Napoleonics - French vs Russians pt2

After a few weeks gap I was up at Forres to see Graham H and finish off our napoleonic game. The first part is described here.

The Russians had suffered some losses but their force was now bearding down on the French, who were  now fully deployed to fight but further back from the road to the bridge.  The question was would the Russians be able to drive the French off completely or would the now prepared French cause too much damage. 

As Graham's Russian columns bore down I have to admit I wasn't feeling too confident. I had the upper hand in guns but no real centre to speak of, it would be a few turns til I could bring my Marines into position and I'd have to limber up and move my central battery to do that, I didn't think I'd get time...

On my left Grahams columns hit... and were brought to a halt. For the next few turns two regiments battered the hell out of each other, the combat flowing back and forth as each failed to drive home a decisive blow. Taking a leaf out of Wellingtons book I set one of the regiments of that brigade into line and it began to fire into the advancing Russian flank. 

Graham's cavalry was screening the bridge so remained in its position so my right flank was able to get time to form up. I was trading men for time and two French regiments were whittled down whilst I manoeuvred to a better position. But the battle had not reached its decisive turn. 

A combination of musketry and cannon fire stripped out three stands from Grahams attacking columns halting them on the spot. His battery in the middle was also destroyed and suddenly it was the Russians without a centre, not the French. 

It was time to head for the bridge. Graham's columns now had to turn and move across the table and it became a foot race. My lancers went forward into the open space but Graham pulled his screen of cavalry back and gained time for his wrecked infantry to escape. 

Great fun to play this scenario, based on the allied movements on Pirna in 1813 and good to get some Napoleonics out on the table.

Bakumatsu - From Samurai to Soldier

This lovely book arrived yesterday. I saw it mentioned on Mark Copplestones instagram and couldn't resist. It's best described as a very chunky Osprey with lots and lots of period illustrations backed up by very nice modern artists impressions and photographs of locations, buildings and original items of equipment and reproductions.

The period in question, from the 1860's to the 1870's, was one of massive change in Japan. Tradition, Culture and everyday life were being met by Western ideas and goods. For the Samurai it was to be their final and fatal flourish where traditionalists with armour and sword faced down modern rifles and artillery. 

Or at least that's the simple summary - there's a lot more to it than that. 

Coupled with the Last Samurai Rebellion Supplement for The Men Who Would be Kings and perhaps Ronin there is a wealth of gaming to be explored. 

Figures are available from Bac Ninh miniatures specifically for the period for and by converting Warlords plastic samurai or not if your taste is more traditional. Likewise Perry miniatures have plenty figures useable and some of the Steel Fist Samurai commanders would be particularly good for leaders. 

This ticks both my 19thC and samurai boxes and also dovetails nicely with my interest in Japan at the start of the 20th century and the Russo-Japanese war, when Japan completed its transition from introverted isolationist state to regional and belligerent power.