Ayton 2016 Day 2 – AAR

And so we come to day two. Having failed to score a resounding victory on Day 1 the Grenouissian allies were forced to retire and converge their forces outside the city of Lit de la Riviere. Having retired to the east my own forces and those of Whyeydia were pursued by Medetia and as a major battle loomed my Altefritzenburgers formed the left flank, again facing Medetia, while on my right the battered but brave Whyeydians now faced off against the massed forces of Lord Peeler’s Aytonia!

It is impossible to recount the events elsewhere on the table. Too much going on and too many troops to keep track of! I have created a gallery of ‘other’ pictures and left the comments open so if participants wish to comment on their own events they may. And the bulk of the pictures from Day 2 are in this gallery – Ayton Day 2 – Left Flank

Now, back to the left flank. Dave and myself made similar agreements to Day 1. Artillery would be halved and batteries not massed. And as we also had lots of cavalry (some newly raised) we decided the open ground to the left was the ideal place for a gentlemanly cavalry ding dong! I also had the small Grenouissian contingent on that flank and I was to be very grateful for them too!

These allies were to push up along the far left, then my own cavalry supported by the Grenouissian dragoons and guns occupied the main open ground. And in the centre, left to right, were Braunschweig, Savage Swans and Altefritzenburg infantry, screened by jaegers while the rest of my light troops (Grenzers and Natives) rushed to occupy the small wood in the centre of our right flank. Whyeydian jaegers were to do the same.

I shall deal with the action from left to right as that is roughly the sequence in which ‘action’ was concluded.

The Grenoussian chasseurs pushed into the woods on the far left and after a small skirmish pushed the Medetian skirmishers out and eventually inflicted such loss that the enemy retired. They outnumbered the enemy so I expected this outcome. The Grenoussian gun battery on the small hill was to play a very useful role in damaging the advancing Medetian cavalry, while the infantry were able to help cover any possible breakthroughs.

First into action were the Braunschweig Kuirassier. Slightly depleted from the losses in the previous battle, they charged headlong into the first Medetian cuirassiers. Sweeping away the first squadron they ploughed into the second but were by now spent and a catastrophic melee that lasted 3 turns finally saw them dispersed.

Meanwhile, the newly raised 1st Altefriztenburg Kuirassier piled headlong into more Medetian cuirassiers. Again, they swept through the first squadron but hitting the second did not end well. As their second squadron joined the fray they were not to be so successful and a catastrophic dice roll saw them flee the field! The curse of the newly painted unit strikes again!

My dragoons tried to move to the right to threaten the enemy infantry but artillery and volleys saw them off with great loss…

To plug the gap in the cavalry line the Legion lancers charged but despite getting a strike in first they were no match for the dragoons and forced to retire and reform further back.

It was now the turn of the Grenouissian dragoons to charge. They punched right through the remaining Medetian cuirassiers, and though the dragoons to their rear but then, faced with light cavalry, and much depleted they too were forced from the field.

The Grenouissian guns and infantry fired on the enemy cavalry when able and were to do great service in halting the collapse of the flank. The last remaining Medetian dragoons charged for the rear but were stopped by infantry and the reformed Legion lancers.

At this point the remaining Medetian cavalry were blown. Two squadrons were at almost 50% loss and any further advance would be under the Grenouissian guns and their infantry who were now deploying to secure the flank. The cavalry action was over, the slightly stronger Medetians claimed the day but were unable to exploit their victory. The battle would be decided in the centre…

I had two lines, three battalions wide advancing. Initially partially screened by jaegers. And facing three lines of Medetians except on the left where there was only one. But the Braunschweig troops attacking these would do so under the gaze of the Medetian heavy guns on the hill. Although the batteries on either side would cause some casualties on the advancing troops once the line of site was blocked they again would engage in counter battery fire, and again, my guns proved the more effective at this.

As the rightmost two blocks met there were a series of volleys from both sides, some significantly more effective than others. The first Altefritzenburgers battalion suffered great loss and was unable to advance against the Medetians facing them and had to retire in disarray. The second battalion went forward and was eventually able to drive off the first line.

The Swans had a similar fate. Trying to advance and fire they took heavy loss in the first round and never really recovered. However, the second line were most effective and the other Medetian front line battalion was driven off.

It was now that the devious Medetians revealed there second line to be elite grenadiers! The first volleys wrought carnage with the first battalion of Swans thrown back. But the line held and a serious fire fight ensued!

Meanwhile the Braunschwieg troops advanced. As expected the first battalion suffered from the guns and were finally driven back by disciplined volleys. And as the second battalion formed up they spotted Grenouissian infantry advancing on their left in support.

On the far right our respective light troops rushed to occupy the small wood in the middle. The Medetians got there first but I advanced my feared native troops who charged into the woods whooping and hollering! Unfortunately, the Medetians having encountered them before were little afraid and the ensuing melee saw them get the edge on the natives. Realising that they could be exposed to great danger if forced from the woods into the open ground of a formal battlefield the natives decide to retire to safer ground and begin scouting avenues of retreat should they be needed. And leave the formal battle to the regular troops. And it was nothing to do with rolling double one for the reaction test!

The enemy were eventually dislodged from the woods and my Grenzers and jaegers took up occupancy.

 

As the volleys were exchanged in the centre with neither side really gaining the edge my troops looked to their right where the forces of Whyeydia were suffering greatly at the hands of Lord Peeler (not a pleasant experience!) and it was clear the field could not be won. After a gentlemanly discussion with the Medetian ADCs both sides decide to draw back as further loss would be pointless on both side. My troops had fought on longer than they should have but it was clear the Medetians had the edge. However, we both felt that no one could claim victory though the Medetians would soon claim the field. The remaining Medetian cavalry were blown and fragile and would suffer at the hands of the Grenouissian troops if they chose to advance. My infantry, though badly mauled in their attack could retire under the cover of their guns and the Medetian infantry, though still with fresh units would suffer from those same guns should they choose to press forward.

And newly promoted and famous Brigadier Weisswurst was left to ponder the fate of his cavalry brigade!

And things had not fared well along the whole line. The armies of Granprix had secured enough of a victory to force us from the field. Although not in disarray it was clear the invasion had failed and Grenouisse and her allies would retire across the border. Until the next time…

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It was great game again and I was content with the result. The Medetians had the edge (in numbers and quality) in both the cavalry and infantry battles but were unable to exploit that. And my troops had attacked for longer than sensible for a campaign game – but where’s the fun in holding back! And as ever, Dave was a great opponent.

And what did I learn from this game? NEVER buy dice from Paul! On the Sunday morning I bought two small black D6 from his box of goodies! I wanted some distinctive dice to roll all the command and reaction tests. They were to be my doom! Twice they rolled double one (seeing off my natives and cuirassiers) and managed a few threes on other occasions which didn’t help! My guns performed well and in the volleys and melees we both had some killer results with Dave maybe having the edge on those. But the dice weren’t horribly skewed in anyone’s favour and it was a good old fashioned clashing of the lines where in the end numbers and quality told. But occasionally the dice gods chuckled…

And so another Ayton is over. It was a pleasure seeing all the chaps again (even if my liver and kidneys are still protesting!) and also seeing the new troops people had acquired since the last C18th game. And thanks must also go to Henry for running the campaign and giving us something to fight over!

Next year we will adopt our usual alternating of periods but rather than the C19th Gary Philips will be running a large Lion Rampant campaign for which the Swans and Altefritzenburgers will be making an appearance in yet another era!

Hope you’ve enjoyed the reports and pictures.