  ?@#!

4: Plays Often    

    1 game/week

    Legalistic

    Plays for fun... with sharp weapons

    Slide rules, logarithmic tables, etc.

3: Plays Regularly

    1 game/month

    Negotiator

    Plays for fun with buttoned foils

2: Plays Infrequently

    2-3 games/year

    Agreeable

    Plays for fun with slapsticks

3: Plays Seldom

    1 game/year

    Doormat

    Plays for fun

Ted further elaborated:

SCALES:

54mm Rounds

40mm Rounds

30mm Rounds and Flats

25mm Rounds

20mm Rounds and Flats

Avalon Hill et al.

MODES:

Land

Sea

Air

Space

MAJOR PERIODS:

Ancient

Medieval

Pike and Shot

18th Century

Napoleonic

Crimean

Colonial

America Civil War

Kaiser's War

Hitler and Tojo's War

Modern and beyond

LEVELS:
Tactical

Grand Tactical

Strategic

Diplomatic

    Of course Ted was writing more than a little bit tongue in cheek, and a rating of "5" might be less than desirable in  some areas. I don't think this is exactly how I'd look at our involvement in our hobby (more on that another time), but it's a fun exercise to at least try some self rating a la Haskell... although he proposed it be used for others to rate us!

So if I was to rate myself in High School I'd have been

Historian 2

Craftsman 2

Collector 2

Rulesmith 5

Gamesman 4

In my 20's I'd have been

Historian 3

Crafstman 3

Collector 3

Rulesmith 3

Gamesman 3

And the last 10 years I'd be

Historian 4

Craftsman 3

Collector 5

Rulesmith 3

Gamesman 2.5

Ted's article, read 45 years later, is also interesting from a historical standpoint: no 15/18mm. 10mm, N Gauge, 6mm, or God forbid, 2 mm troops existed, and both 54mm and Flats are included. Now days we'd have to include paper armies, too!  Note also the heavy emphasis on design and casting of your own troops - common up to that time, but fast becoming very much the exception rather than the rule even by the early 1970's. Ted also pretty much assumes that EVERYONE writes at least some of their own rules. Finally, the omission of Science fiction and Fantasy genres is striking. 

Peter

Prussian Napoleonic Line Infantry - New Regiments 1815

    The post Tilsit Prussian army had a mere 12 regiments of Line infantry, one of which was the Footguards at #8. When they were moved out of the sequence in 1813, a new IR #12 was formed and the old numbers 9,10,11, and 12 moved down one number. With the end of the main sequence of the Napoleonic Wars by the Treaty of Fontainebleau in April 1814, and the establishment of the Congress of Vienna to redraw the map of Europe, Prussia officially regained the large amounts of territory that it lost after the Treaty of Tilsit in 1808, ans hen some. Plans were drafted to increase the Line Infantry to 4 regiments from each of the Kingdom's provinces - the original five of 1808  (West Prussia, East Prussia, Brandenburg [comprising Kurmark and Neumark], Pomerania, and Silesia, plus three new provinces, Westphalia, Rhine, and Magdeburg. Thus the new Prussian Army would have 32 regiments of Line Infantry, each of two Musketeer and 1 Fusilier battalions.

    The manpower for these "new" units came from a wide variety of sources. The most important was the twelve regiments of Reserve Infantry, which were more or less incorporated directly into the Line. Other units incorporated more or less wholesale into the "new" Line regiments included Lutzow's Freikorps, The Russo-German Legion, and at least one regiment of former Grand Duchy of Berg infantry. The "new" provinces were assigned following facing colors, shown on the collars and cuffs:  Wetsphalia - Pink (why they didn't use green, as was assigned to Landwehr raised there I have no idea), Rhine - Madder Red, and Magdeburg Light Blue. The same seniority colors were retained for the shoulder straps - 1st regiment of the province  - white, 2nd - red, 3rd - yellow, 4th - Light Blue.

    That was how it was supposed to work in theory. In practice, the reorganization was very slow to take place - the 32nd regiment was not raised until December, 1815, for example. The pace doubtless picked up after Napoleon escaped from Elba and regained the throne of France in March, 1815. Still, many of the newer units wore their old uniforms, or a mix of old and new. The IR #28, a former Berg unit, for example, still had at least some of its officers still wearing their old white and blue uniforms!

    With all, of the "original" Prussian Line regiments now painted, I still had another 36 Old Glory figures, including 3 Command groups.  I decided to use them by painting three small, 12 figure regiments, one each from each of the three new provinces, thus adding three new facing colors to the Line. Thrills! There being little or no information as to what flags these new units carried, if any, I just chose Prussian standards from the pre 1808 era that weren't assigned to units afterwards. I rationalized that by figuring the Prussians probably took most of the hundreds of standards they blast in the Jena campaign home following Napoleon's 1st abdication in 1814. After all, if Napoleon could confiscate Frederick the Great's sword from Potsdam, the Prussians could return the favor!

IR# 18, 1st Westphalian Regiment

This regiment uses Old Glory figures from the "attacking" bag. 

I liked this pattern of flag; I have no other justification for bestowing it upon this unit!

I wanted a relatively light pink color for their facings. I used Delta Ceramcoat CC Lisa Pink and CC Pink Frosting in about 1:2 mix.

The next unit is IR# 23, 2nd Rhine Regiment.

Once again, I just liked this flag, so, this unit got it (from Napflag site).

These poses are from the Old Glory "Receiving" bag. 

I used CC Adobe Red for their facings - you can see the difference in shade compared to the CC Fire Red used on the turnbacks, shoulder straps, and drum rims. 

The final unit is IR #31, 3rd Magdeburg. 

It was probably still being organized even by the time of the Battle of Waterloo. 

Once again, my only justification for using this flag is that it looks good with their light blue facing color!

The facings were painted using CC Blue Jay.

March written for the entry of the Allies into Paris in 1814. Not ones to rub it in, a second such march was composed for the 1815 entry, and yet another for 1940!

Prussian Line Infantry, 1808 - 1815 - the new Regiments

With Historicon 2015 just 8 weeks away, the Prussian Painting Production has kicked into high gear! I already had 8 of the 11 original Line Infantry regiments of post 1808 Prussian Line (discounting the Foot guards, who were later moved out of the numbered sequence, causing considerable confusion with regiments 9,10, 11, and 12 which dropped by one number afterwards)

First up is IR#5, 4th West Prussian (Viertes WestPreussisches). Old Glory 28mm figures.

In this full strength, six stand, 18 figure regiment, 2 of the stands are painted with the black leather equipment of the Fusilier battalion. As a Prussian Line regiment of this time period had 2 Musketeer and 1 Fusilier battalion, this proportion works out just right!

The flag is from Napflag (warflag). Light blue shoulder straps as it is the 4th Regiment of the province. 

For their facings, which appeared on the collars and cuffs, sometimes described as "brick red' or orange, I used Delta Ceramcoat Pumpkin Orange. painted  over a base coat of CC Calypso Orange.

The next new addition is IR#8 Leib, also sometimes later referred to as the 1st Brandenburg (Erstes Brandenburgisches).regiment.

Its facings color is variously described as "Poppy red" or Scarlet. White shoulder straps for the 1st regiment of the Province. I used CC Fire Red (2 coats) to get a strong, un-dulled red color over the base coat of Prussian Blue. 

Flag is once again a free download from Napflag, enhanced with some black paint. 

Old Glory calls this mix of poses "attacking"; they are quite energetic, with a few "Hey Steve!" hand gestures seen. 

IR #4 3rd West Prussian (Drittes WestPreussiches). Old Glory calls this mix of poses "Receiving". I am not sure if that's in the sense of "For what we are about to receive...", but whatever!

Another warflag download is carried, enhanced once again by some paint.

"Look... over there. It's Blucher!"  The good Feldwebel is doubtless referring to the new rules by Sam Mustafa, of course! Yellow shoulder straps for the 3rd regiment of the Province. 

For this unit, I used CC Poppy Orange, which has a strong tilt to the red side (contrast with the 4th West Prussian's facings above). It appears that during the Napoleonic era, "Orange" usually referred to this rather more red hue than the more yellowish shade we would generally expect today. 

A little inspirational music for the new recruits, if you please, Maestro!

The Hohenfriedburger Marsch, alleged by some to have actually been composed by Friedrich der Grosse himself (unlikely). It commemorates his victory over the Austrians in 1745.

Marins de la Garde Impériale

Time for a brief break for the Prussian units I'm churning out for Ligny this July! One of the more unusual units in the French army was the Marins de la Garde. While we English speakers have a tendency to anglicize their title to "Marines of the Guard", as most readers probably know, "marins" in French really means "sailors", so these troops are more properly referred to as the Sailors of the Guard. Their history dates back to the Consulate. The original battalion was raised in September, 1803. It consisted of 5 equipages, each composed of composed of 125 matelots (another French word for sailors), 1 trumpeter, 15 craftsmen and NCOs, 5 ensigns and was commanded by a Naval Lieutenant. The entire battalion was commanded by a Naval Captain (capitaine de vaisseau). 120 men from the unit were part of Napoleon's escort at his coronation in December, 1804.

The Sailors proved very flexible. In Napoleon's own words, as quoted in the Osprey on the Infantry of the Imperial Guard  by Haythornwaite, "What should we have done without them? As sailors they have no way deteriorated, and they have shown themselves the best of soldiers. When occasion required they proved equally valuable, whether as sailors, soldiers, artillerymen or engineers; there was no duty they could not undertake."

From the very beginning, the uniforms of this unit were unique, and owed much more to light cavalry styles than Naval ones! The dark blue jacket was termed a paletot - essentially similar to the dolman of a hussar. The braid on the jacket (which was often left partially open on the bottom to show the braided red waistcoat underneath it) and elsewhere was aurore, except for under officers where it was scarlet mixed with aurore (Gold mixed with scarlet or just gold for higher officers, whose uniform was much simpler and more conventional, following Naval styles). 

Once again in common with the Cavalry of the Guard, the unit had trumpeters! Along with the unit's drummers, they wore light blue uniforms with Crimson (officially) or Scarlet (as seen in contemporary illustrations) cuffs, plumes, and crimson mixed with gold (2:1) lace. 

I used Delta CC Pthalo Blue for the clothes of the Matelots, and CC Blue Jay stained CC Blue Lagoon for the trumpeters.The Plumes and cuffs were done using CC Napthol Crimson, the former dry brushed CC Pumpkin Orange. I used CC Calypso Orange for all of the aurore items, For the trumpeters, the cuffs and plumes were painted with Americana Deep Bugundy, and their plumes dry brushed CC Dusty Mauve.

Yet another unusual feature of this unit's uniforms was that all of the leather work was BLACK; I can't think of any other French Napoleonic unit where that was true!  Note also the unusual placement of the cockade at the left side of the shako.  These are Old Glory 28mm figures. I al;ready used 24 out of the 30 figures in the bag to do my 1809 Young Guard units, so these came from the "parts box"; as the Marins were unique in having Trumpeters, they couldn't be used for the Tirailleur-Grenadiers, etc, hence their gross over representation in my small unit!

Many of the Marins were captured at the debacle at Bailen in Spain in 1808, During the 1809 campaign in Austria, a small contingent of the Marins manned a flotilla of small boots to protect the Danube bridges that the French crossed over to reach the Marchfeld for the battle of Wagram. The strength of the Marins was increased to 8 equipages in 1810; like the rest of the army, they suffered severe losses in Russia in 1812. A small detachment of 21 men and an Ensign accompanied Napoleon to Elba after his abdication in 1814... and were instrumental in helping him escape the island later! At the opening of the Waterloo campaign, the Marins, numbering about 150 men,  were called upon to storm one of the Prussian held bridges near Charleroi,. which they did with elan. 

Illustrations of the Marins de la Garde Imperiale (Historex)

And another - note the red waistcoats showing.

A modern day re-enactor wearing the magnificent uniform of the Marins. Note the brass anchor on the black cross belts. 

"Lancastrian" Prussian Landwehr

Here's the rest of the Lancashire Games 28mm Prussian Landwehr; I finished them just before the Waterloo event, and they made the trip to Manchester, but the Corps box they were got misplaced until after we'd already scrounged Greg's troop box for some Saxon proxies. Thus their first tabletop appearance will probably be at Historicon for the battle of Ligny.

This unit is painted as the 7th Silesian Landwehr; photos taken outside on a cool Spring morning!

A break in the clouds casts a shadow over the new guys.

I used CC Deep Yellow for their facings.

The improbable but gorgeous and evocative standard was a free download form Westfalia games site - it may not be available any longer

As discussed previously, despite the storage/transportation issues, I do like some of my Infantry units in a "Firing" pose.

A unit of Westphalian Landwehr.

I used CC Jubilee Green for their facings.

The nice, fun if unlikely flag is once again from the Wetsphalia Miniatures site.

Ragged but determined looking troops!  The Rhine may be fine but a cold stein for mine...

A rump of a Brandenburg Landwehr unit.

I figured the extra standard bearer would serve as a pikeman!

This unit's flag is from the Warflag/Napflag site. 

The white shoulder straps suggest that these men form part of the 1st Brandenburg Landwehr Regiment.

HAHGS Waterloo Campaign - Prussian Pride, Imperial Fancy, and the Waterloo Journal

A few words from the Prussians:

To King Frederick William III of Prussia,

Since my last letter that provided our recent preparations of the 1^st through 4^th Prussian Corps in Belgium, our forces have encountered the French Army, along with its newest invasion attempt.  Yet do not fear whatever rumors that may have arrived to your ears, for it is with great pleasure that I send along news of the positive progress we have made towards the defeat of Napoleon, his army, and their most recent assault against the rest of the world.  Additionally, my headquarters has most recently moved from the town of Namur to the town of Ligny, and as the current military campaign continues, it won’t be long before this changes again, as the Prussian army closes in on its goal to aid the Anglo army and its allies in destroying what remains of the French forces accordingly.

It seems from the reports I have received, that not long ago the French Army managed to assemble at and around the French town of Beaumont, before primarily crossing well to the east of General Ziethen’s 1^st Corp, somewhere along the Sambre River, and upstream from the town of Charleroi.  This should not be of much concern though because both the Prussian army was ready, along with its British counterpart, along with their sundry allies, and we have moved into action to defeat the dastardly foe.  It appears the bulk of Napoleon’s effort was moved to hit at the right flank of the British army, marching through Mons in their approach of Ghent and Brussels, seemingly in an attempt to get at communication and supply lines of the Duke of Wellington and his soldiers.  There are those that claim the success that Napoleon has had in accomplishing this objective is significant, and yet the Duke of Wellington has also managed to hold Napoleon and the French forces in the general vicinity of a small town called Waterloo.  Word has also arrived that not only is Napoleon’s army stuck in at this location, and I have seen such myself, but that Wellington has sent twice as many soldiers towards the coast as the French have sent, to come in behind the relatively limited marauding French soldiers traipsing off in that direction, and there by resolve the threat such forces might present.  Meanwhile the Prussian Army is prepared to continue our efforts at defeating the right flank of the French, and cut Napoleon’s own lines of communication and supply as we come in on Wellington’s left.  Yet perhaps I get ahead of myself.

It has been only a couple of days since the start of Napoleon’s most recent invasion of Belgium.  General Ziethen’s 1^st Corp was able to confront the French at Charleroi, and maintain his position at Ligny, while seeing heavy fighting in doing such.  Although the French have fought well in that location, General Ziethen has performed his role effectively, and it has provided the Prussian Army the time we’ve needed to get into the excellent position that we are currently experiencing.  General Pirch’s 2^nd Corp initially maintained their position at Namur, although led a portion of his cavalry and artillery across the Sambre River to the village of Fosse to draw as many French forces as possible away from crossing at Charleroi. It appears that this drew an entire French Corp in an easterly fashion.  However, it seems they got a bit carried away, and in typical Napoleonic fashion extended themselves to the point where they crossed the Meuse River at the villages of Dinant and Yvoir.  Here they met General Thielmann’s 3^rd Corp, who promptly recaptured both locations, crossed the Meuse in return, and despite the stiff resistance encountered, the French are in retreat, and our advance has begun towards Phillippeville, Beaumont, and other parts to the west, where I intend to bring about with the eventual surrounding of what remains of Napoleon’s soldiers in Belgium with Your Majesty’s forces.

Meanwhile, General Von Bulow’s 4^th Corp has arrived from Liege, and after serving in reserve at the town of Ramilles, has since marched to Namur.  General Von Bulow was then ordered over the river to Fosse, where his 4^th Corp has joined General Thielmann’s 3^rd Corp, and the advance along the southerly side of the Sambre River.  At the same time, General Pirch’s 2^nd Corp has moved from Namur to General Ziethen’s right flank at Ligny, reaching there in time to reinforce and bring to an abrupt halt any French effort at progress there.  Both together will push forward and crush what remains of the French forces holding Napoleon’s left flank at Charleroi and Quatre Bras.  This will bring the Prussian army even closer to the Duke of Wellington’s forces, and with Von Bulow and Thielmann’s Corps performing so well in their flanking maneuver, and French resistance crumbling as a result, it won’t be long before Napoleon will once again be defeated.  A lone man can escape such place as Elba, and perhaps too, the southerly area of Belgium, but with his army defeated and in ruins, Paris will be our next stop, and the war will be over.

Also, I have not only been in contact with the Duke of Wellington, but also visited with him on the field of battle at Waterloo.  He has again proved to be an effective commander of his troops, and his soldiers have performed quite admirably.  I have shared with the Duke the plans that are being implemented by the Prussian army just to the south of the British army’s current position.  It appears that Napoleon has committed his Guard troops to assaulting the British Army’s superior location, and this last ditch effort to win a fight may have blinded him, at least temporarily, to how much his rearward position is currently at threat from the Prussian Army.  It may not be long before the threat is discovered, and yet with Pirch’s 2^nd Corp backing up Zeithen’s 1^st Corp, and the arrival of Von Bulow’s 4^th Corp to join Theilmann’s 3^rd Corp, it won’t be long before Napoleon’s position becomes untenable, as we continue to seek it’s eventual destruction.

My King, may this letter find you and your family well, and its contents bring a sense of security for you and Prussia, knowing that our nation’s best soldiers are performing their duty with honor and success.  I will be in touch again as the situation continues.

Sincerely your’s,

Feld Marshall Gebhard von Blucher

 First I'd like to thank all that put this event together and the venue. It was a great game and I enjoyed very much.    I was Prussian (Pirch 1, 2nd Corp), the Corp was setup in/around Namur along with Blucher. On turn 2 I probed to Fosse with 3 cavalry units and a horse battery and discovered elements of French infantry and Heavy cavalry. My units were in Fosse but retreated back to Namur when the French advanced their infantry and artillery. I later was ordered to the aid of Ziethen's 1st Corp at Ligny and push the French. I ended the game aiding  Ziethen's 1st Corp and defending Ligny, I think numbers would have driven off the French with the arrival of my fresh 2nd Corp.

  I wish I had been more aggressive when I first saw the French on the Fosse table and committed my whole Corp to go after Vandamme's Corp before he could set up a defensive  line which he did when fighting Thielman's and Bulow's Corps later on. But I held back until Blucher could get a better picture of what/where the French were doing.

Thank You, Scott Monteith


And finally, The Emperor himself (Robert Painter) speaks

Malmaison, Juin 15 1834

Les Mémoires de l'Empereur :   Campagne Finale Contre la Coalition

Aside from myself, loyal Drouot may the man to whom France may owe its present stability of government. He was made The Prince of Brussels, and now that my poor brother is gone, he is the King of Holland today, and still the honorable commander of my old grumblers.  The fiery Marshal Vandamme bathed himself in glory, and Marshal Gerard did as well. That is not to say all the generals under my command during those fateful June days in 1815 did not perform as well or better given their orders- they did. Reille, Lobau, Milhaud, Kellerman, Pajol…All have their Batons, living and dead, and they are immortalized on the arch forever.

Much has been written about the campaign against the Anglo-Allied forces in Belgium, by others.  Now I shall write the history of those days as I remember them, as I fought them in sickness and in triumph, and as I won for France her place as the First State of Europe.  Yet despite my decisive way of war, I was vexed.  How to beat the English and Prussian apart?  My commanders, bold in adversity, were strong in their opinions, and to this end I will say now that with the passing of time this was the campaign that engendered even greater wisdom, rather than simple superior intelligence, in your Emperor.  I listened to my great warriors, winners of so many tests- and used their counsel in a decisive manner.  The result is now known, but on the night of June 15 those many years ago, our victory was not yet secured. It would be.

It was determined in my council of war at Beaumont, on the 14^th of June, that the original plan to drive a wedge between the English and Prussians along the axis of the Brussels road from Charleroi to the capital was fraught with potential delay and confusion.  Barring indecisive movement by the Prussians,  the risk of several corps stagnant at the bridges and being hemmed against the Sambre at Charleroi was too great to chance: the open roads to Mons afforded better movement.  At the urging of some of my fine officers, I dispatched aides to remand previous orders of march and move the bulk of the army West toward Mons, rather than North-East toward Quatre-Bras.  At this juncture Vandamme brashly contradicted my intentions for his corps to move West, and made his plea for Eastward movement to engage the Prussians.  He saw the need for more force to hold the enemy on our right.  As we know, he was correct in this assumption, and deadly in the execution of his plan.  He may have been mistaken in his estimation of enemy strength and location on occasion, but I urged him to perservere- and he aquitted himself in the most honorable manner.  He bears the title of Prince of the Meuse for his actions that day, though the brave scoundrel has nearly lost it several times! Well, well, these stories during The Peace are famous, and do not bear repeating here. Victory is a jailer’s key!

On the 15^th, The Great Army of the North, set in motion, choked the crossings and roads wherever it went.  So often the commanders would entreat me to send them in different directions, to avoid the congestion, but I could not, at first, lest I divide our army in the face of the enemy without better knowledge of the English dispositions. Never the less, when it became clear Wellsley  was consolidating his forces to the Brussels road, the move to threaten English communications became viable.  Our lead elements drove off  Allied advance forces above Mons, and the bulk of our army pursued their  forces East. Comte D’Erlon held our left in reserve. Drouot and My Guard were in reserve, waiting with impatience to get into the fray.  In the end, they made all the difference. The critical knowledge of the enemy arrived. They had left their line of communications uncovered.  On instinct Drouot  moved to take advantage, even as my orders to do so were dispatched. When the order to take Brussels and fall on the Allied right and rear at Hal was delivered to him, he was already in motion. D’Erlon marched West, thrilling and terrifying the Belgians, and drew a collapsing army desperate to reverse the impossible behind him.  The local inhabitants flew the Tricolor, the English ran for their ships.

It must be emphasized that nothing of this movement North and East to hook around the Anglo-Allied right would have been possible, safely, without the precise employment of Gerard at Charleroi in our center  with the 4^th corps, and the 2^nd & 4^th cavalry divisions, while Vandamme with his corps alone was fighting against all odds on our left flank. Gerard fought all day and bettered his opponents, preventing Prussian movement West.  He was superb in tactical command, and frustrated the Prussian immensely while inflicting disproportionate losses amongst his foes. Vandamme fought against ever increasing and overwhelming odds, and did the same. By their superb and skilled leadership, they allowed the English to be disrupted.  To our relief, the Prussian movements were over cautious and slow. They failed to concentrate until it was too late in the day to overwhelm us on the right and save the Anglo-Allies. This allowed us to regroup undercover of night and prepare again to delay their Westward movement while drawing them in that direction as we fell on them from the North.

Both Wellsley and Blucher lost their nerve.  At Waterloo, what the English had left was over whelmed on its flank and rear and destroyed by the Imperial Guard, with our main force to its front.  Wellsley was forced to withdraw with his entourage to Antwerp, and would not support the Prussians. The Prussians alone were left, and still a powerful, if confused foe, they were in position to threaten us by interdicting our line of communications.   Captured letters indicate Blucher had a plan to do just this which he communicated to his King, but in the face of my triumph over the English this timid ruler, so unlike the Queen, took the advice of others and recalled his armies back across the Rhine until they could be reinforced. Blucher, in his usual rash manner, pressed West on Charleori and south of the Sambre, only to find the French army coming from the North upon them.  Realizing his line of supply and communications was threatened, he reluctantly withdrew east toward the Rhine and safety. It was on this withdrawal that Herr Blutcher suffered the malady of the brain that eventually killed him, a result of a fall from a horse. A fitting end to the old bandit!

Our knapsacks were filled with the bounty of the countryside and the larders of Brussels, and they weighed upon us, but not so much to slow us.  Nothing could be as light a feeling as victory. Davout came from Paris, and the victorious Rhine campaign that shattered the will of the coalition commenced.

Of this, again, others have written. Soon I shall do so as well.

                                                                             N

As much as I'm generally a Francophile. I must say that I rather doubt that, even with a major victory in Belgium, Napoleon would have been able to prevail over the coalition. But perhaps that is grist for another Campaign and another day, eh?

The Waterloo Journal

This is a listing of all the surviving messages sent during the game in chronological order, and color coded by Army. When I first considered on table communications, I set them as allowed verbally only if the two officers in question had their stands touching. Sleeping on it overnight made me immediately realize that would be hard to enforce, and more importantly, just plain not fun. So we went to the other extreme and allowed unlimited verbal exchange between players  as long as their command figures were on the same table. There is of course no record of these. Messages were handed to the GM or assistant, time stamped, and delivered after a delay of typically 15 - 20 minutes. Having dedicated C-in-C's meant that the physical location mattered - personal reconnaissance was used to some degree by all three C-in-C's. The Anglo Allied army was pretty concentrated, and I imagine that a lot of the orders for that army were given verbally face to face. The same was likleyu true for the main French advance around Mons. A C-in-C's figure can traverse an empty table much faster than 20 minutes; not so if there are friendly troops, and even less so if there are enemy ones present.

TO	FROM	TIME	MESSAGE
Vandamme	Napoleon	11:30	Detach some Lt cav from II Corps to Fosse on approach to Charleroi
Blucher	Ziethen	11:55	Grouchy and cavalry formations crossing at Charleroi
Napoleon	Pajol	11:58	Destination after Mons?

TO	FROM	TIME	MESSAGE
Empereur	Vandamme	12:04	My Corps (III) has reached Philipesville, end Turn 1
Napoleon	Gerard	12:05	Milhaud into Charleroi. Prussians (I KOrps) are outside this town, deployed. Will be difficult to expand out and might be repulsed.
Napoleon	Vandamme	12:08	Best Effort to block Prussian Movement East
Blucher	v. Bulow	12:08	Changing Defend to Maneuver; moving to Wareme
v. Bulow	Blucher	12:15	French crossing at Charleroi; proceed to Hannnut!
Blucher	Ziethen	12:15	10 Cav, 3 Horse Arty @ Charleroi; seems to be leading edge. I am Defending
Napoleon	Gerard	12:17	I am entering Charleroi. The Prussians have left some room to deploy - so we will have a battle here. We will try to outmaneuver and overwhelm, but it will be a challenge.
Napoleon	Gerard	12:18	Bucher on Battlefield. Prussians holding - but we have first blood. Will take several turns, but we can defeat this Korps.
Napoleon	Vandamme	12:20	Prussian Lt Cav arrive on secondary road next to Fosse heading towards Laneffe
Napoleon	Pajol	12:20	British LCV x 2 approach Mons from N. - Ath and Enghien.
Gerard	Napoleon	12:20	Do your best to hold the Prussians in place and delay any enemy movement eastward
Blucher	Pirch I	12:20	cav an Inf West of Fosse, and from Phileppesville to Given
Blucher	v. Bulow	12:31	Arrived Wareme. Leaving table next turn, heading West
v. Bulow	Blucher	12:33	Upon Arriving at Hannut, proceed to Ramilles… and let me know!
Blucher	Ziethen	12:33	3 units of Infantry now lined up behind Charleroi; Defending.
Ziethen	Blucher	12:37	Continue to Delay the French!
Blucher	Wellington	12:42	I have moved to Waterloo with my 2nd Corps, 46Sopignes with 1st Corps. My Cavalry Screens have not reported anything yet, so I believe the French will contact you first.
Blucher	Ziethen	12:42	Now 6 French Infantry at Charleroi. Defending.
Blucher	Thielmann	12:46	There is no enemy activity at all at Ciney
Wellington	Hill	12:45	Have reached Hal. Awaiting Orders.
Napoleon	Vandamme	12:45	1 Prussian Light cav division passing Laneffe; III Corps deploying to repel. IV Corp around Charleroi; II cav Corps also at Charleroi - can hear the sounds of the guns!
Napoleon	Gerard	12:47	Will be able to deploy fully w/ Milhaud and Kellerman against Prussian I Korps.
Wellington	Blucher	12:52	We are currently holding at Charleroi with Ziethen 1st Korps, and delaying more French at Fosse, but most of 2nd Korps at Namur. 4th Korps en route to Ramilles, 3rd Korps at Ciney
Vandamme	Napoleon	12:52	Observe Cav with a detachment. Probe for infantry Korps coming fr9om Ciney via Yvoir/Fosse/Laneffe. Advise if infantry found moving on Fosse and towards Laneffe if able. Protect your right flank South of Giver
Gerad	Napoleon	12:55	Report situation
Uxbridge	Wellington	12:58	French Lt Cav in Mons. Infantry behind heading North. Disengaging as quickly as possible, but am under attack now.
Napoleon	Vandamme	12:59	Prussian Light cavalry Division defending Laneffe

TO	FROM	TIME	MESSAGE
Blucher	Thielmann	1:04	Still no sign of the French; do you want me to continue defending Ciney?
Wellington	Uxbridge	1:11	Hanover Brigade A-B destroyed. Estimate 6 French Cvalry Brigades. 8 French Infantry Brigades, 3 8# batteries. Under Attack.
Napoleon	Vandamme	1:15	Prussian Lt Cav Div. heading away from Fosse towards Namur
Gerard	Napoleon	1:15	Excellent work General!
Vandamme	Napoleon	1:15	You are possibly facing Prussian III Korps if they are following the Cav. Try to determine location of Prussian III Corps. Assist IV Corps at Charleroi if possible
Blucher	Thielmann	1:22	French units approaching from Giver and Phileppesville, heading to Dinnant and Yvoir. At least 3 Regiments, but I expect many more
Wellington	Blucher	1:25	At  Charleroi French have 3 Cav Corps, maybe 2 or three Infantry Corps.French turning Prussian 1st Korps. WE are defending Ligny! French have passage thru Quatre Bras to Waterloo!
Vandamme	Napoleon	1:29	Push them out!  I trust your expertise!
Blucher	Thielmann	1:29	Outside Fosse and Giver: 25 Ligne - 12 Ligne - 7 Ligne - 21 Ligne
Napoleon	Vandamme	1:30	1 or 2 Prussian Corps at Namur. 1 more Prussian Corp at Ligny. 2 Prussian Corps at Dinant.
Napoleon	Gerard	1:35	Pirch’s Korps is being reinforced by Picton’s. Situation still OK.
Vandamme	Napoleon	1:42	Press for best advantage before nightfall (5PM). Major engagement at Mons
Napoleon	Vandamme	1:43	Facing Two  Prussian Corp at Ciney
Napoleon	Vandamme	1:43	Repulsed Probe from Namur
Napoleon	Vandamme	1:47	Holding Dinnat and Yvoir (not for very long)
Napoleon	Vandamme	1:56	Lost Yvoir; Dinnant under pressure. Screening Fosse and Giver. 1 Corp vs 5 is too much audace!
Vandamme	Napoleon	1:58	Defend against Prussians coming from Dinnant at best adavantage. River line on the Thiria at Laneffe?
Uxbridge	Wellington	1:58	FRENCH STRENGTH: Infantry - more than 25 Brigades! Cavalry - at least 28 Brigades!  Artillery Horse 10 batteries, Foot 8 batteries. NAPOLEON ON THE BATTLEFIELD!

TO	FROM	TIME	MESSAGE
Blucher	Ziethen	2:00	Wellington at Ligny. Says main French attack is to West. Wellington concentrating on Hal and Waterloo. Picton only at Quatre Bras temporarily. Pirch coming on to my Right.
Gerard	Napoleon	2:01	Strong Reinforcements (2 Corps) heading toward Ligny from Gembloux. Can you determine if they are headed towards Quatre Bras or Charleroi?
Blucher	Thielmann	2:04	Dinnant is clear of French 12 Ligne is now nervous
Vandamme	Napoleon	2:05	Your task is to delay Eastward movement of the Prussian South of the Sambre as you see fit.
Napoleon	Vandamme	2:07	Lost Dinnant. Rallied since Prussians did NOT follow. Prussian Korps at Namur are on the move towards Ligny.
Blucher	Thielmann	2:08	we are crossing at Rochefort, and Dinnant
Gerard	Vandamme	2:11	Holding Fosse and Giver. Bounced out of Namur,. Dinnant, and Yvoir. Prussian Korps (at least 2) heading from Namur to Ligny. Big battle at Mons.
Vandamme	Napoleon	2:16	Carry on!  You are facing 2 or 3 Korps, not Five! I hope for your success.
Napoleon	Gerard	2:18	Picton starting to deploy and engage at Quatre Bras - which I hold. Pirch holding steady but lost 3 Inf, 1 Cav so far. Our losses 1 Cav.
Napoleon	Vandamme	2:25	Prussians are swamping us, heading for Fosse and Giver
Wellington	Blucher	2:25	Tried catching you at ligny… oh well! 1st Kopr defending Ligny, 2nd Korps coming in on right of Ligny. 3rd Korps attacking Fosse. 4th Korps Reserve attacking Fosse.

TO	FROM	TIME	MESSAGE
Blucher	Ziethen	3:05	Picton has left Battlefield, Moving North from Quatre Bras
Napoleon	D’Erlon	3:08	GM says I can’t go off the board in that direction. Going to Ghent!
Blucher	Ziethen	3:20	My Right collapsing. Holding Ligny. Pirch entering battle on my Right
Napoleon	Vandamme	3:32	Fosse almost lost. Center collapsing. Giver threatened.
Uxbridge	Wellington	3:35	French attacking us at Ninove and Ghent. One column French troops moving towards Hal - 3 Brigades Infantry. Moving on Ghent now:  French Cav 9 brigades, Infantry 15 brigades, Artillery 4 batteries.
Gerard	Napoleon	3:53	Prussians moving east from Fosse & Dinant. III corps withdraws east. Hold the Prussians as best you can from moving east.
Napoleon	Vandamme	3:58	Prussians halfway to Phileppesvlle. Little left to stop them in center.

TO	FROM	TIME	MESSAGE
Napoleon	Drouot	4:00	Brussels is taken. Where to now?  - The Guard.
Vandamme	Napoleon	4:15	Withdraw to Charleroi as best you can. Excellent work - you delayed 2 x your numbers!
Napoleon	Gerard	4:50	Picton has left the table. Bulow is starting to engage. Pirch has lost 6 inf, 2 Cav, 2 guns so far. We have lost 1 cav, but fight is still ebb and flow as Bulow starts to engage. IV Corps, Milhaud (Cavalry) Kellerman (Cavalry) present. I have not seen any reinforcements that you mentioned.

Finally James refined my Maneuver maps:

Once again, I';d like to thank all the players for the great turnout, excellent sportsmanship, and a just all around great time. Special thanks to Marshal who brought along doughnuts for all the players and GM's, and  Mark who fronted the money for the mid  afternoon Pizza. An army marches on its stomach, you know! This event would have been impossible without the fantastic miniatures gaming space at The Portal, and the support of Ken and the Time Machine staff. Thanks two for the Snappy Nappy rules and the "Campaign in a Day" concept by Russ Lockwood - not to mention his enthusiastic participation in the game as Compte Vandamme. Finally, my fellow Hartford Area Historical Gaming Society members - Greg, James, and Joe, who provided many of the troops, did the terrain for 2-3 tables each, assisted with the publicity for the event, and the planning, and running of the game. It would not have never gotten of the ground without your time, hard work, painting, map making, enthusiasm, and friendship!

So when do we do the next one?  :-)

Peter