AAR: Mini Quartre Bras

A good friend has recently been painting a 15mm 1815 Anglo-Dutch (hasn't gotten to the Anglo part yet) army.  He was itching to take some Brunswickers and Nassau troops out for a test drive. So we created a pre-Quartre Bras scenario with his small division holding a road and farm from two divisions of French. The allied force consisted of three Brunswick units (light, line, and cavalry) a Nassau brigade and two batteries. The French were based on Foy and Jerome's divisions with a battery each and attached chassuer brigade. We use the excellent rule set Age of Eagle. Initial set up found allies in the woods on both sides of the road, some deployed in the farm and his cavalry in support. 

The French would enter cavalry first, then a division each turn. The allies held their ground and fire as the French troops fanned out on their approach. One brigade in Foy's Division failed to activate orders for two turns and lagged behind. The engagement opened with musketry between the Brunswickers and Jerome's division in the woods. The Black Band even repulsed two French charges, disordering the attackers. The French cavalry closed in behind Jerome waiting to exploit a breakthrough which never occurred. 

The attack on the French left was left to musketry at range with the Nassau brigade as the French waited for the rest of the division to catch up. 

Jerome, growing impatient, put himself at the head of his brigades and stormed the forrest once more. The Brunswickers proved their worth giving ground slowly, and the Emperor's brother was carried from the field wounded. 

Feeling that the French were reeling, the Brunswick Cavalry charged one of Jerome's disordered brigades and sent them running. The remaining French brigade mounted one last attack in coordination with a counter charge on the Brunswick cavalry by the chassuers. Limited gains were made. On the opposite flank Foy, with his division finally assembled made a half hearted assault on the Nassau contingent, but only managed to push them a little ways back. A strong storm ended the game with the French having gained little ground. 

We had set a turn limit and the French came nowhere near achieving the breakthrough goal. In retrospect with the limited time the French might have benefited by just storming straight down the road and forcing the allies out of their defensive positions. Either way it was a very fun small game. Not all games have to be a refight of Leipzig to be rewarding!