A further encounter in 1809
Kevin and I decided that we needed a break from ADLG and CoC so a mutual decision to enter the world of Sharpe Practice was agreed upon with alacrity. For a change we chose the Attack-Defend scenario with the French attacking the Austrians; the Austrians were fortunate to be in defence. As it had been sometime since our last game, we expected a lot of page turning to remind ourselves of the rules, and indeed this proved to be the case!
The Austrian's were commanded by Leutnant Sharf who had command detachments from the 19th Infantry Regiment (IR) (from 1st, 2nd and Grenadier Companies), 2 companies from the Vienna Freiwilliger, 2 Companies for the Broder Grenzer Regiment, a squadron of Dragoons and a 4lb field gun. Although Sharp Practice is a skirmish game, in my mind I relate the stands of infantry and cavalry as half infantry companies and squadrons respectively. Actually, with troop size and man spacing this is about right!
On to the game, this farm complex on the road provided a sound defensive position; with the woods to the rear right of the farmhouse. Lt Sharf anticipated that this would indeed prove a strong position and one we would be confident that the French would find it difficult to break. He deployed 1/19th IR forward of the farm to allow the gun to deploy. The Freiwilliger under Feldwebel Volkstein were deployed in column of companies in the wood.
The remainder of 19th IR were in column of companies behind the farm, unfortunately when they started moving forward to the left command rather broke down. To their left are the Dragoons. In the distance within the wood on the left and the field to the left of the barn are the Broder Grenzers.
In the distance we could make out the drums of a French column advancing. These were from last minute reinforcements for the French whose commander failed to get his sums correct; mixing up the unit costs with the number of figures in his units!
A group of very spirited French dismounted Dragoons came forward skirmishing. The audacity of their advance and firepower caused grave discomfort to the men of the 1/19th IR.
They were sufficiently perplexed as to withdraw prematurely though the artillery piece they were protecting. The sole benefit of this was that the 4lb gun would be able to fire a round of grapeshot at these irritating Dragoons.
However, no sooner than the Dragoons were shocked by the artillery, another French column was seen to hove into view advancing down the road.
The fire from the column soon caused problems for the gun crew who were not expecting fire from the column to be so effective. Behind them the 1/19th have fallen into absolute confusion and were seen to be countermarching trying to get into a better position to support the guns.
The fire has completely unsettled the gun crew who have abandoned their position to leave the 1/19th IR to hold the line. In support of this Feldwebel Volkstein has brought forward the Vienna Freiwillige into line to bring fire to bear onto the advancing French column.
While the French column continued to advance down the road, the other column and supporting skirmishers is advancing against the Broder Grenzers and is bringing down intensive fire on them.
An enemy line advanced into the woods and threw out a section of the Broder Grenzers, however 2/19th and Gren/19th have advanced and formed line and has started to deliver well practiced volleys at the French.
On the right a fire fight has now started between the Vienna Freiwillige and the French column, which has now deployed into line.
All the Grenzers have now been withdrawn, and casualties on the 19th IR are mounting as a result of the fire from a French 6lb cannon which eventually arrived late to the battle. The Dragoons have been brought forward ready to launch a counterattack.
Their charge is more than sufficient to cause the French to fall back, the charge was effective in stabilising the situation, but it left the Dragoons very exposed to the woods on their left.
From the woods the French infantry turned smartly to their left and charged driving the Dragoons back and preventing a rout of the remains of the French defeated by the Dragoons.
The French decided at this stage to withdraw and not press the issue, and to leave the objective in the hands of the Austrians until such time as they had reinforcements to finally defeat them. An excellent game, and despite the rules-page-turning we had a surprisingly good grasp of what we were doing, and I don’t think we made too many mistakes that would have changed the outcome of the game.
