Battle for Brucke 18 ( Roiling River Bridge) Part One

Some notes before we get started. 

 This battle is one of two that have been too long in the getting on the table. The 1802 campaign is in real time, i.e. it is late October now. The results of this and the other, much smaller fight will either push the Empire to make peace or the Daharans to bounce back across the borders. Time will telescope forward to the end of October after the battles.

We use Picquet, L'Grognards in tactical scale for an 'event' this size. 20 plus units on a side, in 28mm with 12 figures to a battalion, eight cavalry.. Using two banquet tables we get a 60 by 72 inch  filed. The game is played 60 inches 'wide' to reflect the constricted ground, both tactically on the field, and the river and hill constricted theater terrain. (See maps in prior entries)

Non PK players may wish to skip the next  couple paragraphs.

The Empire Army is using the Minor German States card sequence deck, Dahara is using the Bavarian Army version.  Roger, who runs Dahara, chose the less efficient deck for color in the campaign. After the shuffling and minimum chip production was accomplished, both sides had some specials.  Both decks had 28 cards to start, with a 'militia reload' replacing one of the three missile reload cards

The Empire Army had an extra heroic moment card, infantry morale dice were 'up 1' die type and cavalry morale dice were up 2 die types for asserting command and pursuit check tests. So solid infantry and cavalry that should go where you want them to go and not run off.

 The map below is a representation of the field where General Prinz von Essen attempted to stop the Daharan Army, or at least a part of it, before it would get too close to the Imperial cities.

 

 And the actual battle takes place here:

The units were placed for a determined defense.  The sappers in the column had leveled the farmhouse south of the bridge, denying it as a cover to the invaders.

  The Imperial right was anchored by the Koniglich Brigade, including the 12th I.R.

 as well as some Jagers. General Ostergarten can be seen at his post.

  The center just East of the bridge was held by the First Brigade under General Braunschweig pictured here.

West of the bridge is covered by troops of the Second Brigade, a mix of Grenzer and Line battalions under General.....Grunwald.  

Units from Hesse and Nassau commanded by General Alrebruck provided the reserve, and  the three available artillery batteries  covered the front of the position.

Now some shots of the Daharan contingent. 

Early on, the disdain of the Daharan cavalry for the steadiness of the Empire's artillery was short lived.  Two regiments of cavalry were thrown across the bridge to no avail. 

The first two brigades and supporting horse. 

The western wing approaches. 

As does the Eastern wing.

We had to stop here, just as the two brigades started to deploy.

More to come as soon as we finish the game. We play again Thursday or Wednesday.

Some action west of the bridge had the Grenze units in protracted firefights.