Wargaming in Minnesota: Battle of Lindenau

At the Centurions extra Saturday event at the Source Comics and Games I ran a 25mm Napoleonic Game using Rank and File:Horse and Musket Rules 1740-1900. It has been a while since the 25mm Napoleonic Collection was out of the box and on a tabletop so the extra session was an opportunity to do something different.

As a group we have long discussed tactical rules for the Napoleonic period, heck I have a box with 56 different rule sets in it as we have hunted for something. Nothing has really caught on. We looked at Rank and File for an American Civil War project in the early 2000's, but Regimental Fire and Fury has become the defacto set of rules for that period. I have written my own set of rules for the Napoleonic Period; however they are too much in depth for a club game. That lead to the decision to give Rank and File a try.

The scenario was loosely based around the Austrian III Corps attempt to lure the French into battle near Lindenau on the west bank of the Elster River near Leipzig Bavaria.

Austrian Order of Battle

Austrian Third Brigade Marching on.

First Division
First Brigade
Grenzer - 24 Figures
Jagers - 20 Figures
Light Artillery
Second Brigade
Landwher - 20 Figures
Landwher - 20 Figures
Light Artillery
Second Division
Third Brigade
Line - 32 Figures
Line - 32 Figures
Line - 32 Figures
Line - 32 Figures
Medium Battery
Heavy Battery

Russian First Division

Russian Order of Battle
First Division
Line - 16 Figures
Line - 16 Figures
Line - 16 Figures
Line - 16 Figures
Medium Battery
Second Division
Line - 16 Figures
Line - 16 Figures
Line - 16 Figures
Line - 16 Figures
Heavy Battery

French First Brigade

French Order of Battle
First Division
First Brigade
First Regiment
Line - 24 Figures
Line - 24 Figures
Second Regiment
Line - 24 Figures
Line - 24 Figures
Medium Battery
Second Brigade
Fourth Regiment

French Defensive Position near Lindenau

Line - 24 Figures
Line - 24 Figures
Fifth Regiment
Line - 24 Figures
Line - 24 Figures
Medium Battery
Second Division
First Brigade
Legere - 24 Figures
Line - 24 Figures
Second Brigade
Light Cavalry - 8 figures

Cavalry Brigade
Heavy Cavalry - 12 Figures
Heavy Cavalry - 12 Figures

The game opened with the Austrian and Russian forces marching on from three designated points. The Russians from the north road, the main Austrian Force in the center and the Lighter Austrians in the south road.

The French broke up their batteries prior to thee game and then attempted to form a grand battery to control the center of the table.

Noel, Fitz and Steve

The Russians made a conscious effort to avoid the center of the table and hug the left edge. A battalion of French attempted to take a fence line to have cover against the fire.

The Austrians began the slow plodding march from the west end of the board towards the center. Did I say slow plodding march, okay just wanted to make sure everyone was aware how slow they moved.

Note: I explained Marching (Double movement) a couple of times to the players and emphasized it to the Austrian Players however I didn't force it upon them.

Austrian Light Brigade moving through the woods

The artillery duel began in the center as the French grand battery attempted to break up the Russian Attack.

French First Brigade deployed

The Russians pushed on the Northern Flank and by turn two had pushed back the French advance elements out of the fenced area.

For the next several turns the Russians and the French on the North flank traded fire and the Austrians slowly plodded along in the center.

The Russian heavy battery deployed and began trading fire with the French grand battery.

The French in a gambit through out a Light Cavalry Regiment in an attack against the Russian flank. The Russians formed square and French whithered under the fire before bouncing.

The advance elements of the Austrians finally engaged the French as the main body of Austrians pushed up the center.

At this point the battle was done, but we played another two turns. The Austrian main body made contact, unscathed, with the French elements outside of Lindenau.

Russians preparing to Deploy the Heavy Battery on a Hill

THOUGHTS ON THE GAME
The scenario was conceived for a tabletop that was 10' x 6', we tried to squeeze it on a 10' x 4' table and it didn't work.

The French took some liberties with the organization of their command and paid for it as the game wore on.

The French reinforcements, another Brigade of French Line, never made it to the tabletop. They never were in position to need it until it was too late.

The main body of Austrians

The Russian Medium battery blowing a Battalion of French
from the fence

The French were static and thought defending the wall the best option.

The Austrians plodded along. I felt bad they didn't move faster but I was not going to force them to double move.

The Russians were Battalions of 4 stands, were they fragile.