Slightly out of chronological order - here's the battles of Ligny & Quatre Bras, 16 June 1815 - refought approximately 210 years later. Quatre Bras is probably not a battle, at least not in BBB terms, but as it was on the same day and roughly in the same place, combining the two actions adds a level of complexity and interest to the battles.
The Scenario was written by Matt Bradley and is available as a free download in the files section of the BBB Group. You can find it here - but you may need to log on first!
Here's the map:
Mike took the British and Prussians, I took the French. Here's the table laid out for the start. Apologies for the lighting - it was actually a sunny day!
French Left
French Right
Turn 2 On the left, the french push toward Quatre Bras, in the middle the French push across the stream and threaten the Prussian line.
On the right, the French Guard threaten Tongrinelle
Turn 4 - on the left the French took Quatre Bras, whilst the British used their firepower advantage (pink counters) to drive them back out. In the centre the French took losses as they assaulted the objective villages. I had formed my cavalry into one big menacing block....
To the right, the French piled on the pressure, with one unit breaking through to take an objective village.
Turn 5 On the left the French lost Quatre Bras and the centre became a slogging match.
On the right, the Guard drove the Prussians out of Tongrinelle, with Mike's left flank getting hammered.
Turn 6 On the left flank the French had been thoroughly hammered by the British, but this turn saw the arrival of French re-inforcements!
In the middle the French continue to hammer away at those objective villages and on the right the Guard prepare to wheel left.
Turn 7 - on the left, the French reinforcements shake out of column (2 x speed on roads) and dep[loy ready to assault. The big block of French cavalry has slowly been whittled down, but still threatens Blucher's right.
On the right, the Prussians have retreated as more French arrive and the Guard attacks the Prussian left.
Turn 8 - on the left the French advance to the Bridge, the British form up to defend Quatre Bras again. One sneaky unit of Brits has skirted the forest to take potshots at lurking French cavalry.
On the right the Prussians still hold one objective village as the French close in for the kill.
French 9 on the last French move, it's a standoff at Quatre Bras and the assault against the last Prussian objective village goes in.
On the right the French hold the objective villages, just in case the Prussians try a last minute assault to regain them.
Allied 9 - the French have not retaken Quatre Bras, but the Allies have not been able to advance south of the river Thyle with more than 50% of their troops.
In the centre the French hold 4 objectives, with the Prussians holding just one objective village. There are no more Prussians to the right of this picture!
Conclusions
It was a really good game, not just because I won. i managed to get most of the rolls i wanted and drove the British and the Prussians back. Mike was not as lucky with the dice, but he put up a spirited defence and only gave ground slowly.
Having the Allies and Prussians both on the table made a lot of sense - the French need to contain the British and secure their left flank.
This game allows you to field those shiny Waterloo British uniforms as well as the Prussians, plus the Guard gets to play a pivotal role in it all.
I highly recommend the scenario.
Thanks to Mike, worthy opponent and provider of regular teas and coffees!
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