Quasi-Bras with Square Eagles: Turns 1 - 8

 

I had a week off from work earlier this month, and had recovered enough form Historicon that I decided that I wanted to do a relatively brief solo game. I settled on Square Eagles. It would also give me a chance to test the modifications and clarifications to the rules made back in the Spring. I chose Scenario #11, "Surprise Attack", from Neil Thomas's One Hour Wargames. As this one is based upon the Battle of Quatre Bras, Red would be Anglo-Allied and Blue French. The building at the crossroads is for show only, and doesn't count as cover, etc.; likewise the wheat field. 

I rolled a "2" for the red forces, and a "3" for Blue; adding 2 infantry units to each force gave Red 5 Infantry, 2 Light Infantry, and 1 Artillery. Blue wound up with 5 infantry, 1 Light Infantry, and 2 Cavalry, as depicted above. 

The scenario has 2 red units positioned as above, which I increased to 3, while all the Blue forces enter via the road. With the additional units, Red would get 2 units of reinforcements arriving via the Northern road on Turn 3, and 3 more via the Western road on Turn 9. I determined the composition of each of the three red forces randomly, and only when I needed to know them. Blue's order of arrival was also determined randomly. Turn1: Red rolls far more activations than needed, while blue fare poorly with 2 (plus 1 for the general =3). Blue moves first by scenario conditions on Turn 1 regardless.

Using the grid and having to start form a single box meant no too much more could have entered on Turn 1 anyway! British artillery scores a hit on the advancing French. The large swamp is impassable. 

Turn 2: British again get more activations than they need whilst the French... do not! British also seize the initiative, having won by 2+!

British Artillery scores 2 hits!  French bring on 2 more units.

Turn3: Allies retain the imitative; even with 2 units of reinforcements entering, they again roll high enough for every unit to activate. British artillery scores another hit on the ? advancing French. 

Having rolled poorly again, French form a battle line and enter a 6th unit. 

Turn 4: French win the initiative, are finally able to activate 7 units this turn! Allies still roll well enough to activate all 5 of their units on the table. 

With British reinforcements approaching, this turn they advance with alacrity!

Cannister fire from the British battery drives back a French infantry unit with heavy losses!

French infantry fire leaves something to be desired...

The Allied general curses - it seems the two Dutch-Belgian/Nassau units put the powder in their muskets, but for got the musket balls!

Turn 5- British seize the initiative in a big way, with the French sputtering.

French infantry suffer anther 2 hits from bombardment.

Assault by the French infantry eliminates the battery (Artillery that is contacted in melee is automatically removed after defensive fire, if any). 

Allied fire; infantry hits on 4,5,6, Light Infantry on 5,6.

French infantry fire is about average in effect. 

Turn 6: French seize the imitative, while the Allies can't activate every unit for the first time in the game. 

Defensive fire against a French assault scores a single hit. 

French eliminate the defenders (they had only 1 hit left). 

The victorious French infantry takes the 1 box advance. 

A second French Assault is successful (the target had no Order to issue defensive fire). 

Victorious French advance again. 

Remaining French moves. 

"Fall Back!", orders the Allied commander. 

Situation at the end of the turn. 

Turn 7: French advance loses steam big time, while the Allies have initiative to burn!

Allies pull back to form some semblance of a defensive line, while the General rallies 2 hits off a shaky Nassau Light Infantry unit. The French then use their limited initiative to form up their own lines. 

Turn 8:  Allies retain the initiative but the French will be pressing them!

Allied main body withdraws towards the vital crossroads at Quasi Bras. A Nassau Light Infantry battalion clings to the edge of the woods; too many French cavalry around to risk being out in the open!

Seven of the eight French units advance; straggling unit has only 1 hit left anyway.  

British fire.

French fire. Allied commander asks where are those darned reinforcements. "Hang on, help is on its way!"