DBN23 Genappe 1815

More Napoleonic action from the 100 Days Campaign.  The Anglo-British Army is retreating from Quatre Bras to Waterloo.  The village of Genappe rests upon the River Dyle, the French would advance to meet the rearguard force commanded by Uxbridge.

Inspiration from two main sources, a Wargames Illustrated Article,  Retreat to Waterloo: Cavalry Action at Genappe & a scenario form the 'League of Augsberg'  (weblink below).  The Anglo-British forces must delay the French for ten turns.  Reinforcements would arrive from a randomly chosen pool of forces.  Spav took the French with Ney leading the way, yours truly the Brits under Uxbridge. On the table to begin with for the Brits, a Rocket & Horse Artillery Battery with some Rifle units.

The Union brigade arrive

The Rifles cover the road, with the Rockets & Horse Artillery covering either side.

French Light Cavalry & Light Infantry begin the chase.

Splendid, the Union Brigade.

Good CaP rolls & the French Light Cavalry splits up.

First time in action, the Rocket Troop.

Poor combat dice, the RHA inflict no damage.

A 'whoopsy', moment, I forget to 'shoot & scoot'.  The French Chasseurs are deadly. 

British Light Dragoons arrive.

More reinforcements, French Light Infantry & impressively, French Imperial Guard Cavalry.

The Rocket Troop get their act together.

Good CaPs for the Brits, part of the Union Brigade blocks the road.

A mighty wall across the road.

Pot shots form the Rifles

The French Light Infantry plan to take the rough ground.

The Inniskilling's deploy

'Le Crunch'

The French fight well

The British Household Cavalry arrive

Oh dear, the French are screaming for Cavalry  reinforcements, but more Infantry arrive.

The cavalry scrap continues, this time the Inniskilling's get the upper hand.

A few poor CaP rolls & Genappe becomes a bottleneck.

To make matters worse, the British combat rolls are spot on

In a frenzy of combat the Inniskilling's destroy the French Light.

At last French Heavies arrive, but the clock is ticking...

Enough CaP's for the British Rifles to retreat. 

There's enough French troops now to force back the British.

Forward!

Brunswick Horse Artillery

Dutch Lancers
 

The French Light Infantry take the centre rough ground

The French advance is strangled from a lack of CaP points.

The British Dragoons take some casualties in a very late effort from the French.

However, time runs out for the French, the Brits are allowed to retreat in a orderly fashion.

Never mind, a tough one for the French.  We played a few more of this scenario, the trick like the Quatre Bras was for the French to RACE forward each time.

Anyway, we are gaming once more, with life returning to normal.  We plan on returning to our Longstreet Campaign for our next one.


Wargames Illustrated- Retreat to Waterloo: Cavalry Action at Genappe.
(available in their Waterloo PDF download)

League of Augsberg - Rearguard Action Near Genappe 17th June 1815