Historicon 2019, #2: Raupenhelms and Rebelious Rabble - Relief column pushes through the Tyrol, 1809

Friday night at Historicon I ran my Tyrolese "Wagon Train game. We had seven players; in the white shirt is Herman, who has played in my games off and on dating back to at least 2005!  Other players included Craig, Chris, Robert, Brad, and Ken B; seven in all (Ken graciously took command of  the Wagons and the Fortress Garrison) .

The set up; the Bavarian relief column, wagons, etc are starting from the right lower corner. The Tyrolese are deployed at multiple sites to ambush, delay and otherwise disrupt the column, and prevent it from delivering its much needed supplies to the distant fortress of Biersteinburg... especially the Beer! o do so, the wagons must move along the roads from the starting point of Rottenberg, following the course of the Sebastianbach as it winds through a narrow Alpine valley. 

Scenario previously posted here.

The Bavarian Infantry moves out smartly, with a battery and the sole cavalry regiment begind. The Baden contingent tangles with Tyrolese in the Brennerberg. The Bavarian Light infantry have moved up to try to clear the riff-raff out of the mountaintop hofbraukirch. 

Tirolese holding the Brennerberg; the rifles of the Sc utzen companies have a 15" range!

Another reinforcing Schutzen company moves up in the open to delay the Bavarian column action at the Greisserberg, some might say perhaps recklessly? 

The Tirolese Landsturm dump a man made avalanche of rocks, boulders, and other debris on the Jagers, mauling them. The Wagons in range (12") manage to avoid damage, while shooting the gap. 

The Bavarian infantry advances on the Schutzen and Griessenberg, whilst the Badeners make slow progress around the Brennerberg. 

The wagons look a bit lonely at the back, with unchastized rebels nearby!

Bavarian Artillery unlimbers and fires on Hofbraukirch, trying, unsuccessfully, to drive out the pesky Landsturm and their downward rolling projectiles! 

Action in (? Inn ?) and around Greissenberg; Tirolese Schutzen and Bavarian musketeers trade shots. 

Robert asks "Can I drop an avalanche on them now?!

"She'll be coming 'round the Mountain when she comes..." 

The Baden Brgiade is still struggling to eject the Tirolese from the Brennerberg.

Shifting Tirolese forces on the Greissenberg. "Can I launch an avalanche now?!  No, not yet..." 

Seen is the Tirolese Cow-bell. I was going to use this to mark certain Tirolese actions. In the event, the room was quite noisy (although nothing like Fredericksburg #1 in 2012), so I thought better of it. 

The Wagon train presses on boldly, and perhaps foolishly, towards the village of Mittleschmertz... and more rebels! 

Fighting on the Greissenberg. 

View from the Biersteinberg fortress; the relief column is almost in sight!

My Badener darlings, the recently painted, Azure-coated Dragoons, charge some Schutzen holding the Zweibruckl across the Sebastianbach tpwards the et of Schpaz. The infamous Tirolese Wooden gun, precariously stationed on the slopes of the Arlberg, shoots and inflicts some losses on the intrepid horsemen.

Although some moubntaintop fog seems top blur their view to the valley below, the Landsturm on the Greissenbery are still able to determine that the Wagon train and its precious cargo of malt beverages is tantalizingly within reach. 

The wagons are no match for the Halberds, pitchforks, scythes and the like carried by the Landsturm. 

Although the charge of the Dragoons is repulsed, it comes close enough that the Fortress is able to see their arrival, and lets loose with its cannon, and dispatches the discretionary portion of its garrison to succor the relief column. 

Heavy fighting around Mitleschmertz village and the Dreibruck. The Tirolese suffer heavy losses, but they have eliminated 3 of the 4 Bavarian Wagons, one of which was the vital beer wagon. Thus while the column could probably reach the fortress, they are unable to deliver the needed supplies. The column is turned back, while the rebels disband and return to their homes... for now! 

This was a very close game, as the Rebels played to make the most of their advantages, while the Bavarians were hampered by the need to protect and advance the wagon train. Spectator Terry S. remarked that he would have to make sure that Brent adds Avalanche rules to the soon to be released Field of Battle, 3rd edition!

A few more shots of the game, courtesy of Tim...

View from Fort Biersteinberg near the start of the game...

The Bavarians start their move down the valley.

Don't let the good times pass me by...

Tyrolian Landsturm defending the bridge

Tyrolian Landsturm no longer defending the bridge!